Transcript Highlights:

• Executive director of the State Energy Conservation Office. 110 ご視聴ありがとうございました 請不吝點贊訂閱轉發打賞支持明鏡與點點欄目 主席
• I'm the director of the State Energy Conservation Office.
• What I'm going to give you today is an overview of our office, the State Energy Conservation Office.
• The revolving loan fund, then you'll see the energy efficiency conservation block grant program.
• efficiency and energy conservation.

Committee: House Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Conservation can be really complicated.
• Conservation, and the Big Sur Land Trust in strong support of Megan's confirmation today.
• Valley Conservation Commission, and the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, all in strong support.
• Conservation, and the Big Sur Land Trust in strong support of Megan's confirmation today.
• Valley Conservation Commission, and the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, all in strong support.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• And we work on energy, bioenergy, forestry issues all over the world.
• My name is Zachary Sheldon, and I am the policy manager for The Nature Conservancy, a conservation organization
• Second, trees provide public benefits that reduce health and energy costs.
• demand and lower energy expenses.
• AMC is a certified conservation corps.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The hearing covered several environment and natural resources bills focused on natural and working lands, forest protection, municipal reforestation, trail accessibility, and a park naming bill. Representative Moschino and Senator Comerford described the natural and working lands bill as part of the state’s climate roadmap, arguing that protecting these lands supports carbon sequestration, resilience, biodiversity, and helps prevent development pressure on the least expensive land. Senator Comerford also testified on a separate bill to expand access to trails for people of all abilities, saying it would build on the administration’s Trails for All initiative and create a permanent advisory structure and trust fund. Representative Consolvo and family members testified in support of H. 4259 to name the tennis courts at Wether Park in Roslindale after Kim O’Connell, describing her long community service and activism. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 952 and H. 953, bills to protect watershed and state forest lands as parks or reserves. Supporters, including environmental advocates, scientists, and organizations such as Standing Trees, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and the Massachusetts Forest Alliance’s opponents, debated whether state forests and watershed lands should be permanently reserved from logging and other active management. Supporters said the bills would improve carbon storage, water quality, biodiversity, flood and drought resilience, and would protect large acreages of public land at no cost. Opponents, including the Massachusetts Forest Alliance, argued that sustainable forest management and a mix of reserves and managed forests are needed for climate, water quality, wildfire prevention, rural jobs, and carbon outcomes, and urged the committee to allow the administration’s existing reserve process to continue. The committee also heard extensive testimony on the municipal reforestation bill, H. 1013/S. 553, which would create a statewide program, advisory council, and trust fund to support urban tree planting and maintenance. Municipal officials and advocates from Wellesley, Cambridge, Boston, the Mystic River watershed, and other communities said urban trees are critical for cooling, stormwater control, air quality, public health, and equity, especially in environmental justice neighborhoods with low canopy cover and high heat. Several witnesses emphasized that consistent funding is needed because trees take years to mature and many municipalities lack staff or watering capacity. Some witnesses asked that the bill be funded at $100 million and tied to the Mass Ready Act or environmental bond funding. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• funding. funding related to 10 separate energy projects in New Mexico.
• The Department of Energy Fossil Research budget was zero.
• The DOE fossil energy program was canceled, and a thing called RPSI, Research Partnership to Secure Energy
• And I think we ought to be looking into things that create energy.
• What do we need to be doing in the future with these energy sources?

