Video & Transcript : 'Washington State Energy Code' :
Page 376 of 500
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Nov 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Three, state support.
- including Washington and Arizona do.
- With our local governments and with our states, I understand the state formula.
- We I mean, people in our state are called outside the state to demonstrate what we are doing here.
- states, is facing head on.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Taxes Committee considers bill creating new income tax tier to increase local, county aid Apr 29th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> bordering states being 7% or more less. bordering states being 7% or more less.
- We are overtaxing our citizens in this state. We do not have a taxing problem in this state.
- We are overtaxing our citizens in this state. We do not have a taxing problem in this state.
- We do not have a taxing problem in this state. We have a spending problem in this state.
- </c> the state? Do we Do we know that number? the state? Do we Do we know that number?
Summary:
House File 4845 was presented as a tax modernization and local aid bill that would adjust Minnesota income tax brackets for inflation, add a new top bracket of 10.85% for high earners, and increase local government aid and county program aid beginning in 2026. Representative Hollins said the bill would strengthen local government funding and require the Department of Revenue to recertify aid distributions. The chair noted the bill would be laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill.
Supporters, including St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter? no, Mayor Kelly Her of St. Paul, AFSCME Local 34, and Rebuild Minnesota, argued that cities and counties need more stable revenue to cover rising costs, public safety, human services, and property tax pressure. They said the bill would help local governments meet unmet needs and reduce reliance on property taxes. Opponents from the Minnesota Business Partnership and Minnesota Chamber of Commerce argued the new top rate would hurt competitiveness, talent recruitment, and business investment, especially because many businesses pay through the individual income tax code. Some testifiers also opposed directing more aid to cities that they said restrict housing development, while others urged the committee to address unfunded mandates and fraud instead of raising taxes.
During member discussion, Representative Joyce opposed creating another bracket and suggested using cannabis tax revenue instead. Representative Wiener said the state has a spending problem and cited fraud concerns, while Representative Roach questioned whether the bill truly helped greater Minnesota and noted the current LGA appropriation is just over $644 million. Representative Hollins responded that the proposal would mostly benefit greater Minnesota by shifting more of the tax burden to high earners in the metro area. No vote was taken; the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Mar 10th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It is requiring a report for the State Liquor Division on encouraging and evaluating the use of energy
- The State Liquor Division language on encouraging and evaluating the use of energy and utility rebates
- So I'm just asking the state to go after those rebates to reduce some of the cost to the state.
- So they make money for the state.
- So they make money for the state.
Summary:
The committee first took up Idaho Transportation Department budgets. It approved increases for the Transportation Services Division, including deferred maintenance, airfield improvements, aeronautics facilities maintenance, replacement items, IT hardware, and health benefit costs. It also adopted reappropriation language for capital facilities and aeronautics programs. The Division of Motor Vehicles budget was then approved for replacement items and IT hardware, followed by Highway Operations funding for roadside safety, tree removal, new and replacement equipment, IT hardware, and a small personnel transfer. The committee also approved Contract Construction and Right-of-Way Acquisition funding, including a large general fund transfer and language allowing accounting corrections and reappropriation authority. All of these items received due pass recommendations.
The Department of Agriculture budget was next. The committee approved two FY 2026 supplementals: one for quagga mussel treatment costs from the Invasive Species Fund and another for pest monitoring and control from the General Fund to the Pest Control Deficiency Fund. It then approved FY 2027 enhancements for replacement items, IT hardware, and health benefit costs, along with reappropriation language for the Resilient Food Systems Grant. The State Liquor Division budget was also approved, including ongoing inflation adjustments, replacement items, and IT/security hardware. However, a proposed reporting requirement on energy and utility rebates for the Liquor Division failed after the Senate did not support it, so that language was not adopted.
