Transcript Highlights:

• California created a property tax exclusion for solar panels and battery storage to incentivize homeowners
• to add solar.
• This property tax exclusion for solar panels and battery storage has made the transition to solar more
• Many homeowners installed solar because of this tax exclusion.
• SB 710 will importantly preserve this property tax exclusion for those who have already installed solar

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum after a roll call, observed a moment of silence for John Burton, and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance and routine procedural motions. Members approved a rule suspension to allow floor amendments on SB 271 and SB 67, and several committee notices and bill referrals were handled. The chamber then moved through a long third-reading file, with many bills passed and a number of items temporarily passed or retained on file. Among the major measures approved were bills on civil rights and public safety (SB 477, SB 19, SB 36, SB 571, SB 580), health care and coverage (SB 257 on pregnancy as a qualifying life event, SB 530 on Medi-Cal access standards, SB 660 on health data exchange, SB 754 on menstrual product contaminant disclosure), housing and disaster recovery (SB 610, SB 655), transportation and climate (SB 533 on EV charging payments, SB 30 on diesel locomotives, SB 71 on CEQA exemptions for transit, SB 263 on tariff impacts), and natural resources/energy (SB 283 on battery storage safety, SB 88 on biomass emissions, SB 427 extending the Habitat Conservation Fund). The Assembly also passed urgency measures including SB 864 on tribal gaming compacts, SB 663 on wildfire-related property tax relief, SB 471 expanding DDS ombudsman authority, and SB 497 on privacy protections for legally protected health services. Several bills drew notable debate. SB 41 on pharmacy benefit managers saw opposition over concerns about moving ahead before broader PBM data and licensing reforms take effect, but it still passed. AB 1340, a concurrence item on gig worker collective bargaining rights, prompted extended debate over labor rights, consumer costs, and union influence. Other concurrence items included AB 671 on restaurant permitting, which passed without opposition. The Assembly also took up SB 640 on direct admission to CSU, SB 702 on demographic reporting for appointees, SB 710 preserving a solar property tax exclusion, and SB 793 on counterfeit lighter safety, all of which passed. The session ended with the Assembly continuing through the file, including concurrence votes and additional bill actions, with most measures approved by substantial margins.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would add to that that there is a formula that determines the distribution of funding.
• Yes, CHECS is ensuring that it will be distributed to the higher education institutions. So, yes.
• The solar panels that have been installed across the campus will feed the battery backup system.
• Positive Energy Solar has also provided guidance to IAIA regarding the planning.
• And we wanted to manufacture solar panels.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Rocky Mold, executive director of the Hawaii Solar Energy Association.
• Um, could we have someone from the solar industry come up, please?
• >> Is there other federal solar credits >> Is there other federal solar credits that<01:20
• Real quick, if you leave, what's the current penetration rate on rooftop solar?
• Uh one of the actually be distributed.

Bills: HB2118, HB2473

Keywords: business development, arts, cultural affairs, Hawaii, commissions, administrative transfer, funding appropriation, Hawaiian culture, sense of place, land management, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to permitting and economic development. On HB 2603, relating to permits, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development said it supported the measure with comments. Committee discussion focused on the fact that the state’s facilitated permit process appears to have been rarely or never used, the need to identify specific projects that would use it, and whether DBEDT would need dedicated staffing to administer it. DBEDT said it had found no projects under the current process, had no capacity to run the program as structured, and estimated it would need about 7 to 9 FTEs, including permitting, coordination, data, systems, and possibly legal support. The chair suggested exploring a staff assignment and comparing the concept to federal FAST-41-style expedited permitting. On HB 2140, relating to essential permitting positions, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development again supported the bill with comments. Testimony and questioning centered on a pilot program to help counties pay competitively for permitting staff. A DBEDT representative said the issue of competitive pay affected both county and state permitting offices and that the bill was intended as a temporary pilot, though a more permanent solution would be preferable. When asked how counties would fund the salary support, the witness said that was not yet discussed with the counties and agreed to follow up. The committee also noted the bill applies to participating counties. On HB 2598, relating to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, the State Procurement Office and HTDC offered comments, and the Department of the Attorney General raised constitutional concerns. The AG said the bill’s residency-based certification requirements, when tied to procurement, could implicate the dormant Commerce Clause, and that the required 1% contribution tied to state contracts raised unconstitutional-conditions concerns. In questioning, the AG characterized these as legal risks rather than automatic lawsuits. The committee did not take a vote. The committee then heard HB 2141, relating to state enterprise zones. Taxation, DBEDT, HCDA, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, and HTDC testified in support, while the Tax Foundation noted the program was intended to help economically depressed areas create jobs. HTDC said the bill would help preserve the Maui Research and Technology Center’s enterprise-zone status after rezoning. Committee discussion focused on whether the enterprise zone program is being used effectively, how the bill might attract businesses to areas where the state is investing, and whether the program’s labor requirements are too burdensome for new businesses. DBEDT explained that the program requires a 10% workforce increase in the first year, which must be sustained, and said it promotes the program through county coordinators and in-person outreach. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes an aging pipe distribution system and, more importantly, no operable wells.
• same tools and equipment to perform the same physical tests and checks for things like grounding of solar
• the opposition mentioned there's a lot of fires because they're doing rooftop photovoltaic systems, solar
• I don't recall seeing anything about a fire on a panel, solar panels in single-family residential.
• Thank you. ...solar panels in single-family residential. But again, she has differences of opinion.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• was pointed out by the Secretary of State's office during the hearing, the bill only removes the distribution
• the hearing the bill only removes during the hearing the bill only removes the<01:31:29.159> distribution
• of<01:31:30.400> articles<01:31:30.920> of<01:31:31.480> clothing the distribution
• of articles of clothing the distribution of articles of clothing this<01:31:32.800> debate<01
• The original language of SB 106 was amended to address concerns from solar investors and developers regarding

