Transcript Highlights:

• From that facility, it can also be transferred back to a central facility for basketball, but it keeps
• a centralized facility piece of... keeps a centralized facility.
• But this is a $25 million investment that we have in this facility. It's a big operation.
• commission to that operation. to bring commission to that operation overseas, and only purely one facility
• That's the operation that's in...

Bills: SB312 , SB316 , SB90

Committees: House Tourism , House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: alcoholic beverages, ABC Board, Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control, special event license, special events retail license, nonprofit special events retail license, special retail license, event storage license, government venue license, alcohol storage, alcohol transfer, beer, wine, liquor, on-premises consumption, public venue, government-owned property, municipal property, county property, state property

Transcript Highlights:

• That was a line of credit for two facilities to help in the construction of their wastewater facilities
• So we might have to pay rent at the new facility, but still be in the old facility until the move is
• Substantial completion is still projected for winter of '27, and the facility should be operational in
• that facility.
• And it's different than how we've operated a lot of our facilities, but we're very confident that we

Summary: The committee first approved the December 10 minutes and then received a DEQ base budget summary and agency overview. DEQ staff explained that the agency is largely federally and special funded, with major ongoing costs in salaries, operating expenses, grants, and continuing appropriations. Director Dave Glatt and accounting director Beth Jacobson highlighted core programs, the move to a new chemistry laboratory, the new state fuel inspection program, wastewater-related funding from HB 1577, and implementation of SB 2267 for on-site wastewater rules. They also noted the agency’s spending patterns, possible federal EPA cuts, and the likelihood of some fee adjustments or program changes if federal support declines. Members asked about DEQ’s travel, field offices, future staffing, and how the agency would respond to reduced federal regulation. DEQ said most staff are based in Bismarck, with field offices in Fargo, Sawyer, and Gwinner, and that travel is driven by inspections and spill response. Glatt said the agency would continue to rely on science and law, and that any future federal retrenchment could mean more state responsibility but likely not a wholesale increase in FTEs. The committee also discussed a feedlot enforcement case in the Minot area, with DEQ explaining its role in ensuring compliance, permitting, and animal-waste management standards. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented on FTE block grant reporting, TANF balances, child care transfers, and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Donna Ockland explained that no line-item transfers had occurred yet for the new rural health work, but about 33 positions were planned and some current staff time could be reimbursed through approved cost allocation. HHS also reviewed TANF’s frozen eligibility and block grant structure, the transfer of up to 30% of TANF funds to child care, and recent program changes that increased benefits and raised the income limit. Staff said the department is using TANF more strategically to support child care and other allowable uses, while still carrying over unused funds as many states do. Finally, Pat and HHS staff gave an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying the first funding opportunity was being posted and that the state is on track to obligate the federal funds within the required timeline. They described priorities such as workforce retention, preceptor development, technical assistance for critical access hospitals, community wellness projects, and ambulance upgrades. Members asked about rural versus urban eligibility, immigrant recruitment, evaluation of year-two funding, and how the program would address varied local workforce needs. The meeting then shifted to an Office of Management and Budget update on the new State Hospital project, where Lindsay Ashley reported continued construction progress, updated cost information, and selected alternates, with photos and details showing work underway in multiple building sections.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because these facilities are privately operated, the public, journalists, and desperate families are
• These facilities operate under federal contracts and under the guise of federal oversight.
• know their rights, operators know their obligations, and California can ensure these facilities are
• In practice, that means many of these facilities operate with little to no meaningful oversight.
• And CoreCivic is currently operating that facility.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• the cost of bringing that facility to Delaware between the facility itself and the other ratepayers.
• When can the facility begin operation?
• The next section of the bill addresses the point at which the facility can begin operation, and it's
• Data centers are basically the only facility that operates on that 24-7 schedule, and already 50 megawatts
• Almost no facilities other than data centers operate at an extremely high load factor.

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on energy, public safety, and environmental cleanup. House Bill 455 would create a historic preservation license plate to raise funds and awareness for Delaware preservation efforts, and House Bill 471 would tighten rules and penalties for off-highway vehicles on shared private roads, with golf carts excluded. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 439, the Truth in E-Bike Marketing Act, would require clearer disclosures when selling electric mopeds and electric motorcycles so consumers understand classification, power, and licensing/insurance requirements. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 407, related to the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act and brownfields, would shift funding for brownfield cleanup from the original realty transfer tax approach to a dedicated share of the hazardous substance cleanup fund and raise civil penalties for fraudulent acts. The committee also approved the June 18, 2026 minutes once quorum was reached. Most of the meeting centered on House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 233, as amended, a large-load/data center bill intended to protect ratepayers from costs tied to massive new electricity users. The sponsor and Public Advocate said PJM’s warnings about a coming reliability backstop auction made it urgent to establish a Delaware framework now, requiring large energy users to sign utility agreements, cover their share of transmission, distribution, and capacity costs, and comply with curtailment and other protections. Supporters from environmental groups and some labor and business voices said the bill was needed to prevent cost shifts to households and small businesses, while opponents argued it was being rushed, could deter investment, and might unintentionally affect other industries; several asked for more time and clearer definitions. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee also took up House Bill 470, which would authorize Delmarva Power, with PSC approval, to build and operate utility-owned battery storage and spread costs across the customer base. The sponsor and Delmarva said the bill would improve reliability quickly and help avoid outages, while the chair expressed concern that the state had not yet fully studied whether utility-owned or competitively procured storage is the best model, noting a recent SEU storage study and broader policy questions. Supporters said utility storage could be deployed faster and help with peak shaving, while others urged a competitive process; the transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 470.

Transcript Highlights:

• of our statewide court facilities.
• of our statewide court facilities.
• The Facility Modification Program, also known as FM, is intended to help extend the life of a facility
• FM projects cannot change the function of a facility or expand a facility.
• For example, it could direct the branch to reconsider its facility needs in light of changes to its operations

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know of a member of ours operating in any part of the state, or an oil and gas operator operating
• LNG facilities were operating near their maximum safe levels in March, exporting at about 17.9 BCF a
• While this facility may be able to restore operations once the threat of military action is reduced,
• In addition, our facilities operations provide a $5 to $7 billion annual net positive impact Facilities
• Globally, Lindy operates hydrogen production and purification facilities, liquid hydrogen production

Committee: House Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• It defines an emerging large energy use facility as a facility that has a maximum aggregate contract
• Yes, all electric utilities that have a large energy use facility in their service area.
• They also caused the operators at the federal dams to suspend spill protection operations; fish that
• The new facilities or emerging facilities in the state are going to pay their costs.
• I understand that the bill... ...the data center's proprietary operations.

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on Senate Bill 5941, which would exempt certain school districts from a Washington State Energy Code requirement for onsite renewable energy systems on large new commercial buildings or additions. The committee adopted Senator Short’s amendment narrowing the eligible school district definition from 1,000 or fewer students to 500 or fewer students, then approved the bill as amended and sent it to the Rules Committee with a do pass recommendation. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6171, a proposed substitute addressing emerging large energy use facilities, primarily data centers. Staff explained that the bill would require utilities serving such facilities to adopt tariffs or policies to protect other ratepayers, require long-term contracts and full cost recovery, allow curtailment during emergencies, add reporting and sustainability requirements, create a fee to fund energy assistance, weatherization, and higher education programs, and impose new clean energy and labor-related requirements. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to protect affordability, reliability, transparency, and the public interest as data center demand grows. Testimony was mixed. Supporters, including community action groups, environmental organizations, some utilities, Ecology, and student representatives, argued the bill would prevent cost shifting, improve transparency, support low-income energy assistance, and help manage grid and climate impacts. Opponents, including data center representatives, public utility district and business groups, and some local government and port officials, said the bill was too prescriptive, could raise costs, threaten competitiveness, duplicate existing utility practices, and interfere with existing CCA/CETA provisions and local flexibility. No vote was taken on SB 6171 during the hearing, and the meeting adjourned after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we and our terminal facilities.
• </c> 24-hour um operation, seven days a week. 24-hour um operation, seven days a week.
• um</c><00:15:44.720><c> we</c><00:15:44.959><c> will</c> operation and operation tempo um we will operation
• Uh, we think we have passenger facility charge, customer facility charges, some charges, but the part
• 06.000><c> facilities</c><00:31:06.559><c> for</c> additional hangering facilities for additional hangering