The Secretary of State budget drew the most discussion. The committee approved a one-time voter pamphlet appropriation and an internal transfer for overtime, but rejected a substitute motion that would have imposed an additional base reduction. The Secretary of State testified that the office was already dealing with major filing backlogs and an earlier rescission, and that further cuts would slow business filings and election-related work. The committee then approved the original motion. Finally, the Office of the State Public Defender budget was approved for six new trial attorney positions, data migration and storage costs, IT replacement items, and health benefit funding. The meeting ended with notice of the next day’s budget-setting agenda and adjournment.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Apr 28th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- the United States.
- Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. I saw the images of the St.
- Rejected in Cuba, rejected in the United States, forced to go back to Europe.
- , not here in the state of California.
- and states around the country.
Summary:
The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Members then handled several procedural motions, including suspending rules to allow committee hearings and guest access, re-referring bills, and removing one bill from the consent calendar. The chamber also observed Holocaust Remembrance Day with a lengthy ceremony and remarks from many members across caucuses, emphasizing the importance of remembering the Holocaust, combating antisemitism and other forms of hate, and supporting survivors and descendants. ACR 59, the California Holocaust Memorial Day resolution, was adopted by voice vote after 76 coauthors were added.
After the ceremony, the Assembly took up the daily file. AB 390, which strengthens California’s “slow down, move over” highway safety law, passed 64-0. AB 439, making small changes to the Coastal Act and reporting requirements, passed 44-11 after debate over Coastal Commission oversight. The body also approved a rules waiver to allow the Education Committee to meet on AB 1468. Later, AB 50, allowing Medi-Cal enrollees to access over-the-counter contraceptives without a prescription, passed 67-0 urgency and 67-0 overall; AB 55, streamlining alternative birth center licensing, passed 68-0; AB 596, protecting workers’ right to wear masks or respirators unless there is a direct safety hazard, passed 53-8; AB 631, requiring animal shelters to post intake and outcome data, passed 60-0; and AB 792, allowing consolidated negotiations for court interpreter contracts, passed 52-1.
The Assembly also passed AB 867, banning cat declawing, by 68-0 after bipartisan support; AB 1089, expanding local permitting authority for Western Joshua Tree projects, by 16-0; and AB 1154, clarifying ADU rules, by 63-1. SCR 57, proclaiming Dolores Huerta Day, was adopted 66-0. The second-day consent calendar was then adopted 71-0. The session concluded with adjournment-in-memory remarks for Mary Hammer, a longtime San Lorenzo Valley community leader and environmental advocate, followed by recognition of her family and friends in the chamber.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Feb 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- we have here from the federal state and local government shares continue to work with FDLE and State
- They also deployed to Washington, D.C., recently to serve on behalf of the state of Florida for the President
- As the state of Florida is.
- of Florida, primarily human smuggling in crossing state to state borders and national borders in the
- Duke Energy and Florida power and light don't provide 100% of the energy in the state.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Feb 4th, 2025
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security
Transcript Highlights:
- back from all every country in the world and every state, United States of America, trying to make themselves
- They also deployed to Washington, D.C., recently to serve on behalf of the state of Florida for the President
- throughout the state of Florida.
- throughout the state of Florida.
- But Duke Energy in Florida and Power & Light don't provide 100 percent of the energy in this state.
Summary:
The committee heard a series of domestic security and law enforcement presentations from the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Highway Patrol, and FDLE. Sheriff Rob Hardwick outlined the sheriffs’ legislative priorities, focusing on adding xylazine to Florida’s trafficking statute and increasing penalties for luring or enticing a child under 12 from a misdemeanor to a felony. He also discussed domestic security coordination, fusion center intelligence sharing, and jail-based reentry efforts. Members asked about xylazine prevalence in Broward County and whether canine units can detect it; Hardwick said he would follow up with data and noted that dogs are not specifically trained for xylazine, though fentanyl-certified dogs may alert on mixtures.
Chief Charlie Vasquez of the Florida Police Chiefs Association presented three priorities: stronger protections for law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and their families when threatened because of their jobs; faster and more consistent access to blood-borne pathogen testing results after exposure incidents; and mandatory life without release for anyone convicted of murdering a police or correctional officer, reviving a version of the Jason Raynor Act. Senators asked about delays in blood testing after exposure, and Vasquez said officers can be forced to take prophylactic medication while waiting for results and that the process should be streamlined.
Florida Highway Patrol Director Dave Kerner described FHP’s domestic security role, including criminal interdiction, canine units, traffic homicide investigations, aviation, drones, border operations, and responses to threats such as human smuggling and the October 7-related security posture at synagogues and campuses. He said staffing remains constrained by vacancies and pay disparities, so he was not seeking more authorized troopers at this time. FDLE Deputy Commissioner David Binder then reviewed the state’s domestic security structure, fusion centers, critical infrastructure assessments, and grant funding, warning that federal homeland security dollars have declined sharply while threats remain high. He highlighted work on drone mitigation, radiological detection, vehicle barriers, and school security assessments, and emphasized the need for continued interagency coordination. The committee took no formal votes and adjourned after the presentations and questions.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Housing Jun 21st, 2026 at 09:00 am
Joint Committee on Housing
Transcript Highlights:
- State legislation on this critical issue must continue apace.
- These codes were not adopted through careful study and analysis.
- You, as the state government, can get them unstuck.
- And Salem was one of the better staffed communities in the state.
- The governor has stepped up with a 10-year, state-first-ever state housing plan and with the creation
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Housing
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on zoning, Chapter 40B, and related housing bills. Much of the testimony focused on the “Yes in My Backyard” bill (H. 1572/S. 962), which would expand by-right development of missing middle housing, reduce barriers such as minimum lot sizes and parking mandates, and support duplexes, triplexes, and other small-scale housing. Supporters included housing advocates, developers, local officials, and municipal leaders from places like Cambridge, Salem, and Braintree, who argued that state action is needed because local zoning often blocks needed housing and that the bill would help create more affordable, neighborhood-compatible homes. Several witnesses also backed a companion “Yes in God’s Backyard” bill (H. 2347), which would allow faith-based institutions to build housing on their property by right, with testimony emphasizing the potential for new units, added municipal tax revenue, and partnerships between religious organizations and housing developers.
The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 1021 to modernize Chapter 40R incentives. Senator Pavel Payano and others said the program’s payments have not kept pace with inflation since 2004 and should be increased to better encourage smart-growth zoning near transit and town centers. Another major topic was H. 2298 on site plan review, which would codify and standardize the process in state law. Rep. Kristin Kassner and witnesses from MAPC and NAIOP said current site plan review practices vary widely across the state, creating confusion, delays, and litigation, while a uniform framework would give municipalities clearer tools to review by-right projects without undermining local oversight.
The hearing also included testimony on Chapter 40B reform, including S. 1005 and H. 1537. One witness supported further review of 40B and stronger regional planning, while another backed a proposal to allow certain pre-2010 40B condominium owners to sell at market value under a framework that would recapture some of the subsidy benefits. Committee members asked several questions about local zoning changes, housing goals by county, and how the proposed bills would affect communities. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chairs indicated that written testimony would be welcomed for technical details and additional comments.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Geothermal energy debate program.
- Co-chair Switzinski, that is Xcel Energy. Xcel Energy is there, okay.
- spent on energy.
- This is why the majority of states provide energy assistance in the summer, including other northern
- So I can't tell you for the entire state, but for the folks who apply for energy assistance, we check
Committee:
House Energy Finance and Policy
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House OKs $15.4 million supplemental public safety package 5/4/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- These are the programs that serve victims across the state.
- The amendment to the amendment is coded A22.
- Paul, and Mike's family, particularly his wife Julie, they took that to Washington.
- </c> duty death in the state of Minnesota. duty death in the state of Minnesota.
- They took that to Washington. And Julie. They took that to Washington.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Senators, Todd Lakey, State Senator from District 23.
- Essentially, our numbers are low because we don't have reciprocity in our state with Washington or Oregon
- I am Angelo's intern for the state.
- From my point of view, I'm an intern for the state.
- There are only six states that license these folks.