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:53:58.359> of<00:53:58.520> energy of generation and distribution of energy of
• Company and Hena the the Distribution Company and Hena the generation<00:56:42.520> company<00
• With wind or solar, you have to wait for the sun to come up, the clouds to go away, the rain to stop,
• you have to wait for the sun to solar you have to wait for the sun to come<04:49:48.280> up<04
• panels that cover many many with solar panels that cover many many acres<04:56:53.840> especially

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• impact of pesticides on the environment, developing better management practices for pesticide distribution
• 21.520> pesticide management practices for pesticide management practices for pesticide distribution
• ,<00:03:23.560> storage,<00:03:24.400> use,<00:03:24.920> and distribution, storage
• , use, and distribution, storage, use, and disposal,<00:03:25.960> and<00:03:26.200> increasing
• , hear the Minnesota about County Solar, hear the Minnesota Department<01:08:33.960> of<01:08:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also adds provisions to solar facilities, designating solar facilities as a permitted use in
• So the money is going back to the scholarship funding organization that actually distributed the funds
• New crimes and tougher penalties target those who produce, distribute, or provide access to child sexual
• UTD spread lies about losing contracts and pay and slandered supporters and even distributed defamatory
• UTD spread lies about losing contracts and pay and slandered supporters and even distributed defamatory

Bills: S0042, S0688, S0762, S1168, S1296, S1298, S1300, S1318, S1332, S1376, S1548, S1570, S1574, S1632, S1634, S1750

Keywords: child protection, medical records, investigation, abuse, neglect, healthcare, Child Protection Team, diagnosis, criminal defense, legal representation, death penalty, indigent defense, regional counsel, conflict of interest, background screening, athletic coaches, youth sports, criminal history, expungement, Florida statutes

Summary: The committee first took up CS for SB 42 on specific medical diagnosis and child protective investigations. A late-file strike-all amendment was adopted that made only stylistic changes to align with the House version. Supporters said the bill would help DCF and child protective teams better identify rare medical conditions and give parents a chance to defend against mistaken abuse findings. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1570, which restores a prior program to help locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination with sheriff’s offices and CARD centers, with nonrecurring funding included. Members then advanced several education, disability, and public services measures. CS for CSSB 182 created a teacher training and mentoring program for high-performing current and retired teachers to mentor teachers in D- and F-rated schools, and CS for CSSB 794 required background screening for employees in residential and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities while directing APD to study support coordination quality, workforce issues, and service gaps. Testimony on SB 794 strongly supported better training, lower caseloads, and more consistent support coordination. The committee also favorably reported CS for CS SB 1168 on background screenings, CS for CS SB 214 to allow rural special districts to pay verified invoices directly, CS for SB 1376 to create grants for genetic counseling education, and SB 1574 (Maddie’s Law) to add newborn screening for biliary atresia; the latter drew emotional support and testimony that early screening could save lives and reduce transplant costs. The committee heard and passed a number of other policy bills, including CS for CS for SB 1510, the DEP agency package, after environmental groups warned that one provision could delay basin management protections and allow more septic systems in impaired watersheds; the bill still passed favorably. Members also approved CS for CS for SB 598 on funeral and cemetery regulation, SB 688 to license naturopathic doctors, SB 1318 on scholarship account reversion rules, CS for CS for SB 682 on domestic violence injunctions and penalties, SB 130 on workforce training for current and former inmates, and SB 1548, the latest Live Local affordable housing update. Several bills were briefly postponed or taken up later in the meeting. In the latter portion of the meeting, the committee approved CS for C.S. for SB 536 on criminal gang membership criteria, CS for C.S. SB 762 on assigning conflict capital cases across regional counsel offices, SB 1332 on career offender registration requirements, CS for CS for SB 1742 creating a new offense for indecent exposure of sexual organs to a child, and CS for SB 1750 increasing penalties for serious sex offenses and child sexual abuse material crimes. The committee also debated CS for SB 1226 on Public Employee Relations Commission procedures and union certification rules, including a late-file amendment setting a 60% threshold and 25% quorum for recertification; the discussion focused heavily on constitutional concerns, union rights, and differences between first responders and other public employees. The transcript ends while that bill’s debate is still underway, with the committee having already taken numerous favorable votes throughout the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• On April 8th, 2024, Hill County offered one of the best world's vantage points. for viewing the solar
• sources and processes, such as reforming natural gas or splitting water. using electricity from wind and solar
• on Criminal Jurisprudence, HB 2795 by Tallarico, relating to criminal offenses for creating and distributing
• and veterans HB 2824 by Hernandez relating to the regulation of certain facilities that store and distribute

