Transcript Highlights:

• This conference report relates to regulation of contractors, solar installation companies, sale, lease
• , or power purchase of solar energy systems, and civil penalties.
• companies, and the sale, lease, or power purchase of solar energy systems.
• This is a bill that strengthens consumer protections for residents who are installing solar systems at
• This is a bill that strengthens consumer protections for residents who are installing solar systems at

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Talking about solar energy.
• U<00:16:19.680><c> talking</c><00:16:20.000><c> about</c><00:16:20.320><c> solar</c><00:16:20.720><c>
• </c><00:16:21.519><c> Um</c><00:16:22.160><c> this</c><00:16:22.399><c> is</c> U talking about solar
• Um this is U talking about solar energy.
• </c> solar panels by as much as 40%. solar panels by as much as 40%.

Summary: The committee met and approved the minutes, then heard announcements and introductions from members and guests, including an invitation to an East Kentucky trail ride opening and welcomes for new EPIC and Kentucky Coal Association representatives and several constituents. After the opening business, the committee turned to a presentation on nanotechnology and energy applications by Rodney Andrews of the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research. Andrews explained how nanoscale materials behave differently because of their size and surface area, and described uses in consumer products, batteries, solar panels, catalysts, coatings, sensors, and energy storage. Members asked about the relationship between nanomaterials and coal, and Andrews said carbon nanotubes can be made from coal-derived hydrocarbons, which members noted as an opportunity for Kentucky’s coal and manufacturing sectors. He also discussed work on improved solar coatings, more stable perovskites, fuel-processing catalysts, hydrogen storage, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, electromagnetic shielding, and conductive yarns and fabrics. The presentation also covered more advanced applications such as thermoelectric textiles, power transmission materials, thermal transport composites for aerospace, nanofluids for cooling, and fusion reactor shielding. In the final discussion, members raised questions about electromagnetic pulse protection and quantum computing; Andrews said the materials discussed could absorb and spread energy and that shielding applications may help with EMPs, while quantum computing remains limited by extremely low operating temperatures. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 431 concerns not solar panels, but solar roof tiles.
• Homeowners associations from placing limitations on solar panels, but it didn't say anything about solar
• associations' regulation of solar roof tiles as we do to solar panels.
• Solar roof tiles.
• The regulation by homeowners associations of the installation of solar roof tiles.