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Louisiana is an energy powerhouse that delivers reliable, affordable energy while supporting hundreds
• , Kevin Simpson of Shell USA, Sarah Rhodes of PDF Energy, Sarah Roads of BDF Energy, Sarah Roads of Enbridge
• , Desire... ...Rhodes of PDF Energy.
• This bill creates a watershed conservation fund.
• This bill creates a watershed conservation fund.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 804, the Louisiana Energy Protection Act, which was presented as a narrowly focused ban on climate-change damages lawsuits rather than a measure affecting emissions claims, pollution claims, or private property rights. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to stop speculative suits targeting energy producers, farmers, truckers, manufacturers, and other businesses for global climate impacts, while preserving claims for actual legal violations under state or federal environmental and safety laws. After a substitute amendment was adopted to clarify and streamline the bill, the committee heard extensive support from oil and gas, chemical, business, port, and legal reform groups, along with a few opposition speakers who argued the bill could still be read to shield industry too broadly or weaken climate accountability. HB 804 was reported favorably as amended. The committee then considered HB 802, as amended, which creates a watershed conservation fund tied to the Amite River Basin. The author explained that the bill was narrowed from a statewide proposal to a basin-specific program to reduce flood risk and restore watershed areas using existing severance revenue from sand mining, modeled in part on coastal restoration funding. Supporters from the concrete industry, landowners, levee boards, and conservation groups described it as a practical, low-cost, non-government solution to help remediate old sand and gravel pits and improve flood control. With no opposition cards and no objections, HB 802 was reported favorably as amended. Finally, the committee heard HB 934, as substituted, which would allow licensed wildlife rehabilitators to possess white-tailed deer fawns under specific conditions, including disease monitoring, release only within the same management zone, and other handling requirements. The author said the bill was meant to prevent the euthanizing of orphaned fawns that could be rehabilitated and to create a lawful pathway for licensed care. A supporter described her experience rescuing an orphaned fawn that was later confiscated and killed, while the Louisiana Wildlife Federation opposed the measure, warning it could effectively create a captive deer program, undermine wildlife conservation principles, and lead to dangerous or inhumane facilities. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 934, before final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a state committed to clean energy, we have an opportunity to match new energy loads seeking clean
• In the bill, we looked to have tiered energy demand instead of actual energy use, again to provide that
• And so we are preventing them from having to pay the charge on their energy use that other energy users
• We share many of the thoughts and recommendations of the Minnesota Conservative Energy Forum, Clear Coalition
• Department of Energy projects these immediately dispatchable energy resources can be rapidly scaled by

Bills: HF2928 , HF2912 , HF2297

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee.
• Under current law, it requires qualifying electric utilities to meet targets for energy conservation
• conservation.
• This is one piece of, I think, of a program to help reduce energy burden, starting with keeping energy
• income on energy costs every year.

