Transcript Highlights:

• And with the cleaner-burning fuels that we do have, and I know that because we were using those in the
• I've spent years trying to build the kind of interagency coordination that would have prevented this.
• Two things that I want to just highlight that we're known for using: fuel and patrol cars.
• Fuel has gone up since 2006, 57%, and even more alarming, the cost of a patrol car has gone up.
• Think of the fuel consumption just in that alone.

Summary: The subcommittee heard several California transportation and public safety budget proposals. Caltrans requested a one-time $225 million augmentation to continue replacing its aging fleet and build out zero-emission vehicle infrastructure. Caltrans said the funding would replace about 1,100 vehicles, including many heavy-duty units, and acknowledged its overdue report on zero-emission fleet efforts would be delivered by mid-to-late April. The LAO said the request raised no concerns, but one senator strongly criticized the cost and policy emphasis on making the fleet the “greenest” rather than prioritizing road maintenance. The chair pressed Caltrans to submit the overdue report within 30 days, saying it was necessary for oversight before the request could be considered. The committee also discussed a Caltrans proposal tied to SB 150 and the High Road Construction Careers Program. Because federal highway funds could not be used as originally intended for workforce training, Caltrans and the Department of Finance proposed replacing the federal dollars with $30 million in state Highway Account funds. The Workforce Development Board said the program had a track record of connecting participants to apprenticeships and jobs, while one senator questioned why the original $50 million federal set-aside had not been implemented and asked for more detail on where the remaining funds would go. Finance said the state funds were already set aside and expected to begin flowing in May over a two- to three-year period. The California Highway Patrol presented two requests. First, CHP sought $60 million from the Motor Vehicle Account for equipment and operating costs, citing inflation, higher vehicle prices, and the end of its ability to cover costs through vacancy savings as hiring improved. The LAO recommended rejection, arguing the costs were not new, CHP still had a substantial equipment budget, and the Motor Vehicle Account faces insolvency by 2028-29. Second, CHP requested $885,000 ongoing to fund seven crime analyst positions for the Highway Violence Task Force. CHP said the task force had reduced freeway shootings from 477 in 2021 to 179 last year, though some data categories had changed over time. The LAO did not object, but noted the request would create a permanent funding commitment. The DMV presented two modernization items: the State-to-State verification system required for Real ID compliance and the DXP system to replace aging legacy technology. The LAO raised no concerns with either, but noted DXP has had cost overruns and delays and will require continued legislative oversight. Senators focused heavily on privacy and data-sharing concerns in the State-to-State system, especially the use of Social Security number digits and the role of the AAMVA network. DMV said the system is required for Real ID compliance, uses encrypted data, and is intended to prevent duplicate credentials across states. The committee also discussed customer service improvements from DXP, with DMV saying the project should better integrate systems and improve service delivery by the end of the calendar year.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the system is a hybrid microgrid generation facility comprising hydrogen-fueled fuel cells with lithium-ion
• So in the bottom, Fuel cell units that are the main engine for the facility.
• We have fuel cells that are energized by hydrogen gas.
• We've talked about using renewable hydrogen within fuel turbines.
• Gray hydrogen is hydrogen that actually emits fossil fuel in the production of the hydrogen.