Bills: SB203 , SB317 , SB397 , SB511 , SB524 , SB731 , SB781 , SB801 , SB867 , SB1071 , SB1087 , SB1232 , SB1444 , SB1483 , SB1782 , SB1798 , SB1861 , SB1944 , SB2082 , SB2233 , SB2309 , SB2363 , SB2497 , SB2549 , SB2566 , SB2603 , SB2607 , SB2617 , SB2688 , SB2717 , SB2797 , SB2841 , SB2919 , SB2928 , SB2969 , SB3063 , HB 12 , HB26 , HB33 , HB34 , HB45 , HB48 , HB 130 , HB148 , HB198 , HB431 , HB647 , HB668 , HB677 , HB748 , HB754 , HB791 , HB 1022 , HB 1193 , HB 1240 , HB 1242 , HB1318 , HB1397 , HB1520 , HB1584 , HB1729 , HB1922 , HB1950 , HB2003 , HB2027 , HB2029 , HB2254 , HB2350 , HB2559 , HB2607 , HB2663 , HB2712 , HB2768 , HB2775 , HB2788 , HB2789 , HB2802 , HB2894 , HB2960 , HB3033 , HB3041 , HB3126 , HB3228 , HB3229 , HB3474 , HB3560 , HB3594 , HB3611 , HB3698 , HB3699 , HB3700 , HB3805 , HB4187 , HB4219 , HB4238 , HB4344 , HB4384 , HB4739 , HB4753 , HB4804 , HB4850 , HB4885 , HB5560 , HCR90 , SJR34 , SB529 , SB541 , SB693 , SB963 , SB1173 , SB1241 , SB1383 , SB1559 , SB1646 , SB1734 , SB1833 , SB1883 , SB1968 , SB2544 , SB1 , SB17 , SB260 , SB509 , SB1506 , SB1637 , SB2308 , SJR36 , SJR50 , SJR63 , SJR60 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SB2023 , SB2309 , SB1861 , SB2617 , SB62 , SB666 , SB847 , SB284 , SB854 , SB810 , SB1505 , SB583 , SB507 , SB1434 , SB1772 , SB2016 , SB1122 , SB731 , SB397 , SB508 , SB1436 , SB287 , SB1882 , SB393 , SB1791 , SB209 , SB2429 , SB511 , SB1085 , SB1975 , SB2717 , SB1262 , SB636 , SB2056 , SB884 , SB1200 , SB1845 , SB2458 , SB801 , SB3014 , SB3013 , SB758 , SB2797 , SB2076 , SB2876 , SB1640 , SB1449 , SB1181 , SB1234 , SB2926 , SB2841 , SB1528 , SB1854 , SB317 , SB1250 , SB2082 , SB1237 , SB2819 , SB629 , SB2608 , SB1602 , SB2009 , SB867 , SB640 , SB1698 , SB2680 , SB913 , SB1071 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1483 , SB1444 , SB1553 , SB1556 , SB1703 , SB2133 , SB2297 , SB2298 , SB2622 , SB2955 , SB2334 , SB1367 , SB2044 , SB2363 , SB2565 , SB1888 , SB3036 , SB3057 , SB3043 , SB3063 , SB3035 , SB203 , SB2688 , SB2522 , SB2459 , SB2655 , SB2251 , SB1884 , SB2928 , SB2566 , SB1749 , SB2549 , SB2553 , SB2919 , SB1782 , SB1944 , SB1232 , SB2969 , SB2497 , SB1798 , SB2603 , SB2607 , SB781 , SB524 , SB2233 , SB2683 , SB1319 , SB1978 , SB3038 , SB3045 , SB1633 , SB1538 , SB719 , SB3071 , HB1393 , HB2559 , HB26 , HB2607 , HB3810 , HB388 , HB 12 , HB2712 , HB1633 , HB1318 , HB685 , HB4753 , HB198 , HB762 , HB148 , HB1520 , HB2286 , HB1606 , HB132 , HB45 , HB48 , HB33 , HB 1022 , HB1458 , HB5560 , HB 1240 , HB1950 , HB2027 , HB2768 , HB2788 , HB2791 , HB3146 , HB3698 , HB3699 , HB1893 , HB3700 , HB4850 , HB4187 , HB1397 , HB4885 , HB4804 , HB3751 , HB3611 , HB2775 , HB2061 , HB2003 , HB1729 , HB 1242 , HB791 , HB2029 , HB647 , HB2522 , HB4738 , HB3033 , HB3594 , HB3474 , HB2563 , HB2802 , HB34 , HB 128 , HB 130 , HB581 , HB668 , HB677 , HB766 , HB2259 , HB2960 , HB2358 , HB2894 , HB4384 , HB2663 , HB748 , HB793 , HB 1193 , HB1734 , HB2340 , HB2350 , HB3104 , HB5180 , HB4739 , HB1584 , HB4344 , HB4238 , HB4219 , HB3806 , HB3805 , HB3804 , HB3803 , HB3229 , HB3228 , HB1922 , HB1522 , HB431 , HB3597 , HB1612 , HB4224 , HB754 , HB1314 , HB2254 , HB2789 , HB3560 , HB4643 , HB 1237 , HB3126 , HB2856 , HB3114 , HB3041 , HB3505 , HB4205 , HB5652 , HB3687 , HB5424 , HB4506 , HB3370 , HB2025 , HB4273 , HB3395 , HB3376 , HB2733 , HB2495 , HB4325 , HB2071 , HB2510 , HB138 , HB18 , HB 107 , HB694 , HB923 , HB1639 , HB1700 , HB2187 , HB3211 , HB4529 , HB4655 , HB5342 , HB2516 , HB4783 , HB1894 , HB1965 , HB 102 , HB300 , HB1875 , HB2513 , HB2713 , HB39 , HB 114 , HB24 , HB3088 , HB4163 , HB3479 , HB2842 , HB519 , HB609 , HB 1275 , HB1592 , HB3348 , HCR90 , HCR98 , SB524 , SB781 , SB1782 , SB2497 , SB2969 , HB 12 , HB33 , HB34 , HB45 , HB48 , HB 130 , HB148 , HB198 , HB431 , HB668 , HB677 , HB754 , HB791 , HB 1022 , HB 1193 , HB 1242 , HB1318 , HB1520 , HB1729 , HB1922 , HB1950 , HB2003 , HB2027 , HB2029 , HB2559 , HB2607 , HB2663 , HB2768 , HB2775 , HB2789 , HB2802 , HB2894 , HB2960 , HB3041 , HB3228 , HB3229 , HB3474 , HB3560 , HB3594 , HB3611 , HB3698 , HB3699 , HB3700 , HB3805 , HB4238 , HB4344 , HB4739 , HB4804 , HB4885 , HB5560 , SB1861 , SB2309 , SB2617 , SB511 , SR545 , HJR47 , HB75 , HB 108 , HB 111 , HB521 , HB 1052 , HB 1249 , HB1373 , HB1403 , HB1449 , HB1586 , HB1629 , HB1646 , HB1794 , HB1820 , HB1831 , HB1845 , HB1939 , HB1960 , HB1991 , HB2014 , HB2080 , HB2136 , HB2159 , HB2293 , HB2313 , HB2399 , HB2512 , HB2581 , HB2593 , HB2621 , HB2638 , HB2655 , HB2658 , HB2694 , HB2731 , HB2757 , HB2803 , HB2807 , HB2814 , HB2844 , HB2999 , HB3053 , HB3142 , HB3171 , HB3234 , HB3254 , HB3320 , HB3349 , HB3405 , HB3420 , HB3463 , HB3516 , HB3520 , HB3631 , HB3679 , HB3680 , HB3694 , HB3722 , HB3732 , HB3749 , HB3793 , HB3833 , HB3928 , HB3977 , HB4014 , HB4042 , HB4076 , HB4099 , HB4105 , HB4112 , HB4158 , HB4204 , HB4207 , HB4234 , HB4449 , HB4454 , HB4520 , HB4535 , HB4559 , HB4582 , HB4630 , HB4669 , HB4748 , HB4795 , HB4847 , HB4848 , HB4916 , HB4924 , HB5093 , HB5302 , HB5509 , HB5624 , HB5627 , HB5629 , HB5632 , HB5639 , HB5664 , HB5693 , HB5698 , HB2851 , HB5154 , HB5339 , HJR47 , HB75 , HB 108 , HB 111 , HB521 , HB 1052 , HB 1249 , HB1373 , HB1403 , HB1449 , HB1586 , HB1629 , HB1646 , HB1794 , HB1820 , HB1831 , HB1845 , HB1939 , HB1960 , HB1991 , HB2014 , HB2080 , HB2136 , HB2159 , HB2293 , HB2313 , HB2399 , HB2512 , HB2581 , HB2593 , HB2621 , HB2638 , HB2655 , HB2658 , HB2694 , HB2731 , HB2757 , HB2803 , HB2807 , HB2814 , HB2844 , HB2999 , HB3053 , HB3142 , HB3171 , HB3234 , HB3254 , HB3320 , HB3349 , HB3405 , HB3420 , HB3463 , HB3516 , HB3520 , HB3631 , HB3679 , HB3680 , HB3694 , HB3722 , HB3732 , HB3749 , HB3793 , HB3833 , HB3928 , HB3977 , HB4014 , HB4042 , HB4076 , HB4099 , HB4105 , HB4112 , HB4158 , HB4204 , HB4207 , HB4234 , HB4449 , HB4454 , HB4520 , HB4535 , HB4559 , HB4582 , HB4630 , HB4669 , HB4748 , HB4795 , HB4847 , HB4848 , HB4916 , HB4924 , HB5093 , HB5302 , HB5509 , HB5624 , HB5627 , HB5629 , HB5632 , HB5639 , HB5664 , HB5693 , HB5698 , HB2851 , HB5154 , HB5339