Committee:
Senate Health and Welfare
Summary:
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee first approved the March 4 and March 5, 2026 minutes, then heard House Bill 935, which would consolidate the Board of Denturity into the Board of Dentistry as part of occupational licensing reform. Senator Lakey said the merger would save money, address the denturist board’s negative cash balance, and preserve separate scopes of practice while giving denturists a seat on the combined board. Supporters from the Idaho State Dental Association and DOPL emphasized public safety, efficiency, and lower fees, while denturists and their representatives argued the change would create a conflict of interest because dentists and denturists compete for the same patients and dentists could influence education, licensing, and scope-of-practice decisions. After debate, the committee voted 4-3 to send HB 935 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
The committee then took up House Bill 913, which would begin implementing federal Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults and use a three-month look-back period before the January 1, 2027 effective date. Representative Van de Woude said the bill would help the state prepare budgets and give enrollees time to meet requirements such as work, job training, school, or community service. Testimony split between supporters, who framed the bill as encouraging responsibility and independence, and opponents, who warned that the added administrative burden could increase errors, costs, and confusion, especially while the department is already handling managed care and other Medicaid changes. Hospital, child advocacy, and other opponents urged a one-month look-back instead of three, while the sponsor defended the three-month period as better for long-term compliance and smoother implementation.
The committee rejected a substitute motion to send HB 913 to the 14th order for possible amendments, then voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The final vote on the motion passed after discussion, and the committee adjourned after completing its business for the day.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Mar 26th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Senators, Todd Lakey, State Senator from District 23.
- The smallest groups of licensed folks in the state.
- Essentially, our numbers are low because we don't have reciprocity in our state with Washington or Oregon
- I am Angelo's intern for the state.
- From my point of view, I'm an intern for the state.
Summary:
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee first approved the March 4 and March 5, 2026 minutes, then heard House Bill 935, which would consolidate the Board of Denturity into the Board of Dentistry as part of occupational licensing reform. Senator Lakey said the merger would create efficiencies, reduce costs, and help address the denturist board’s ongoing deficit, while preserving separate scopes of practice and giving denturists a seat on the combined board. Supporters from the Idaho State Dental Association and DOPL-backed testimony said the change would maintain public protection and lower fees; denturists and their association opposed the bill, arguing it creates a conflict of interest, could allow competitors to influence education and licensing standards, and could threaten access and patient choice. After debate, the committee adopted a motion to send HB 935 to the floor with a due pass recommendation by a 4-3 roll call vote.
The committee then took up House Bill 913, which would begin implementing the federal Medicaid work/community engagement requirements for able-bodied adults ahead of the January 1, 2027 deadline. The bill proposed a three-month look-back period and a process intended to give enrollees notice and time to comply before the federal requirement takes effect. The sponsor argued this would help the state prepare budgets, spread out redeterminations, and give people time to meet the requirements; supporters said it would encourage work and independence. Hospital, children’s advocacy, and other opponents warned that the three-month look-back would add administrative burden, increase costs, and risk erroneous coverage losses, with some urging a one-month look-back instead. After a failed substitute motion to send the bill to the 14th order for possible amendments, the committee voted to send HB 913 to the floor with a due pass recommendation and then adjourned.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Section 39-1118, Idaho Code, relating to immunization, repealing Section 39-4801, Idaho Code, relating
- Amending Chapter 48, Title 39, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new section 39-401, Idaho Code, to define
- Amending Chapter 48, Title 39, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new section 39-408-2, Idaho Code, to
- Prostitution is already a crime in the state of Idaho.
- Boise State University is here.
Summary:
The House convened with 69 members present and one absent and excused, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the journal. Members also received notice that Representative Donald Hall had designated a substitute and that Senate Bill 1222, dealing with domestic wells and related water provisions, had been transmitted from the Senate and referred to the Resources and Conservation Committee. The House introduced House Bills 572, 573, and 574, covering pediatric transition-related parental rights, concealed carry instruction, and medical mandate/immunization changes, and sent them to Judiciary for printing. Several bills and memorials were advanced on the calendar, including measures on transportation tax, private forest land, federal land policy, human trafficking, unmanned aircraft systems, and artificial sweeteners.
The main floor debate centered on House Bill 493, which would make purchasing sex a felony on a first offense for those 21 and older, while keeping a misdemeanor-first-offense structure for ages 18 to 20. Supporters argued the bill would better combat human trafficking by targeting demand and closing a gap in current law when a buyer does not know the person is being trafficked; opponents raised concerns about unequal treatment by age, the fiscal impact of incarceration, and whether the law should instead treat both parties equally or rely on existing trafficking statutes. The House passed HB 493 by a vote of 50-19, and the title was approved for transmission to the Senate.
House Bill 514 was then taken up and described as allowing students to take a state test after completing 80% of coursework so they can enter the workforce sooner. With no opposition, the House passed HB 514 by a vote of 69-0, approved the title, and transmitted it to the Senate. The remaining third-reading bills were held one legislative day by unanimous consent. The House then moved to announcements, including committee meeting notices and several caucus, reception, and visitor announcements, and adjourned until 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Press Conference: High Speed Rail Apr 28th, 2025 at 09:04 am
Transcript Highlights:
- I'll say, first, that the state of Texas is the eighth economy of the world.
- The state of Texas is the eighth economy in the world.
- Texas is a big state in land, in spirit, and in possibility.
- Texas is a massive state, and we want to cut that connection time and make Texas.
- This is—we can bring Texas into the late '90s and have it be really big for the state.
Keywords:
House Bill 483, high-speed rail, transportation network, Texas, public testimony, rail connectivity, economic development
Summary:
The meeting was a press event in support of House Bill 483 and its Senate companion, SB 424, which would repeal the current state ban on high-speed rail investment and direct TxDOT to partner with a private entity to develop a Dallas-Austin-San Antonio rail line along the I-35 corridor. Rep. John Bucy, County Judge Andy Brown, Rep. Rafael Anchia, Rep. Ray Lopez, and Sen. Sarah Eckhardt all argued that Texas’ population growth and highway congestion make passenger rail a necessary transportation alternative and a long-term economic development tool. They emphasized benefits such as reduced commute times, improved mobility, lower congestion and emissions, stronger workforce access, and better connections between major metro areas.
Testimony focused on the Texas Triangle as a strong candidate for high-speed rail because of its population density, flat geography, and existing growth patterns. Speakers cited examples from other places, including Florida’s Brightline and rail systems in other countries, to argue that Texas is behind and could catch up through public-private partnerships. They also discussed transit-oriented development, last-mile connections through local systems like DART and Austin’s Project Connect, and the possibility of future expansion beyond the initial corridor. In response to questions, Bucy said the bill would allow TxDOT to seek bids and keep costs flexible, that the line would likely require dedicated high-speed track, and that express service could reduce Austin-San Antonio travel time to roughly 30 minutes and Austin-Dallas to under an hour and a half, though no launch date was set.
No formal vote or committee action was taken in the transcript. The event ended with Bucy saying the bill was a positive step and could become a bipartisan effort to build a more connected Texas.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Apr 21st, 2025 at 12:30 pm
North Dakota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Somewhere it's going to be paid for, I believe, by the state.
- Their point is that this doesn't save the state money.
- It's the second largest one in the state. I have some experience in this area.
- The state premiums are running about $700 million.
- It is the right thing to do for our state employees.
Summary:
The Senate reconvened and handled several House messages and conference committee appointments before taking up a series of bills. It appointed conference committees on Senate Bill 2265 and House Bills 1454, 1448, and 1524. The chamber also adopted a Senate amendment to House Bill 1216, delaying its effective date for the copay accumulator prescription drug bill to January 1, 2026, with later renewal timing for non-PERS plans.