Summary: The select committee on Climate Innovation and Infrastructure heard presentations on emerging climate-related technologies and the policy and permitting barriers affecting their deployment. The first panel focused on the Calistoga Resiliency Center, a utility-partnered microgrid using liquid hydrogen, fuel cells, and batteries to keep the city powered during public safety power shutoffs. PG&E described microgrids as a resilience tool, but emphasized that the main barrier is economics, not regulation, and outlined its community microgrid tariff, enablement program, and incentive funding. Energy Vault said the Calistoga project is a proof of concept for a bankable, zero-emission, high-density resiliency solution, while the Green Hydrogen Coalition and local officials argued that California needs clearer demand signals and policy fixes to make green hydrogen and similar projects viable at scale. The discussion also noted that the Lodi Energy Center hydrogen transition remains stalled because of lost federal and state funding and tighter tax credit timelines, making the project uneconomic for now. The second panel addressed water resilience through desalination, with the California Desal Association describing the state’s growing need for local, drought-resilient water supplies and the long, expensive permitting timelines that have slowed conventional desal projects. Oneka Technologies presented its wave-powered offshore desalination system for Fort Bragg, which produces drinking water without electricity or land use and is designed to reduce impacts on marine life. The company said the project has required coordination with at least eight agencies and roughly a 36-month permitting process for a one-year pilot, and that California’s process is much slower than in other jurisdictions. Committee members asked about maintenance, environmental safeguards, and whether data from projects elsewhere could help streamline future approvals. A third presentation, by the Climate Foundation, described marine permaculture as a way to restore kelp forests and create carbon and agricultural benefits by moving seaweed platforms up and down to access nutrients and sunlight. The speaker said the approach could support food, feed, fertilizer, and biostimulant products while also sequestering carbon, but that California permitting is fragmented across 17 state and federal agencies. He urged a one-stop, code-based permitting system for small projects and suggested that California could learn from faster approval models in Australia and the Philippines. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have spent more than 25 years litigating economic justice and social justice cases all over the country
• to work on contracts that I have actively pursued, including through business relationships I have spent
• women-owned businesses are engines of economic growth across the state, and the HUB program helped to fuel
• If that's not fueling our economy and creating jobs, I don't know what is.
• If that's not fueling our economy and creating jobs, I don't know what is.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> less and you pay less if you have a fuel less and you pay less if you have a fuel efficient efficient
• So really just fuel-based vehicle.
• It's we need to have different fuel and we need to drive less.
• Uh, and the fuel part is still very confusing to me.
• Uh and the fuel part is still very less.

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously right now, what has happened on fertilizer and fuel costs in particular, fuel costs were most
• We've spent an hour... And thank you very much. We've spent an hour.
• We could have spent three hours, right, with this.
• If we've spent that 81% efficiently, it's a good thing.
• It just seems like the best money well spent, and we've spent 10 years building this program.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, I know I spent money at Red Wing, or correction, at Winona, every time that I've taken it.
• I mean, I know I spent money at Red Wing, or correction, at Winona, every time that I've taken it.
• I mean, I know I spent money at Red Wing, or correction, at Winona, every time that I've taken it.
• This could be so much more responsibly spent.
• </c><01:36:56.280><c> or</c> worth of of grain or oil or fuel or worth of of grain or oil or fuel or

Bills: HF1167 , HF1242

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: Northern Lights Express, NLX, Minneapolis-Duluth rail, passenger rail, intercity passenger rail, high-speed rail, Duluth, Minneapolis, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, transportation funding, rail appropriation, general fund, trunk highway fund, rail project cancellation, infrastructure spending, commercial driver training, CDL, financial assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• , but to me that means we have to be even more thoughtful and accountable about how the money gets spent
• Be even more thoughtful and accountable about how the money gets spent.
• So far, we've spent approximately $44 million on technical assistance through all of those programs.
• Most notably, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard is a really important way that the state has provided some
• We're seeing now global geopolitics are influencing the comments about fertilizer and fuel.

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, I just, you know, I've spent the past 15 years really working at the...
• By way of background, I just, you know, I've spent the past 15 years really working at the...
• By way of background, I’ve spent the past 15 years working at the intersection of agriculture, markets
• The inputs that fuel this sector and this industry are things like grains, pulses, beans, nuts, oats,
• But I'm also thinking about how, in your presentation, a lot of the bio-waste was fuels and pyrolysis

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation was held at UC Davis and focused on how alternative proteins can support California agriculture, the bioeconomy, and farmers. Opening remarks from UC Davis leaders and committee members emphasized the university’s food science, fermentation, and sustainability strengths, and the state’s prior investments of $5 million for UC alternative protein research and an additional $1 million for ICAMP. Members framed the topic as a way to grow new markets, keep more value in-state, and address climate, food security, and commercialization challenges. The first panel featured Sana Beg of the Plant-Based Foods Institute, who argued that California agriculture and alternative proteins are complementary, not competing, and stressed that farmers are essential to the sector. She highlighted the need for ingredient processing capacity, technical assistance for growers, and predictable demand through public procurement, including schools, hospitals, and state facilities. Committee members asked about financing and market development, and Beg said guaranteed loans, grants, and state- and USDA-backed support could help de-risk investment and build the supply chain. The second panel focused on research and development. Beam Circular described the circular bioeconomy in the San Joaquin Valley, including efforts to turn agricultural residues into higher-value products, build shared infrastructure, and expand workforce training. ICAMP and UC ANR described UC Davis-centered research, pilot facilities, and a proposed plant innovation center to bridge lab-scale work to commercial manufacturing. USDA researchers discussed using byproducts such as brewer’s spent grain, tomato pomace, lima beans, and chickpeas for new food ingredients. Members repeatedly emphasized the importance of public R&D funding, consumer acceptance, and food-grade scale-up facilities. The final panel highlighted company perspectives from Optimized Foods and Blue Diamond Growers. Optimized Foods described using fungi fermentation to convert almond hulls, cocoa waste, and tomato pomace into protein-rich ingredients and stabilized nutrients. Blue Diamond outlined its grower cooperative model, sustainability practices, almond ingredient portfolio, and the Sacramento almond innovation center. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with discussion centered on research, commercialization, infrastructure, and market-building for California-grown alternative protein products.

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, I just, you know, I've spent the past 15 years really working at the...
• By way of background, I just, you know, I've spent the past 15 years really working at the...
• My way of background, I’ve spent the past 15 years really working at the intersection of agriculture,
• The inputs that fuel this sector and this industry are things like grains, pulses, beans, nuts, oats,
• So first one, I want to talk about our efforts working on the valorization of brewers spent grains, also

Transcript Highlights:

• It fuels hatred, emboldens extremists. Thank you.
• This fuels fear, legitimizes cruelty, But this is not a joke.
• This fuels fear, legitimizes cruelty, and emboldens those who are already inclined to hate.
• Nor do we know how the money is eventually going to be spent.
• So the secrecy behind how those monies are being spent is more the issue for a lot of us.

Transcript Highlights:

• I get it, but we don't really know what it's being spent on.
• I'll say, "Well, I've voted on $20 million, and I don't really know what it's being spent for."
• They can, you know, make fuel, they can make electricity, they can do something with the timber that
• And we're reducing fuel. And I mean reducing fuel. Madam Chair. Okay, thank you, Madam Chair.
• I agree, I spent much of my early childhood either horseback or on a tractor.

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• They're paying the fuel tax.
• There were those that ran off of fuel, whether it's gasoline or diesel.
• And then there was a hybrid one that ran off either electric or fuel.
• That it sometimes runs on electricity and sometimes runs on fuel.
• It's a vehicle that sometimes runs on electricity, sometimes runs on fuel.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs met on May 11, 2026, approved the April 27 minutes, and then took up several House bills. HB 618, by Rep. McMakin, would update Louisiana Economic Development fees and filing charges by indexing them to inflation and allowing some discretion to waive or reduce fees for small businesses; it was reported favorable. HB 732, by Rep. Owen, drew extensive discussion because it combined two issues: temporary OMV relief for a hospice-related ID problem and a suspension of the new hybrid vehicle road usage fee. Members and the OMV commissioner raised constitutional and drafting concerns about waiving or eliminating obligations, and the committee discussed how newer vehicle classifications blur the line between electric, hybrid, and gas-powered vehicles. The committee ultimately reported HB 732 favorable, with the understanding that amendments and further work would be needed before floor action. The committee also reported favorable on HB 217 and HB 214 by Rep. Henry, which would authorize local governments to grant property tax exemptions for the rehabilitation of blighted property and place the related constitutional amendment before voters. Testimony emphasized that the measure is permissive for local governments, applies only after a property is formally blighted and rehabilitated, and is intended to encourage redevelopment while preserving some tax revenue. Members discussed the exemption level, duration, and the need for clearer definitions of blight, but no objections were raised. HB 593, also by Rep. Henry, would raise the maximum service fee for OMV public tag agent offices statewide; the commissioner explained that many offices are locally operated and that the increase would help cover costs, and the bill was reported favorable. Later, HB 514 and HB 961, by Rep. Foreman, were reported favorable. HB 514 would allow local governments, by referendum, to provide additional property tax relief for seniors who meet income and freeze requirements, with phased age-based eligibility steps; HB 961 would extend a similar concept to certain homesteads held in trust. Members discussed the optional local nature of the program and the need to avoid overly broad rules. HB 908, by Rep. Mina, would increase certain Secretary of State business services fees to support operations and system upgrades; agency officials said the fees had not been comprehensively adjusted since 2013 and remained below regional averages, and the bill was reported favorable. The committee then heard an informational update on the capital outlay bill from the Division of Administration, including the use of bundled projects for universities and DOTD, the status of P1/P2/P5 funding, and available cash capacity. Finally, HB 1010, by Rep. Deshotel, was reported favorable after brief discussion; it would require assessors to report property tax collections to the Louisiana Tax Commission for centralized public reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have spent incredible hours doing that, and I'm very thankful that... ...see fit.
• They have spent incredible hours doing that, and I'm very thankful that they're part of the budget team
• Consumer Services include over $100 million for the Florida Forest Service and $10 million for the fuel
• Senate Bill 2506, a bill to be entitled an act relating to fuel taxes.
• Senate Bill 2506, a bill to be entitled an act relating to fuel taxes. Debate on the bill.

Summary: The Senate began with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into floor consideration of the 2026-2027 budget. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented Senate Bill 2500, describing a $115 billion budget that reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental and agricultural programs. Highlights included increased funding for school scholarships and safety, workforce and university programs, Medicaid and child welfare, corrections operations, affordable housing, rural communities, Everglades and water quality projects, and infrastructure. Members then asked detailed questions about several budget items. Senators sought clarification on the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries, charter school capital outlay funding, EASE grants, New College funding, DOC inmate counts and reimbursement, lottery staffing, concealed weapons licensing positions, election security funding, iBudget waiver support, ADAP funding, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, and scholarship and enrollment supplements in K-12 education. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected technical shifts or right-sizing, that some funds were being moved below the line for better tracking, and that several items—such as ADAP and corrections operations—would likely remain conference issues with the House. After questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the budget and implementing measures and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles to prepare for conference. The chamber passed the budget-related bills and several conforming measures, including bills on retirement, fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, court trust funds, judgeships, and K-12 and higher education conforming changes. Votes on the major bills were overwhelmingly unanimous or near-unanimous, and the Senate repeatedly voted to accede to the House’s request for conference on the substituted bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was not a policy area I've spent a lot of time on, but I sat down with a couple gentlemen explaining
• Between time, labor, fuel, and fees, small farmers simply cannot compete.
• The cost of doing that fuel break was less than a quarter of 1% of what it cost to fight that fire.
• We've spent billions already putting fires out.
• We can do proactive thinning and fuels management to reduce the risk.

Bills: SB6104 , SB6241 , SJM8015 , SB6318

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: agriculture, protection, state regulation, farmers, land use, sustainability, steelhead, conservation, wildlife, fishing, environmental protection, federal response, wildfire protection, community safety, infrastructure, natural resources, commercial shellfish, fees, fishing industry, regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• criminals install to manipulate the counter in the pump so it no longer measures accurately. how much fuel
• This is essentially stealing fuel from the pump, hurting small businesses, and depriving the state of
• In this bill, specifically when we're talking about fuel theft, the same people that were doing gas pump
• skimming found another way to steal fuel.
• This one or not, but when the chairman invited people up that wanted to testify, I spent five years in

Bills: HB186 , HB201 , HB229 , HB796 , HB1506 , HB2702 , HB2885 , HB3225 , HB3909 , HB4285 , HB5138

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• said, it removes the fiscal impact, removing the sales tax exemption both on the aircraft and the fuel
• We spent a lot of time after Hurricane Ian with the CFO, fire marshal, and public safety officials on
• certain airports, and it requires FDOT to study and evaluate the long-term impacts of alternative fuels
• certain airports, and it requires FDOT to study and evaluate the long-term impacts of alternative fuels
• So appreciate you and the time that you've spent in trying to make sure that this is a very...

Summary: The Transportation Committee met with a quorum and first took up SB 1362 on advanced air mobility. Senator Harrell described the bill as creating a framework for vertiports and eVTOL operations, including DOT oversight, vertiport licensing, preemption of local design and operational regulation, and limited liability protections. An amendment was adopted that removed the bill’s sales tax exemptions and narrowed the sovereign immunity language so it would apply only to vertiports co-located at airports, aligning the bill more closely with the House companion. Supporters from eVTOL companies praised Florida’s leadership and the regulatory clarity, while the Florida Justice Association urged caution about extending immunity to unproven entities. The committee then reported the bill favorably. The committee next considered SB 260 on storage and cleanup of electric vehicles after crashes. An amendment narrowed the bill to EVs with visible battery or battery-compartment damage or saltwater submersion, clarified that the fee applies to storage rather than towing, and tied the proposal to existing fire marshal rules requiring damaged EVs to be stored away from structures. Insurance and rental-car industry representatives supported the narrowed approach but asked for more data reporting, clearer limits on cleanup language, and safeguards against overcharging or cost shifting. The bill was debated as a response to the space and safety burdens placed on tow operators, and it was reported favorably after amendment. The committee also approved SB 1352, which creates a secure online portal for license plate seizure/confiscation processing, allows disabled veterans to retain their DV plate alphanumeric designation, authorizes immediate issuance of DV plates by tax collectors, bans license plate covers/overlays that obscure plates, and routes online driver license/ID renewals to the customer’s county tax collector with service fees remitted accordingly. SB 1370 was reported favorably as well; it closes a loophole so drivers who never had a license can still be treated similarly to suspended-license offenders for habitual traffic offender purposes after repeated offenses. Finally, the committee considered SB 1220, FDOT’s transportation package, which included updates to trail prioritization, SunTrail materials and sponsorships, seaport and airport resilience planning, drone delivery and personnel delivery device provisions, LiDAR coordination, turnpike toll programming changes, and felony penalties for damaging autonomous vehicles. An amendment removed some provisions, including digital driver license authorization and the rapid rail transit compact, and added advanced air mobility corridor language and an FDOT study on alternative-fuel revenue impacts; after support from several stakeholders, the committee reported the bill favorably and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• said, it removes the fiscal impact, removing the sales tax exemption both on the aircraft and the fuel
• We spent a lot of time after Hurricane Ian with the CFO, fire marshal, and public safety officials on
• certain airports, and it requires FDOT to study and evaluate the long-term impacts of alternative fuels
• certain airports, and it requires FDOT to study and evaluate the long-term impacts of alternative fuels
• So appreciate you and the time that you've spent in trying to make sure that this is a very...

Bills: S0260 , S1220 , S1352 , S1362 , S1370

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 1362 on advanced air mobility. Senator Harrell described the bill as a framework for vertiports and eVTOL aircraft, but an amendment removed the sales tax exemptions and narrowed the sovereign immunity provisions to vertiports co-located at airports. Supporters said the bill would help Florida lead in emerging aviation technology, while opponents and some members raised concerns about safety, local control, and extending immunity to unproven facilities. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered SB 260 on storage of damaged electric vehicles. The bill, as amended, would allow local governments to set a daily administrative fee of up to three times the normal rate for storing EVs with visible battery damage or saltwater intrusion, reflecting fire-safety spacing requirements. Testimony from insurers, towing interests, and fleet operators focused on whether the fee was justified, whether cleanup language could lead to cost shifting, and whether more data reporting should be required. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. Members then approved SB 1352, which creates a secure online portal for license plate seizures and related DMV functions, preserves disabled veterans’ plate designations, prohibits license plate covers that obscure plates, and routes online license and ID renewals through county tax collectors. SB 1370 was also reported favorably; it closes a loophole so drivers who never obtained a license can still face habitual traffic offender penalties after repeated offenses. Finally, the committee took up SB 1220, a broad FDOT transportation package. After amendment, it retained provisions on trails, SunTrail, seaports, airports, drone delivery, autonomous vehicle protections, and FDOT coordination on federal funding, while removing the digital driver’s license provision and the rapid rail compact language. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:57:48.960><c> or</c> plant that gets approved, dual fuel or plant that gets approved, dual fuel
• </c><01:35:16.800><c> price</c> highly dependent on the fuel price highly dependent on the fuel price
• </c> you know, the the there isn't that fuel you know, the the there isn't that fuel risk<01:35:48.480
• neutral fuel cells.
• fuel neutral uh<02:32:51.920><c> fuel</c><02:32:52.240><c> cells.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:51.160><c> three</c> sophomore years so I only spent three sophomore years so I only spent
• rent and lease Fuel and utilities and<00:27:14.320><c> it</c><00:27:14.640><c> and</c><00:27:14.799>
• aviation fuel uh you'll recall<00:46:20.160><c> this</c><00:46:20.240><c> will</c><00:46:20.359><c>
• The time alone that I've spent away from the business trying to get this done is astronomical.
• </c><01:10:36.360><c> away</c> it the time alone that I've spent away it the time alone that I've spent

Bills: HF1063

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Spent a lot of money on the town credit card for stylist, personal security, and trips to some expensive
• Spent a lot of money on the town credit card for stylist, personal security, and trips to some expensive
• that are now or Cheyenne light fuel that are now looking<01:08:34.239><c> at</c><01:08:34.400><c> a<
• </c><01:20:21.040><c> And</c> for Cheyenne light fuel and power.
• And for Cheyenne light fuel and power.

Bills: SJ0001 , SF0017

Committee: House Minerals, Business & Economic Development