Transcript Highlights:

• Edward describes to us that there are now canoes and kayaks floating.
• I remember some of the canoes and kayaks were floating.
• So you guys just grabbed onto a tree and floated down with it?
• Those cars were all floating around and car alarms were going off and headlights were going off.
• They were lucky that the cabin they were in floating down the river.

Transcript Highlights:

• How much solar is it going to take to run it?
• How much solar is it going to take to run it?
• </c><00:21:03.600><c> that's</c> uh, provisions here for solar that's uh, provisions here for solar that's
• How<00:21:24.800><c> much</c><00:21:25.000><c> solar</c><00:21:25.320><c> is</c><00:21:25.400><c> it<
• is it going to take to How much solar is it going to take to run<00:21:26.120><c> it?

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• Solar farms make energy.
• For example, the community solar...
• And Representative, we haven't, because, again, community solar would be a generation source.
• You know, community solar has had interconnection problems.
• When we hear about these solar farms or solar power facilities that went out, for instance, since in

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The consequences of under-incentivizing geothermal are slower development; investors prioritize solar
• The solar incentives worked.
• Utility-scale solar grew four times in the seven years that that tax credit existed, and I think that
• That's coming from a lot of different drivers, but I think coming from largely a solar background.
• Solar and wind and other renewables can play a role Base load power to supply these types of needs, and

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We did float questions about whether regional things could happen.
• period of time that's in the IEP outside the room, and we didn't have as many paraprofessionals floating
• period of time that's in the IEP outside the room, and we didn't have as many paraprofessionals floating
• period of time that's in the IEP outside the room, and we didn't have as many paraprofessionals floating
• We used to call them floating around.

Summary: The commission met to review and amend the minutes from its previous meeting, correcting the date, several spelling and wording errors, and clarifying references to a scholarship fund and a member’s title. The minutes were then approved as amended, with some members abstaining because they were not present at the prior meeting. The chair then turned to the commission’s work plan under SB 57, emphasizing the need to prioritize the statutory topics and identify which issues require additional research, documentation, and possible spreadsheets. Members discussed a broad range of special education cost drivers and policy questions, including student referral rates, why students are classified as other health impaired, whether referrals increased after COVID school closures, intervention processes before referral, the cost of services required under IEPs and 504 plans, differences between federal law, state law, and DOE rules, reporting of special education costs, out-of-district and residential placements, district sharing of resources, dispute resolution, graduation rates, and adult learning outcomes. Several members raised concerns that school environments, mental health, bullying, and possible overidentification may be contributing to rising special education numbers and costs, while others cautioned that some reported district percentages may be inflated or unclear because of how the data are counted. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 742, which would eliminate prorated special education aid when state appropriations are insufficient and require the governor to draw a warrant to cover shortfalls. Representative Ames explained that the bill had been recommended for interim study because the commission is already examining special education costing, and he highlighted the gap between FY24 special education costs of about $977.1 million and state aid of $33.9 million for catastrophic aid, $67.4 million for differentiated aid, and $50.8 million in federal IDEA funds, leaving local districts to cover about $825.1 million. He argued the commission should ultimately make clear that both the federal government and the state should contribute more. The Department of Education, through Melissa White, answered questions about data and oversight. She said special education counts come from IEPs entered into the state system using SASIDs, that DOE monitors districts through both desk audits and on-site visits, and that billing is checked against the services listed in each student’s IEP. She also said DOE’s special education work is largely federally funded, with roughly $56.7 million received through IDEA this year and about $49.1 million flowing through to LEAs, while the department retains a small amount for administration and statewide support activities. Members also discussed how adequacy calculations use special education counts from the state system and how those figures are reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your NBT is just screwed over the consumers who had solar, and they're getting less credits.
• We're here on a subject of solar programs. This is a solar program.
• We're here on a subject of solar programs. This is a solar program.
• I think we should keep DSGS going, and that's also on behalf of solar.
• I think we should keep DSGS going, and that's also on behalf of solar.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't know how much that would have been on this one 250-megawatt solar field, but there was $1.4
• We're not having to cut services because of this, but we do know there's two more 250-megawatt solar
• We can't tell our constituents you can't build a solar farm, but it doesn't go over very well when they
• So I was on the fence about removing energy, such as solar farms and wind farms, from that, but we did
• Also, my county is dealing with the solar and wind issue even right now.

