Video & Transcript Research : 'utility liability'

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AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/16/2026 - House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Summary: The committee heard three measures. HB 2013 would require the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to submit an exceptional event demonstration to the EPA when wildfires on federally managed land affect Arizona air quality. Sponsor Rep. Lisa Fink said the bill is intended to prevent Arizona from being penalized for wildfire-driven air quality problems and could help reduce regulatory burdens. Sierra Club opposed the bill, arguing the existing exceptional-event process already requires case-by-case analysis, that automatic filings could be unnecessary or ineffective, and that the bill lacked an appropriation. ADEQ testified neutral. The committee approved HB 2013 on a 5-1 vote. HB 2292 would create the Wildfire Prevention Authority and Fund under the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management; a committee amendment renamed it the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction Authority and Fund, capped administrative expenses at 8%, and prioritized funding for single-family and multi-family dwellings. Supporters, including Coconino County Vice Chair Geronimo Vasquez and the County Supervisors Association, said the bill would provide a coordinated, data-driven wildfire mitigation program funded by a $20 million annual diversion from insurance premium tax revenues, helping reduce wildfire damage and stabilize insurance costs. Members discussed the funding source as an existing tax diversion rather than a new tax. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed HB 2292 as amended on an 8-0 vote. HCM 2011 urges Congress to pass federal legislation to delist the Mexican wolf, defund the reintroduction program, and transfer management to local authorities. The sponsor said the memorial responds to ranching impacts from wolf predation and supports federal action already moving in Congress. Sierra Club opposed the memorial, saying the species remains insufficiently recovered and that delisting would be premature. After debate, including comments both supporting and opposing delisting, the committee approved HCM 2011 on a 5-2 vote and then adjourned.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

HSH Public Hearing - Tue Feb 3, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Human Services & Homelessness

Transcript Highlights:
  • liability and their legal costs. liability and their legal costs.
  • the liability the liability insurance<01:06:04.040> crisis<01:06:05.200> facing<01
  • > non-profit state's liability onto non-profit state's liability onto non-profit providers,<01
  • c> and<01:10:23.440> defense provisions shift liability and defense provisions shift liability
  • This is um relating to liability.
Summary: The committee opened its first meeting of the 2020 session and heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 1518, which would allow people incarcerated and nearing release to apply for SNAP benefits before release. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Human Services said they support the bill and are already piloting a pre-release application process at two facilities, with plans to expand it. The Attorney General’s Office supported the intent but noted a technical issue: one section of the bill appears to affect TANF as well as SNAP, while the title refers only to SNAP. A wide range of advocates, including Catholic Charities, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Hunger Action Network, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, ACLU of Hawaii, and others, testified in strong support, emphasizing food insecurity after release, reentry stability, and reduced recidivism. The committee did not take a vote during the hearing. The committee then heard HB 1747, which would direct the Department of Human Services to seek federal waivers or extensions related to restricting certain SNAP purchases, including sugary drinks. DHS said it had already been approved for a narrow demonstration waiver and was working with retailers on implementation, with a target date of August 1. Supporters of the measure argued it would promote healthier choices, while opponents, including Hawaii Appleseed, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, said such restrictions are ineffective, stigmatize low-income residents, create burdens for retailers and DHS, and may be difficult to implement. Members asked DHS to clarify the scope of the waiver and confirmed it applies to sugary drinks and beverages containing more than 10 grams of sugar. Finally, the committee took up HB 1705, which would allow licensed mental health counselors to serve as child custody evaluators, but there was no testimony from the relevant agencies and the item was quickly set aside. The committee also heard HB 1565, which would establish a judiciary working group to improve family court processes and legal representation for youth in the child welfare system. The Attorney General’s Office offered minor technical amendments, and supporters from the Office of Wellness and Resilience, High Hopes Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and a social work student described the need for legal representation, citing better reunification and stability outcomes and the importance of youth voice in court proceedings. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • And that's where civil liability is so important.
  • After the definitions, the very first section is the construction of the chapter related to liability
  • There is no liability for, and a court cannot consider liability for any of those acts.
  • There's no civil or criminal liability, whatever.
  • While receiving the care may be shielded from liability, this bill ensures they are left unsupported.
Bills: SB10, SB16, SB6, SB 6, SB 10, SB 16
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • That is broader authority than even the Public Utility Commission holds.
  • Instances of non-compliance should be directed to the Public Utility Commission's Enforcement Division
  • HB49 is a produced water liability bill.
  • First, we made the liability protection available to the landowner or the surface owner.
  • Therefore, they shouldn't need a liability shield.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Saving goals on a level that we think utilities can actually achieve.
  • Please pass this bill and... help us to pay our utility bills. Mr.
  • Texas has long established utility efficiency programs, as noted earlier.
  • I think even the utilities. want to do the right thing, to be honest.
  • We've got two bodies that determine what these utilities do.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Business and Commerce Apr 15th, 2025

Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • Why administer energy efficiency through the transmission and distribution utilities as we do?
  • We established saving goals on a level that we think utilities can actually achieve.
  • Second, it raises the energy efficiency goals for utilities, as Senator Johnson mentioned.
  • I think even the utilities want to do the right thing, to be honest.
  • We've got two bodies that determine what these utilities are going to do.
Summary: The committee took up a long list of pending bills before moving to several bills on the day’s posting. It reported favorably SB 438, SB 512, SB 647, SB 648, SB 715, SB 758, SB 1964, SB 2121, SB 2145, SB 2167, SB 2330, SB 2349, SB 2443, SB 2629, SB 2702, SB 1495, and SB 2268, with several of those adopted from committee substitutes. Some measures were sent to the local and uncontested calendar, while others were reported to the full Senate. Votes on the pending-business bills were generally strong, though SB 715 and SB 2330 drew recorded opposition; SB 647 and SB 648 had one member present not voting because of confusion over the deed-related bills. A major discussion centered on SB 715, which would establish a reliability standard and penalties/incentives for generation resources. Senator Sparks said the committee substitute would avoid unfairly penalizing existing dispatchable generation, allow wind and solar to qualify through storage or backup power, give the PUC flexibility to set standards and phase in the program, and exempt switchable units. Critics raised concerns that it could raise consumer costs and destabilize the market, while supporters argued it would improve reliability. The committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported out 6-4. The committee also heard testimony on SB 2330, dealing with payroll deduction for association dues, where the author said the bill would end state involvement in dues collection except for first responders covered by meet-and-confer agreements. Members questioned why teachers and other employees were treated differently, and the bill was reported out 6-5. Other notable bills included SB 2864 on building-integrated photovoltaics, SB 1012 on sale of surplus state property, SB 2221 on fraudulent UCC filings, SB 1705 regulating cryptocurrency kiosks with licensing, transaction limits, fee caps, and a 72-hour hold, SB 1181 on combative sports licensing, SB 2586 on HOA transparency, SB 2075 as a TDLR cleanup bill, and SB 383 restricting offshore wind interconnection based on impacts to shipping, wildlife, and coastal interests. Several of these were left pending after testimony, with SB 1705 drawing both law enforcement support and industry concerns over the fee caps and limits.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Apr 7th, 2025

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • instead ensures that digital asset customers receive quarterly reports showing their assets and any liabilities
  • .offer customers quarterly access to detailed accountings of their holdings and any outstanding liabilities
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • services through a statewide standing order. right now the committee substitute that we have includes liability
  • just like she said, the school nurse is the best suited person to assess a student's symptoms and utilize
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs Mar 12th, 2025

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • To that end, a border-wide enforcement approach that utilizes nearly 209 game wardens stationed full-time
  • of the Rio Grande River, specifically in the area to work. national criminal organizations have utilized
  • Has added about 3 million people utilizing the resource. It is a strain on our team.
  • we have a program called Vinceable. and we offer this free of charge to any agency and it's being utilized
  • Individuals, we're left with basically what we were before, which is utilizing the. laws of criminal