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:29:20.159> side distribution side distribution side because<00:29:22.640> that's<00
• as currently the electric distribution as currently the electric distribution utilities<00:39:38.240
• <00:48:44.160> energy<00:48:44.640> resources, distributed energy resources, distributed
• So located on the distribution system.
• um there's references to distributed um there's references to distributed generation<02:41:22.399

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Aside from securing $450 million of Solar for All funds, which are being administered by the PUC. iBank
• We secured $225 million from the IRA, which is being applied by the PUC for solar storage projects.
• Those funds are prioritized for three categories: building decarbonization, ZEV transportation, and solar
• You'll see in the Forest Practice Act the mention of registered professional foresters distributed throughout
• Attack bases are distributed statewide, and at those facilities, they're capable of supporting not only

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:13:47.040> a<00:13:47.279> lot look at the mileage distribution, a lot look at
• the mileage distribution, a lot of<00:13:47.519> those<00:13:47.680> miles<00:13:48.079
• I think that distribution and all that.
• panels, or, excuse me, solar panels with EV chargers.
• panels, or, excuse me, solar panels with EV chargers.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The working group approved the prior meeting minutes with one correction to reflect Laura Ziggler’s attendance. Staff then outlined the report due February 13, 2026, which must summarize the group’s activities and include findings and recommendations adopted by the group; the report will go to the governor and legislative transportation leaders. The chair emphasized that the group’s charge is broad and includes analyzing electricity used as vehicle fuel infrastructure opportunities and barriers, developing policy and funding recommendations for sustainable transportation funding, and reviewing other states’ laws and policies. Discussion focused heavily on how to replace declining gas tax revenue as more vehicles become electric. The chair framed the issue as a fairness and implementation challenge, noting that EVs are a growing share of the fleet and that the group should consider both policy and funding, not just one or the other. Members and guests raised several ideas already submitted, including a road user charge, changes to the EV charging tax, ending or modifying the EV surcharge, broadening the tax to publicly owned charging stations, reducing the charging level threshold to level 2, ending sales tax on electricity, addressing off-road use, and expanding the definition of auto parts to include charging equipment. Representative Elkins argued that charging based on electricity used at home is impractical for most vehicles, that public charging is already much more expensive than home charging, and that the current sales tax plus surcharge amounts to double taxation for public-charging users. He said a mileage-based user charge modeled on Utah’s approach is workable, could be phased in, and could preserve privacy by allowing a voluntary or alternative method for home charging estimates. Senator Howe responded that home electricity use can be estimated similarly to mileage deductions on taxes and said the state should tax all electricity used as fuel, regardless of charger level, if it can be identified. Other speakers echoed that all road users should pay a fair share and that the main challenge is implementation. Tony Kis of Quick Trip asked that a late letter be included in the record and urged clarification of the sales, use, excise tax, and collection rules to avoid double taxation and reduce administrative burden, noting the current monthly collection date and suggesting the group should streamline collection methods. No final policy decisions or votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, uh they distribution the wires.
• It does generation, transmission, and distribution.
• mean um residential um solar facilities. mean um residential um solar facilities.
• Um we wanted to make sure distribution.
• Should be months. distribution reliability pins. I know distribution reliability pins.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational briefing on the Public Utilities Commission’s performance-based regulation (PBR) framework and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ whistleblower complaint process. Chair Jared Kohole opened the meeting, noted it was informational only with no public testimony, and explained that members would hear presentations and then have an opportunity for questions. The committee heard first from Ulupono Initiative, which provided background on why utilities are regulated, how Hawaii’s cost-of-service model and rate cases work, and why PBR was adopted to shift utility incentives away from a capital-investment bias and toward performance, efficiency, cost control, and policy goals such as renewable energy and reliability. Ulupono described Hawaii’s PBR structure as a five-year multi-year rate plan with annual revenue adjustments, a customer dividend, a Z factor for extraordinary exogenous events, and an exceptional project recovery mechanism for large projects. It also outlined performance incentive mechanisms tied to renewable portfolio standard progress, interconnection speed, reliability, and shared savings. The presentation said the current docket is evaluating a possible hybrid approach that would combine forward-looking forecasting with historical results, and Ulupono advocated for stronger incentives, arguing the current rewards are too small relative to utility revenues and should be more meaningful to better align utility behavior with legislative intent. The PUC then presented its own overview, emphasizing that the PBR docket is open and active and that the briefing was limited to the record to avoid ex parte concerns. The commission described the development of PBR in Hawaii through multiple phases beginning in 2018: an initial collaborative phase to set goals, a formal contested-case phase that produced the initial framework, later phases adding scorecards, reported metrics, and additional performance incentive mechanisms, and subsequent refinements including sunset of some mechanisms and adjustments after the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The PUC said the framework is intended to be customer-centric, administratively efficient, and protective of utility financial integrity, and that current work includes evaluating how to balance forward-looking and historical test-year approaches within the rebasing process. No votes or formal actions were taken at the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I think we have sustainable reference, but it has to do with renewable sources like solar and
• I think we have sustainable reference, but it has to do with renewable sources like solar and so on.
• There's energy efficiency, there's distributed generation that may lower those transmission costs.
• system but there is no distribution system but there is no market<01:10:45.920> signal.
• , technologies not just wind but solar, technologies not just wind but solar, hydrogen,<01:19:06.239