Summary: The committee first waived the five-day notice rule for several House bills, then took up public hearings on HB 2426, HB 1742, HB 2215, HB 2575, HB 1903, and HB 2606. HB 2426 would allow the Pollution Control Hearings Board, with party consent and board approval, to hear permit appeals in alternative smaller compositions to improve efficiency; the sponsor and supporters from Greater Grays Harbor and FutureWise said it would speed up reviews without harming environmental protections, while the bill was described as cost-neutral. HB 1742 would create a Center for Environmentally Sustainable Urban Design at Ecology to promote sustainable building and design competitions; the sponsor emphasized regenerative, biophilic design and a proposed showcase project, and the bill was presented as budget-neutral through outside funding, though the fiscal note was still pending. HB 2215 would tighten Climate Commitment Act compliance for certain newer fuel suppliers by lowering the emissions threshold for post-2023 suppliers, exempt lubricants, and add procurement and transparency requirements. The sponsor said the bill targets “paper distributors” and loopholes used to avoid coverage; Ecology supported closing the loophole but raised concerns about reporting thresholds, implementation, staffing, and rulemaking. Testimony was mixed: the propane association and Washington Oil Marketers Association were concerned about the two-tier threshold and urged stronger upstream enforcement instead, while Climate Solutions and Washington Conservation Action supported the bill as a way to prevent gaming and strengthen climate policy. HB 2575 would reduce several environmental and energy reporting obligations, including less frequent utility reporting under the Energy Independence Act and state energy strategy updates; Commerce and the sponsor said the changes would reduce duplicative reporting and save money, while preserving core protections and oversight. HB 1903 would establish a statewide low-income energy assistance program in the Department of Commerce, phased in by 2027, to supplement existing utility programs and target households with the greatest energy burden. The sponsor and many advocates described the bill as an affordability measure to address a large unmet need, while community action agencies, utilities, and rural representatives supported the goal but asked for clearer language on voluntary utility participation, funding sources, allocation formulas, and how the program would interact with existing utility and weatherization efforts. Several speakers stressed that the program should not replace local assistance and should be designed to avoid shifting costs onto ratepayers. HB 2606 would update the Office of Privacy and Data Protection’s duties and reporting requirements, including adding review of agency AI projects and aligning the office’s work with JLARC recommendations; the chief privacy officer testified in support, explaining that the bill would formalize AI risk review, human oversight, and existing privacy/security review processes, with no fiscal impact. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• accelerate, doesn't eliminate energy demand.
• We don't have enough energy, renewable energy, to meet the demand, even what we're doing today on every
• We support California's clean energy transition.
• Motion is due pass as amended to Utilities and Energy.
• Motion is due pass as amended to Utilities and Energy.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on AB 1243, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025, which would direct CalEPA to identify major fossil fuel companies, study California’s climate damages, and assess fees on large polluters to fund resilience, recovery, and related projects. The author and supporters argued the bill would shift costs from taxpayers to the companies most responsible for climate harm, while dedicating funding to disadvantaged communities, home hardening, school resilience, clean energy, and jobs. Supporters included environmental justice groups, health advocates, youth activists, labor-aligned climate groups, and many individual witnesses who described climate impacts in their communities and urged polluters to pay. Opposition came primarily from the building trades, business groups, and petroleum-related organizations, who argued the bill would raise fuel and consumer costs, create uncertainty for business, and accelerate refinery closures and job losses. They said California already has cap-and-trade, which they described as a better tool for funding climate action and reducing emissions, and warned that retroactive liability for past emissions was legally and economically problematic. Committee members questioned both sides on consumer impacts, job effects, and whether cap-and-trade already addresses the problem. After discussion, the committee voted 6-1 to pass AB 1243 to the Judiciary Committee, with Assembly Member Ellis voting no and Assembly Member Muratsuchi not voting. The chair and members noted the bill would continue to be discussed, and the author closed by emphasizing the need to fund climate resilience while holding polluters accountable. The transcript then began a separate presentation on a wildfire mitigation bill, with the author introducing committee amendments and describing wildfire prevention and recovery needs, but that item was not completed in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• energy.
• clean, sustainable energy.
• energy.
• Energy before you replace it with clean, sustainable energy.
• Energy needs.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions, including students from Brooklyn and St. John’s University, followed by adoption of the resolution calendar with exceptions for two items. The chamber then took up a series of previously adopted resolutions recognizing Black Maternal Health Week, Workplace Violence Prevention Month, the one-year anniversary of the Jet Set nightclub tragedy in the Dominican Republic, New York Constitution Day, and the Month of the Military Child. Senators speaking on the maternal health resolution emphasized racial disparities in maternal mortality and the need for culturally competent care; the workplace violence resolution highlighted hospital safety programs; the Jet Set resolution was adopted in memory of the victims; and the Constitution Day speech reviewed New York’s delayed but eventual support for independence in 1776. The military child resolution stressed the sacrifices of military families and support for children of service members. All of these resolutions were adopted, and the resolutions were opened to co-sponsorship. The Senate then moved through the third reading calendar, passing several bills and laying others aside. Measures passed included bills on public health, environmental conservation, executive law, public authorities, and consumer protection. One notable debate involved a bill to require transparency from private arbitration organizations handling consumer cases; supporters argued it would provide basic public data and guard against conflicts of interest, while opponents said it would burden a useful dispute-resolution process and intrude on privacy. The bill passed after debate. Another debated bill would phase out number 4 heating oil statewide; supporters said cleaner alternatives exist and the fuel is harmful to public health, while opponents raised cost and transition concerns, especially for colder regions. That bill also passed. The chamber also considered a bill to create a rebate program for battery-powered landscaping equipment, funded through utility-related mechanisms administered by NYSERDA. Supporters said it would reduce air and noise pollution and help companies transition, while opponents argued ratepayers should not subsidize landscaping equipment. The bill passed after being restored to the non-controversial calendar. Finally, the Senate began discussion of a housing-related bill aimed at preserving manufactured home parks by enabling nonprofits or municipalities to acquire development rights and keep the land dedicated to that use, with the sponsor explaining that the goal is to protect affordable housing and help residents remain in their homes.

Transcript Highlights:

• She has also served as a member of the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee and
• Programs for the Santa Fe Conservation Trust, as Director of Land Conservation and General Counsel for
• I've been with Chairman McQueen for 10 years in Energy, and I think the last four years I've been his
• Senate Conservation Committee substitute for Senate Bill 235.
• Senate Conservation Committee substitute for Senate Bill 235 has been read.