Committee: House Rules - Legislative

Summary: The Missouri House Legislative Rules Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2243, sponsored by Rep. Bryant-Wolfen, which would repeal a 2021 provision that exempted certain manufacturing and mining-related industries from local sales tax. The sponsor argued the change unintentionally stripped counties of revenue they had already approved through local votes, shifting the burden onto ordinary Missourians and leaving local governments without a replacement source of funding. Committee members questioned whether the bill would amount to a tax increase, whether a referendum or local voter approval should be required, and whether the measure could discourage investment or job growth. The sponsor said the bill simply restores local taxing authority and noted the fiscal note showed roughly $35 million in local revenue at stake statewide. Testimony in support came from local officials from Iron County, Adair County, and St. Genevieve County, including commissioners, a sheriff, and a 911 board official. They said the exemption reduced revenue for roads, ambulance service, law enforcement, and 911 operations, forcing service cuts and higher local levies. Iron County witnesses said the loss hit a county dependent on mining and reduced ambulance coverage and sheriff funding; Adair County officials said the exemption affected expected revenue from a large solar project and other energy infrastructure; St. Genevieve County officials cited sharp monthly declines in sales tax receipts and said inflation made the loss even more severe. Supporters emphasized that these were locally approved taxes and that the affected companies still benefit from county services. Opposition came from Associated Industries of Missouri, which argued the original exemption was part of Missouri’s effort to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision and keep tax rules uniform for out-of-state sellers. The group warned that removing the exemption could make Missouri’s tax system less simple and potentially jeopardize local use-tax collections statewide, with a much larger possible revenue loss if the law were challenged. The committee chair said the hearing would continue with a hard stop for floor business, and at the end of testimony he indicated he planned to take executive action on the bill later in the week. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a fast one, but it's a boat that floats. And I wonder how... boat and it floats.

Bills: HB352 , HB366 , SB272 , SB296

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Keywords: HB352, cotton, cotton bale assessment, cotton levy, cotton producers, agriculture, forestry, Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, per bale fee, commodity assessment, producer referendum, cotton sales tax, Alabama Code 2-8-199, cotton commission, agricultural funding, HB366, Lakyn Canine Act, police dog, K9, K-9

Transcript Highlights:

• by Senator Harcum, an act to amend the General Municipal Law in relation to citing carport-mounted solar
• has to do with overcoming..." ...to substitute has to do with overcoming home rule when it comes to solar
• renewable energy siting, restore the control for local municipalities to be able to decide when to permit solar
• village zoning districts, prohibit the construction, installation, or operation of a carport-mounted solar
• energy system with a nameplate..." ...the construction, installation, or operation of a carport-mounted solar

Committee: Senate Energy And Telecommunications

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee met under Chair Kevin Parker and considered a series of energy, utility, and clean transportation bills. The committee first advanced a bill by Senator Connery on make-ready electric infrastructure for public-serving EV charging, after members raised concerns that the costs of preparing school bus charging infrastructure could be shifted to ratepayers. The committee then advanced Senator Parker’s pilot program for resilient EV charging microgrids, with discussion focused on using existing NYSERDA resources, the role of batteries, and the bill’s purpose in supporting emergency charging during outages. Another bill on heavy distribution centers and EV charging was also advanced after debate over its application to large warehouse and e-commerce facilities. The committee also considered a bill on carport-mounted solar systems that would limit local zoning restrictions. A motion to substitute in a different bill was ruled improper for lack of notice, and the chair’s ruling was upheld on appeal. Members then advanced a PSC guidebook bill on gas and electric rate-making, and a utility shutoff protection bill for medical emergencies, life support equipment, and elderly, blind, or disabled customers, with questions about age definitions and the scope of medical documentation. The committee also advanced the Home Utility Weatherization Jobs Act, which would create a pilot program for electrification and weatherization in disadvantaged communities, with members discussing whether the program would be available at no cost to building owners and how utilities would access capital. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly raised concerns about who would pay for the programs, whether ratepayers or taxpayers would bear the costs, and how much local control would remain under the solar siting bill. At the end of the meeting, members briefly discussed a recent NYISO report warning about possible summer reliability issues and urged the committee and the PSC to review it closely. The chair noted the report should be considered alongside other state planning documents, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> are wind and solar. 95%. are wind and solar. 95%.
• It's because of the very wind and solar.
• Number six, wind and solar are future.
• </c><08:30:50.478><c> has</c> For example, the cost of solar has For example, the cost of solar has decreased
• Wind and solar are viable, competition.

Bills: HR881 , HB1503

Keywords: immigration, law enforcement, ICE, border protection, violence, security threats, forced organ harvesting, trafficking, human rights, organ donation, sanctions, international law

Transcript Highlights:

• Supply, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, PVT Tech, and Alternate Energy.
• They lower the entry point for putting rooftop solar on a home.
• They lower the entry point for putting rooftop solar on a home.
• So, for putting rooftop solar on a home.
• :19.200><c> are</c><01:01:19.280><c> installing</c> the solar companies that are installing the solar

Bills: HB2241 , HB2316 , HB1566 , HB1926 , HB1673 , HB1948 , HB2602 , HB1598 , HB2334 , HB2451 , HB2243

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a bill to expand the solar energy tax credit for single-family residential properties by removing certain cap amounts and raising the adjusted gross income limits for taxpayers to elect a refund of excess credits. The Hawaii State Energy Office and Department of Taxation both said they were standing on written testimony, while industry and advocacy groups largely supported the measure. Members questioned whether the income thresholds were set appropriately, how many taxpayers would be affected at different income levels, and how many would qualify for refundable treatment; Taxation said it did not yet have the requested numbers but was preparing a fiscal estimate. A major issue raised was drafting and administration: witnesses said the bill appears to apply differently to owner-purchased systems versus third-party leased systems, and Taxation said it likely could not easily verify household income for leased systems or cross-reference different taxpayers. Discussion also covered whether the credit should remain refundable, whether credits should be limited to amounts actually expended, and whether the bill should instead be structured to keep the credit with the system owner or lessor, with concerns about equity, market effects, and possible incentives to lease rather than buy. The committee then moved to HB 2316, which would align state restrictions on lead materials in drinking water infrastructure with federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. The Department of Health and other supporters testified in favor, and there were no questions from the chair. Next, HB 1566 on energy efficiency would require state agencies to use energy-efficient lighting, with the Hawaii State Energy Office providing technical assistance and a compliance survey prioritized for first responder facilities; testimony from state agencies and advocates was in support, and again there were no questions. For HB 1926 on Red Hill, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Board of Water Supply, and multiple organizations and individuals supported funding for remediation studies, environmental monitoring, groundwater research, independent testing, and a public dashboard, with DLNR emphasizing that decades of work remain necessary even after defueling and that the bill supports ongoing university and community partnerships. The committee then heard HB 1673 on landfill units. The Department of Health initially said it was in support but later corrected the record and stated it strongly opposes the measure, saying the bill would undo protections enacted last session that keep landfills out of areas over aquifers; the Board of Water Supply also opposed repeal of those protections, while the City and County of Honolulu supported the HD1 version that leaves siting decisions to the counties. Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi and the Energy Justice Network opposed the bill, arguing the original protections should remain and that the amended version had confused commenters; supporters of the original version urged restoring it and considering additional language on ash.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what you see is you see millions of solar panels, every leaf on every tree.
• Our project is of a scale where it will be gas, nuclear, some solar.
• PV, $30 for onshore wind, and $53 for solar PV battery hybrid.
• Wind and solar can be up and running unless These industries can meet that goal.
• We could have a solar plant with battery backup up in 18 months or less. Thank you, members.