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and computes the tax, and lastly the county treasurer mails the tax statements and collects and distributes
• So if you start to see a few hundred-acre tract now covered with solar panels, number one is how are
• So if you start to see a few hundred-acre tract now covered with solar panels, number one is how are
• There's a planned 1,500-acre solar installation that's scheduled to go online in 2027, so I've had the
• installation. hundred acre tract now covered with hundred acre tract now covered with solar solar solar

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:00.399> and intermittent resources like solar and intermittent resources like solar
• <00:52:59.880> an Regional director at vote solar an Regional director at vote solar an organization
• organization working on Equitable solar organization working on Equitable solar as<00:53:02.000>
• Force them to build their own solar farms. Can we not? This is so stupid.
• "Force them to build their own solar farms. Can we not? This is so stupid.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and establishes safety standards for plug-in balcony solar devices.
• Right now, renters effectively do not have access to solar to lower their energy costs, and this will
• Plug-in solar is already gaining significant traction overseas.
• When public funds are distributed without clear rules, public votes, online reporting, whistleblower
• So at off-peak times, we have so much solar electricity that wholesale prices are...

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with a roll call, a moment of silence for the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The body then handled routine matters and confirmations, including Julia Montgomery as General Counsel for the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, Dr. Cynthia Glover Woods, Dr. Brenda Lewis, and Gabriela Orozco Gonzalez to the State Board of Education, and George Cardona as Chief Trial Counsel for the State Bar. All of those appointments were confirmed, with some no votes from a few members on the education and legal confirmations. The chamber also adopted several resolutions, including SR 111 on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia; SCR 129 naming part of Highway 152 the Rusty Arraes Highway; SCR 169 proclaiming October 2026 as Women’s Small Business Month; and SCR 173 designating May 2026 as California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month. Senators spoke in support of fairgrounds as community, agricultural, and emergency-response assets. The Senate also welcomed Cal Lutheran University students, faculty, and staff to the gallery. A large number of policy bills were then taken up and mostly passed, covering procurement, elections, education, privacy, housing, transportation, labor, and health care. Among the measures approved were SB 1154 on best-value procurement for community college projects, SB 1369 on judicial recall safeguards, SB 1048 creating a climate literacy seal, SB 1106 shortening data broker deletion timelines, SB 1408 authorizing a Contra Costa transportation tax measure, SB 1172 on local tax-sharing transparency, SB 1383 protecting local labor standards in density bonus projects, SB 1223 on competitive bidding at fairs, SB 1344 extending anti-SLAPP protections to certain housing-related projects, SB 1371 limiting solid waste contract force majeure clauses during labor disputes, SB 908 on residential window replacement permits, SB 1272 on remedies for preexisting home code violations, SB 1406 targeting the “Montana tax loophole,” SB 1238 on HOA transparency, SB 868 on plug-in balcony solar, SB 903 restricting unlicensed AI psychotherapy advertising, SB 950 on early-onset Alzheimer’s coverage, SB 874 on Medi-Cal behavioral health oversight, SB 1049 on corrected health care claims, SB 1067 on early math screening, SB 1202 on Medi-Cal outreach, SB 944 on acupuncture coverage, SB 957 on notice for federal subpoenas to social media companies, SB 959 on wildfire-related school closures, SB 988 on auto glass insurance practices, and SB 1000 on AI content transparency. Most passed on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes, with a few dissenting votes from members who objected to procurement, labor, privacy, or tax-related provisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• generation infrastructure to the report instead of strictly focusing on, uh, transmission and distribution
• Texas has the largest gas pipeline network, the largest wind energy producer, and the 2nd largest solar