Bills: HB145 , HR1 , HB80 , SB29 , SB37 , HB206 , SB193 , SB58 , SB64 , HB153 , HB195 , HB234 , HB248 , HB255 , HB279 , HB287 , HB292 , HB303 , HB309 , HB371 , SB30 , SB35 , SB40 , SB43 , SB48 , SB96 , SB143 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM39 , HM29 , HM43 , HM59 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50

Summary: The meeting opened with prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of announcements and personal remarks. Members then spent a large portion of the session honoring Representative Joanne Ferrary, who announced she will not seek re-election. Speakers from both parties praised her persistence, mentorship, and work on public safety, environmental protection, health care, women’s rights, and advocacy for workers and families. Ferrary thanked colleagues and said she hoped to continue supporting initiatives in the interim and beyond. The House also recognized Representative Matthew McQueen, who is running for commissioner of public lands and will leave the legislature after this term. Members highlighted his work on conservation, land grants, wildlife protection, legislative drafting, and his reputation for principled, detailed review of bills. McQueen thanked colleagues and said he hoped to remain involved in the building in another capacity. The House then moved to third reading and passed House Bill 371, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute creating a temporary funding source for land grants and acequias from remaining sponge bond revenues. Supporters said it would provide a more stable, long-term funding mechanism for acequia and land grant infrastructure while preserving existing funding streams and requiring legislative appropriation and annual reporting. Some members raised concerns about oversight and the lack of a sunset or review clause, but the bill passed 63-2. The chamber also passed House Bill 248, authorizing $392 million in general obligation bond capacity, by a vote of 65-0. The House then debated House Bill 153, a committee substitute creating a market-based framework for carbon reduction and economic development. The bill includes an environmental product declaration act, a low-carbon materials rebate, and an industrial carbon reduction grant program. Supporters said it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions while encouraging economic development and new technology at industrial facilities. Members questioned the timing of the grants, anti-donation concerns, and whether companies would receive funding only after making investments, and sponsors explained that entities must pre-certify and then apply after beginning production or retrofits. Debate was ongoing at the end of the excerpt, with no final vote shown on HB 153.

Transcript Highlights:

• , doesn't eliminate energy demand.
• Energy production is nowhere near 100% renewables.
• work around energy efficiency.
• efficiency work around energy efficiency.
• We support California's clean energy transition.

Summary: The committee hearing centered first on AB 1243, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025, which would direct CalEPA to identify major fossil fuel companies, study California’s climate damages, and assess fees on the largest polluters to fund resilience, recovery, and related projects. The author and supporters argued the bill would make polluters help pay for climate harms, protect taxpayers, create jobs in construction and clean energy, and dedicate at least 40% of funds to disadvantaged communities. Support testimony came from environmental justice groups, labor, youth advocates, health organizations, and many individual witnesses, while opponents from the building trades, chambers of commerce, petroleum, and business groups warned it would raise fuel and consumer costs, threaten refinery jobs, and create legal and economic uncertainty. Committee members debated the bill’s impact on affordability, jobs, refinery closures, and whether cap-and-trade already addresses climate funding needs. The committee ultimately voted to give AB 1243 a due pass recommendation to the Judiciary Committee, with the roll left open. After AB 1243, the committee moved to another bill on wildfire mitigation and related resilience work. The author said the measure addresses a long-running wildfire problem and accepted committee amendments, describing the bill as a response to increasingly severe wildfire seasons and the need to help communities stay safe and rebuild after disasters. The transcript cuts off as that presentation begins, so no final action on the second bill is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next bill is AB 193, which is the climate and energy trailer bill.
• Just a quick comment on the funding for the Local Conservation Corps.
• Just a quick comment on the funding for the Local Conservation Corps.
• Conservation Corps.
• First, on behalf of the Solar Energy Industries Association and Energy Hub, echoing the comments of Brandon

