Video & Transcript : 'Washington State Energy Code' :
Page 422 of 500
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We've also adopted several provisions regarding the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
- But members, there are some judges across the state, some courtrooms across the state, that are not performing
- On behalf of the district judges across the state, thank you. I am Rubia Collier.
- It also impacts the state pay for your elected felony prosecutors. ...a lot of different judges.
- And our judges across the state are having to manage individual cases, individual people.
Bills:
HB40
Committee:
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Summary:
The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met to hear House Bill 1761, a broad judicial package focused on increasing judicial compensation and adding accountability and efficiency measures. The chair explained that HB 1707 and HB 2100 were withdrawn from the agenda, and that HB 1761 would be taken up first because many judges and stakeholders were present. The committee substitute for HB 1761 proposed a 30% increase in base judicial pay to $182,000, changes to judicial retirement linkage, stronger judicial conduct provisions, and efficiency measures such as targeted reporting for judges not meeting benchmarks, appellate in-person meeting encouragement, and time limits on certain motions. The chair and several supporters said judicial pay had reached “emergency status,” citing Texas’s low national ranking and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified judges.
Witnesses in support included presiding and district judges, the State Bar’s judicial section, business and trial lawyer groups, and prosecutors. They emphasized that many judges work long hours off the bench, handle warrants at night and on weekends, manage heavy dockets, and face recruitment problems in both urban and rural counties. Supporters also said higher pay would help attract experienced lawyers, retain judges, and improve court efficiency. Several witnesses and members discussed judicial accountability, including public reporting of court performance and the role of the Texas Supreme Court and presiding judges in setting benchmarks. Some members raised concerns that raw statistics can be misleading because judges also do substantial off-the-bench work and often help cover other courts’ dockets.
There was also testimony and discussion about the bill’s conduct and discipline provisions. A representative of the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed parts of the bill that would tie pay raises to changes affecting judicial independence, warning about subjective bail-related discipline standards and possible chilling effects. The executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct cautioned against civil penalties for complainants, saying it could discourage good-faith complaints and create litigation risks. Other witnesses supported accountability reforms but urged caution about unintended consequences, especially for family and emergency cases and for judges handling warrants and other time-sensitive matters. After testimony, the committee withdrew the committee substitute and left HB 1761 pending, then recessed the committee.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- And I want to share something with you guys that the United States Supreme, the United States Chamber
- States and they can shut it down?
- It would take just as much energy as we produce. We're also energy producers.
- So I assume this is green energy and renewable energy because it's not consumptive, so we can classify
- But yes, it's renewable energy.
Committee:
House Resources and Conservation
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Today I'm here representing the State Veterans Advisory Committee, and uh we're chartered by state RSA
- And it's state if you can find it.
- The bill for ADUs across the state.
- <01:36:06.000><c> law</c> state law state law um<01:36:08.800><c> is</c><01:36:09.120><c> the</c><01:
- the state.
Committee:
Senate Commerce
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (02/19/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- ><c> might</c> if the state other state agencies might if the state other state agencies might do<01:
- agencies and the only time that state agencies and the state<01:31:00.119><c> state</c><01:31:00.480
- state a is it through the court state state a is it through the court system<01:31:01.880><c> is</c>
- </c><02:45:01.600><c> States</c> Association for the deaf the code States Association for the deaf the
- code States the<02:45:02.600><c> American</c><02:45:03.000><c> deaf</c><02:45:03.479><c> Community</
Summary:
The subcommittee first took up House Bill 702, which would change how extra or special duty pay for retired police officers is treated for retirement and work-limit purposes. Supporters argued the bill would let retirees work more special-duty hours, helping municipalities fill traffic-detail and similar assignments without added state cost, and said it would not prohibit retirees from working but would simply stop those hours from counting toward the return-to-work threshold. Opponents argued the change would be inconsistent with the retirement system’s 2011 reforms, could increase pension liabilities, and would treat the same compensation differently for active employees and retirees. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect current and future retirees, the role of municipalities, and whether the policy amounted to “policing for profit.” The subcommittee ultimately voted 3-2 to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL) on HB 702, sending it to the full committee with that recommendation.
The committee then discussed House Bill 581, which would create a Group Three retirement plan for new state employees hired after the bill’s effective date. The chair outlined a housekeeping amendment to delay implementation, moving the effective date to January 1, 2026, and noted a sponsor amendment addressing health insurance group inclusion and medical and surgical benefits so those benefits would not be put at risk for the new group. Testimony and discussion focused on the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution, with supporters citing Michigan examples and arguing the bill would help recruit and retain employees while giving them more flexibility. Opponents said the change could weaken retirement security and increase unfunded liability, though supporters responded that the bill still requires employer contributions toward accrued liability and is intended to keep the state on track to pay off its unfunded liability by 2039. The transcript ends with continued discussion of the bill and no final vote shown on HB 581.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- three sections of code under the liquor part of the code.
- I think that my guess is covered in updated code. This is obsolete code.
- You indicated that this is just sort of stating the state sovereignty that we already have.
- States are not sovereign.
- States are not sovereign; the federal government is. Now, states have a lot of leniency.