• has seen a rapid increase in the number of boil water notices, especially those caused by low distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1534, rural hospital stability assessment distribution.
• SB 1606, plug-in solar energy requirements. SB 1607, consumer assistance health insurance claims.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, approved the prior journal, and welcomed several guests in the gallery, including Tom Walsh, Lisa Everett, Avery Franz, and Chief Elliot Sneezy. Members also extended well wishes to Senator Farnsworth’s wife, who was hospitalized. The President made a temporary committee appointment, naming Senator Fernandez to the Education Committee for February 4, 2026. The chamber then processed a large number of House messages and first-reading bill referrals covering a wide range of topics, including transportation, taxation, water policy, education, health care, public safety, housing, elections, immigration, behavioral health, and appropriations. Among the notable items were bills on religious institutions and charitable services, alternative fuel tax, school budgets, civics instruction, private school teacher certification, informed consent for medical interventions, rural groundwater management, and multiple appropriation measures for law enforcement, fire incident management, school safety, housing, and social services. Standing committee reports were also received and entered without being read. In other business, the Senate considered the Governor’s nomination of James McCain to the Arizona Board of Regents. The Education Committee recommended confirmation, and the full Senate voted to approve and confirm the nomination by voice vote. After a recess, the Senate returned, received additional first-reading bills and committee reports, announced committee meeting schedules for the following day, and then adjourned until Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• is an important tool because it will allow businesses to get longer-term loans for projects such as solar
• ><00:29:28.960> projects<00:29:29.600> such<00:29:29.840> as<00:29:30.000> solar
• <00:29:30.320> panels loans for projects such as solar panels loans for projects such as solar
• Commissioner of Liquor and Lottery through their associations, that it would result in better distribution

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional performance by four Vermont music therapists, followed by remarks recognizing music therapy as an evidence-based profession and welcoming the performers to the chamber. The body then handled several referral and procedural matters: Senate Bills 212 and 328, and Senate Bill 325 after an Environment Committee report, were referred to Ways and Means under House Rule 35A because of revenue impacts. The House also read HCR 263, congratulating the 2026 Mount Mansfield Union High School Division 1 championship girls basketball team, and members offered brief congratulations and announcements, including a birthday greeting for the Chief of Staff, notice of an art social, and a reminder about the House Adjournment Pool benefiting Good Samaritan Haven. The House voted to move Senate Bill 206, relating to licensure of early childhood educators, from Government Operations and Military Affairs to Human Services. It then took up House Bill 951, the state budget bill, suspended rules to consider it immediately, and voted not to concur with the Senate’s proposal of amendment. The House requested a committee of conference and appointed Representatives Shay, Feltes, and Lumley to serve on the House side, then suspended rules again to message its action to the Senate forthwith. In the orders of the day, the House passed House Bill 902 on amendments to the City of Barre charter, and passed Senate Bills 142, 179, 227, 230, and 298 in concurrence with proposals of amendment. Action on Senate Bill 223, relating to water quality, was postponed for two legislative days. The House then considered Senate Bill 327 on economic development, hearing detailed testimony from the Commerce and Economic Development, Ways and Means, and Appropriations committees. The bill would support small businesses, repeal the VEGI sunset, create hospitality and culinary workforce initiatives, revise the Rural Industrial Development Grant Program, authorize cash rounding when pennies are unavailable, and establish a C-PACE financing program. Ways and Means offered nine amendments, including changes to VEGI limits, grant language, rounding notice provisions, and C-PACE timing and tax clarifications; the House adopted the amendments and proposed the bill back to the Senate as amended.