Bills: HB 11 , HB14 , HB132 , HB1584 , HB1606 , HB5061 , HB 1041 , HB2286 , HB132

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The committee first took up pending business and quickly reported several measures favorably, including HB 12, SB 1361, SB 1705, SB 1749, SB 1897, SB 2344, SB 2566, HB 3809, and HB 4215, with most sent to the Local and Uncontested Calendar. HB 12’s substitute clarified a limited midterm review of regulatory agencies tied to Sunset Commission recommendations. SB 2696’s substitute changed med spa regulation from a license to a certificate, with training instead of an exam, plus background checks, continuing education, and two-year renewals. HB 3809 dealt with battery energy storage decommissioning and recycling, and HB 4215 was reported without a substitute. SB 1978, concerning interconnection of electric facilities in ERCOT and federal jurisdiction concerns, was reported out on a 5-3 vote after debate, but then the chair later announced the bill was withdrawn and left pending subject to the call of the chair. HB 1899 was also reported favorably, with one nay. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 14, the advanced nuclear energy bill. Senator Schwertner described it as creating a Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, a nuclear permitting coordinator, a development fund, a completion grant program, and a workforce development program. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives from Fermi America, Dow/X-energy, CPS Energy, Paragon Energy Solutions, Bridge to Nuclear, Aalo Atomics, and the Texas Association of Business, argued that Texas should lead in advanced nuclear, citing future baseload demand, data centers, industrial power needs, supply-chain development, and long-term energy diversification. Opponents, including Public Citizen, Texas Nuclear Watchdogs, Sierra Club, and individual citizens, argued the bill would subsidize unproven, expensive technology, create grants rather than loans, and expose taxpayers to major risk while doing little to meet near-term energy needs. Several members questioned whether the state should fund projects that may not produce grid power for years, and whether the bill’s grant structure and new office were justified. The committee also heard HB 5061, which Senator Schwertner said would prohibit unethical surveillance and misuse of confidential information by state contractors, create a confidential reporting system through the State Auditor’s Office, authorize Texas Rangers investigations, protect whistleblowers, and impose penalties including contract termination, fines, and contracting bans. No public testimony was offered, and the bill was left pending. HB 132, sponsored by Senator Hughes, would extend confidentiality protections for sensitive information to hostile acts by foreign adversaries; it was also left pending after no testimony. HB 1584 was then laid out, with Senator Schwertner explaining it would require utilities to maintain and update priority restoration lists for critical facilities after Hurricane Beryl exposed communication failures, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when the idea was first floated, we were told by your insurance commissioner that they can already
• And when the idea was first floated, we were told by your insurance commissioner that they can already
• And when the idea was first floated, we were told by your insurance commissioner that they can already
• ,</c><00:15:07.680><c> we</c><00:15:07.920><c> were</c> when the idea was first floated, we were when
• the idea was first floated, we were told<00:15:08.160><c> by</c><00:15:08.480><c> your</c><00:15:08.720

Summary: The committee first took up a short-form administrative licensing measure requested by the administration to correct and clarify renewal provisions in a prior bill. Members raised no questions, and the committee voted to adopt the proposed Senate draft and recommit the bill back to the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee for a further public hearing. The committee then heard SB 2876 on natural hair braiding, which would exempt natural hair braiders from licensing under certain conditions. The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology said it views hair braiding as within the broader scope of cosmetology, but agreed that people who only braid hair should not need a license because the training and exam requirements are minimal. The board warned, however, that exempting braiders could create consumer protection gaps involving sanitation, training, and enforcement, and noted that related services such as waxing, cutting, coloring, shampooing, and relaxing would still require licensure. Supporters included the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and the Institute for Justice. The committee also heard SB 2950 on captive insurance and SB 2951 on insurance proceeds. On SB 2950, the Insurance Division opposed the bill, saying captive insurance is designed for formal self-insurance for companies and that allowing captives to insure the public would not fit the existing regulatory framework; a fire survivor advocate supported the measure as a way to expand disaster-related insurance options. On SB 2951, which would require mortgage servicers to follow certain rules for disbursing insurance proceeds after residential damage or destruction, United Policy Holders strongly supported the bill, citing delays in releasing funds and the need to help survivors rebuild, while banking and financial industry groups submitted opposition or comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 2952, SB 2960, and SB 2964, all related to property insurance and disaster recovery. SB 2952 and SB 2960 would extend the time policyholders have after a declared disaster to submit documentation and recover replacement cost value, with supporters arguing that rebuilding after major disasters takes far longer than standard policy deadlines allow and that the bills would improve consumer protection and transparency; the Insurance Division, the Insurance Council, and national insurance groups opposed the measures. SB 2964 would require annual disclosures of replacement cost value and coverage sufficiency; the Insurance Council opposed it as costly and unnecessary because policies already include inflation-related adjustments, while United Policy Holders and fire survivors supported it, saying many homeowners are underinsured and do not understand their coverage.

Transcript Highlights:

• In closing, by establishing uniform rules for plug-in play solar, AB 2612 facilitates safer adoption
• So if you unplug a plug-in solar system, those prongs, those blades that stick out of the male plug,
• Is it because this is a different version than just rooftop solar? It's plug-in solar, right?
• But we're talking about small portable solar panels, typically under two kilowatts.
• This is not rooftop solar.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard a long agenda of housing-related bills, beginning with AB 1892 on HOA/Davis-Stirling Act cleanup provisions. The author and sponsor said the bill would clarify HOA responsibilities for utility service repairs in common areas, align election notice timelines, and require electronic voting ballots to be sent at least 30 days before an election. No opposition was presented, and the bill was set aside to be taken up later when a quorum was available. The committee then heard AB 1708, which would revise the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program to give smaller cities a clearer role in regional homelessness planning and access to funding. Mayors and city representatives from Bellflower, Paramount, and other cities testified that smaller jurisdictions are spending significant local funds on shelters and services but lack direct access to HHAP dollars. Some larger-city and housing advocates opposed or were opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could add administrative burden, but committee members broadly supported the goal of including smaller cities in regional responses. Members also heard AB 2058 on factory-built housing, AB 2576 on historic-resource protections under SB 79, AB 1751 on missing-middle townhomes, AB 1924 on homelessness prevention, AB 2626 on waiving certain monitoring fees for at-risk affordable housing developments, and AB 2089 on welfare-exemption and recertification procedures for affordable housing. Testimony generally emphasized reducing duplicative local permitting for factory-built housing, protecting state and national historic resources while still allowing housing near transit, expanding ministerial approval for townhomes, creating a statewide homelessness-prevention strategy with accountability measures, giving HCD flexibility to waive fees to preserve financially stressed affordable housing, and streamlining property-tax exemption recertification. Several bills were voted out of committee, including AB 1751 and AB 2626, both passing on 8-0 and 7-0 votes respectively, while other measures were discussed with motions pending or held open for absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• In closing, by establishing uniform rules for plug-in play solar, AB 2612 facilitates safer adoption
• Is it because this is a different version than just rooftop solar? It's a plug-in solar, right?
• But we're talking about small portable solar panels, typically under two kilowatts.
• This is not rooftop solar.
• We know how much that increases the cost when it just comes even... ...you have to put rooftop solar.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:

• are passing this year, we are not—we have eaten away at just about almost everything we've done for solar
• We are not—we have eaten away at just about almost everything we've done for solar and wind and climate
• And maybe there'll be one bill related to solar panels that won't pass. >> You kidding?
• </c> uh solar panels that won't pass. uh solar panels that won't pass.
• </c> solar exemption. solar exemption.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• They had a few things floating out there. They're under new leadership in the past year.
• They had a few things<00:05:03.200><c> floating</c><00:05:03.560><c> out</c><00:05:03.720><c> there.
• </c><00:05:04.160><c> They're</c><00:05:04.480><c> under</c> things floating out there.
• They're under things floating out there.

Committee: House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations