Transcript Highlights:

• In the report, CDCR noted the class action teams were comprised of six attorneys and 10 administrative
• What kind of work are staff attorneys doing at CDCR? How are they supporting that defense?
• So from an operations side, I deal with some of our CDCR staff attorneys that assist the Department of
• Justice attorneys in gathering information, working with us, doing tours, liaisoning between the department's
• programs, which we're considered a program as and the attorneys that represent us within the court cases

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of Strategy and Growth, previously served 20 years in Iowa's Attorney General's Office. Dr.
• And while big businesses have herds of attorneys and herds of CPAs to figure out what we've done to them
• , the local businesses in downtown anywhere don't have that herd of attorneys.
• need to be really careful before we pile any more stuff on them, unless we have a dedicated herd of attorneys
• that's bigger than the herd of attorneys that big business can have to help them out.

Transcript Highlights:

• The is the attorney general's office.
• ><c> has</c><04:08:08.319><c> a</c><04:08:08.640><c> huge</c> attorney general right now has a huge attorney
• </c><04:09:00.880><c> general</c> know, you know, how the attorney general know, you know, how the attorney
• </c><04:09:16.800><c> general's</c> guiding the attorney general's guiding the attorney general's policies
• </c> giving more money to the attorney giving more money to the attorney general's<04:09:35.439><c> office

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, so I'm an attorney with the Medical-Legal Partnership.
• </c><00:52:15.520><c> with</c> so sorry yeah so um I'm an attorney with so sorry yeah so um I'm an attorney
• </c> service providers so I'm an attorney service providers so I'm an attorney that<00:52:35.680><c>
• Next, we have the Attorney General's Office on Zoom. Okay, I am here in person.
• Deputy Attorney General Andrew Kim.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several transportation and consumer-related bills. HB 496, relating to mamaki tea labeling, drew support from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Weights and Measures, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, which said the bill would help protect a culturally important crop and the Hawaii brand. Members questioned Agriculture about staffing and whether the bill was being used to reopen a package-labeling inspection branch; the department said it currently has no Oahu inspectors for that function but has a place for an additional inspector. No opposition was registered on the measure. HB 978, relating to electric utilities, and HB 1316, relating to DLNR/park reservations, were also heard. HB 1316 received support from State Parks, and members discussed where reservation fees would go and whether the statewide reservation system for three parks would cover its costs; the committee indicated a change would be made so fees go to the special fund. HB 914, relating to water carriers, drew support or comments from the PUC, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Young Brothers, and the Hawaii Harbor Users Group. The main discussion focused on the proposed automatic rate-adjustment mechanism tied to the GDP price index, with members asking for alternative index ideas and questioning whether the PUC already had authority to adopt such a mechanism. Young Brothers said the measure would provide clarity and help recover inflationary costs, while the chair raised concerns about repeated rate increases and asked for further testimony on possible alternative indices. HB 1161, relating to transportation and road usage charges, received support from the Insurance Division, DOT, and the State Energy Office, with comments from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Hawaii Food Industry Association. Members asked whether counties need state authorization to adopt mileage-based charges and why the bill included funding for implementation; DOT said it is helping counties build the data collection and billing system and that Honolulu is handling much of the collection work. A question was also raised about whether plug-in hybrids would be covered, and DOT said vehicles under the federal electric-vehicle definition would be included. HB 1301, relating to transportation network companies, drew opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice, Lyft, and Uber, all arguing that classifying TNCs as common carriers and changing liability rules would raise costs, reduce access, and disrupt the current statewide framework. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• When ballot errors were identified, county election officials and county attorneys moved quickly upon
• When ballot errors were identified, county election officials and county attorneys moved quickly upon
• When ballot errors were identified, county election officials and county attorneys moved quickly upon
• When ballot errors were identified, county election officials and county attorneys moved quickly upon
• </c> um the first six of those as an attorney um the first six of those as an attorney at<01:24:42.239

