Transcript Highlights:

• Um, members, this is Representative, uh, Lalani's, uh, bill regarding the PUC studying burying power
• Uh, the legislation also grants the PUC, uh, authority to adopt rules necessary to implement the policy
• As the legislature and the PUC continue to work to address long term needs in high growth areas such
• And then it says, hey, PUC commissioners, take a look at it.

Bills: HB 551, HB 1281, HB 1378, HB 1617, HB 2868, HB 2881, HB 3374, HB 4439, HB 4726, HB 4732, HB 4878, HB 4914, HB 4921, HB 4958, HB 5200, HB 5318, HB 5360, HB 5402, HB 5568, HB 5573, HB 5623, HJR 218

Keywords: political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, international organizations, World Health Organization, jurisdiction, state law, enforcement, United Nations, World Economic Forum, attorney general, Texas attorney general, state sovereignty, legal enforcement, Texas Attorney General, electric energy storage, municipal regulation, county regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we do have resource witnesses for the bill from the PUC and the Water Development Board.
• House Bill 2712 addresses this issue by allowing water and sewer utilities regulated by the PUC to use
• Each year, PUC-regulated or investor-owned utilities invest hundreds of millions of dollars into infrastructure
• Members, we do have resource witnesses here from the PUC and the OPUC.

Bills: HB16, HB16, HB1618, HB2692, HB2712, HB2970, HB3609, HB3628

Keywords: judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, water infrastructure, Texas Water Development Board, financial assistance, water supply projects, rural municipalities, water access assessment, aquifer storage, Edwards Aquifer, water injection, environmental regulations, groundwater management, San Antonio River, pollution control

Transcript Highlights:

• What I do know is the PUC took this action to try a couple of years ago to cap these rates.
• do</c><00:04:09.640><c> know</c><00:04:09.800><c> is</c><00:04:09.960><c> the</c><00:04:10.040><c> PUC
• What I do know is the PUC took this us.
• What I do know is the PUC took this action<00:04:12.040><c> to</c><00:04:12.200><c> try</c><00:04:12.600
• All it says is that the PUC can only reimburse rates up to the governor, which is $177,000.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and seeing how utilities and all of their vast resources can triangulate between the courts and the PUC
• The PUC ended it on December 31st, ignoring state law, ignoring its sister agencies, and ignoring the
• integrated cross-sector approach, to get to more prevention, to get to more energy reliability, the PUC
• problem you attribute to the utilities, the investor-owned utilities, should end with the phrase 'and the PUC
• ,' because the PUC is the one also. ...should end with the phrase 'and the PUC,' because the PUC is the

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on the California Earthquake Authority’s SB 254 report and broader options for reforming California’s utility wildfire recovery system. The chair framed the discussion around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the scale of wildfire-related costs on utility bills, and the need to weigh trade-offs among survivors, ratepayers, utilities, insurers, and taxpayers. The first panel featured wildfire survivors William Abrams and Joy Chen, who described long delays in compensation, housing insecurity, and what they viewed as a system that protects utility shareholders more than victims. They urged greater transparency, clearer accountability for utility spending and safety performance, faster and fuller compensation for survivors, and reforms such as independent audits and better alignment of utility incentives with wildfire prevention and restitution. The second panel began with Tom Welsh of the California Earthquake Authority, who explained that the SB 254 report was intended as a broad inventory of policy pathways rather than recommendations. He described the report’s process, including stakeholder submissions, workstreams, and a convergence process, and outlined the current wildfire fund structure: utilities remain liable, the fund reimburses eligible claims after a covered wildfire, and the CPUC later determines prudency and possible reimbursement back to the fund. RAND’s Lloyd Dixon summarized compensation data, saying utilities paid about $38 billion between 2017 and 2024, with major shares going to injured parties, insurers, and public entities, while litigation costs and survivors’ own losses remain substantial. He noted that legal fees and delays reduce the amount survivors ultimately receive. Utility and public-interest witnesses offered differing views on the report’s pathways. PG&E’s Tyson Smith said the report shows inaction is the worst outcome and argued for community wildfire risk reduction, equitable allocation of catastrophe costs, and state-led resilience tools. LADWP’s Fernando Valero emphasized the vulnerability of municipal utilities and cities, and supported inverse condemnation reform, a state-sponsored liability insurance framework, damages and subrogation limits, and stronger insurance access. Consumer Attorneys of California’s John Fisk argued that IOU-caused fires are not natural disasters but the result of negligence and sometimes criminal conduct, and opposed reducing utility liability while supporting stronger oversight and audits. The Public Advocates Office’s Nathaniel Skinner focused on affordability, saying ratepayers already bear large and growing wildfire costs and warning against shifting more costs onto bills without measurable risk reduction and tighter accountability. Committee members then began questioning witnesses about what counts as measurable mitigation, how to define full and fair compensation, and how any fast-pay process should work.

Transcript Highlights:

• The PUC defines an IOU. as a private enterprise acting as a public utility aka a private water and or
• Speaking of size, the PUC classifies IOU. use by their number of connections rather than by their number
• In Texas, IOUs are regulated by both the PUC. and TCEQ, and of course on a federal level we follow the
• The PUC regulates the of IOUs while the TCEQ enforces water and wastewater quality standards as well
• All 35 FTEs for PUC stopping increases. Six FTEs to support.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was an existing PUC 900 rule set. We were able to go through those updates.
• There was an existing PUC 900 rule set. We were able to go through those updates.
• There was an existing PUC 900 rule set. We were able to go through those updates.
• </c><00:49:44.240><c> Um,</c><00:49:44.720><c> I</c> within a within a PUC process.
• Um, I within a within a PUC process.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then the PUC would approve utility issue the bonds.
• The PUC commission would monitor securitization through the entire duration of the cost recovery and
• So, I want to make sure that we recognize the PUC has to find extraordinary event costs are reasonable
• </c><01:02:08.960><c> has</c> make sure that we recognize the PUC has make sure that we recognize the
• PUC has to<01:02:09.280><c> find</c><01:02:09.440><c> extraordinary</c><01:02:10.079><c> events</c><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That allowed me to make use of PUC employees to work on my dockets.
• It also made myself available to help the PUC on some of their work.
• So we developed a calculus of how my time was spent between the PUC and the SEC.
• </c><00:39:15.680><c> and</c><00:39:15.839><c> the</c> time was spent between the PUC and the time was
• spent between the PUC and the SEC.<00:39:17.040><c> And</c><00:39:17.280><c> I</c><00:39:17.520><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on June 20, 2025 and first approved the May 16 minutes and the non-removed items on the consent calendar. It then took up a Health and Human Services item for $5 million in additional nursing facility payments (FIS 25158). HHS explained the transfer was for private and county nursing facilities and was the third and final transfer in FY25, funded through federal matching dollars, county cap funds, and general funds. Members asked about the size of the transfer, whether it signaled future shortfalls, and how projections were developed; HHS said the request reflected updated estimates and that they did not expect similarly large transfers going forward. The committee adopted the item. The committee also considered an ARPA-related item to remove a line from a funding request because the issue had been resolved and the positions/funds were no longer needed. Members approved the item with that line removed. Commissioner Caswell then answered questions about ARPA spending authority, saying remaining projects must be expended by December 31, 2026 and that the item was intended to preserve authority for ongoing capital projects; any unspent funds would revert to the federal government. Members noted the recurring nature of these ARPA adjustments and the need to keep tracking deadlines. The Department of Corrections presented several items, including a $10 million request tied to staffing shortages and overtime costs, plus additional corrections-related funding items. Interim commissioner John Skipa said 18 employees had received preliminary layoff notices pending final budget approval. He and staff said the overtime need was driven by staffing shortages, later collective bargaining pay increases, and double-time compensation for uniform officers forced into overtime; they also said one housing unit section had been closed to reduce staffing pressure. In response to questions about morale and operational risk, Skipa said the department was under strain, that leadership was in transition, and that staffing or budget reductions could create litigation risk. The committee also heard about the Site Evaluation Committee’s budget shortfall, which was attributed to fewer new facility applications but continued casework and public engagement, and approved that item. Finally, members discussed a YDC claims administration item, questioning the role and cost of the Verald Dana consultant; staff said the firm handles intake and processing of claims for the Attorney General’s office and had been involved since the claims process was created. Several items were adopted after brief discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• course, and that is ...and that is a provision in proposed Section 740.22(b)(3), and that asks the PUC
• The PUC already has expertise in transparent processes in place to On this infrastructure, the PUC already
• assessment that's required by SB 57, which was signed into law last year, which specifically requires the PUC

