Transcript Highlights:

• So that was not the only part of my upbringing that I want to share with you.
• But, you know, we're not going to let you do that, and this is the part. Let you keep it.
• parte communications.
• Those are all sort of technically ex parte communications, so it can be a bit of a headache because you
• So let me ask you part two of that.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that is why I'm in support of both parts of this bill.
• I go along with the ex-mayor over there.
• I go along with the ex-mayor over there.
• they are part of this bill?
• That's part of, you know, the depository agreement.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe we're kind of ex officio. Throw that out there.
• I was just wondering, it sounds like the transportation emergency exercise is just in the northern part
• Is it part of the $1.5 million? Mr. Chair. Requested was the 1.6 for this year, which was 1.5.
• Yes, it is part of the 1.5.
• of the exercise. funded to be part of the exercise?

Transcript Highlights:

• THE STAFF AND CONSULTANTS ARE EX-BUSINESS OWNERS, CEOS OF LARGE COMPANIES, WHAT I CALL RECOVERING BANKERS
• I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE LAST PART OF YOUR QUESTION HOW MANY SURVEYORS ARE MAPPERS THERE ARE NOW
• BUT AS TO THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM.
• HOW DO THEY FACTOR IN AS BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR THE LABOR SHORTAGE?
• >> Chair: IS THAT PART OF THIS BILL OR NOT? >> IT IS NOT. >> Chair: ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BILL?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Kevin Jackson, uh, representative District 20, part of Bowling Green in Warren County. >> I'm Gracie
• Cities may uh, representative District 20, part of uh, representative District 20, part of Bowling<00
• > safetybased</c> allowing reasonable safetybased allowing reasonable safetybased local local local ex
• </c><00:16:07.839><c> This</c><00:16:08.160><c> bill</c><00:16:08.480><c> provides</c> ex uh exceptions
• This bill provides ex uh exceptions.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some other things that happened during this reporting that isn't part of the objectives nor really stated
• And I don't want my comment or questions to have been interpreted as not being part of the idea of continuing
• can vote to adopt a comment, any individual member can also submit a minority report, and that's a part
• Representative Powett, Pete, it just occurred to me that it may be helpful to clarify as an ex officio

Summary: The Citizens Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on September 22, 2025, confirmed a quorum, and unanimously approved the August 6, 2025 meeting minutes. The main business of the meeting was public testimony on the 2025 tax preference reviews, with Commissioner Forsyth recusing himself for the first witness, Joey Halverson of Tote Maritime Alaska, who testified in support of the tax preference for natural gas as a transportation fuel. He argued that LNG has enabled major emissions reductions, supported infrastructure at the Port of Tacoma, and should continue to receive tax preferences to encourage further clean maritime fuel adoption. The second witness, Michelle Preston of Habitat for Humanity of Washington State, testified in support of the tax preference for low-income homeownership developers. She said the preference helps Habitat affiliates advance homeownership and sustain operations, but noted that reporting has been inconsistent across independent affiliates and that JLARC’s metrics may not fully capture the program’s benefits. Commissioners asked questions about affiliate accounting, the distinction between benefits to nonprofits versus homebuyers, and whether the reporting/renewal period should be shorter than the current seven years; Preston said the preference benefits the nonprofit developer, not the homebuyer, and suggested shorter renewal periods might improve compliance and awareness. JLARC staff then outlined the process for the commission’s upcoming comments on the 2025 tax preference reviews. Commissioners will receive a web-based comment form, with responses due September 30, the chair will compile consolidated comments, and those materials will be distributed for the October 21, 2025 meeting. The chair noted that only voting members will complete the comment forms, though individual members may also submit minority reports. The meeting ended with a reminder that written testimony could still be submitted to JLARC and that the next commission meeting is scheduled for October 21, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• She asked whether that is part of the research they will be doing.
• "The second part I'd like to highlight is the other 45% of that pie chart.
• </c> plants today right and when you ex plants today right and when you ex excess<00:46:59.920><c> capacity
• Cuz I was reading that part of the thing that enables...
• Sorry, GHSP, or what it says in there, so that is part of this.

