Transcript Highlights:

• Climate mitigation actions could save the United States $5.8 trillion in economic losses and save 6.5
• Climate mitigation actions could save the United States $5.8 trillion in economic losses and save 6.5
• Climate mitigation actions could save the United States $5.8 trillion in economic losses and save 6.5
• Climate mitigation actions could save the United States $5.8 trillion in economic losses and save 6.5
• Climate mitigation actions could save the United States $5.8 trillion in economic losses and save 6.5

Bills: HF2438

Keywords: transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school

Transcript Highlights:

• For this challenging process, we provide in Senate Bill 1400 four steps to ensure justice and fairness
• reporting to ensure that all corporations that do business in Pennsylvania are paying their fair share
• There are a number of bills introduced in this chamber, including my own Data Center Fair Share Act,
• It doesn't make them pay their fair share of the increases in your bill that has skyrocketed.
• Senator Muth: their fair share in corporate net income tax.

Keywords: Scheduler, 972, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:42.880><c> in</c><00:08:43.120><c> perpetuity</c> properties in in perpetuity properties in
• > will</c><00:20:45.039><c> be</c> Fair fair market value will be Fair fair market value will be determined
• </c> those in favor say I. I. those in favor say I. I.
• </c><00:41:26.000><c> width.4</c><00:41:26.960><c> 4</c> ft in length and 25 ft in width.4 4 ft in length
• </c> 9:30 in this room. 9:30 in this room.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its September 29 meeting and then took up a series of Department of Transportation and Department of Administrative Services property actions. Several DOT items involved disposal of land originally acquired for the now-dissolved Conway bypass or other highway projects, including a 445.6-acre Conway parcel proposed for sale to the town of Conway for conservation use, a 1.78-acre Chesterfield parcel for sale to an abutter, a 6.13-acre Madison parcel tied to the Conway bypass, and a bulk disposal package of 22 improved parcels in Merrimack, Litchfield, and Hudson. Members asked about appraisals, conservation easements, federal funding restrictions, tenant occupancy, and whether the state would recover its original investment; DOT said values were based on appraisal or market analysis, federal reimbursements may be required where federal funds were used, and proceeds from turnpike-related property would return to the turnpike fund. All of these disposal motions were approved. The committee also approved several DOT lease/easement items. These included a Greenfield railroad-corridor lease for equestrian use, a Lake Winnipesaukee dock lease to CE Realty Trust, a similar dock lease to Needle Eye Association, and an easement in Carroll for Industrial Wireless to build a private road and cross Mount Deception Brook for a cell tower project. Members focused on maintenance responsibilities, liability insurance, access limitations, fencing, and the relationship between the railroad corridor and adjacent uses. DOT said lessees would be responsible for maintenance, access to the railroad would be restricted, and liability insurance would be included where appropriate. The committee also approved a separate easement for Eversource in Rochester to install utility lines serving the new courthouse, with the department explaining that the easement is a narrow strip needed to complete construction. The Department of Administrative Services received approval for a use-of-premises agreement allowing Rockingham County to lease 300 square feet in the Brentwood courthouse for office space, and for a perpetual utility easement in Rochester for Eversource, with a waiver of the administrative fee. The committee also heard that the Rochester courthouse project needs the utility work to finish construction. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly asked about insurance, public access, valuation, and whether tenants or abutters would have first opportunity to buy or lease the affected properties. All motions before the committee were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the nation.
• in the final plan in the actual activities.
• budget years in order to provide resources and support for local... ...in previous budget years in order
• In my view, that's the fair way to go about this.
• And in my view, that's the fair way to go about this.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard two bills focused on electricity affordability and utility costs. AB 745, by Assembly Member Irwin, would restructure the California Climate Credit by shifting it from lump-sum payments to direct reductions in volumetric electricity rates and moving the credit to the summer months when bills are highest. The author and UC Santa Barbara economist Dr. Kyle Meng argued this could significantly lower summer rates and better help households during extreme heat. Supporters, including UCS, NRDC, and some labor representatives, favored the concept, with some urging that the gas climate credit also be redirected. No opposition testimony was presented, and the bill passed 18-0 to the floor. The committee then considered AB 825, also presented as an affordability package aimed at reducing electric bills by addressing wildfire mitigation costs, transmission financing, permitting delays, and a review of ratepayer-funded programs. The bill would authorize securitization for undergrounding expenses, remove the first $15 billion in undergrounding capital investments from the rate base for return purposes, create a public transmission financing program using Proposition 4 funds and IBank support, revive the California Power Authority as a public sponsor, and establish a task force to review energy efficiency and demand response programs. The author and witness Matt Friedman of The Utility Reform Network said the bill could save ratepayers billions over time through lower-cost public financing and securitization. Testimony on AB 825 was mixed. Support came from several consumer and clean-energy groups, while utilities and labor raised concerns about the bill’s impact on utility financial stability, wildfire fund participation, liability, and whether the $15 billion securitization cap could discourage undergrounding. Some witnesses also objected to the task force’s potential effect on energy efficiency and demand response programs. Committee members discussed the need to balance affordability with utility creditworthiness and wildfire safety, and several asked for more analysis of market impacts and liability issues. Despite those concerns, AB 825 passed the committee 13-0 and was sent to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• We signed in other today in recognition of the fiscal impacts not included in the governor's budget.
• extreme heat events in the future, planning to prioritize the protection of and the mitigation of harm
• Thousands in total died in British Columbia.
• Thousands in total died in British Columbia.
• Thousands in total died in British Columbia, a total of 441 died in Washington, by far the deadliest