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• He is the Deputy Division Chief of the Health Care Division with the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney
• I'm the Deputy Chief of the Health Care Division here at the Attorney General's Office.
• And we, you know, always appreciate the support of the Attorney General's Office.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met to discuss workforce issues affecting people who provide services to individuals with disabilities, with a focus on immigration enforcement concerns and an upcoming employment event. Ethan Marks, Deputy Chief of the Health Care Division at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, presented the AGO’s late-January guidance for health care providers and patients on how to respond to ICE activity at health care facilities, what information and access ICE may request, and what protections and access-to-care issues apply. He said the guidance is broad, includes contact information for the Civil Rights Division, and will be updated if federal policy changes. Committee members asked whether residential programs, day programs, DDS/DMH facilities, and similar settings would fall under the guidance; Marks said the guidance is intended to be broad but that specific scenarios may require follow-up with the Civil Rights Division. He also said he was not aware of significant ICE activity at health care facilities so far, though there is fear and some rumors, and members discussed sharing the guidance with hospitals, academic medical institutions, the Health Equity Compact, and other stakeholders. The subcommittee then reviewed plans for a June 23 State House event titled Strength and Support: Networking and Resource Sharing Event for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities, Personal Care Assistance, Job Coaches, and Inclusive Workplaces. The event will feature a panel-style conversation with prepared questions, success stories, challenges to employment, and strategies to improve outcomes, while also highlighting the shortage of direct support and human services workers. Confirmed or potential participants and partners mentioned included Partners for Youth with Disabilities, MassAbility, NextGen, JVS, the Federation for Children with Special Needs, the PCA Council, and the Arc of Massachusetts, which has launched a PSA campaign for direct support worker hiring. The PCA Council’s resume directory for people interested in becoming PCAs was also noted as a recruitment resource. Members suggested inviting employers and other stakeholders to the June event, including Eastern Bank, Mass General Brigham, and possibly representatives connected to apprenticeship programs. The group also discussed reaching out to contacts at the Federation and NextGen, and one member suggested Kathy Pitkowskis as a possible connection. The subcommittee said it would continue outreach and finalize the event details, and noted that the next regular meeting will be August 28, with Patricia Wu from EHS scheduled to provide statewide updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• touring musician, played with several different bands, and became good friends with some prominent attorney
• , one of them being Johnny Cash's attorney, and he encouraged me to go to law school.
• Already, I've been on some of these panels, and I think it does help to have an attorney on it due to

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony from Layton Lenning on his gubernatorial appointment to the Idaho Commission on Human Rights. Lenning described his background as a prosecutor and attorney with experience in employment and entertainment law, and said he would approach the quasi-judicial role by being fair, impartial, and efficient. Committee members asked about his goals for the commission, and he said he had no policy agenda beyond careful, unbiased decision-making. The committee said it would vote on his appointment at a later meeting. The committee also heard from Brian Skagliano, a long-serving member of the Idaho Commission on Human Rights, on his reappointment. Skagliano said he has served nearly 20 years and described the commission’s work as reviewing investigations to determine cause or probable cause in discrimination cases. In response to questions, he said the commission is working through a backlog, expects to be caught up soon, and that roughly 6 to 9 percent of cases result in probable cause findings. He emphasized that many complainants simply want to be heard and receive an explanation, even when a case does not result in a finding of violation. The committee then approved several appointments: Megan Ronk to the Commission on Human Rights and Salvador Cruz to the Treasurer’s Advisory Committee, both with recommendations for confirmation. Finally, the committee introduced RS 32980, a proposed constitutional amendment related to public lands, sponsored by Senator Adams. Supporters said the measure was developed after broad public outreach, while Senator Ruchti noted interest in hearing from tribes, conservation groups, Farm Bureau, and others, as well as in understanding potential fiscal impacts if the state were to manage lands acquired from the federal government. The motion to send the RS to print passed, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:58:44.559><c> for</c> districts to talk to their attorneys for districts to talk to their attorneys
• Um so there attorney general's office.
• Um and and uh the attorney I'm told.
• As attorney Tobin has said in Claremont As attorney Tobin has said in Claremont 1,<04:02:52.560><c> the
• I I mean I'm very fond of attorney that.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She's an attorney who lives in my district. And then sitting to my right, of course, Dr.
• Erica Inzina, again, attorney and policy director. Good morning.
• Erica Inzina, again, attorney and policy director with Louisiana Right to Life.
• We were wondering how an attorney would feel if a paralegal rebranded as an attorney associate or an
• associate attorney. ...rebranded as an attorney associate or an associate attorney, and what would that

Bills: HB611, HB897, HB902, HB931, HB1030, HB1092, HB1100, HB1118, HB1138, HB1143, HB1160, HB1185, HB1216

Keywords: pregnancy help centers, healthcare services, licensure, Department of Health, medical services, counseling, regulatory compliance, public health, healthcare data, privacy, pregnancy services, confidentiality, client rights, Louisiana Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative, trauma-informed, child education, mental health, training program, adverse childhood events, religious instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of you remember him when he was here with the District Attorneys Association. D.C.
• Many of you remember him when he was here with the District Attorneys Association, but he's still very
• Why do we think district attorneys and judges have the expertise to address homelessness?
• Why do we think district attorneys and judges have the expertise to address homelessness?
• But I've heard concerns from other attorneys because of the safety issue and the sensitivity of some

Bills: HB29, HB39, HB77, HB153, HB183, HB211, HB263, HB299, HB324, HB519, HB520, HB533, HB538, HB559, HB562, HB805, HB823, HB1004, HB1011, HB1018

Keywords: insurance fund, retired employees, Ascension Parish, court clerks, premium costs, investment advisory board, HB 39, Act 283, peace officer, law enforcement officer, police certification, citizenship requirement, U.S. citizen, United States citizen, naturalization, lawful permanent resident, green card holder, immigration, public safety, law enforcement hiring

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that there is a role that the Attorney General and the Inspector General's office have, which
• Your duties also require you to file this report that you made public to the Attorney General and the
• Attorney. Have you done that? I have not. Will you do that? It's publicly on our website.
• Attorney Civil Division to ensure that something like this never happens again?
• I'm deeply troubled by the Attorney General's report on the Symphony T-Stop station.

Summary: The committee met to review MassDOT’s failed service plaza procurement and the Inspector General’s findings. Chair Montigny opened with a broad critique of procurement culture, conflict-of-interest risks, and the need for stronger oversight, saying the committee’s role is bipartisan and investigative and that subpoenas would be used if necessary. Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro then summarized his investigatory letter, saying MassDOT had created procedures that could have supported a fair process but did not follow them. He identified eight major problems, including inadequate conflict-of-interest disclosures, undisclosed relationships and communications with Applegreen and Suffolk Construction, violations of contact rules, inconsistent weighting of evaluation subfactors, weak documentation of scoring, unclear information-sharing with subject matter experts, live roll-call scoring that increased perceived bias, and insufficient board/committee review before approval. He recommended clearer disclosure forms, stronger training, better documentation, sealed scoring, clearer rules for internal communications, and more public board involvement. Committee members pressed the Inspector General on whether the conduct violated law, how to define and police “appearance” of conflicts, whether employees should be held accountable, and whether prior evaluators should be excluded from the new process. Shapiro said his report did not conclude that laws were violated, but that the process was seriously flawed and that accountability should be handled within agencies. He also said he would provide additional written recommendations on broader procurement standards and noted that some oversight functions may need clearer definitions and better recordkeeping across agencies and quasi-public entities. The chair and members emphasized that the problems appeared systemic rather than limited to one administration or one contract. MassDOT Interim Secretary Phil Ting and Undersecretary Jonathan Gulliver then described the new procurement approach. They said the prior process had been a failure, but that the new effort is a complete reset with no one from the prior evaluation participating. MassDOT plans to split the plazas into three geographic packages, use a design-build/public-private partnership framework, and create a P3 Commission with appointments from the governor, legislative leaders, and treasurer, plus review by the Inspector General and Attorney General. They said the new scoring will be more objective, with financial scoring set at 60% and based on a guaranteed maximum price and other mathematical measures rather than projected revenues, and that technical and financial evaluations will be separated in a double-blind process. Members signaled cautious support for the changes but continued to question whether the new structure and oversight will be enough to prevent a repeat of the earlier procurement failures.

Transcript Highlights:

• If that's the way our attorneys and our law enforcement and our prosecutors are interpreting current
• </c><00:18:49.120><c> and</c><00:18:49.240><c> our</c> If that's the way our attorneys and our If that's
• I actually worked with Pete Orputt at the Attorney General's Office.
• I actually worked with Pete Orputt at the Attorney General's Office.
• I actually worked with Pete Orputt at the Attorney General's Office.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• 2228 requires a person filing an action under adult protective services to submit a report to the Attorney
• House Bill 2168 requires the Attorney General to obtain consent from the county board of supervisors
• House Bill 2169 asserts the Attorney General is liable for defamation if the Attorney General meets required
• The Attorney General has been really coming against some of the billionaires, is what I look at it.
• For me, for the Attorney General to use her nuisance powers as a threat is coercion, and I just don't

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting covered a long series of bills, mostly in health, education, commerce, federalism, and government. In health, members discussed radiology technology updates (HB 2050), a tribal Medicaid waiver/drawdown measure with no state cost (HB 2177), an emergency medicine study committee (HB 2183), fetal death certificate and remains-transfer requirements (HB 2184), a physician assistant licensure compact (HB 2190), dementia care telemonitoring funding (HB 2202), SNAP error-rate reduction and fraud/eligibility oversight bills (HB 2206, HB 2442, HB 2797), child welfare protections like credit freezes and recorded interviews (HB 2321, HB 2322), and podiatric licensure compacts (HB 2438). Several of these were described as consent-calendar items, while HB 2206 and the SNAP-related measures drew discussion about fraud reduction, administrative burden, and work requirements. In commerce and finance, the committee heard bills on mobile food vendors and local permits (HB 2118), earned wage access services with fee caps and disclosure rules (HB 2309), CPA licensure changes (HB 2476), cash acceptance for retail purchases under $100 (HB 2555), drone delivery and unmanned aircraft guardrails (HB 2875), timeshare salesperson licensing (HB 2877), and a prohibition on state-mandated social credit scoring in lending decisions (HB 2903). The tax and retirement-related items included 529 plan conformity and Roth IRA transfer rules (HB 2477), annual tax conformity to the Internal Revenue Code (HB 2785), ASRS technical and disability-related changes (HB 2089, HB 2090, HB 2092), and a bill on employee health insurance definitions (HB 2089). The Arizona Commerce Authority bill (HB 2754) would add legislative members to the board and shift more control over trade offices and Arizona Competes Fund spending to the legislature. The education section focused heavily on school governance and finance. Bills included patriotic youth group presentations in schools (HB 2312), school board term limits (HB 2318), mandatory training for governing board members (HB 2379), independent municipal advisors for bond elections (HB 2320), restrictions on districts buying operating charter/private school sites to game enrollment formulas (HB 2376), conflict-of-interest limits for school facilities board architects and engineers (HB 2378), public meeting and travel transparency rules for districts (HB 2380), limits on long-term school property leases and reporting requirements (HB 2384), tighter bidding rules for school construction job orders using Building Renewal Grant funds (HB 2482), and a voluntary computer science proficiency seal (HB 2764). Sponsors repeatedly framed these as transparency, accountability, and anti-abuse measures, while some opposition centered on local flexibility, housing use, and existing training providers. In federalism and government, the committee heard bills to give counties more time to mail sample ballots (HB 2006), require courts to identify veterans at first appearance for possible veterans court referral (HB 2226), study veterans’ awareness of benefits (HB 2406), broaden military leave protections (HB 2663), require SAVE verification for voter registration and certain state services (HB 2806), require U.S.-sourced voting machine components by 2029 (HB 2901), affirm the Electoral College (HB 2902), and establish due process protections for justice of the peace courts against outside administrative action (HB 2976). Government committee items included a later deadline for library trustees’ annual reports (HB 2129), a two-year limit on certain adult protective services reports to the Attorney General (HB 2228), and an exemption for public and semi-public cold plunges from ADEQ spa rules (HB 2439). Several bills were reported as consent-calendar items, and a number of sponsors noted committee votes, fiscal neutrality, or favorable testimony in support of the measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can and should look to staff the Board of Veterans' Appeals with attorneys that have demonstrated
• , H.R. 2303, introduced by Representative Morgan McGarvey, increases the promotion potential for attorneys
• THE BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS WITH ATTORNEYS THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA
• , ATTORNEYS WHO ARE EXPERIENCED AND WHO CAN SEE BEYOND QUOTAS AND METRICS TO APPLY THE LAW TO THE MAXIMUM
• People who were denied the right to call for an attorney.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He added that he had heard from Texas-based attorneys who refuse NDAs as part of their trauma-informed
• One attorney said, "I've never in 30 years of practice had a deal blow up because of this issue."
• that refuse NDAs as part of attorneys that refuse NDAs as part of their<00:29:48.000><c> uh,</c><00:
• </c><00:48:11.599><c> uh</c><00:48:11.839><c> Mike</c> appoint you to um our attorney uh Mike appoint
• you to um our attorney uh Mike Harper<00:48:13.040><c> um</c><00:48:13.280><c> also</c><00:48:13.680

Bills: HB63, HB19, HB80, HB41, HB20, HB60, HB100, HB71, HB91, HB93, HB63, HB19, HB80, HB41, HB20, HB60, HB100, HB71, HB91, HB93

Keywords: paternity, child custody, joint custody, parental rights, family law, domestic violence, shared parenting, Ebony Alert, missing youth, public safety, law enforcement, racial equity, human trafficking, victim restitution, civil action, criminal prosecution, labor servitude, sexual servitude, class A felony, class B felony

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that is covering the attorney administrative costs for that rulemaking. Thank you, Mr.
• On page two, line 17, regarding the amount for the Attorney General Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement
• Chair, Representative Herndon, I believe that's just for the litigation expenses for the Attorney General
• Moving on, Madam Chair, members, I'm on page two of your packet and looking at the Attorney General's
• to the general government agencies, I'll just ask Diego if he had anything to highlight on DA or attorney

Summary: The Department of Public Safety presented its FY27 budget request, emphasizing three priorities: improving community engagement through a redesigned website and outreach, expanding statewide data and intelligence integration through intelligence-led policing, and improving emergency response and officer safety through fleet replacement, a driving track, and a requested helicopter. DPS said much of its increase is driven by rising health care premiums, and it is also seeking special appropriations for fleet replacement, the website rebuild, and an Honor Guard program created after the 2022 helicopter crash that killed four public servants. Members asked about vacancies, fleet costs, cybersecurity compliance, the real-time crime center, EV fleet participation, and the Metro DPS facility. DPS said its vacancy rate is about 9%, its fleet replacement needs are driven by mileage and condition, it is compliant with federal CJIS standards even though DoIT has raised concerns, the real-time crime center would be built as a regional model to complement Albuquerque’s center, and the Metro facility is moving toward a January groundbreaking. Committee members also discussed several DPS-related capital and IT requests, including the intelligence-led policing data lake, recurring maintenance for critical systems, and a $5.6 million reauthorization for state crime lab DNA backlog work and a $900,000 reauthorization for fingerprinting equipment. DPS explained that the website request is high because the current site must be rebuilt from scratch to support missing-person alerts, memorial updates, ADA compliance, and better communication with law enforcement and the public. Members also raised concerns about speed enforcement, construction-zone cameras, and whether EVs are practical for patrol use; DPS said it is not pursuing speed cameras and is only partially participating in the state EV initiative because patrol needs make full electrification difficult. The committee then received an LFC quarterly update on non-recurring appropriations from the 2025 General Appropriation Act. LFC reported that of the $1.4 billion appropriated in Section 5, $164 million had been expended and $333 million encumbered, leaving $897.4 million unspent, which is a slower pace than the prior year. Staff highlighted a number of reauthorization requests and slow-moving projects across agencies, including AOC cybersecurity funding, DFA housing and public safety grants, DoIT cybersecurity and higher education funds, EDD economic development and energy programs, OSI mitigation and malpractice funds, EMNRD energy and geothermal grants, Health Care Authority behavioral health-related appropriations, DPS crime lab and fingerprinting funds, PED career technical education and special education initiatives, and higher education loan repayment and technology funds. Members questioned why some large appropriations had little or no spending, discussed the need to monitor reauthorizations more closely, and asked for follow-up on several specific line items and project balances.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> come to you from the u attorney come to you from the u attorney general's Yes, Madam Chair.
• So, these modifications were offered in consultation with the Attorney General's Office.
• And the provisions with regard to the attorney general's reporting requirements were added in the finance
• </c><00:23:48.880><c> general's</c><00:23:49.520><c> reporting</c> to the attorney general's reporting
• to the attorney general's reporting requirements<00:23:51.360><c> were</c><00:23:51.679><c> added</c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As attorney Ricard just alluded to, we did submit a conditional approval on this.
• </c><00:07:32.400><c> Um</c><00:07:33.280><c> as</c><00:07:33.680><c> attorney</c> Employment Security
• Um as attorney Employment Security.
• Um as attorney Ricard<00:07:34.639><c> um</c><00:07:34.800><c> just</c><00:07:35.120><c> alluded</c><