Bills: HF4770

Keywords: biomass, anaerobic digester, renewable energy, sustainability, energy generation

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then took up House File 4770, as amended by an A1 technical amendment. The bill was presented as a proposal to help Liberty Diversified International and Liberty Paper in Becker plan for replacement steam and energy supply as the Shuro facility closure approaches in 2030. Testimony described Liberty Paper’s current closed-loop steam arrangement with Shuro, the need to study future fuel and technology options, and the potential use of anaerobic digestion, biomass, construction and demolition waste, and food waste to produce steam and possibly power. Members asked about feedstock availability, the need for a feasibility study, possible backup natural gas use, and whether waste heat or wastewater heat could be useful. The bill was laid over as amended. The committee then heard a presentation from CenterPoint Energy on Minnesota heating demand and electrification. CenterPoint staff said affordability and reliability are central concerns and outlined how the utility manages customer costs through energy efficiency, contracting, storage, peak shaving, and conservation. Dr. Joel Lynch presented research on peak heating with natural gas and the “missing piece” in Minnesota’s electrification puzzle, explaining that Minnesota’s cold climate makes winter heating demand especially challenging and that replacing natural gas would require substantial new electric capacity and renewable resources. He compared his work with prior national and state studies and said the analysis used Minnesota-specific gas throughput, COP assumptions across several electrification scenarios, and January renewable capacity data. Lynch summarized preliminary findings that Minnesota’s peak gas heating throughput could be up to 40 gigawatts, with electric resistance heating implying roughly 36 gigawatts of new demand, and lower but still substantial demand under heat-pump scenarios. The presentation was informational only; no vote was taken on the CenterPoint presentation. The meeting ended with House File 4770 laid over and the energy demand presentation continuing.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was a part of our overall vision for our downtown community.
• I want to go to the first part, which is the suggestion of whether or not it's permissible.
• It's a couple questions, or it's one question in a few parts. Feel free. Go at it.
• Not that was an oversight on my part, and I do apologize for that.
• I do my part. They do their part. So moving forward, this shouldn't be an issue. Okay.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee first heard a long-running audit finding involving Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit funds, which have exceeded the statutory limit for several years and were reported at $10.8 million in the most recent audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city has analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees over several periods, and used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation and a proposed City Hall expansion. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, raised concerns about the legality and necessity of proposed expenditures, and asked about interest earnings, truck purchases, and the lack of detailed tracking for training-facility use. The city said an Attorney General opinion allows construction of a new building for building-code functions but not purchase of an existing building, and that if the city cannot comply through permissible construction it would have to return the funds. No vote was taken, but members expressed strong frustration and urged the city to resolve the issue quickly and lawfully. The committee then received the Auditor General’s presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings covered elections and quorum issues, conflicts of interest, late or missing financial disclosure forms, related-party transactions, poor meeting notices and minutes, council involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget and accounting deficiencies, weak bank reconciliations, improper utility billing and rates, grant compliance problems tied to a grocery store project, personnel and compensation issues involving the town manager, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control problems, public records issues, and IT/fraud-policy weaknesses. The auditor said the review focused mainly on October 2022 through February 2024 but went back further for some grant-related matters. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit reflected actions of a previous administration and that the current council and staff have already adopted seven new policies to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics. They said the town has a new manager and clerk, that the former manager was terminated, and that the town referred matters to FDLE, which is investigating. Committee members asked about the manager’s salary increase, severance, P-card use, and whether the town should consider consolidation or dissolution. The mayor said the town is on a better path, that most of the prior leadership has been voted out, and that the town is working with auditors and an outside accounting firm to correct the problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think part of the challenge is that it was recently started and time is of the essence.
• of it, an important part of it, particularly for the United States?
• And there are other Hutchison Ports in almost every part of the world.
• And part of the challenge is we're talking about investing outside the borders of the U.S.
• So you're on to something, but if you're just focusing on Panama, that's only part of it.

Transcript Highlights:

• Buckley relating to the use of reclaimed water that has been treated to meet certain standards as part
• So, so I appreciate that being part of this.
• Our ex officio member of the committee, Representative Gerde is to explain the bill.

Bills: SB 612, SB 1855, SB 2568, SB 3058

Keywords: SB 612, Texas Water Code, Section 49.2127, conservation and reclamation district, water district, reclamation district, developer fees, pipeline construction, water pipeline, sewer pipeline, associated infrastructure, subdivision infrastructure, cost recovery, fee cap, actual reasonable documented costs, engineering fees, legal fees, inspection fees, infrastructure relocation, utility connections

Transcript Highlights:

• I think part of why students come to public school is to reach their highest and fullest potential.
• Anyone who has spent time with children knows that curiosity is part of their nature.
• Chairman, is the State Board of Education part of this process?
• I think spirituality and faith is part of that. So I don’t even know who LifeWise is.
• It’s part of that. So I don’t even know who LifeWise is.

