Transcript Highlights:

• , who's responsible to upgrade that system, the electrical system within that unit?
• It will help lower housing costs, speed up construction, and expand affordable housing.
• And then we wonder why the cost of housing is so darn expensive.
• that you could charge at the municipal level in order to recover that modest cost.
• So the cost of that is not huge.

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related bills. AB 2002 would clarify and extend the REAP 1.0 regional housing planning grant program, with the author and regional planning groups arguing it provides needed technical assistance for housing elements and RHNA compliance; the California Building Industry Association opposed unless amended over concerns about local constraints. The committee discussed accepted amendments on regulations, suballocation to subregions, and spending deadlines, and then passed the bill on a do pass as amended motion to Senate Appropriations. AB 1684 would prohibit HOAs from restricting homeowners’ ability to install or replace cooling systems, with supporters citing heat safety and opponents focusing on building integrity, electrical capacity, permits, and common-area placement; the committee adopted amendments on licensed electrical contractors, disclosure, and permit requirements, and passed the bill to Senate Judiciary. AB 1710 would extend SB 330-style vesting protections to state and regional agencies so housing projects are not subject to later regulatory changes, with supporters emphasizing predictability and opponents warning it could conflict with later state, regional, and federal requirements, especially for water and environmental rules; the bill was passed as amended to Senate Local Government. The committee also heard AB 2263, which would authorize the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to provide employee housing on its land with a preference for VTA workers while keeping units open to the public and compliant with fair housing law. VTA said the bill would help employees facing long commutes and high housing costs, and the committee discussed financing through transit-oriented development partnerships and existing land holdings; the bill was passed as amended to Senate Appropriations. AB 2270 would require the state tax credit committee to account for rural realities when scoring farmworker housing projects for low-income housing tax credits; supporters said current amenity-based scoring disadvantages rural farmworker developments, and the bill was passed as amended to Senate Appropriations. Later, AB 2118 would refine AB 2011 by limiting local objective standards that can block mixed-use and affordable housing projects, with supporters saying cities still use loopholes to delay projects; the committee discussed possible state mandate reimbursement issues and passed the bill to Local Government. Finally, AB 2050 would require HOA reserve funding based on reserve studies, add notice and safeguards for reserve transfers, and phase in funding over six years; supporters argued it would prevent large special assessments and protect homeowners, while opponents said enforcement remains weak and the bill could still burden owners. The committee did not take a final recorded vote on AB 2050 in the portion provided, but members discussed the need for stronger enforcement and the balance between reserve funding and affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:07:40.880><c> for</c> most demand for electricity, for most demand for electricity, for example
• </c> really efficient and cost-saving really efficient and cost-saving measures. measures. measures.
• </c><00:39:16.400><c> deferral,</c> investments, encourage cost deferral, investments, encourage cost
• </c> changes that ultimately shift costs changes that ultimately shift costs rather<00:39:26.480><c>
• </c> administrative cost to me. administrative cost to me. That's<02:45:19.359><c> all.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• done quickly, also on cost.
• of transmission costs.
• is to assign cost to those who created those costs.
• to the grid pay for that cost.
• And we want improved cost outcomes. allocation, making sure that those who cause the cost pay the cost

Bills: SB 6 , SB6 , SB504 , SB765 , SB815 , SB929

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• And then section three deals with retail electric providers.
• Electric. Henderson has um uh its own Electric.
• So, these are your electric providers.
• I have an electric bill that was that.
• And in a state like Virginia, for instance, in the last five years, their electricity costs have gone

Committee: House Economic Development & Workforce Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• Or a few states even had an exemption for electricity used by the data centers.
• It cost us $275,000 per job.
• I'm declaring Electricity consumption evaluation.
• There's the cost for each job created. But isn't that a cost for each job created? Shouldn't it be?
• One of them, Land Recovery Landfill in Pierce County, produces electricity.

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on August 4, 2026, with all five commissioners present. The commission approved the May 26, 2026 minutes, welcomed new commissioner Diane Tabilius, and re-elected Andy Knopfsiger Meadows as chair and Dr. Sharon Keiko as vice chair. JLARC staff also introduced two Evans School interns who are assisting with preliminary research for the 2027 review cycle. JLARC presented preliminary findings on seven tax preference reviews, focusing most heavily on the Main Street communities credit, the Equitable Access to Credit Program, and the urban data center exemption. Staff concluded that the Main Street preference has helped increase the number of communities and businesses and recommended continuing it, while also recommending that DAHP collect more detailed and standardized business-count data. The Equitable Access to Credit Program was found to support underserved communities and was also recommended for continuation. The urban data center exemption was found to have been used only for refurbishment projects, not new construction, and staff recommended letting it expire; commissioners and Representative Paulette discussed the need for better performance measures, cost-per-job analysis, and clearer legislative intent language in tax preference statements. Staff then reviewed airplane modification, landfill biogas, automotive adaptive equipment, and housing for people with developmental disabilities. The airplane modification preference was found to likely support jobs and state tax revenue and was recommended for continuation. The landfill biogas preference was also recommended for continuation, with a suggestion for more detailed reporting on use and renewable natural gas production. The automotive adaptive equipment exemption was found to continue providing relief to disabled veterans and service members and was recommended for continuation, while the housing transfer exemption for adults with developmental disabilities had not been used and was recommended to expire. No public testimony was taken at this meeting, and the commission noted that public testimony would be heard at its September meeting before final comments are adopted in October.

Transcript Highlights:

• their products, is cost of electricity.
• I mean, those are states that the cost of electricity wasn’t the driver.
• of electricity, what’s the cost of labor, what’s the cost of land, and then from there, we’ll put it
• Cost of electricity here is high.
• Cost of electricity here is high.

Transcript Highlights:

• by electric utility cooperatives.
• used to supply electricity to systems used to supply electricity to farmers<00:08:46.959><c> and</c><
• </c> owned by electric utility cooperatives. owned by electric utility cooperatives.
• </c> costs savings to the general fund. costs savings to the general fund.
• </c> first on the spreadsheet is the electric first on the spreadsheet is the electric cooperative<00

Bills: HF9

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• So they have no way of covering the costs of operation when they have to take this electricity onto their
• You're destroying our businesses and you're artificially inflating the cost of electricity and you're
• We're telling Minnesotans we're going to lower their electric cost.
• </c><02:28:34.319><c> The</c> going to lower their electric cost.
• The going to lower their electric cost.

Transcript Highlights:

• So some of these bigger costs are the contributing factor.
• So some of these bigger costs are the contributing factor.
• This is Section C405 and Section C406, reducing unnecessary cost burdens on projects.
• This is section C 405 and section C 406, reducing unnecessary cost burdens on projects.
• Lower insurance costs are critical to more affordable housing.

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• And I will say that industrial electricity rates are already very high in Minnesota.
• And I will say that industrial electricity rates are already very high in Minnesota.
• And I will say that industrial electricity rates are already very high in Minnesota.
• And I will say that industrial electricity rates are already very high in Minnesota.
• :33:53.159><c> electricity</c><00:33:54.159><c> without</c> free generating electricity without free

Transcript Highlights:

• But it comes with real costs.
• costs than their diesel counterparts, makes going electric less competitive than diesel buses even when
• deploying diesel buses instead of electric.
• As it's been said, electric school buses do carry a larger upfront cost but save school districts money
• So this large upfront cost of electric school buses thereby subjects them to a punitive tax that I believe

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 17 miscellaneous and late-file bills, with testimony focused on several local tax and policy measures. The first major item was H. 4687 for Watertown, which would make permanent a temporary tax classification adjustment allowing the city to maintain a 50% minimum residential factor and a 175% commercial shift. Watertown officials and legislators said the change is needed because the city’s commercial growth has triggered an old statutory formula that would otherwise push a larger share of the tax burden onto homeowners, especially seniors and fixed-income residents. They said the current temporary relief expires in fiscal 2027 and warned that, without permanent action, residential tax bills could rise sharply; committee members asked about the regional business impact, commercial taxpayers such as Alexandria Real Estate, and Watertown’s stabilization and free cash balances. The committee also heard H. 4435, a Charlemont bill authorizing a tax on commercial recreation services. Town officials said the measure would help a small rural town with a large tourism and recreation economy cover increased police, fire, and EMS costs caused by visitors, while reducing pressure on local property taxpayers. A committee member questioned whether the proposal fit within existing tax law and whether it was more like a tax on entry than on services; town witnesses responded that it would apply to recreation-related services such as guides and lifts and was modeled on the meals and rooms tax. Finally, testimony was taken on H. 4722, which would promote fair tax treatment for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including electric school buses and trucks, by capping sales and excise taxes at the level of comparable diesel vehicles. Supporters said the bill would remove an unintended tax penalty, help school districts and transportation providers afford electrification, and remain revenue-neutral. Representative Gentile also testified in support of H. 4722 and H. 4755, a Sudbury bill to amend the town’s means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption so the local program can continue without requiring a new special act if it lapses. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Electrical design work brings much-needed clarity and consistency to Texas's electrical life cycle.
• I'm a licensed master electrician, electrical contractor, and the owner of James Francis Electric in
• Master electricians have always had the ability to design electrical systems, even prior to the Electrical
• In closing, for my entire career and over two decades of state electrical licensing, it is the electrical
• The permitting cost and complexity is burdensome for us.