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on workplace technology, labor protections, and data center oversight. SB 947, the No Robo Bosses Act of 2026, would require human review before automated systems are used in discipline, termination, or deactivation decisions and would ban predictive behavior analysis in the workplace. Labor groups, worker advocates, and privacy organizations supported the bill, arguing AI can be biased and should not make life-changing employment decisions without human judgment. Business groups opposed it, saying it was broader than prior versions, could interfere with workplace safety tools, and should not include a private right of action or cover independent contractors. After discussion about due process and accountability, the bill passed the committee 3-1 and was sent to the Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. SB 978, the Data Center Community Accountability Act, would require data centers to pay upfront for new transmission or distribution infrastructure, create a separate rate structure so costs are not shifted to other ratepayers, and include skilled-and-trained labor standards for construction. Supporters said the bill would protect ratepayers, create good construction jobs, and encourage zero-carbon energy development. Opponents, including the Data Center Coalition and Silicon Valley Leadership Group, argued the CPUC already has ongoing proceedings on these issues and warned the bill could single out one industry and discourage investment. The committee members emphasized labor standards and community concerns, and the bill passed 3-0 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, would expand WARN-style notice requirements for layoffs caused by AI or automation, require reporting to workers, local government, and EDD, and give displaced workers first consideration for other openings. Supporters said the bill responds to rapid AI-driven layoffs and would provide needed transparency and data. Opponents said the definitions were too broad, the notice requirements too burdensome, and the bill conflicted with existing WARN law; they also objected to the private right of action and inclusion of independent contractors. The committee discussed amendments clarifying that an employee may still be discharged for reasonable and substantiated cause during the notice period. The bill passed 3-1 to the Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. The committee also approved SB 1032, which would create a licensing and regulatory framework for temporary staffing agencies, and SB 1046, which would direct Cal/OSHA to develop standards to protect lifeguards and park rangers from transboundary pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. SB 1032 drew support from labor and enforcement advocates who said it would help stop staffing fraud, while staffing firms argued the bill was vague and could burden legitimate small businesses; it passed 3-1 to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. SB 1046 was supported by park workers and community groups describing health impacts from pollution and passed 4-0 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The committee also took up a consent item, which passed 4-0, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• heart of this, of course, and that is a provision in proposed Section 740.22(b)(3), and that asks the PUC
• The PUC already has expertise in transparent processes in place to On this infrastructure, the PUC already
• assessment that's required by SB 57, which was signed into law last year, which specifically requires the PUC

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• under current law, a public entity must hold a municipal election before selling its water system to a PUC-regulated
• After the sale, the water system will be regulated by the PUC, which will help ensure reasonable and
• After the sale, the water system will be regulated by the PUC, which will help ensure reasonable and

Summary: The Local Government Committee met on March 25, 2026, hearing eight bills, with several measures focused on housing, water, and local government administration. AB 1621 by Assemblymember Wilson sought to speed post-entitlement housing permits by setting clearer timelines, limiting repeated plan checks, and restricting field changes that conflict with approved plans. Supporters from the building, apartment, business, and housing sectors said the bill would reduce delays and costs, while county and city representatives opposed it unless amended, warning it could limit local enforcement of building and environmental codes and create problems for incomplete applications. The bill passed after a roll call vote, with the committee noting it would continue working with local government groups on amendments. The committee also heard AB 1712, which would help Santa Fe Springs sell its small, financially strained water system to a larger regulated provider without requiring a municipal election, using a protest process instead. The author and city officials said the system faces contamination, major deferred maintenance, and rate increases that could otherwise triple; water industry representatives supported the bill and no opposition was heard. AB 2080, sponsored by county treasurers, would make county delegations of investment authority to treasurers ongoing until revoked rather than requiring annual renewal, with supporters saying it would reduce administrative burden and avoid technical lapses. AB 2640 would allow local governments to offset reductions in reimbursement for disallowed state mandate claims against other unpaid mandate reimbursements; Shasta County testified in support, describing a large audit disallowance and long-delayed state payments. Both bills passed. The committee also approved consent items AB 1622 and AB 1834. AB 2180, which would codify a framework for proportional water rates under Proposition 218 based on the Dreher decision, drew broad support from water agencies and local government groups, but opposition from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the California Association of Realtors, who argued the bill was premature while the Supreme Court reviews related case law. Despite that opposition, the bill passed on a 6-2 vote, and the remaining bills were advanced with roll calls left open for additional votes before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• under current law, a public entity must hold a municipal election before selling its water system to a PUC-regulated
• After the sale, the water system will be regulated by the PUC.
• After the sale, the water system will be regulated by the PUC, which will help ensure reasonable and

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there are 10 states that elect PUC commissioners.
• </c> there are 10 states that elect uh PUC there are 10 states that elect uh PUC commissioners.<00:07
• Um, I spoke recently with a former PUC commissioner and um her recollection was that the states who,
• Um, I spoke recently with a former PUC commissioner and um her recollection was that the states who,
• I do believe that it is worth um taking a look at the idea of electing the PUC and making it more uh

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This was to clarify language where we're sort of speaking to the PUC.
• Um it was actually a request the PUC.
• It gives the PUC tools to manage those impacts, and it ensures that the PUC approves new resources for
• It gives the PUC tools to manage those impacts, and it ensures that the PUC approves new resources for
• It gives the PUC tools to manage those impacts, and it ensures that the PUC approves new resources for