• Ricard from OS um which can be attorney Ricard from OS um which can be seen<00:07:51.240><c> on</c><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, approving the consent calendar and the minutes. It then took up a Department of Employment Security rule, 24193, where the only issue was that a form had not been incorporated by reference. The department submitted an oral conditional approval request with revised language, and the committee approved the rule conditionally. A second Employment Security rule, 195, raised concerns that the notice language was too broad and vague and could amount to oral rulemaking; because the agency had not yet finalized revised language, the committee granted a one-month waiver so the rule could return next month with a conditional approval proposal. The Department of Safety’s contact person notification program rule, 24237, drew comments about Social Security number collection, unclear drafting on one section, and ambiguity about which application needed a signature. The agency agreed to remove Social Security number references from the rules and forms and to adopt the suggested clarifying language with minor edits. After discussion about why the identifiers were needed, the committee approved the rule conditionally with the oral changes. The committee then moved a previously consent-calendar item, OPLC rule 2547, off consent after Representative Maguire objected that the renewal application form was too health-care-focused and user-unfriendly for other professions; the agency said it would revisit the form, and the committee postponed action until next month without needing a waiver. The final major item was Fish and Game’s HB 2548, which changes licensing and permit rules for taking deer, bear, moose, turkey, and furbearing animals. Staff noted extensive public testimony, including a coalition submission, and said the main dispute was over what data the agency should rely on in setting seasons and take limits. Fish and Game explained that declining trapper participation made capture-per-unit-effort data less reliable, so it also uses hunter surveys and UNH research projects funded in part by federal money; the agency said current trapping removals are very low and do not appear to threaten populations. Committee members and public witnesses questioned whether the agency’s responses to comments were sufficiently specific under the new public-comment law, but no final vote on the Fish and Game rule was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please understand, the attorney general voiced strong opposition, stating, quote, "The only prohibition
• Please understand, the attorney<00:43:19.119><c> general</c><00:43:19.440><c> voiced</c><00:43:19.760
• ><c> strong</c> attorney general voiced strong attorney general voiced strong opposition,<00:43:20.800
• 48:34.480><c> the</c> an ill-informed former opinion of the an ill-informed former opinion of the attorney
• </c><00:48:36.240><c> It's</c> attorney general. It's not in law. It's attorney general.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And um I believe Attorney Rickard has And um I believe Attorney Rickard has stated<01:02:37.720><c> um
• Chair, I do have a question for one of the attorneys over there who's...
• Um, I'm Attorney Dave Hiltz from the Department of Safety.
• Um I'm Attorney Dave Hiltz &gt;&gt; Good morning.
• Attorney Rickards tried to throw me Attorney Rickards tried to throw me under<03:06:42.400><c> the</c

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with quorum and seating issues, including the temporary appointment of Representative Shaw to fill in for a House member, followed by approval of the previous minutes and the consent calendar. Two items were then postponed to next month: Mechanical Licensing Board item 25-241 and Board of Veterinarian item 25-223. The committee then took up Department of Energy rulemaking on distributed energy resources interconnection procedures, including items 25-220 and related sections on fees, additional controls, and equipment. The Department explained revised language to address concerns that the original draft improperly suggested agency or PUC approval of utility fees; under the amended language, utilities would set fees designed to recover costs, with complaints handled through existing complaint procedures. Committee members and the Department discussed the statutory basis for that approach, including cost responsibility versus fee-setting authority. Public testimony was mixed. A small solar developer argued the rules still exceed statutory authority, impose unfair costs on customer generators, and allow utilities to shift transmission-related study costs onto interconnecting customers. Clean energy advocates supported the Department’s revised language but asked for clearer limits on charging customers for later-added controls, arguing costs should be tied directly to the customer’s interconnection and not to later utility-driven changes. Eversource supported the revised fee language, said most prior concerns were resolved, and recommended conditional approval, while also suggesting a minor wording change in the “Additional Equipment” section to clarify that only operational performance is covered.