Bills: HB589 , HB705 , HB1842 , HB1874 , HB2349 , HB2614 , HB2827 , HB3012 , HB3214 , HB3308 , HB3385 , HB3529

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: cosmetology, licensure, interstate compact, state regulations, public safety, workforce mobility, charitable raffles, nonprofit, wildlife conservation, ticket sales, fundraising, master electrician, electrical work, occupational licensing, work scope, Texas law, Texas Real Estate Commission, TREC, real estate broker, sales agent

Transcript Highlights:

• This will alleviate a lot of the issues in DOT because it's about cost overruns, job costs, how much
• I'm saving on electricity.
• My car did not cost. more than the average electric vehicle.
• In fact, it cost less because we shopped around, and the car dealers have at that time lowered the cost
• vehicle, and it sounds like the electric company is giving a pretty good deal on the electricity.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Our evolving economy and public policy are driving electricity use.
• Since 2020, the cost of transformers has, on average, gone up 60% to 80%.
• The cost of specialty steel is 60% to 80% more today than it was in 2020.
• The cost of structural aluminum is 50% more than it was in 2020.
• The cost of structural aluminum is 50% more than it was before.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills related to transportation, utilities, housing permitting, and port financing. Substitute Senate Bill 6309 would give regional transit authorities, such as Sound Transit, more flexibility to apply for permits before acquiring property, exceed certain local height/setback limits when needed for rail systems, and use development agreements to vary local standards; the sponsor and Sound Transit testified that the bill would speed delivery of light rail and bus rapid transit, and an amendment was described to allow permits on property not yet owned if the transit authority remains responsible for obtaining property rights. Substitute Senate Bill 6076 would streamline procurement rules for public utility districts on clean energy, storage, transmission, and distribution projects by raising self-performance and contract thresholds, allowing limited noncompetitive procurement in certain reliability or specialized-technology situations, and extending some provisions until 2045; supporters from PUDs, labor, and industry said the changes are needed because of rising costs, long lead times, and grid reliability demands, while committee members asked about the size of the threshold increases and the scope of the bidding waivers. Substitute Senate Bill 5729 would prohibit local governments from charging applicants for third-party plan review when a licensed local staff professional of the same discipline has already reviewed the materials, while still allowing third-party review at the applicant’s cost in certain cases; the sponsor said the bill was narrowed from a broader version and was intended to prevent duplicative fees, and builders supported it as a permitting streamlining measure. Senate Bill 6132 would create a narrow debt-limit exception for the Port of Moses Lake to support a rail project and preserve federal funding eligibility; the port and economic development supporters said the project is ready to bid and needs additional borrowing capacity because of inflation, and the sponsor clarified that the bill is intended to apply only to that port. Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5374 would require tribal governments to be included in transportation planning coordination under the Growth Management Act and create a tribal traffic safety coordinator grant program; the sponsor emphasized severe pedestrian fatality disparities for Native people and said the bill is about consultation and safety, while county representatives supported the policy goal but asked for clearer cross-references to existing GMA consultation and dispute-resolution processes. The committee also took up Substitute Senate Bill 6070/6076-related testimony and, at the end of the hearing, announced that bills would be executed the next day and amendment requests should be submitted as soon as possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• We saw the impact of some of these high energy costs recently, where the New Hampshire Electric Co-op
• We saw the impact of some of these high energy costs recently, where the New Hampshire Electric Co-op
• The CDC wholesale cost is $859, and the commercial cost is $26.
• </c> shop uh what the cost would be my cost shop uh what the cost would be my cost for<02:19:23.240><
• Personnel cost, negotiation cost, back room costs.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 224, which would redirect most money from New Hampshire’s renewable energy fund back to electric ratepayers. The bill sponsor argued the measure would lower energy costs, noting recent utility rate increases and estimating annual savings of roughly $2.5 million to $7.3 million for ratepayers. Supporters said the fund has accumulated money that should be returned to customers rather than used for subsidies, and they emphasized that the state has already rebated similar funds from RGGI for years. Opponents, including Rep. Kat McGee, argued the renewable energy fund is a successful, nonlapsing dedicated fund that supports local clean-energy projects, energy resilience, emissions reductions, and private investment. McGee said the fiscal note overstated the benefit of rebates and understated the loss of investment, claiming the average annual rebate would amount to less than $10 per customer while the program has helped leverage significant private dollars and nearly 10,000 projects. She urged the committee to reject the bill as a poor deal for the state and ratepayers. Committee members questioned the fiscal note, the size of the rebate, whether the bill would set a precedent for other dedicated funds, and whether the program’s incentives amount to picking winners and losers. The Department of Energy testified neutrally, explaining how the renewable energy fund works, including renewable energy credits, alternative compliance payments, and the fund’s use for renewable energy initiatives. No vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, they can recoup the cost of maintenance and the cost of electricity, so the users will be paying
• for electricity and the cost of operations and maintenance.
• We can impact the cost of goods sold, the cost of construction, you know, by rules and regulations.
• That um had a cost.
• Um, as you are aware, the cost of everything has gone up due to inflation, the cost of.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a saying that we have out west: 'The cost causer is the cost payer.'
• In fact, we've had the lowest cost. In fact, we're decreasing in cost.
• If we have abundant water, we can have cheap electricity, and then cheap electricity in turn allows us
• In fact, we've had the lowest cost. In fact, we're decreasing in cost.
• any electric turbines.

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to review prior minutes and hear a series of presentations on advanced nuclear technology and state readiness. The committee approved the April 21, 2022 minutes. Nucleon’s William Bridge outlined the advanced nuclear landscape, distinguishing near-term light-water SMRs from more advanced Gen 4 reactors and microreactors, and emphasized that fuel supply, especially HALEU, remains a developing supply chain. He said light-water designs are the most deployable in the near term, while advanced reactors may be better suited for industrial heat applications and could face a 2- to 3-year delay from fuel availability. Representatives from NASEO described how other states are supporting advanced nuclear through task forces, roadmaps, pilot programs, financing tools, workforce and supply-chain efforts, and regional coordination. They highlighted the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative and stressed that states are focusing early on emergency preparedness, community engagement, waste management, affordability, and consumer protections. They also noted that some states are creating nuclear-ready community programs and cost-recovery guardrails, while public utility commissions are examining long-term lifecycle costs and rate impacts. North Dakota agencies then outlined their potential roles. The Public Service Commission said it would likely be involved in public-interest review, siting, and rate regulation, but noted current statutes may not fully address long-term nuclear projects, co-location, or decommissioning. The Department of Environmental Quality said it would continue to regulate radioactive materials and likely support emergency planning, while fission reactor oversight remains federal. The Department of Emergency Services said it would serve as the lead off-site preparedness agency, needing a radiological emergency program, training, exercises, equipment, and possibly industry funding. The Department of Water Resources said North Dakota has sufficient surface water, especially from the Missouri River, but that water planning would be important; it did not recommend statutory or budget changes at this time. The committee recessed for lunch after these presentations, with no additional votes or actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The continuous operation of the electric grid is in the public's best interest.
• I've sat in a lot of hearings and I've done some math listening to costs in the past.
• To our members, the section on electrical infrastructure is critical.
• poles, and other related electrical equipment.
• They will be looking at electrical power lines, poles, and other electrical-related equipment, which

Bills: SB34 , SB75 , SB330 , SB1535 , SB18 , SB 18 , SB 34

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, volunteer fire department, Texas A&M Forest Service, West Texas A&M University, prescribed burning, fuel loading, fuel reduction, firefighting equipment database, emergency communications, disaster preparedness, rural fire protection, asset hardening, natural resource management, emergency management, large wildfire risk, fire grant funding, fire suppression, Texas Legislature

Transcript Highlights:

• You are watching the cost of premiums and rates go up under utilities.
• But as written, House Bill 2275 imposes high costs on rural Washington's electric co-ops without solving
• I think the cost of this—I'm supporting the amendment.
• I think the cost of the study would way offset the potential costs that we would see to our budgets if
• Sometimes it's just the high cost of food that can be affecting things.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2275, which would create a Wildfire Prevention and Protection Fund and a new council to oversee utility wildfire mitigation, claims payments, and related administration. Staff explained that investor-owned utilities would be required to participate, consumer-owned utilities could opt in, and utilities would pay annual contributions and maintain approved wildfire mitigation plans to qualify for claims coverage. The prime sponsor, Rep. Christine Reeves, said the bill was intended to address wildfire liability, support prevention, and create a more comprehensive statewide approach to wildfire risk. Members asked about retroactivity to July 1, 2021, utility contribution limits, and whether the bill would lower rates or improve mitigation funding. Public testimony was split. Supporters included the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Department of Natural Resources, wildfire survivors, and several wildfire and insurance advocates, who emphasized the need for compensation, stable funding, prevention, and better resilience planning. Opponents included several utilities, utility associations, business groups, and public utility district representatives, who argued the bill would shift uncapped costs to ratepayers, lacked clear liability reform and solvency protections, and could be vulnerable to future fund sweeps. Some witnesses cited California’s wildfire fund as a model, while others said Washington needed a broader, more holistic solution focused on prevention and liability reform. No vote was taken on HB 2275; the public hearing was closed after testimony. The committee then moved to executive session on House Bill 2238, which directs the Department of Agriculture to develop a statewide food security strategy and adds food security coordination and food system performance monitoring to the department’s duties. Four amendments were adopted: L-061, requiring consideration of regulatory cost metrics and periodic competitiveness reporting; L-062, directing the strategy to recommend legislative actions to make food more affordable and reduce food assistance need; L-060, adding people with lived experience of food insecurity and BIPOC small farmers to consultation requirements and focusing on root causes of hunger; and L-063, adding fuel and labor cost tracking to agricultural viability metrics. Amendment L-064, which would have required a consultant study on proposed agricultural labor legislation, failed on a 5-6 roll call vote. The committee then adopted the amended substitute and reported Substitute House Bill 2238 out of committee with a due pass recommendation by an 11-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• administrative costs.
• And it prohibits Ecology from double allocating no-cost allowances to an electric utility and the facility
• under certain circumstances. ...allocating no-cost allowances to an electric utility and the facility
• electric utilities to mitigate the cost burden of the program on data center customers starting in calendar
• With these elements included, this law can protect consumers from the high electricity cost of serving

Summary: The committee first suspended the five-day notice rule and then heard House Bill 2521 on firearm background check fees. Staff explained that the bill would remove the $18 fee cap and allow Washington State Patrol to set fees based on actual program costs, which could be about $33 to $35 per check. Supporters said the change was needed to keep the background check system operating and avoid delays and layoffs; opponents argued it would burden lawful gun owners and amount to an unconstitutional tax or barrier to a constitutional right. No vote was taken in the hearing. Members then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language-accessible public programs, which would direct the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines, address interpreter and translator shortages, and require agency implementation reporting. Testimony was strongly supportive, emphasizing the need for consistent access for limited-English-proficient residents and the benefits for schools, families, and state services. The committee also heard Second Substitute House Bill 2479 on wage recovery, which would create a wage recovery fund to provide partial advance payments to low-wage workers with meritorious unpaid wage claims and adjust wage penalty provisions. Employers, labor advocates, and legal services representatives largely supported the bill as a bipartisan, worker-protection measure funded by penalties rather than the general fund. The committee next took up Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 on renewable energy tax incentives, which would replace existing property tax and excise tax provisions with a new state and local renewable energy excise tax structure and related grant programs for local governments and tribes. Counties, utilities, developers, and tribal representatives generally supported the bill’s goal of stabilizing tax treatment for renewable projects, though several witnesses said they wanted amendments to address rates, timing, and late-stage project impacts. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5932 on alternative jet fuel incentives, which would change the timing and duration of existing tax preferences; supporters said it would provide certainty for emerging sustainable aviation fuel projects, while one refinery sought clarification and a broader county threshold. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2238 on statewide food security, directing the Department of Agriculture to monitor food system performance and develop a statewide food security strategy. Agricultural groups, grocers, anti-hunger advocates, and farmers supported the bill as a coordination effort to improve food access, affordability, and supply chain resilience. The committee then heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1903, which would create a statewide low-income energy assistance program through the Department of Commerce; supporters said it would address growing unmet need and complement existing utility programs, while opponents said it did not address the root causes of rising energy costs. Finally, the committee heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2416 on waste-to-energy facilities under the Climate Commitment Act and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2515 on large energy-use facilities (data centers), both of which drew mixed testimony centered on balancing emissions, ratepayer impacts, reliability, and environmental or tribal concerns. No final votes were taken in the hearing.