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you propose a big one, they get to leapfrog over local approval and go right to the PUC.
• When you propose a big one, they get to leapfrog over local approval and go right to the PUC.
• When you propose a big one, they get to leapfrog over local approval and go right to the PUC.
• When you propose a big one, they get to leapfrog over local approval and go right to the PUC.
• So does the PUC have any kind of authority over housing assistance or energy assistance?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to ensure that 30% of the gas utility allowances... ...coordinating with the PUC to ensure that 30%
• This importantly allows the PUC to continue with their proceeding to implement the direction under AB
• It allows for the PUC to move forward with its proceeding related to the climate credit in implementing
• OAL process to meet that September 1st deadline for allocation of allowances, and also to allow the PUC
• The PUC is meeting in the fall. They are meeting later this summer.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilities Commission that allows a telephone company or telecommunications carrier to petition the PUC
• Utilities Commission that allows a telephone company or telecommunications carrier to petition the PUC
• </c><00:23:51.840><c> The</c><00:23:52.000><c> PUC</c><00:23:52.640><c> is</c><00:23:52.880><c> able<
• The PUC is able to other providers.
• The PUC is able to assess<00:23:53.520><c> fees</c><00:23:53.840><c> for</c><00:23:54.000><c> the</c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If the PUC will consider the following five requirements as part of that interest determination: one,
• operate, and maintain; three, the results of an economic impact analysis under criteria adopted by the PUC
• four, the results of a reliability assessment conducted by ERCOT; and five, any other information the PUC
• This bill would also require the interconnection applicant to apply to the PUC for the public interest
• Thank you, members. application to apply to the PUC for the public interest determination at least 180

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, heard an invocation, dispensed with the previous journal, and received a House message. Members also recognized Dr. Namita Bardwaj as doctor of the day. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 554 honoring Christopher “Chris” Jake Stone of Santa Fe for his heroism during the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, with several senators and the lieutenant governor offering remarks about his sacrifice and the ongoing impact on his family and community. The Senate also signed a number of bills and resolutions and adopted Senate Resolution 533 recognizing the Texas Legislative Internship Program class, with multiple senators highlighting individual interns and the program’s role in developing future public servants. The floor then took up and passed several bills, often by suspending the regular order and the three-day rule. These included HB 1639 on a study of cancer incidence among female firefighters; HB 102 granting early registration for students in military-related programs; HB 4325 increasing civil penalties for barratry; HB 5342 creating a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline trust fund and related funding study; HB 3370 allowing late timberland appraisal applications after an owner’s death; HB 3376 requiring certain guardians to complete dementia/Alzheimer’s training; HB 132 extending confidentiality protections to information about hostile acts by foreign adversaries; and HB 1978, which sought to restrict ERCOT interconnections, but its motion to pass to engrossment failed on a 20-11 vote. Additional measures passed included HB 511 on unsolicited voter registration mailings, HB 2187 on nurse staffing, retaliation, and overtime protections, HB 2510 creating offenses for unlicensed assisted living operations, HB 694 on DFPS notification timelines, HB 1893 making license plates in law-enforcement video nonconfidential for public information requests, HB 2733 updating barratry and solicitation laws for digital communications, HB 4506 allowing opt-in electronic zoning notices, HB 3751 transferring a TxDOT property to DPS, HB 3033 creating a grant program for nonprofits supporting injured or killed DPS employees, HB 4273 on Medicaid fraud prevention and eligibility verification, HB 3211 on vision care benefits, HB 4529 exempting certain DoD-certified child care facilities from state licensure, HB 2522 easing fingerprinting requirements for certain vehicle dealers, HB 4219 tightening public information request response requirements, and HB 4783 requiring a report on opioid antagonist programs. The Senate also received a House message noting passage of SB 9, and a nominations committee report was announced for future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also requires that competitive bidding be used in leasing these facilities, and the PUC approves
• a rate case or contested hearing, or that the leases include a clause allowing for changes based on PUC
• It keeps utilities accountable, aligns with PUC rules adopted earlier this year, and ensures our emergency

Bills: SB 231, SB 667, SB 689, SB 825, SB 965, SB 992, SB 1059, SB 1220, SB 2368, SB 2601

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, it's from a process perspective, so the process applies to a specific PUC process and the transmission
• levels like what this represents, but technically the law applies specifically directly to ERCOT with PUC
• Nothing in our processes today, ours or the PUCs, would prevent the transmission company from advancing

Bills: HB1951, HB2715, HB3092, HB3237, HB3278, HB3511, HB3592, HB3675, HB3778, HB3782, HB3826, HB3970, HB4016, HB4049, HB4341, HB4344, HB4406, HB4427

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction