Transcript Highlights:

• credits, including the award of tax credits by the Board of Public Utilities to the developers of energy
• storage projects under existing programs, and the provision... ...utilities to the developers of energy
• Eric Belongan, New Jersey Energy Marketers Group.
• Here's a free cup of coffee with any purchase if you come back, or you drink a lot of energy drinks and
• You don't buy any energy drinks, so you get a coupon for a new type of coffee, something like that.

Committee: Senate Senate Budget and Appropriations

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our climate plans for energy and transportation do not include the impact of AVs.
• The data that we need to implement AVs safely also comes at a cost of energy use from data centers, and
• we don't know how such energy use complies with our climate targets or not, or impacts water use or
• If you're going to be in it, you know, for example, you can, you can, you know, the human's energy to
• He had a natural prism-like energy about him that brought people together, and he was dearly loved by

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on 46 bills covering bicycle and pedestrian safety, autonomous and specialty vehicles, street design, and related transportation issues. Chair Jim Arciero and Senate co-chair Brendan Crighton opened the hearing, noted that Senate Bill 2347 was postponed at the sponsor’s request, and explained the hearing procedures. No votes were taken during the hearing. A major portion of testimony focused on autonomous vehicles. Labor representatives from the AFL-CIO, Teamsters, Machinists, and app-based driver organizations opposed bills that would authorize fully autonomous vehicles, arguing they could displace workers, weaken bargaining power, increase congestion, and create safety and data-privacy risks. Waymo and Chamber of Progress supported legislation creating a framework for autonomous vehicles, saying the technology has strong safety results and could improve mobility and economic opportunity, but they opposed provisions requiring a human operator in the vehicle. Transportation and environmental advocates urged stronger oversight, local control, crash-data reporting, and privacy protections before deployment. Several bills on pedestrian and bicycle safety drew support from advocates and affected residents. Testimony backed measures to improve crosswalk timing for slower pedestrians, raise penalties for crosswalk violations, expand truck sideguard and safety-device requirements, and improve roadway marking reflectivity. AARP, MassBike, and other advocates emphasized the need to protect older adults, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users, while some speakers opposed bills expanding e-bike access to sidewalks and natural-surface trails, citing safety concerns. The committee also heard strong support for the Blue Envelope program for drivers with autism and developmental disabilities, with testimony from the Arc of Massachusetts, the Developmental Disabilities Council, families, and individuals describing how the program can reduce misunderstandings during traffic stops and crashes.

Transcript Highlights:

• , a concurrent resolution stating findings of the legislature and supporting advancement of state energy
• , a concurrent resolution stating findings of the legislature and supporting advancement of state energy
• Good Senators, this bill has to do with wind and geothermal energy tax revenue and local taxing districts
• Secretary will read the bill: In the House of Representatives, House Bill 593 by the Environment, Energy
• Secretary will read the bill: In the House of Representatives, House Bill 714 by the Environment, Energy

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hydrogen will play a critical role in California's clean energy future and will create many high-quality
• Public confidence in this is essential to the successful deployment of this critical energy resource.
• Public confidence in this is essential to the successful deployment of this critical energy resource.

Summary: The Assembly Emergency Management Committee met late in the evening and first approved a consent calendar containing SB 837, SB 894, SB 973, and SB 1079, sending those bills to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 904, which would codify coordinated state response and permitting review efforts for wildfire recovery, and SB 1263, which would limit post-disaster debris removal work to properly licensed contractors with required hazardous-materials training. Both bills drew support from the authors and industry/public-safety witnesses, with SB 1263 also drawing an opposed-unless-amended position from contractors who said they were working toward agreement on final language. Both measures passed to Appropriations on unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The committee next heard SB 804, the Hydrogen Pipeline Safety Act, which would designate the State Fire Marshal as the safety regulator for interstate hydrogen pipelines and require hydrogen-specific safety standards. The author and supporters from building trades and pipe trades argued the bill would provide clear safety rules before hydrogen infrastructure expands, while one industry witness said the correct agency had been identified but that some concerns remained. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations, with Assemblymember DeMaio voting no. Finally, the committee considered SB 883, which would impose additional oversight on facilities storing methyl methacrylate and other reactive chemicals after a recent Orange County evacuation tied to a potential explosion risk. Supporters, including community, environmental, and public-health groups, said the bill would improve transparency, emergency planning, and safety protections near homes and schools. Chemical and manufacturing groups opposed the bill in its current form, citing undefined terms, concerns about mandated cooling systems, and possible conflicts with existing regulatory frameworks, but said they were willing to continue working on the measure. The bill passed to the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials on a 4-2 vote, with Assemblymembers Hadwick and DeMaio voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, your Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water has had consideration of Senate Bill 1445
• I move the Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee amendment be adopted.
• I move the Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee amendment be adopted.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water has under consideration Senate Bill
• Madam Chair, your Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water has under consideration Senate Concurrent
• Madam Chair, your Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water has under consideration Senate Concurrent

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and several points of personal privilege recognizing guests, including a newly graduated Army servicemember, the Doctor of the Day, and members of Delta Sigma Theta visiting for Delta Day at the Capitol. The chamber also adopted a proclamation designating April 10, 2026, as Founders Day in the City of Tolleson, with remarks highlighting the city’s history and the Whoopi Days Festival. The House then appointed a conference committee on HB 2874 after voting not to concur in Senate amendments. The House considered several bills in Committee of the Whole. On SB 1058, a floor amendment offered by Rep. Gutierrez to address gun trafficking, merchant codes, and related enforcement tools failed by a vote of 17-32, and the bill was then recommended do pass. SB 1094, dealing with civil liability related to gender transition procedures for minors, drew extended debate over constitutionality, medical liability, and impacts on physicians and patients, and it was also recommended do pass. SB 1136, SB 1422, and SB 1663 (with a Blackman floor amendment adopted) each received do pass recommendations. Later, the House adopted Committee of the Whole reports placing SB 1075 and SB 1202 on third reading, retaining SB 1419 on the calendar, and advancing SCM 1004 and SCM 1007. On third reading, the House passed SB 1024, SB 1148, SB 1232, SB 1293, and SB 1586, with members explaining votes on issues including vehicle registration, Supreme Court administration, outdoor advertising and zoning, GPLET tax policy, and state agency matters. The chamber then recessed briefly for announcements and personal privilege remarks, and finally adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water has had under consideration Senate
• Madam Chair, your Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water has had under consideration Senate
• Madam Chair, your Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water has had under consideration Senate

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• People report using kratom for energy and alertness, focus and productivity, stress and relaxation, physical
• over the eastern Snake Plain Aquifer to reduce their consumptive use of irrigation water, conserve energy
• over the eastern Snake Plain Aquifer to reduce their consumptive use of irrigation water, conserve energy

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're in pancake mixes, energy drinks, ice cream, cookies, cake mixes, et cetera.
• We're in pancake mixes, energy drinks, ice cream, cookies, cake mixes, et cetera.
• Some of the same products that you celebrate weddings with, that you drink to have energy when you're

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a salesperson offering services through a supposed government program aimed at making homes more energy
• A low-income senior approached at home with the false promise of energy savings and government subsidies
• Chair and members, Delaney Hunter on behalf of the Solar Energy Industries Association, we are happy

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to mineral leases for energy development, revenue for the PUF and Available University Fund
• Renewable energy is a growing source of revenue with several solar and wind energy developments placed

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Transcript Highlights:

• foreign trade. foreign waterborne export tonnage, as well as one of the largest petrochemical and energy
• 1949, headquarters in Austin, TFFA supports both the retail and wholesale sectors of the state's energy
• Association plays a critical role. driving Texas economy and ensuring the continued success of our energy

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS HOME HAS RESILIENCY MEASURES LIKE THE IMPACT WINDOWS, DOORS, AND BUILT WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN
• IMPACT WINDOWS, DOORS ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN A MATTER OF MONTHS AND IMPACT
• WINDOWS, DOORS ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN A MATTER OF MONTHS AND EVERYTHING

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:55.240><c> This</c><00:08:55.440><c> is</c> Energy Storage Vehicle Account.
• This is Energy Storage Vehicle Account.
• First, the state's building renewable energy storage and electric vehicle account.
• energy storage upgrades at state-owned facilities.
• </c> litigation coming with the 2040 energy litigation coming with the 2040 energy bill<00:43:24.360>

Bills: HF2783 , HF2603 , HF2846 , HF2354 , HF1836 , HF2713 , HF1198 , HF1389

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• And I really want to see the focus on energy that is going to be a serious issue as a community that
• And I really want to see the focus on energy that is going to be a serious issue as a community that
• Energy is going to be a serious issue as a community that we're going to have to face, right, making
• And perhaps if you had people that were dedicated specifically to energy, under your direction, that
• And perhaps if you had people that were dedicated specifically to energy, under your direction, that

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection heard the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs present its biennium budget request for fiscal years 2025 to 2027. Director Nainoa Ando said the department’s requests were primarily special-fund ceiling increases to meet operational needs. Major items included an additional $12 million to complete the King Kamehameha V Post Office building roof project after hidden deterioration and water intrusion were discovered, plus funding related to fringe benefits and central services assessments. The department also outlined requests for a new medical compact implementation cost, an auditor position, an engineer position, and a captive insurance IT modernization project. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the Office of Consumer Protection’s landlord-tenant call line and public service access. Senators raised concerns that callers often reach voicemail, are told to leave a message, and sometimes are referred to look up the law themselves. DCCA said the Oʻahu line is staffed by one full-time employee backed by two to three investigators, with one investigator each on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, and that calls are tracked in a case management system. The department said it plans to add one more Oʻahu staff position through a transfer from another division and that a new call-center/web system with time tracking is expected to go live in the summer. Members also discussed a possible bill related to Pearson VUE nursing certification testing, with one senator describing the burden on neighbor-island nursing graduates who must travel to Honolulu for a one-hour test. The senator said she intended to introduce legislation after receiving no response to repeated outreach. DCCA did not take action on that proposal during the hearing. For the PUC-related requests, the department explained a one-time $1 million request for outside consulting tied to Maui wildfire-related filings, including wildfire safety mitigation and hazard mitigation plans, and a separate $900,000 request through the Consumer Advocacy Division to hire consultants for review and analysis. The committee also discussed a captive insurance IT modernization request, which DCCA said would replace manual and spreadsheet-based processes with a cloud-based system to better handle filings, payments, and workflow; no vote or final action was taken on the budget items during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy will come to order
• including trail construction, watershed restoration, wildlife habitat enrichment, fuel reduction, energy
• It is also worth noting that there are no fully funded fire crews or GGRF energy crews at Greenwood,
• center funding that was mentioned, and the funding for Cal Fire, in consultation with the Office of Energy
• Center funding that was mentioned, and the funding for Cal Fire in consultation with the Office of Energy

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will begin today with the 1:00 hearing of the Committee on Housing and the Committee on Energy and
• There being no further business, the joint hearing with the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental
• with the business, the joint hearing with the Committee<00:05:07.120><c> on</c><00:05:07.240><c> Energy
• </c><00:05:07.560><c> and</c> Committee on Energy and Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental<00:05

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Housing, Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, and later Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Housing, heard several resolutions related to affordable housing and the East Kapolei transit-oriented development area. SCR 48 and SR 47 proposed declaring that affordable housing credits are perpetual until redeemed, and testimony from DHHL, OPSD, and NAIOP Hawaii supported clarifying that intent. The committees voted to pass SCR 48 and SR 47 unamended. The committees then considered SCR 107 and SR 101, which were amended to make clear the resolution applies only to the City and County of Honolulu and will be carried out in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Land Management and the Department of Planning and Permitting. Those measures were recommended for passage with amendments and adopted by the committees. In the later joint hearing, SCR 68 and SR 63 addressed the East Kapolei TOD project, urging DLNR to transfer certain parcels to HHFDC and urging HHFDC to work with HCDA on the non-housing portions of the project. Testimony from DLNR, HHFDC, HCDA, and DHHL focused on the balance between housing and revenue-generating or light industrial uses, the need for an EIS and market study, and the possibility of MOAs to memorialize agreements. After discussion, the committees amended the resolutions to prioritize rental housing as well as for-sale housing and to require MOAs before the board, then passed SCR 68 and SR 63 with amendments by unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water has HB 2889, and your Committee on Judiciary has
• SB 1137, Natural Resources, Energy and Water. SB 1146, DCS. SB 1149, Periodic.
• appropriations; SB 1402, Crimes against children; SB 1418, Corporation Commission; SB 1419, Solar energy
• SCR 107, San Carlos; Natural Resources, Energy and Water. SCR 110, Impeachable; Judiciary.
• SCR 1029, Mine inspector; Natural Resources, Energy and Water. SCR 2040, Justices; Judiciary.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But in this poster, you see a variety of beverages ranging from 4-ounce sizes similar to energy shot
• unlikely that someone would drink just one-tenth of a can of root beer or one-tenth of a 4-ounce energy-shot
• When enforcement energy is consumed by debating these gray areas in the regulated market, fewer resources
• When enforcement energy is consumed by debating these gray areas in the regulated market, fewer resources
• When enforcement energy is consumed by debating these gray areas in the regulated market, fewer resources

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee heard an audit on the Department of Cannabis Control’s oversight of cannabis packaging and labeling, focused on whether products are attractive to children. The auditor said the department’s rules are often vague, enforcement is inconsistent, and licensees are left to interpret standards without prior review. In a review of 80 packaging cases, the audit team disagreed with the department’s conclusions in 13 instances, and the report highlighted examples involving cartoon imagery, colorful fonts, candy-like references, flavor names, and cannabis beverages that resembled ordinary drinks. The auditor recommended clearer statutory definitions, possible consideration of plain packaging or pre-approval models like Oregon’s, better internal guidance, and stronger tracking and escalation for repeat violators. Committee members and Assembly Member Irwin emphasized the rise in poison control calls involving children under five since legalization and argued that legal-market packaging can contribute to accidental ingestion, especially when products resemble candy or drinks. Several members pressed the department on why items such as root beer, strawberry lemonade, and cherry pie strain names should be allowed if they may appeal to children. The Department of Cannabis Control responded that it has already centralized label review, added staff and technology tools, improved compliance-history tracking, and is using progressive discipline tools such as notices to comply, citations, embargoes, abatements, and license actions. The department also argued that the illicit cannabis and intoxicating hemp markets are major drivers of youth exposure and that enforcement resources must be balanced across those markets. Public health witness Dr. Lynn Silver urged stronger restrictions, including plain packaging, bans on added flavors and child-appealing imagery, lower THC limits for edibles and beverages, and a dedicated pre-market review process. Industry representatives from the California Cannabis Industry Association and the California Cannabis Operators Association agreed that youth protections are essential, but argued that clearer, objective standards are needed so compliant businesses can know the rules and enforcement can be consistent. They said most licensed products are already compliant, that the most blatant youth-targeted packaging is concentrated in the illicit market, and that the Legislature should refine definitions and guidance rather than rely on subjective case-by-case judgments. No formal vote or bill action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we want to focus our... ...energies on those vessel classes, particularly on the conversions, that
• Right, and work with Vigor and with Siemens Energy and the other, in Glouston, and all of our vendors
• We actually have met with them recently and talked about the clean energy credits that they, that program
• And so has Siemens Energy, our consultant. It's all... We've learned a lot through that.
• And so has Siemens Energy, our consultant. And so there's a lot of things that went in.

Summary: The committee met to hear an update from Washington State Ferries on capital projects and workforce issues, beginning with a briefing on the agency’s long-term fleet and terminal needs. WSF officials described the history of underinvestment after the late 1990s, the current fleet reduction from 25 to 21 vessels, and the need to keep older boats in service while moving toward a 26-vessel long-range fleet and hybrid-electric operations. They said the agency is transitioning to a new vessel procurement strategy, with Eastern Shipbuilding selected to build up to three 160-car hybrid-electric ferries, and outlined a schedule that includes contract execution, about a year of design work, steel cutting in fall 2026, and several years of construction. Members raised concerns about the higher cost of electrified vessels, the length of the schedule, the adequacy of liquidated damages and incentives, the risks of building in Florida and transporting vessels to Washington, and whether the contract sufficiently protects the state from cost overruns and design problems. The committee also received an update on the Wenatchee conversion, which officials said is days away from entering service as the first large hybrid-electric ferry conversion. WSF explained that the conversion combined required midlife preservation work with propulsion upgrades and battery installation, and that the project took longer and cost more than originally expected because it was a prototype with significant lessons learned. Officials said the Tacoma and Puyallup conversions would follow later, but those decisions were being delayed until after the World Cup to avoid service disruptions. Members asked about the cost-effectiveness of the conversion, the expected fuel and emissions reductions, and what happens to engine crews during long conversion periods; WSF said crews were embedded in the project and that the conversions should reduce diesel use substantially once terminal charging is available. The meeting then shifted to workforce development, with Siegel consultants reviewing their 2021 and 2024 studies of ferry staffing, overtime, recruitment, and workplace culture. They said the earlier problems stemmed from seasonal staffing practices, low winter hours, limited career progression, a narrow maritime recruiting pipeline, and a culture that made retention difficult. Since then, they reported major improvements: staffing has increased from about 1,500 to 1,900, turnover has fallen, captain and engineer shortages have eased, and recruitment has broadened beyond the traditional maritime pool, including more women and other underrepresented workers. They credited new programs such as guaranteed hours, paid pilotage, AB-to-mate pathways, and the “Turning of the Tide” culture campaign, while noting remaining issues with communication, HR access, accountability, and quality of life. Members generally acknowledged the progress but asked whether staffing levels are now sufficient and how interchangeable crews are across vessels and routes. Finally, terminal engineering staff began a presentation on capital terminal work, starting with the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal. They described the terminal’s age, low elevation, vulnerability to sea level rise and earthquakes, and the need for replacement piles, beams, and improved vehicle circulation. The agency said it has completed a planning and environmental linkage study, is moving into NEPA/state environmental review, and has been working with the community to balance the needs of Southworth and Vashon riders with neighborhood concerns in Fauntleroy. The preferred alternative is a larger offshore dock footprint that would improve capacity and reliability while reducing impacts to eelgrass habitat. The meeting ended before the terminal discussion was complete.