Summary: The committee first considered SB 1422, which would continue the Credit Enhancement Eligibility Board for 10 years. Staff explained that the board supports a credit enhancement program used largely for charter school debt, helping borrowers secure better ratings and lower interest rates. There was no public testimony, and the bill passed with a due pass recommendation by an 8-1 vote. Members then heard SB 1166, allowing county school superintendents to offer high school equivalency preparation through accommodation schools to students in grades 11 and 12, provided they are at least 16. The Arizona Association of County School Superintendents supported the expansion, but one member opposed lowering eligibility from 12th grade to 11th grade. The bill received a due pass recommendation on an 8-1 vote with one present and two absent. SB 1684, which would create a cause of action against public schools for failing to address known bullying that leads to serious physical injury, drew strong opposition from school and legal groups. Opponents argued it was constitutionally problematic, overly broad, lacked key definitions, and could create liability for conduct outside a school’s control; supporters emphasized school accountability in serious bullying cases. After testimony, the committee held the bill with objection. The committee also passed SB 1424, requiring annual age-appropriate firearm safety awareness instruction in K-12 schools beginning in 2027-2028, despite opposition from gun-safety advocates and education groups who argued it shifted responsibility from adults to children and schools and was an unfunded mandate. The bill passed 6-5. Later, SB 1475, barring students with certain criminal convictions or juvenile adjudications from participating in school district-sponsored interscholastic activities, drew opposition from criminal justice advocates and some members who said it was overly punitive and could harm rehabilitation, while supporters argued the offenses were serious and that participation is a privilege. It passed 6-5. SB 1572, requiring Celebrate Freedom Week civics instruction in public schools, also passed 6-5 after members debated whether it duplicated existing civics requirements and whether it imposed new curriculum burdens. Finally, SB 1741, requiring districts and charters to allow release-time religious instruction and award credit under certain conditions, was presented and opposed by a secular education advocate who argued it undermined local control and could lead to legal and academic problems; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was the restructuring, the cleanup part of it, and... Bill was two bills last year.
• There was the restructuring, the cleanup part of it, and then there was the creation of the oversight
• And then the second bill, the finance part of it...
• The commission and then the second bill, the finance part of it died in House Judiciary.
• Thank you. ...in office when part of this.

Bills: HB70, HB93, HB95, HB139, HB140, HJR4

Keywords: Public Regulation Commission, PRC, utility oversight fund, public utilities, utility regulation, commissioners, commission staff, chief of staff, ethics, Gift Act, revolving door, post-employment restrictions, consumer complaints, telecommunications, pipeline safety, natural gas pipelines, oil pipelines, license fees, regulatory oversight, administrative cleanup

Transcript Highlights:

• The ex parte order was granted the sheriff's office search for the expert order and found nothing Mr.
• And at this time it came to light that the ex parte order was docket ID but never transmitted to the
• And that does part of this.
• So you think of that one side there now we're adding yes, an annual part of this.
• And let's get eyes on everything as part of such inspection.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• “Four of them are for agriculture because agriculture is such a huge part of our state, along with energy
• members will serve as the chair of the operating board, and then the state treasurer also serves as an ex
• members will serve as the chair of the operating board, and then the state treasurer also serves as an ex

Summary: The committee first received a JLARC work session on the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering nine tax preferences and recommending legislative action on eight. JLARC reviewed natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income housing developers, and several shorter reviews including senior center property tax relief, a disabled veteran adapted housing remittance, trade convention nexus treatment, wholesale sales of fertilizer/pesticides/seed, a hazardous substance tax exemption for pesticides stored for out-of-state shipment, and three energy-related preferences for a silicon smelter. JLARC generally recommended continuing preferences that met stated or inferred objectives, modifying some to improve reporting or performance metrics, and allowing the unused silicon smelter preferences to expire. The Citizen Commission endorsed JLARC’s recommendations, and committee members asked a few clarifying questions, including about trends in travel agent/tour operator beneficiaries and the housing exemption’s performance metric and data issues. The committee then heard a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 5754, which would create a Washington State public bank. A presentation from California public banking advocates and the Bank of North Dakota described public banks as government-owned financial institutions intended to keep public funds working locally, support lending for housing, infrastructure, and community development, and partner with community banks and credit unions. Committee questions focused on leverage, liquidity, constitutional issues, and how the model would interact with existing state investment and debt structures. Staff summarized the bill’s structure, including activation conditions, governance, powers, and fiscal impacts, noting the fiscal note was largely indeterminate and startup costs could be significant. Public testimony on SB 5754 was divided. Supporters included statewide elected officials, county and city officials, labor, educators, community advocates, and residents, who argued the bank could lower borrowing costs, improve access to capital, keep public money in Washington, and help finance infrastructure, housing, and disaster resilience. Opponents included community bankers and county treasurers, who warned about risks to safety and liquidity of public funds, questioned the need for a new institution given existing programs, and argued the proposal lacked a proven track record in Washington. The hearing concluded with no vote taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I thank you all for being a part of this committee.
• Uh, she's been here, I think a part of this committee for what? 2020 years. Um, show Ms. Gonzalez.
• I just know that, um, my ex, uh, is very well known in the area.
• I want my part back, right? How does the family court deal with that?
• It was part of Governor Bush's omnibus adoption bill.

Bills: HB116

Keywords: film industry, incentives, economic development, state funding, media production

Transcript Highlights:

• The best part about this committee is that we talk things through.
• We have five directors that oversee different parts of the department.
• </c> directors that oversee different parts directors that oversee different parts of<00:28:43.559><c
• </c> activities to Administration and the ex activities to Administration and the ex executive<00:34:
• </c> to what our estimates are in other parts to what our estimates are in other parts of<00:42:56.559

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Public Works and Highways Committee held an orientation meeting focused on introducing members, outlining committee norms, and hearing an overview from the Department of Transportation. Chair David Mills emphasized the committee’s long-standing bipartisan working style, asked members to share contact information for short-notice scheduling, and noted that the committee would need to complete as much work as possible before the building is vacated later in the year. Members introduced themselves and described backgrounds in engineering, construction, planning, local government, military service, education, and business. Several members highlighted prior service on planning boards, school boards, zoning boards, or in transportation-related fields as relevant to the committee’s work. Members repeatedly described the committee as collegial and nonpartisan, with most bills going to the consent calendar. The chair also noted that the committee’s work centers on state infrastructure, including roads, bridges, highways, and buildings. Representative Cluder, the ranking member, and others echoed that the committee is effective because it talks issues through and resolves disagreements collaboratively. One member mentioned a recent trip that reinforced the importance of infrastructure resilience after storms and rebuilding efforts in other states. Department of Transportation officials, led by Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer David Rodrig, gave a detailed organizational and operational overview. They described DOT’s structure, mission of “transportation excellence,” and major responsibilities across highways, bridges, rail, transit, aeronautics, maintenance, and administration. Rodrig reported 1,651 permanent positions and 404 vacancies, 2,160 state bridges with 115 on the Red List, 4,600 centerline miles of roadway, 25 public airports, 11 transit systems, and 194 active state-owned rail lines. He also outlined FY 2024 spending, project development activity, highway maintenance operations, fleet and fuel systems, and the distinction between the highway fund and DOT’s budget, including the role of federal funds and the turnpike enterprise fund. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this orientation meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was all part of redevelopment. And we just wanted to continue to exist.
• It was all part of redevelopment. And we just wanted to continue to exist.
• And that's statewide, or are they concentrated in one part of the state?
• There's a fiscal cliff coming for most of the transit agencies, and in my part of the state, Southern
• There's a fiscal cliff coming for most of the transit agencies, and in my part of the state, Southern

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills, with testimony focused on transportation safety, enforcement, privacy, curb management, rail service, and high-speed rail. SB 953 by Senator Nilo would require two DMV points to be applied in misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter cases even if the criminal case is dismissed through diversion; supporters, including a victim’s mother and the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, said the bill would prevent serious fatal crashes from disappearing from driving records, while no opposition was presented. SB 1292 by Senator Richardson would authorize selected cities to use stationary cameras or sensors to enforce curb and loading-zone rules, with human review of citations and a pilot-style, optional local framework; supporters argued it would improve safety, turnover, and compliance, while privacy concerns were noted but softened by amendments, and the bill drew neutral or conditional support from some groups. The committee also heard SB 1228 by Senator Rubio, which would create a permanent compliance path for a small number of existing redevelopment-era outdoor advertising displays. Supporters said the bill would preserve local revenue and avoid penalties for legally established signs, while the California State Outdoor Advertising Association opposed it over federal highway beautification compliance and fairness concerns. SB 1013 by Senator Cervantes would tighten safeguards for automated license plate reader systems by requiring DOJ audits, employee training, limits on data retention, and restrictions on hot lists and queries; privacy advocates supported the bill as a response to documented misuse, while sheriffs and narcotics officers opposed it as an unnecessary restriction on a valuable law-enforcement tool. The committee voted to move SB 1013, but the roll call was 4-1 and the bill remained on call. Other measures discussed included SB 1218 by Senator Arreguín, which would block vehicle registration renewal for owners with unpaid illegal dumping fines, using a process similar to unpaid parking citations; Oakland officials and several local government and waste-management groups supported it as an accountability tool, and the bill passed committee on an 8-0 vote and remained on call. SB 1136 by Senator Blakespear would require rail agencies to better coordinate service, fares, and trip planning for large events and intercity/regional rail connections; supporters said it could boost ridership and make rail more useful for major venues, and it also passed 8-0 and remained on call. The committee also advanced the chair’s SB 1425, which would create a permitting program for new encroachments along the high-speed rail right-of-way; supporters said it would help protect the project and manage utilities and other uses, while some utilities and the City of Burbank raised concerns, and the bill passed 8-1 and remained on call. Finally, SB 1411 by Senator Stern would expand high-speed rail authority to pursue public-private partnerships and early works, remove a project cap, and support bookend investments; it drew broad support from transit, labor, and rail groups, with some local agencies noting amended concerns, and the discussion continued as the hearing moved toward the final bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2006, I got a legal separation from my ex, Emily's biological father.
• Are you neutral happy, or are you... there's another part?
• Wagner is a part of that. All the folks that spoke have members that are part of that.
• They are just going after these dentists for the most part.
• of any part of that production chain at all.

Summary: The Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency approved the February 11, 2026 minutes and then heard several bills. SB 1668, dealing with funeral and disposition timelines and related requirements for unborn children and minors, drew emotional testimony from funeral industry representatives and a parent about burdensome deadlines and problems obtaining signatures from an ex-partner; it also drew opposition over language referencing abortion clinics and reproductive freedom. The committee adopted a due-pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. SB 1286, on veterinary telemedicine prescription limits, was amended to shorten non-antimicrobial prescriptions to 30 days and allow antimicrobial prescriptions for up to 14 days without an in-person exam; veterinarians and industry representatives were neutral with caution or supportive, while opponents warned about overprescribing and inadequate diagnosis. The amended bill passed 4-3. The committee then passed SB 1235, joining the emergency services personnel licensure interstate compact, on a 7-0 vote, with the sponsor describing it as a reciprocity measure for EMTs and paramedics. SB 1446, which changes dialysis social worker documentation from monthly to quarterly to match federal and most state practice, also passed unanimously after support from DaVita. SB 1515, an Industrial Commission cleanup bill that renames positions, removes obsolete private employment office oversight language, and shifts publication of fee schedules online, was amended and passed 7-0. SB 1678, concerning documentation and oversight in health care institutions and group homes for vulnerable adults, was amended to remove a patient-form requirement and instead require DHS investigation when EMS personnel complain that a DNR was not provided; providers moved to neutral or support after the amendment, and the bill passed 6-0 with one not voting. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1747, which would require social media platforms to terminate accounts for minors under 14 and certain 14- and 15-year-olds without parental consent and impose age-verification and harmful-content restrictions. Opponents from NetChoice, TechNet, and Meta raised privacy, security, and constitutional concerns and argued for app-store-based parental controls instead, while a parents’ advocate supported the bill as a starting point for child safety. The transcript ends during that hearing without a final committee action on SB 1747.

Transcript Highlights:

• Part of it is we're always concerned about the unintended consequences.
• It's not part of your.
• And only one part, so I'm thinking about in a primary, for example. specifically.
• Why do we ignore the truth of human sexual organs or body parts at birth?
• I was I was here a part of a hurricane response.

Bills: SB29, SB406, SB447, SB875, SB893, SB1033, SB1346, SB1362, SB1539, SCR22, SB 29

Keywords: business organization, internal management, corporate governance, partnerships, liability reduction, birth certificate, biological sex, gender identity, health and safety, sex assignment, SB 875, Texas, independent school district, ISD, school board trustee, superintendent, campus administrator, electioneering, political signs, early voting

Transcript Highlights:

• many dense commercial corridors and downtown areas, the curb has become one of the most contested parts
• It was all part of redevelopment. And we just wanted to continue to exist.
• It was all part of redevelopment. And we just wanted to continue to exist.
• There’s a fiscal cliff coming for most of the transit agencies, and in my part of the state, Southern
• You know, I have had complaints in the southern part, southern Orange County, about someone wanting to

Keywords: 987, senate, all