House Bill 1216 then came up for final passage. Senators debated whether allowing copay accumulator programs to count manufacturer coupons toward deductibles would help patients with expensive drugs or unfairly shift costs to insurers and other policyholders. Supporters said it would help people afford life-saving medications and that the coupon payments go to pharmacies, not insurers; opponents argued it could raise premiums and create perverse incentives for drug pricing. The bill passed 29-18. The Senate also concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 2160, which changes health insurance benefits under the Uniform Group Insurance Program to move from a grandfathered to a non-grandfathered plan, with supporters emphasizing added benefits and flexibility and opponents warning of higher costs and irreversible changes. That bill passed concurrence 33-14 and final passage 39-8.
The Senate next concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 2339, the wildfire mitigation bill, which requires utility mitigation plans to be updated every two years, incorporate national electric standards, and creates a rebuttable presumption of reasonable care if the plan is followed. The bill then passed final passage 46-1. The chamber also adopted conference committee reports and passed House Bill 1460 on adult foster care and monitoring devices, House Bill 1440 on cigar lounge tobacco use, and Senate Bill 2374 on insurance-related provisions including property insurance arbitration, managed repair programs, and surplus lines issues; SB 2374 also added a study on towing and recovery coverage. The session ended with announcements of upcoming conference committee meetings and adjournment until April 22, 2025.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Jan 28th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- They are serving rural, tribal, and urban communities across the state. The state.
- Code Red Defense. Thank you, NDI, thank you, dancers, thank you.
- , both the state and local communities.
- parks, providing to veterans residing in the state one day use pass for unlimited entry into state parks
- Operated by the State Parks Division of the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (05/27/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- You're present in 38 other states. We have been present in all 50 states.
- </c> the state board of education. the state board of education.
- </c> educator code of conduct into this. educator code of conduct into this.
- </c> system in our state. So, thanks. system in our state. So, thanks.
- So, regardless what they think in Washington, D.C., this is not Washington, D.C.
Summary:
The committee opened hearings on SB 69, including a germane amendment on school board votes to accept or reject gifts and donations, and a non-germane amendment creating a virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program for preschool children not yet in kindergarten. Prime sponsor Rep. Glenn Cordelli said the literacy program was modeled on earlier HB 671, would be funded through gifts and donations rather than state appropriations, and would include reporting requirements to the governor and legislature. Members questioned changes from the earlier bill, including the move away from center-based language, the lack of a dollar threshold for school board action on donations, anonymous gifts, and whether the amendment preserved enough evaluation data.
Testimony on the donation provisions raised concerns about broad language, timing, and public-meeting requirements. Rep. Timothy Han and Becky Wilson of the New Hampshire School Boards Association both noted that school districts already have policies and asked how the bill would work for routine donations, anonymous gifts, and situations that might require non-public discussion under right-to-know law. Wilson cited examples such as field-trip scholarships, backpack drives, and sports uniforms, and said the association was not taking a position but wanted clearer guardrails. Rep. Han said school boards may need to discuss some gifts in non-public session and that the bill should better address those circumstances.
On the early literacy amendment, Wilson and others questioned whether the program was sufficiently developed, whether it was appropriate to rely on a primarily online model for very young children, and how it would interact with special education services and IEPs. A representative from Waterford.org, Rob Riley, testified in support, saying the program would be supplementary, adaptive, and family-engagement based, and that Waterford could provide devices and internet access for families who need them. He said the program would work alongside school districts and IEP teams rather than replace existing services. No vote was taken during the hearing; the chair said the committee would later exec the bills and try to get reports in for the calendar.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- to be about the median of where states were at in terms of providing an incentive.
- We just haven't had that previously defined in code.
- And we added language that stated at any time within the tax year.
- That was one of the existing provisions that's in code.
- That was one of the existing provisions that's in code.
Committee:
Senate Local Government and Taxation
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology Oct 27th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- of clean energy for that.
- of clean energy for that.
- So what we did was we worked with the State of California, funding from the State of California, and
- energy-positive operation.
- No, just the blue box will remain there as making the energy positive rather than energy consuming.
Summary:
The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held an informational hearing on the role of biotechnology industries in wastewater treatment, hosted at Bakar Labs on the UC Berkeley campus. Opening remarks emphasized California’s water scarcity, the rising cost of wastewater infrastructure, and the need to reuse and clean contaminated water. Committee members framed the hearing as a look at both current treatment challenges and emerging technologies that could improve water quality, affordability, and resilience over time.
The first panel focused on statewide wastewater challenges. BACWA Executive Director Laurie Fono described wastewater plants as part of a broader circular economy, noting their roles in recycled water, environmental enhancement, biosolids management, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy generation. She highlighted major challenges including aging 1970s-era infrastructure, nutrient reduction mandates, sea level rise, evolving regulations, and PFAS source control. She said Bay Area agencies face about $11 billion in nutrient reduction costs, with rate increases, state revolving funds, WIFIA loans, and bonds as the main financing tools. Members asked about regional differences, energy revenue opportunities, smaller decentralized plants, and agricultural collaboration.
The second panel featured researchers and lab experts discussing biotechnology solutions. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s Dr. Romine Chakarvati described using microbial communities and machine learning to help break down PFAS and treat produced water. CEL Analytical’s Dr. Yigi Dearborn explained pathogen testing for direct potable reuse, wastewater monitoring, and the need for larger sample volumes and more funding to validate methods for viruses and protozoa. Stanford’s Dr. Chunhung-Shin presented an anaerobic membrane system that turns domestic wastewater into clean water and energy with less biosolids and lower operating costs. Committee members asked about AI, assay development, scaling technologies, and funding priorities. Public comment from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies stressed the need to balance scalability, reliability, and affordability, and the hearing adjourned without any formal vote or action.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- passing code and regulation.
- and the ability they have to invade the whole state.
- An out-of-state boater or somebody who traveled out-of-state is the whole reason that we're here.
- An out-of-state boater or somebody who traveled out-of-state is the whole reason that we're here.
- An out-of-state voter or somebody who traveled out-of-state is the whole reason that we're here.
Committee:
House Agricultural Affairs
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- I think it would probably be a matter of passing code...
- and the ability they have to invade the whole state.
- The provisions for enforcement are already in state law.
- An out-of-state boater or somebody who traveled out of state is the whole reason that we're here.
- An out-of-state voter or somebody who traveled out-of-state is the whole reason that we're here.
Committee:
House Agricultural Affairs
Summary:
The committee first approved the March 2, 2026 minutes without opposition. It then took up House Bill 771, and at the sponsor’s request moved to hold the bill indefinitely in committee. Representative Schurz said he would return with a replacement version that narrows the bill’s focus on THC products sold through a loophole.
The main item was Senate Bill 1271, as amended, which would declare Norway and roof rats a public nuisance and invasive pest, direct the Department of Agriculture to coordinate a statewide response with counties, public health districts, and the private sector, require a public abatement plan and reporting, and make state and local participation voluntary rather than mandating spending. Supporters, including the sponsor, Ada County, and Boise officials, argued the rats are spreading quickly, can cause major property, agricultural, and public health damage, and require coordinated action before the problem grows. Opponents from the pest management industry said rat control is already handled by licensed private professionals, warned the bill could create confusion with other abatement proposals, raise taxpayer liability and future costs, and compete with private businesses.
Public testimony on SB 1271 was split between those favoring a coordinated government-private response and those urging the issue be left to private industry and local control. After debate, a substitute motion to hold the bill in committee failed 9-6. The committee then voted 9-6 to send SB 1271, as amended, to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.
Afterward, the Department of Agriculture gave an extensive presentation on invasive species, focusing on quagga mussel detection and treatment in the Snake River. The director said Idaho’s treatment effort has reduced the impacted area and remains aimed at eradication, with monitoring, watercraft inspection stations, law enforcement partnerships, and a public-private treatment contract all part of the response. Committee members asked about fish mortality, environmental effects, enforcement of boat inspection rules, and the role of private contractors in the treatment program.