Summary: The committee heard an update from Kentucky’s three major commercial airports: Lexington Blue Grass Airport, Louisville Regional Airport Authority (SDF and Bowman Field), and CVG. Lexington’s Eric Franco described post-COVID growth that has already exceeded pre-pandemic activity, along with a master plan focused on the whole airport, expanded surface parking, relocation of the air traffic control tower, and a major terminal project estimated at $500 million to $700 million. He emphasized the airport’s role in serving both passenger and corporate aviation across central Kentucky and thanked the legislature for prior funding, including $5 million for parking. Louisville’s Dan Mann reported record passenger growth, expanded nonstop service, and especially strong cargo activity driven by UPS, noting SDF is now among the busiest cargo airports in North America and Bowman Field remains the state’s busiest general aviation airport. He highlighted major infrastructure needs, including airfield and terminal work, parking expansion, and a planned federal inspection service facility to support international flights around events like the Kentucky Derby.

Transcript Highlights:

• operator.
• Time reviews, field facility work.
• The processing facility down in South Carolina is, I believe, probably the biggest facility when you
• Facility or fuel cycle facility there at MFC, we're taking EBR-II fuel and reprocessing it.
• Right now at the fuel cycle facility, we're operating about 300 kilograms per year.

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the quality of questions from the group, followed by a series of technical presentations from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent nuclear regulatory changes tied to presidential executive orders, including NRC Part 53 for advanced reactors, the forthcoming Part 57 for very small reactors, and DOE updates to reactor authorization standards. He emphasized efforts to align DOE and NRC processes, use risk-informed and performance-based licensing, support reactor deployment for AI/data centers and national security, and use AI to speed communications and crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements. In response to questions, he said there was no plan to merge agencies, but rather to improve coordination and public outreach through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and reprocessing. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), why it is needed for advanced reactors, and DOE’s HALEU Availability Program and related investments in enrichment, transportation, deconversion, and supply chain development. He also covered spent fuel management, the possibility of centralized storage or a fuel-cycle campus, the Center for Used Fuel Research, and ongoing work on high-burnup cask testing and reprocessing technologies. Tolman described aqueous, pyrochemical, and fluoride-volatility reprocessing approaches, noting the advantages and waste characteristics of each, and said several companies are working with INL on these technologies. Ashley Shields presented INL’s AI and nuclear work, focusing on the Genesis initiative and the Prometheus effort to use AI to design, license, build, and operate reactors with far less human intervention. She described INL’s broad use of generative AI tools, the need to manage large volumes of legacy technical data, and applications in reactor design, materials discovery, autonomous laboratories, and digital twins. Shields said AI is being used to reduce the enormous documentation burden in nuclear licensing and to support autonomous or remotely operated reactor demonstrations, while stressing that humans remain in supervisory roles. In discussion, she addressed data security, model access, and the continued need for software engineers. The session then recessed briefly and resumed with Mitch Kerman beginning a presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• The facilities currently operate under a permanent waiver from the United States Air Force for wingtip
• These facilities<00:31:59.440><c> currently</c><00:31:59.840><c> operate</c><00:32:00.240><c> under</
• c><00:32:00.480><c> a</c> facilities currently operate under a facilities currently operate under a permanent
• Thank you for your time today. facility, which is a facility that we facility, which is a facility that
• </c> recreation facilities. recreation facilities.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• a micro reactor 4 DOD facilities by the end of 2027.
• Some are to power their own facility.
• license of current facilities.
• Reactivating closed plants and increasing the output of existing facilities through operates.
• >> Well, that that was to own facility.

Transcript Highlights:

• the proper facilities in which, Our animals, whenever they are picked up, we'll have the proper facilities
• I'm assuming that the operational dollars for operating this is coming from a local fund and local dollars
• But I think it makes it difficult to operate a facility that is, you know, needs a lot of work, makes
• operations.
• nuclear operations, I just wanted to make a quick point because this bill is not about operations, this

Bills: SB47 , SB195 , SB196 , SB197 , SB198 , SB78

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: food recovery, composting, waste management, solid waste surcharge, organic waste reduction, environment, grants, advisory group, soil conservation, water resources, training services, outreach programs, environmental protection, animal care, veterinary services, spay and neuter, Las Vegas, community funding, animal welfare, animal shelter

Transcript Highlights:

• operator.
• The processing facility down in South Carolina is, I believe, probably the biggest facility when you
• Facility or fuel cycle facility there at MFC, we're taking EBR-II fuel and reprocessing it.
• facility in order to be able to take this specific cask, bring it into the facility, crane upgrades
• Right now at the Fuel Cycle Facility, we're operating about 300 kilograms per year.

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the availability of presentation materials, then moved into a series of technical briefings from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent federal and DOE efforts to streamline nuclear regulation for advanced reactors, including NRC Part 53 and upcoming Part 57 rulemaking, DOE authorization updates, crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements, and use of AI to speed licensing communications and document review. He emphasized that the goal is to align safety standards for advanced technologies, reduce rework for developers, and support deployment for commercial, defense, and research uses. In response to questions, he said there is no current plan to merge agencies, but there is more information-sharing and embedded NRC staff at DOE facilities; he also noted public outreach is supported through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, covering uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and recycling. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), DOE’s HALEU Availability Program, and the need to expand domestic enrichment, deconversion, and transportation capacity to support advanced reactors and the 2050 nuclear growth goal. He also reviewed used fuel management, including on-site storage at operating and shutdown reactors, the Center for Used Fuel Research at INL, a high-burnup research cask project, and the long-term repository question, which he said is ultimately political as well as technical. He outlined reprocessing approaches—aqueous/Purex, pyrochemical, and fluoride volatility—describing INL’s work on electrochemical processing of EBR-II fuel and noting industry interest from several companies in recycling technologies. Ashley Shields presented on AI for nuclear applications, describing INL’s use of generative AI, high-performance computing, and digital-twin tools to accelerate reactor design, licensing, operations, and materials development. She highlighted the Prometheus effort to pursue highly automated reactor design and operation, the large documentation burden for reactor licensing, and ongoing work on autonomous control, remote operation, and AI-assisted materials qualification through the Vulcan challenge and related data platforms. In questions, she said AI tools are used under data-governance and security controls, with different models chosen for different tasks, and argued that software engineers and human oversight remain necessary. The session ended with a brief recess announcement and a transition to a later presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our partner and terminal operator is Ports America, the largest terminal operator in the U.S.
• We are building our container facility.
• are efficiently operating whenever a vessel calls.
• are efficiently operating whenever a vessel calls.
• to a brand-new 88-acre facility at Blount Island.

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee held a panel discussion focused on Florida seaports and their role in the state economy. Florida Ports Council CEO Mike Rubin opened with statewide figures from a 2023 economic impact study, saying Florida seaports support about 1.2 million jobs, generate roughly $195 billion in economic value, and produce about $7.4 billion in state and local taxes. He emphasized that ports are critical for fuel, food, medical supplies, construction materials, and hurricane response, and argued that continued state and federal investment is needed to expand capacity and move projects forward faster. PortMiami Director Heidi Webb described Miami’s cruise and cargo operations, noting the port generated about $61 billion in economic impact and 334,000 jobs. She highlighted record cruise activity, major private investment by cruise lines, the launch of shore power at cruise terminals to reduce emissions, and ongoing capital projects including a new Royal Caribbean terminal, berth reconstruction, and an inland port concept to reduce congestion. Members asked about security, hurricane procedures, AI use, infrastructure planning, collaboration among ports, and smuggling prevention; Webb said the port uses layered security with local law enforcement, CBP, Coast Guard, and radiation monitors, and that hurricane planning is coordinated in advance with county and federal partners. Port Tampa Bay’s Raul Alfonso said Tampa is the state’s largest port by land area and a major energy hub for Central Florida, with an estimated $34.5 billion economic impact. He discussed diversification into containers, food distribution, fertilizer, and construction materials, along with major needs such as a deep-dredge project and more warehouse space. He also addressed resilience and fuel distribution during hurricanes, and said the port is preparing for future LNG and alternative-fuel demand through partnerships, land planning, and education. Jaxport’s Nick Primrose then described Jacksonville’s container, auto, breakbulk, aggregate, military, and LNG businesses, including 1.3 million TEUs last year, major state-funded crane purchases, harbor deepening, auto-processing expansion, and its role as a strategic military port. He said Jaxport is a leader in marine LNG and has trained all employees on human trafficking awareness. The discussion ended with Port Panama City being introduced as a smaller but important Panhandle economic engine, with Rubin noting its cargo, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects and its continued need for state and federal support.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:39:41.319><c> or</c> raise money for um Church operations or raise money for um Church operations
• </c> concerned whether these facilities concerned whether these facilities should<01:33:48.800><c> be
• Every one of the operating facilities has spent a lot of money improving them over the last several years
• > a</c><01:49:21.560><c> lot</c><01:49:21.679><c> of</c> operating facilities have spent a lot of operating
• We weren't adding a different kind of facility; we were the facility that existed.

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing and then an executive session on HB 650, a housekeeping-style bill from the Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds. Testimony explained that the bill would remove references to two already-repealed dedicated funds, split the state parks dedicated fund so Cannon Mountain winter activities would be tracked separately from the rest of the parks system, and place a $1 million cap on the robotics education fund so excess money would revert to the general fund. Supporters said the changes were mainly administrative but would improve accounting and avoid timing issues; committee members asked about a typographical error in the bill text and whether the measure was more than housekeeping. The committee later voted 16-0 to recommend HB 650 ought to pass, and then placed it on the consent calendar. The committee also opened a public hearing on HB 585, which would revise the property tax exemption for religious organizations. Representative John Janigian, the sponsor, said the bill was intended to help small churches and other religious groups that own parsonages or worship buildings but no longer have a resident pastor, allowing them to rent space or use property for church purposes without losing the exemption so long as the money is used for church operations, maintenance, or outreach. He described his Salem church’s parsonage being taxed after it was no longer occupied by a pastor, and said the bill would prevent similar burdens on small congregations. Former Representative Betty Gay testified in support, describing prior assessor actions in Salem that taxed church land and buildings very aggressively, while a Municipal Association representative testified in opposition. Committee members raised questions about how terms such as “regularly recognized and constituted denomination” would be defined, whether the bill could be applied consistently to larger denominations with multiple parishes, and whether legislative research should review past treatment of similar cases.

Transcript Highlights:

• In practice, that means many of these facilities operate with little to no meaningful oversight.
• SB 995 is grounded in a simple principle: if detention facilities operate in California, they must meet
• It applies to any facility that meets objective criteria, regardless of who operates it or why individuals
• are also county-governmentally operated facilities that is essentially what has been created as a result
• Anybody, any individual that is in a facility that is being operated by the government, even if it is

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• And the state actually contributed $60 million to construct the facility, which started to operate in
• There are carbon capture technologies currently operating on waste-to-energy facilities in other countries
• On waste-to-energy facilities in other countries.
• This facility in Spokane is one of these approved facilities, and some of our port members rely on this
• The waste-to-energy facility in Spokane is the last remaining facility on the West Coast.

Summary: The Environment and Energy Committee heard testimony on three bills. HB 2426 would allow the Pollution Control Hearings Board, with unanimous agreement of the parties, to use alternative board compositions for appeals, including a single member or other qualified environmental adjudicators, so long as one member is a Washington-licensed attorney and the panel has environmental law expertise. The bill sponsor and supporters from business and conservation groups said it was a narrow, consensus-based change intended to improve efficiency and predictability. ELUHO’s director supported the concept but flagged technical issues in the bill language about attorney and Growth Management Hearings Board member qualifications. HB 2416 would provide no-cost allowances under the Climate Commitment Act to Spokane’s waste-to-energy facility, which is not currently covered until the second compliance period. Supporters, including Spokane officials, labor, and local partners, said the facility protects a sole-source aquifer, provides waste disposal and electricity for about 13,000 homes, and faces large compliance costs that could raise rates and threaten jobs. Opponents from environmental groups and Ecology argued the bill would give the facility preferential treatment, subsidize most of its emissions through 2050, and fail to ensure real emissions reductions; AWB raised concern about market impacts if new allowances are added. No vote was taken. HB 2373 would require electric utilities to offer monthly bill discount programs with tiered income levels, expanded outreach and enrollment, and updated reporting on low-income energy assistance. The sponsor said the bill is meant to make assistance more consistent and accessible statewide, while utilities and rural co-ops warned it could create unfunded mandates and significant rate increases for non-low-income customers, especially in smaller systems. Supporters from community action agencies, Commerce, and some utilities said monthly assistance is needed because energy burdens are rising and current programs are patchwork, though several urged pairing the bill with state funding or amendments. The committee heard extensive testimony but took no final action on any of the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Became certified LEED Platinum for operations and management, and was ranked as the top NFL facility
• And then the Vikings, of course, pay on an ongoing basis for the maintenance and operation of the facility
• , and expansion of the facility to help make the facility work.
• </c> three facilities within the complex. three facilities within the complex.
• </c> how how new and shiny that facility is. how how new and shiny that facility is.

Bills: HF2148 , HF2693 , HF2542 , HF1141 , HF1770 , HF1489 , HF1709 , HF244 , HF1266 , HF807 , HF2619 , HF1340

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: affordable housing, local control, revolving loan fund, community partnerships, Minnesota housing policy, housing, locally controlled housing, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, housing infrastructure bonds, state bonds, bonding bill, supportive housing, permanent supportive housing, homelessness, veterans housing, senior housing, manufactured home parks, community land trust, single-family housing, multifamily housing

Transcript Highlights:

• To actually operate that county jail.
• Most of our county jails, due to the fact that they are professionals operating these facilities. want
• based upon the size of the facility.
• , they simply do not have the staff to operate that facility in a safe and secure manner. which resulted
• And I will add, we have a mental health facility. and a TDCJ facility across the street from our jail

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, LPRW operates two well fields within this Holland water source where this treatment facility is.
• We also, as mentioned before, operate the facility, maintain the facility in partnership with the city
• ><00:16:07.400><c> facility,</c> mentioned before operate the facility, mentioned before operate the
• But Neighborhood House is the kind of the operator of the facility.
• But Neighborhood House is the kind of the operator of the facility.

Bills: HF4736 , HF4737 , HF3806 , HF3352 , HF4840 , HF3748

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: emergency shelter, grant program, homelessness, capital investment, Minnesota Statutes, appropriation bonds, public funding, housing, infrastructure bonds, funding, appropriation, Minnesota constitutional amendment, public debt, state bonds, general obligation bonds, information technology, IT infrastructure, software licenses, technology modernization, capital improvements