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, as a reminder... how do you mr.
• and the office of energy and mineral resources as a reminder Species Conservation and the Office of
• Energy and Mineral Resources.
• and the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources.
• Add 16 FTP and $19,966,300 to consolidate the Office of Species Conservation.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee considered several Department of Health and Welfare budgets and related language items. For the Commission on Aging, the committee first rejected an ongoing $129,900 general fund restoration for senior nutrition, then approved the same amount as a one-time restoration for Meals on Wheels. The Division of Welfare budget was then approved with adjustments for the SNAP federal-state cost split, Medicaid expansion work requirements, and Medicaid eligibility system changes; members discussed the growing state share of federal program costs and the need to implement legislative eligibility requirements. The committee also approved the Indirect Support Services budget, including a budget-neutral fund source change for the background check unit, replacement items, IT modernization and consolidation funding, and a reduction tied to Senate Bill 1314. It then approved a one-time $77,100 restoration for Mental Health Services, with supporters citing staffing needs for designated examiners and children’s mental health services. In addition, the committee adopted transfer-limitation exemption language for selected Health and Welfare divisions, after a substitute motion narrowed the exemption to Youth Safety and Permanency and Licensing and Certification. For Independent Councils, the committee approved a $60,000 ongoing general fund restoration for the Domestic Violence Council. It also adopted revised Idaho Child Care Program Capacity Grant language for Early Learning and Development after discussion about clarifying terms such as “under investigation,” “out-of-school care,” and “qualifying providers,” and then withdrew the earlier version of that language. Finally, the committee approved the new Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination budget to consolidate the former species conservation and energy/mineral offices, including funding for nuclear coordination, fisheries projects, and energy resiliency grants. The meeting ended with adjournment to the call of the chair, and one House Appropriations item was announced for the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Conservation Minnesota supports Minnesota's clean energy goals and believes in responsible waste management
• Conservation Minnesota supports Minnesota's clean energy goals and believes in responsible waste management
• Conservation Minnesota supports Minnesota's clean energy goals and believes in responsible waste management
• Conservation Minnesota supports Minnesota's clean energy goals and believes in responsible waste management
• </c> on behalf of the Minnesota solar energy on behalf of the Minnesota solar energy Industries<00:08

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Montana gets 23% of their energy from renewable energy. Idaho, 25%. Wyoming, 28%. Oklahoma, 43%.
• Montana gets 23% of their energy from renewable energy. Idaho, 25%. Wyoming, 28%.
• Iowa, 60.9% of their energy comes from renewable energy sources, and Missouri is at 11.3.
• Energy Information Administration.
• I mean, we're in the middle of a change on energy policy and a new emphasis in energy policy.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Transcript Highlights:

• Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee.
• Under current law, it requires qualifying electric utilities to meet targets for energy conservation
• conservation.
• This is one piece of, I think, of a program to help reduce energy burden, starting with keeping energy
• income on energy costs every year.

Bills: HB2426 , HB2606

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Keywords: pollution control, efficiency, appeals process, environmental regulation, hearing board, data protection, privacy, performance measures, reporting requirements, office of privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• We refer to the Energy Committee, so from this point on it will be in Energy provision.
• </c><00:28:25.720><c> So</c> energy infrastructure. So energy infrastructure.
• </c><00:31:50.080><c> district</c> uh soil and water conservation district uh soil and water conservation
• ><00:38:02.960><c> Conservation</c><00:38:03.760><c> Service</c> Natural Resources Conservation Service
• </c><00:41:00.360><c> The</c> and water conservation district. The and water conservation district.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I'm afraid to say that this is a major hub for energy.
• Coast and across the state is looking at conservation.
• You had the Soil Water Conservation Board up here.
• It's become more energy efficient.
• and the U.S. while securing our energy independence.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• in their regulatory department, working primarily on energy conservation.
• system and our energy economy, or giving communities a voice in our energy future.
• system and our energy economy, or giving communities a voice in our energy future.
• , the Energy Conservation and Optimization Act, the Natural Gas Innovation Act, permitting reform, and
• the energy conservation<00:08:12.560><c> and</c><00:08:12.759><c> optimization</c><00:08:13.560><c>

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• limit bond capacity, CCA account money, and other cash resources, with an emphasis on housing, clean energy
• , water conservation, education, and flood response.
• There's $191 million for water conservation, climate resilience, and clean energy.
• It offers affordable financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
• There's also $38 million for tribal clean energy projects.

Bills: SB6003 , HB2353 , HB2431 , HB1983

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, HB 2353, predesign thresholds, capital construction, major capital projects, Office of Financial Management, OFM, Washington state, state agencies, infrastructure planning, construction costs, inflation adjustment, capital facilities, project review, allotments, lease approval