Bills: HB2267, HB2183, HB2174, HB1529

Keywords: urban forestry, local government, environmental policy, tree management, community planning, heat response, counties, public health, emergency management, climate action, crash prevention, traffic safety, roadside regulations, emergency zones, public safety, state legislation, infrastructure, county resources, road construction, maintenance

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several local government bills. HB 2174 would allow counties, cities, towns, or the Department of Transportation to designate “accident risk zones” on roads with repeated crashes, hold a public hearing, conduct engineering and traffic investigations, increase enforcement, and use half of traffic penalties for safety improvements. The sponsor and local officials from Pasco and Colotis described fatal crashes on U.S. 12 and U.S. 395 and said the bill could provide a short-term safety tool while long-term roadway fixes are pursued. Supporters included counties and the Washington counties risk pool, though they raised concerns about liability, implementation, and the need for clearer language; a motorcycle advocate also asked for language to avoid targeted enforcement. The committee then closed the hearing on HB 2174. HB 2267 would direct the Department of Commerce to create a model urban forestry ordinance and guidance for local governments, prioritize avoiding tree removal, and create a grant program for jurisdictions that adopt the model or a substantially similar ordinance. The sponsor said the bill is intended to balance housing growth with tree canopy retention, climate resilience, stormwater management, and urban heat reduction. Environmental groups, the Puget Sound Partnership, and FutureWise supported the bill, while the Building Industry Association of Washington and the Master Builders Association opposed it, arguing that tying grants to the model ordinance could turn guidance into a mandate and that the bill could disadvantage housing production or create GMA-related legal risk. The committee then closed the hearing on HB 2267. HB 2183 would require counties planning under the Growth Management Act to adopt extreme heat response plans by July 1, 2027, covering immediate response, long-term mitigation, protection of high-risk populations, tribal coordination, and public education. The sponsor and physicians from Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility described the 2021 heat dome as a deadly mass-casualty event and argued counties need coordinated planning because hospitals and EMS were overwhelmed. Local public health officials supported the goal but asked for revisions to reduce duplication with existing emergency and hazard mitigation plans and to clarify leadership roles; the Department of Labor and Industries requested a reference to existing outdoor worker heat protections. Finally, HB 1529 would let counties perform roadway striping and paving work for cities without counting it against city public works limits or bidding thresholds, which the sponsor said would help smaller cities like Shelton use county equipment more efficiently. Cities and counties supported the bill as a practical cost-saving tool, while asphalt contractors, business groups, and labor representatives opposed it, citing concerns about competition, quality control, prevailing wage jobs, and the need for more stakeholder work. The committee ended the day after hearing all testimony and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in Room 437 in the Capitol, and we are open in person for attendance at this hearing.
• A project may still voluntarily use this program in this way to ensure that the VMT mitigation program
• A project may still voluntarily use this program in this way to ensure that the VMT mitigation program
• be in.
• of the program, resulting in lower-quality mitigation and ultimately less location-efficient affordable

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and by $31.4 million in fiscal year 2029 in the first full year of impacted collections.
• Nobody thinks that's fair.
• It's critical that new large energy users pay their fair share to mitigate these costs, as the unmet
• in Puyallup, Washington.
• customers in a responsible way in separate tariffs.

Bills: SB6171, SB5965, SB5982, SB6004, SB6010, SB5941, SB6050

Keywords: energy facilities, large energy consumers, regulation, environment, sustainability, retail bags, pollution, customer impact, consumer-owned utilities, clean energy, port districts, market customers, energy transformation, renewable energy, public entities, electric generation, contracting, SB 6010, Washington energy siting, EFSEC

Summary: The committee first moved into executive session on Senate Bill 5941, which would direct the State Building Code Council to exempt certain small school districts from the Washington State Energy Code requirement for onsite renewable energy systems on large new commercial buildings or additions. An amendment narrowing eligibility from districts with 1,000 or fewer students to 500 or fewer students was adopted, and the bill was then advanced from committee with a due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6171, a proposed substitute bill addressing emerging large energy use facilities, primarily data centers. Staff described provisions requiring utilities to adopt tariffs or policies to prevent cost shifts, require long-term contracts and curtailment/demand-response terms, add reporting and sustainability requirements, impose renewable energy targets, change cap-and-invest allowance treatment, and create a fee to fund energy assistance, weatherization, and higher education. The sponsor said the bill is intended to protect ratepayers, preserve grid reliability, improve transparency, and ensure data centers pay their full costs while supporting affordability and workforce investments. Testimony was mixed. Supporters included community action organizations, environmental groups, some utilities, state agencies, and student advocates, who emphasized ratepayer protection, transparency, clean energy planning, and funding for low-income energy assistance. Opponents and some local governments, ports, utilities, and industry representatives argued the bill is too prescriptive, could harm economic development and competitiveness, may conflict with existing utility practices and contracts, and could create problems with the Climate Commitment Act and CETA. No vote was taken on SB 6171, and the hearing closed with the bill left pending further committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just because we did something in 2018 doesn't make it right today in 2026.
• Just because we did something in 2018 doesn't make it right today in 2026.
• I think it's very fair to say that people who can demonstrate to their insurer that they had damage in
• company in my whole area in Southern California.
• But in some cases, I believe the industry is overreacting in some of these non-renewals in these areas

Summary: The Senate Committee on Insurance met as a subcommittee due to a lack of quorum and heard AB 1559 by Assemblymember Calderon, which would require insurers to give homeowners notice before collecting aerial images, provide copies of any images used, and ensure images used for nonrenewal or cancellation are current enough to allow an in-person inspection request. The Department of Insurance and United Policyholders supported the bill, saying consumers are often blindsided by decisions based on outdated or inaccurate drone, satellite, or aircraft images. Several local government and consumer groups also supported it, and there was no opposition. The committee later approved AB 1559 on a 6-0 vote and sent it to the Privacy Committee. The committee also heard AB 2038 by Assemblymember Harabedian, which would extend wildfire-related nonrenewal moratoriums for homeowners, including an additional year for homes within fire perimeters and adjacent zip codes. Supporters, including the Consumer Federation of California, United Policyholders, and local government groups, argued that rebuilding after major fires takes much longer than current protections assume and that the bill would help keep survivors insured while they rebuild. Opponents from the insurance industry warned the bill would further constrain insurers, worsen market instability, and shift costs and availability problems to other policyholders, especially because the bill extends protections to adjacent zip codes that may not have been directly damaged. Committee members raised concerns about the zip code approach and possible impacts on the broader market, but the author said the bill simply extends existing SB 824 timelines and that discussions on amendments would continue. The committee passed AB 2038 on a 4-0 vote and sent it to Appropriations. File items 1 and 3 were consent items and were approved without opposition on a 6-0 vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Historically, most of the policyholders in the Fair Plan have lived in urban areas, and many of them
• over at the department, that the Fair Plan in California is, if not the least transparent, it is one
• great detail about a path to increased transparency and some of the problems in the Fair Plan.
• In the last few years, dividends have been paid by the Fair Plan to its member companies.
• In the last few years, dividends have been paid by the fair plan to its member companies.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met as a subcommittee and heard several bills focused on insurance transparency, wildfire mitigation, market access, and workforce issues. AB 75 would require insurers to give homeowners 30 days’ notice before collecting aerial images of their property and allow homeowners to review those images; supporters said it would improve privacy and prevent inaccurate non-renewals, while consumer and industry groups both sought amendments. AB 234 would add the Assembly Speaker and Senate President pro Tem, or designees, as non-voting members on the California FAIR Plan governing committee; the Department of Insurance supported it as an oversight measure, while Consumer Federation of California said it was only a small first step toward broader transparency reforms. AB 428 would let water corporations join joint powers authorities for pooled insurance, with supporters citing rising insurance costs for small water systems and no remaining opposition after amendments. AB 943 would streamline producer pre-licensing education by removing the 20-hour per-line requirement while keeping ethics training; industry sponsors said it would reduce barriers to entry, while consumer advocates warned it could lower professional standards. AB 1209 would create a pathway for cannabis employers to secure workers’ compensation coverage and related services through a state-coordinated network; supporters said it would help bring the industry into compliance, while one member raised concerns about creating a special carveout for a federally restricted industry. AB 1 would require periodic review of the state’s Safer from Wildfire regulations every five years, and it drew broad support from the department, insurers, local governments, and industry groups as a way to keep wildfire mitigation incentives current. The committee also took up a consent calendar including AB 69, AB 487, and AB 570, all of which were sent to Appropriations. The committee approved AB 75 to Privacy and Consumer Protection, AB 234 to the Assembly Floor, AB 428 to Local Government, AB 943 to Appropriations, AB 1209 to Business and Professions, and AB 1 to Appropriations. Most measures passed on strong or unanimous votes after members added coauthor requests and expressed support for the bills’ consumer protection, transparency, or wildfire-related goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• fair racing in Northern California is the direct result.
• fair racing in Northern California is the direct result. ...and the decline in fair racing in Northern
• were put in for the Tame at District Fair in the Humboldt County Fair, that didn't happen in 2026.
• And all they were doing, not for the money in the horse racing, but to make sure these county fairs in
• fair in the Humboldt County Fair that didn't happen in 2026 yes you're correct but when golden state

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened with a quorum and first took up several governor’s appointments not required to appear. It approved Paulette Brown Hines, PhD, to the California Transportation Committee, Christopher Clark and Maggie Hallahan to the Board of State and Community Corrections and Boating and Waterways Commission respectively, Kent Sasaki to the Building Standards Commission, and Danielle N. Munoz to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, with one appointment receiving a 3-1 vote and the others passing unanimously or 5-0. The committee also approved a reference of bills to committees by a 5-0 vote. The committee then heard Tanya Pacheco Warner, PhD, for reappointment to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District Board. She described her public health background, her family’s experience with asthma, and her work on agricultural burning phase-outs and AB 617 community efforts. Members questioned her about the cumulative economic impact of air rules on Valley agriculture, mobile-source emission strategies, the FARMER tractor replacement program, collaboration with fellow board members, and how to communicate climate and air-quality risks to the public. After public comment, her appointment was approved 4-0 and sent to the full Senate. Next, the committee considered three reappointments to the California Horse Racing Board: Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, and Thomas Hudnut, J.D. The nominees emphasized horse and rider safety reforms, reduced equine fatalities, the impact of Golden Gate Fields’ closure on Northern California racing, and the need for new revenue sources and possible legislative support to strengthen purses and keep the industry viable. Senators pressed them on safety, HISA relations, gambling-related revenue options, and the decline of racing in the North. Public witnesses from the racing industry supported the nominees, and all three appointments were approved 3-0. Finally, the committee heard Julie Lee and Ann Patterson, J.D., for the Delta Stewardship Council. Both stressed the Delta’s importance to statewide water reliability, ecosystem health, and climate adaptation, and highlighted the council’s science program, performance metrics, and community engagement efforts. Senators asked about the co-equal goals, the role of science and social science in building trust, the council’s future mission, and how to communicate climate impacts such as sea-level rise and salinity intrusion. The hearing continued into discussion of balancing water supply and ecosystem protection, with the members framing the Delta as a statewide system requiring coordinated management.

Transcript Highlights:

• In effect, the proposed $68 million fund shift in the Governor's budget is a change in the type of money
• In fairness, a lot of stakeholders have raised issues on how we can improve the regulatory process and
• But we're being left in the dark in terms of that. We're being left in the dark.
• in 2025-26, and ongoing in 9 PYs in 2027-28, with an ongoing total cost of $4.552 million to implement
• And, in all fairness, on our end, our data systems had not caught up to the new fee, so we had incomplete

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plans for extreme heat mitigation and outdoor access, then took up SB 54 implementation, SB 707 textile producer responsibility, and recovery needs related to the Los Angeles fires at state parks. For the extreme heat chapter, agencies described funding for the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program, urban greening, urban forestry, fairground upgrades, and technical assistance for community-based climate programs. Witnesses emphasized that these are existing programs with strong demand, that technical assistance is important for reaching disadvantaged and tribal communities, and that the proposed funding would expand outreach and implementation capacity. Members asked for more detail on where funds have gone geographically, examples of successful projects, tree-planting totals, and how fairgrounds could better support fire staging and emergency preparedness. The LAO said the timing of the administration’s proposed funding generally made sense because the programs are already established, and no votes were taken. For outdoor access, State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources described funding for new parks in underserved communities, deferred maintenance, state lands access, and several new or pending programs. State Parks said the park development program would fund roughly 48 projects and that deferred maintenance funding would address high-priority health, safety, and access needs. Fish and Wildlife said its lands program would improve visitor amenities and access on properties that often lack basic facilities. The Natural Resources Agency also outlined three newer outdoor-access proposals: expanding recreation in disadvantaged communities, enhancing natural resource values and trail access, and a nature/climate/education facilities grant program. The LAO distinguished between existing programs, which are ready to move forward, and the newer proposals, where the Legislature may want more input before funds are allocated. Members also raised concerns about park police vacancies, the need to track outcomes for accessibility investments, and whether Prop. 4 could help with wildfire-related recovery at state parks. CalRecycle then presented on SB 54, the plastics and packaging producer responsibility law, and members pressed hard on the delay in regulations. CalRecycle said it has held workshops, formed an advisory committee, selected the producer responsibility organization, and completed required baseline and covered-material reports, but needs more time to address complex comments and novel features such as source reduction and eco-modulated fees. Members expressed frustration that a statutory deadline was missed and asked for a concrete timeline; CalRecycle said it expects regulations in place by 2026, ahead of the PRO’s January 1, 2027 plan deadline. Finance said the Beverage Container Recycling Fund is currently healthy enough to support short-term loans for implementation. The committee also reviewed SB 707, the textile EPR law, which would create the nation’s first textile producer responsibility program; staff said the proposal would add positions and loan authority, and members noted the statutory deadlines for PRO approval, needs assessment, and later regulations. The hearing ended with discussion of the January Los Angeles fires’ damage to Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, where State Parks described extensive losses, emergency response work, and ongoing damage assessment. Members asked about FEMA eligibility, state funding sources, and community engagement in rebuilding, and the department said it is still assessing costs and will work with the public on reimagining the parks.

Transcript Highlights:

• to invest in wildfire mitigation is critical to save lives and property across our state.
• agreement, also the investments in Home Safe and H-DAP, and we're also in support of the fair share
• agreement, also the investments in Home Safe and H-DAP, and we're also in support of the fair share
• We also in support of the fair share contribution.
• And then, lastly, we remain opposed to the fair share proposal in SB 177. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the 2026 Budget Act, which leaders said was the negotiated compromise with the Senate and was expected to move to the floor that evening. Opening remarks emphasized that the plan balances the budget over two years, reduces the structural deficit, and builds reserves, while also protecting core services in the face of federal cuts. Jason Sisney outlined the legislative budget framework and the likely floor bills, including AB 109, SB 110, SB 122, and SB 125. Department of Finance representative Eric Khali said the administration appreciated the two-year balanced approach and supported the modification in SB 122, while noting the package uses additional revenues and new spending to soften or reject some proposed cuts. Most of the discussion focused on major spending areas. Members and subcommittee chairs highlighted protections and additions for health care and human services, including rejecting the proposed Medi-Cal asset limit change, delaying premium increases, restoring clinic and dental funding, supporting distressed hospitals and county indigent care, and expanding county eligibility staffing to handle H.R. 1-related workload. Education members described record or expanded support for TK-12 schools, child care, special education, community colleges, teacher recruitment, and higher education, including a change to extend Cal Grant eligibility to age 30 for some community college students. Housing and homelessness funding was increased for HAP, multifamily housing, and the low-income housing tax credit, while public safety members pointed to investments in victims’ services, restorative justice, and prison closure savings. Several members also raised concerns or priorities tied to the budget deal. Some praised the package as a moral document that protects vulnerable Californians, immigrant communities, LGBTQ residents, seniors, and people with disabilities. Others noted unresolved issues, including the MCO tax’s impact on districts, the need for more support for local journalism, arts, biotech R&D incentives, transit and GGRF-related concerns, and the need for continued work on Prop. 98 and long-term fiscal resilience. The vice chair cautioned that despite the current progress, the state remains vulnerable to revenue volatility and warned that the budget should build more resilience against a possible downturn. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the committee was preparing the budget package for floor action and final negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mitigation funds can turn this around, and the funding can serve as a catalyst, resulting in improved
• , AB 52 in 2014, and AB 168 in 2020.
• CEQA is unique in that it requires mitigation.
• So what would be the harm in fixing that in this bill?
• In fact, many of our member companies are helping to... ...fair cost of service.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Already have an existing rule as it pertains to CWD mitigation in Louisiana. That rule is specific.
• However, it is not in the best interest of the resource to reduce the size of the CWD mitigation and
• Why not utilize all of the soundest mitigation measures available in an attempt to keep the apparent
• Bollinger to be included in this process because he has such a reputation of being an honest and fair
• Bollinger to be included in this process because he has such a reputation of being an honest and fair

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission/task force met on April 17, 2026, with a quorum present. Members adopted the agenda and prior minutes, then received an update on the chronic wasting disease (CWD) index case in Washington Parish. Staff explained that a hunter-submitted deer tested positive in January 2026, the case was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, and an emergency declaration was issued March 11 to extend the CWD control area into portions of Washington and surrounding parishes. The update also reviewed baiting restrictions in enhanced mitigation and buffer zones, the 180-day duration of the emergency declaration, and the department’s website tools for locating affected areas. The commission then agreed to table its own CWD task force recommendations while Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 was being considered during the legislative session. Senator Womack summarized SCR 24 as a “reset” of CWD policy. He said it would set a 1.5% apparent prevalence trigger, require at least 300 samples, shorten the management zone from 25 miles to 15 miles, and allow baiting/supplemental feeding from the opening of deer season through March 31 unless the trigger is met. He said the resolution would also help address feral hog issues and restore more normal hunting and economic conditions. Commission and staff members clarified that the resolution would not affect deer pens or livestock under the Department of Agriculture, and that if sampling goals are not met, feed bans would apply the following year. Several stakeholders testified on the economic and management impacts. Louisiana Farm Bureau representatives supported the effort to find a workable solution but asked for clarity on how the resolution would be implemented, especially whether emergency declarations would immediately impose new restrictions. They emphasized the need to avoid discouraging deer sampling and to consider impacts on feed suppliers, landowners, and hunting leases. A written statement from Vic Blanchard of the Louisiana Landowners Association opposed SCR 24 and HCR 4, arguing that easing restrictions would worsen CWD spread and undermine wildlife management. Other speakers said the resolution should preserve economic planning for feed businesses and allow the commission to continue monitoring disease prevalence. After public comment, the commission voted to table its recommendations and then adjourned without taking a vote on SCR 24 itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• fair racing in Northern California is the direct result. ...and the decline in fair racing in Northern
• It will be the rising tide that lifts all boats, and you'll see fair racing again in the North.
• were put in for the Tame, at District Fair in the Humboldt County Fair...
• And all they were doing, not for the money in the horse racing, but to make sure these county fairs in
• Is the fair still alive and well? Is it, what does it make any money? Is it in the hole?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For this challenging process, we provide in Senate Bill 1400 four steps to ensure justice and fairness
• Pennsylvania are paying their fair share in taxes.
• There are a number of bills introduced in this chamber, including my own Data Center Fair Share Act,
• There are a number of bills introduced in this chamber, including my own Data Center Fair Share Act,
• It does not make them pay their fair share of the increases in your bill that has skyrocketed.

Summary: The Senate returned from recess and first handled routine calendar matters, laying several bills on the table or over in their order without objection. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 1400, which addresses sentencing for second-degree murder in response to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Commonwealth v. Lee decision. Senator Street offered an amendment to replace mandatory life without parole with parole eligibility after 25 years and individualized review, but the Senate tabled the amendment by a 26-24 roll call. The bill then advanced to final passage after extended debate over whether it adequately met the court’s constitutional ruling and how it would affect victims, culpability, and retroactivity. It initially passed 31-19, then after reconsideration and a correction to one member’s vote, passed 30-20 and was sent to the House. The Senate next considered Senate Bill 1212, which tightens the handling of sexual assault evidence kits by removing discretionary language that had contributed to inconsistent testing practices. Supporters said it would improve statewide consistency, preserve a survivor’s right to decline testing, and help reduce the rape kit backlog. The bill passed unanimously, 50-0, and was sent to the House. The chamber then moved through additional calendar items, including re-referrals of several House bills to Appropriations and multiple bills being passed over. Later, the Senate took up House Bill 1667 on a supplemental calendar after suspending the rules. The bill became the vehicle for several amendments tied to affordability and tax policy. Senators adopted a back-to-school sales tax holiday amendment, a data-center tax exemption repeal amendment, and a school-choice-related amendment transferring EITC provisions and increasing scholarships by $25 million. Other proposed amendments, including a digital advertising tax and a combined reporting corporate tax reform, were tabled. After further debate on the bill’s impact on electric bills, data centers, and the state budget, House Bill 1667 was agreed to as amended and the Senate recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• In a way that's fair and affordable for all ratepayers.
• So I think a big example of that is the wildfire mitigation costs that we see in the state of California
• So I think a big example of that is the wildfire mitigation costs that we see in the state of California
• Some of the risk mitigation tools I mentioned earlier are being implemented in other states.
• in California.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: A joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Utilities and Energy and Privacy and Consumer Protection focused on the energy impacts of AI and the rapid growth of data centers in California. Chairs and witnesses emphasized that the issue is not whether data centers should be served, but how to plan for them without harming grid reliability or shifting costs onto existing ratepayers. The hearing opened with testimony from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Dr. Nate Gleason, who described data centers as a major new load that creates planning uncertainty, reliability challenges, and affordability risks, and urged more integrated, uncertainty-based planning, flexible connection agreements, and co-located storage or demand response. The CEC, CPUC, CAISO, PG&E, Silicon Valley Power, and the Data Center Coalition all presented on forecasting, interconnection, transmission planning, and the need for clearer rules and better data. The California Energy Commission described its bottom-up forecasting approach using utility energization requests, project status, ramp assumptions, and interval meter data. It said data centers currently account for about 1,000 megawatts, with forecasted growth to roughly 4,900 megawatts under the planning forecast and 7,400 megawatts under the local reliability scenario by 2040, while noting major uncertainty in later years. The CPUC and CAISO discussed recent actions to speed energization, including implementation of AB 50 and SB 410, flexible service connection frameworks, PG&E’s Rule 30 tariff for large loads, annual integrated resource planning, and updated transmission permitting under SB 529. PG&E and Silicon Valley Power said they are already seeing substantial data center interest, are using cluster studies and flexible interconnection arrangements, and are investing in local and transmission upgrades to meet projected growth. Members pressed the panel on whether agencies have the authority and data needed to manage flexible load, curtailment, and rate impacts. Witnesses said they generally do have authority, but need to build the right framework and incentives, and the CPUC noted an upcoming advanced rate design rulemaking and additional study required by SB 57. Several witnesses distinguished between flexible service connections for getting connected sooner and operational flexibility once connected, including possible curtailment during peak periods. The Data Center Coalition argued that data centers also bring efficiency gains and support critical digital services, and suggested better forecasting practices such as using commercial readiness, standardized reporting, and backcasting. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and the second panel shifted to ratepayer impacts and cost allocation, including PG&E Rule 30 reimbursement issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're sick and tired of people get in, get out, get in, get out, get in, get out.
• There are plenty of reasons to mitigate. It happens almost never in Bernalillo County.
• HB 75, in a way, fills in the blank.
• So anything could pretty much be mitigation in the state.
• We're seeing mitigation all the time. So, to me, it's a fairness issue. I mean, is it a problem?

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 25, which would prohibit a juvenile who committed a firearm-related delinquent act that would be a felony if committed by an adult from legally owning or possessing a firearm for 10 years after disposition. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to address serious youth gun violence without lengthening juvenile sentences or unsealing records, and they emphasized that the substitute language was meant to clarify, not change, the bill’s intent. Support came from law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, CYFD, and business interests, while opponents including the Public Defender, ACLU, and criminal defense advocates argued it conflicts with juvenile-code principles, creates civil disabilities based on juvenile conduct, and could raise Second Amendment and sealing-record concerns. Members raised extensive questions about how the NICS background-check process would work, what offenses would qualify, whether the measure would apply retroactively, and how sealed juvenile records and pardons would be handled. After discussion, the committee adopted the committee substitute, but no final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided; members discussed possibly working on the language further in Judiciary or tabling it. The committee then took up House Bill 15, the Medical Injury and Collaborative Resolution Act, described by the sponsor as New Mexico’s version of a candor law. The bill would create a protected adverse outcome conference process allowing patients and providers to discuss medical injuries or undesirable outcomes outside of court, with the goal of improving communication, giving patients answers, and reducing litigation. A family medicine doctor and a trial lawyer testified in support, saying patients often want explanations more than money and that open conversations can sometimes resolve disputes early. Public commenters also supported the concept, though one noted concerns about how pro se litigants would fit into the process. Committee questions focused on how the bill would define injury, how confidentiality would be enforced, whether statements could be used in court, who would pay for the process, and how it would interact with existing malpractice procedures. The sponsors said the conference would be voluntary, not require an apology, and would be protected by evidentiary rules; if protected statements were introduced at trial, they said remedies such as mistrial could apply. The discussion continued into procedural details, but no final action on HB 15 appears in the provided portion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Such conflict mitigation efforts should have been put in place well before nearly 90 livestock losses
• They're in the hall. Oh, in the hall. Okay.
• in Monrovia, in downtown San Francisco.
• I understand that we do have a fair amount of people who would like to add on here, so in the room and
• But it’s estimated that the annual need for mitigation alone is between $4 billion and $7 billion in

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How do we address export in a manner that is at least as fair as possible?
• The fair share needs to be mitigated in legislation.
• Mitigation. Mitigation isn't a problem. This body has acted. In 2023, you passed House Bill 5039.
• We are building the largest wetland mitigation bank in the history of this state. state at Chocolate
• I just think that in terms of looking at mitigating. a project of this scope, that when you're talking

Keywords: 1184, house, all