Committee:
House State Affairs
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- They laid around; they had no energy.
- In the United States, only 3% of eligible people donate blood.
- of the blood supply. ...apply in the state of Texas.
- Do I follow this state law? Because it says 'shall'?
- Most of the state of Texas does direct donors.
Committee:
House Public Health
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 090 Apr 14th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> rural communities across the state. rural communities across the state.
- And we've seen the impact of that, of course, less production of energy in our state, less employment
- , less production of energy in our state,<01:59:45.280><c> less</c><01:59:45.599><c> employment,</c><
- </c> business in our state. business in our state.
- </c> state permits to sell firearms. state permits to sell firearms.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (02/03/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- The bill on lines 11 through 14 states that the Office of Energy Innovation shall support the work of
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and it further states on page two, lines four and five, that the
- Management bom and it of ocean Energy Management bom and it further<00:39:38.680><c> States</c><00:39
- You have a responsibility to plan for energy futures for our state that will bring clean air, that will
- </c> to plan for Energy Futures for our state to plan for Energy Futures for our state that<00:43:24.480
Committee:
House Science, Technology and Energy
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Feb 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The United States Supreme Court, the United States Chamber of Commerce—they, in our first case, there
- States and they can shut it down?
- It would take just as much energy as we produce. We’re also energy producers.
- So I assume this is green energy and renewable energy because it's not consumptive, so we can classify
- But yes, it's renewable energy.
Summary:
The House Resources and Conservation Committee approved the February 13 minutes and rearranged the agenda to hear HJM 13, HB 737, HJM 14, and HB 676. HJM 13, a memorial urging implementation of the Sackett Supreme Court ruling on federal wetlands regulation, drew extensive testimony from Mike and Chantelle Sackett, who described their 20-year fight with EPA and the Army Corps over a home site they said was wrongly treated as wetlands. Supporters, including attorneys and water-user representatives, said the ruling is not being followed consistently and that clearer enforcement is needed. The committee voted to send HJM 13 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
HB 737 would merge the Office of Species Conservation and the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. Representative Boyle said the offices have similar permitting-related missions and could work more efficiently together. An Idaho Conservation League witness opposed the bill, arguing the offices have distinct roles and that merging them could create conflicts of interest and weaken species conservation funding. Several committee members spoke in support, saying the merger could improve coordination and help landowners and industry navigate federal permitting. The committee passed HB 737 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
HJM 14, sponsored by Representative Fuhriman, urges federal cooperation on research, planning, and feasibility for expanding reservoir storage in East Idaho. It drew little opposition and was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. HB 676, sponsored by Representative Petzke, would allow certain municipal geothermal heating systems to use the reasonably anticipated future needs process if the system is non-consumptive and reinjects water. Supporters from the City of Boise, water-user groups, geothermal experts, and conservation advocates said the bill would streamline expansion of geothermal heating and support renewable energy development. One water attorney urged tabling the bill for further discussion among aquifer users, but the committee ultimately voted to send HB 676 to the floor with a due pass recommendation before adjourning.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services Apr 6th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We did not see the state or the city come to our state. start shutting down.
- in the United States.
- in the United States.
- And so we're going to re-divered this energy to 0.000. that kind of energy.
- in the United States.
Summary:
The joint hearing focused on access to gender-affirming care in California, with members of the Senate and Assembly budget subcommittees hearing first from the Department of Justice, Department of Managed Health Care, and Department of Health Care Services. State officials described California’s legal protections against discrimination, privacy protections, shield laws, and Medi-Cal and commercial plan coverage requirements for medically necessary gender-affirming care. They also outlined ongoing litigation and advocacy against federal actions and proposed rules that could restrict care, including challenges to executive orders, HHS declarations, and federal reimbursement rules, as well as a temporary restraining order protecting care at Rady Children’s Hospital.
Committee members pressed the agencies on why some hospitals that had stopped providing care had not been sued, how the state measures network adequacy and equitable access, whether the $15 million previously allocated for gender-affirming care had been used, and what additional statutory changes might be needed. DMHC and DHCS said they regulate health plans rather than providers directly, rely on complaints and independent medical review to address denials or delays, and do not track utilization or have a specific provider category for gender-affirming care. DOJ said it is focused on the federal government as the source of pressure on hospitals and providers, while members discussed possible shield-law expansions and, if federal rules are finalized, the possibility of state-only funding to preserve access.
The second panel featured a physician, clinic leaders, parents, and a transgender teen describing how families navigate care and the effects of hospital closures and insurance barriers. Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy gave a history of transgender health care, described puberty blockers and hormones as established treatments, and said minors need parental consent for medical interventions. J.M. Jaffe of Lyon Martin Community Health Services said community clinics are absorbing patients after hospital programs closed and asked for $26 million in state funding to expand capacity. Parents and youth testified about delays, out-of-network referrals, lost coverage, and the emotional strain of uncertainty, while also urging the Legislature to stabilize access and protect continuity of care.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee Feb 12th, 2025
Ways and Means Education
Transcript Highlights:
- Replace line 41 on page two with the following: uh, it's basically state code... following: uh, it's
- basically state code that was the wrong code in the original bill.
- Replace line 44 on page two with, again, the code replacing the current code with the code that you see
- All the yellow are the surrounding states or the states I just mentioned, the benchmark states.
- Previously, if you operated in the state and out of state, the out-of-state company would pay less than
Committee:
House Ways and Means Education
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- We have seven IC settings across the state.
- We have seven IC settings across the state.
- We have seven IC settings across the state.
- </c> food while the program utilizes State food while the program utilizes State funds<00:52:14.880><
- </c> facilities of six or fewer are by State facilities of six or fewer are by State law<01:12:52.360
Committee:
Senate Human Services
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes SF1832, the workforce, labor, and economic development finance bill 5/9/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- But I think this is something we can all agree on that is needed in this state.
- But back in the... ...under Idaho statute and oversight by the state of Idaho.
- So three states are growing 75% to 80% of the U.S. barley crop every year.
- State and federal budget cuts have also been impacting our researchers within the state and the USDA-ARS
- State and federal budget cuts have also been impacting our researchers within the state and the USDA
Committee:
House Agricultural Affairs
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hied Committee Meeting - 2025-04-03
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- regional and state priorities.
- Bernie Omen with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
- , and Metro State.
- The state agency takes its authority from the state, but it is fully self-funded, meaning all costs for
- There is no, and I repeat, no cost to the state budget.
Committee:
House Higher Education Finance and Policy
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- I represent District 9, Pocatello, Canyon, and Washington County.
- But I think this is something we can all agree on that is needed in this state.
- Of course, under Idaho statute and oversight by the state of Idaho.
- So three states are growing 75% to 80% of the U.S. barley crop every year.
- State and federal budget cuts have also been impacting our researchers within the state and the USDA
Committee:
House Agricultural Affairs
Summary:
The House Ag Affairs Committee approved the minutes from its March 16, 2026 meeting and then took up House Bill 879, which Representative John Scheris described as a pared-down version of an earlier industrial hemp bill. He said the measure would bring retail hemp product establishments under the Idaho Department of Agriculture’s oversight to address loopholes involving the sale of THC products such as Delta-8 and Delta-9, while avoiding overregulation of hemp seed, powder, and other legitimate products. Braden Jensen of the Idaho Farm Bureau supported the bill, saying it reflected stakeholder work and would help ensure retail products comply with state law. Representative McCann moved to send HB 879 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation and to place it on second reading, and the committee agreed.
The committee then received an update from Laura Wilder of the Idaho Barley Commission. She reviewed the commission’s funding, goals, and programs, and reported that Idaho remained the nation’s leading barley producer, growing 39% of the U.S. crop in 2025 on about 490,000 harvested acres. She highlighted research, market development, and education efforts, including work that has improved yields over time, reduced unnecessary input costs, and supported domestic and foreign market development. Wilder also noted current market softness, including expected declines in malt barley acres and flat prices, but said long-term demand remains promising because of brewing, feed, and food applications.
Maya Landa of the Idaho Grain Producers Association followed with a broader overview of the grain economy. She said growers are facing low commodity prices, rising input costs, weather and water risks, trade uncertainty, and policy changes, while noting that wheat and barley remain major Idaho crops and that exports are critical to profitability. She discussed the importance of federal programs, the Farm Bill, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, water infrastructure, workforce issues, and commodity commissions. Committee members asked about dam breaching concerns affecting the Columbia-Snake river system and about the stalled Farm Workforce Modernization Act; Landa emphasized the need for continued engagement on those issues. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Transportation Mar 3rd, 2026
Joint Committee on Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- facility... ...need, municipal need, or, as I said, some connection to a state facility.
- There's a ballot question in November that would cut the state income tax from 5% to 4%.
- So the federal dollars are essential in terms of being able to supplement the state dollars.
- Boston, but also policies that affect the entire state of Massachusetts.
- to achieving climate commitments as the state has made as well.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Transportation
Summary:
The Transportation Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4987, the Healey-Driscoll administration’s transportation bond bill financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. Administration officials said the bill would authorize more than $5 billion overall, including $1.2 billion for Chapter 90 over four years, $500 million for accelerated road and bridge repairs, $200 million for MBTA rail modernization and reliability, $200 million for transportation projects supporting housing development, $200 million for a new DCR parkway resilience and safety program, and reauthorizations for federal-aid highway projects, non-federal highway projects, municipal pavement, and Shared Streets and Spaces. They emphasized that the proposal is backed by Commonwealth Transportation Fund revenues, including registry fees, gas tax, and Fair Share surtax revenue, and said it would improve safety, reliability, housing production, and regional equity.
Committee members asked about the four-year Chapter 90 authorization, the housing-related transportation funding, federal funding uncertainty, and how the MBTA money would support commuter rail electrification and regional rail. Administration witnesses said the multi-year structure would help municipalities plan and avoid more expensive deferred maintenance, that the housing funds would be flexible for infrastructure needs tied to development, and that the state is pursuing federal grants while relying on state-backed capital financing. They also described process improvements at MassDOT that have reduced project bid-to-notice timelines by 60% and said the rail modernization funds would support locomotive procurement, including battery-electric and Tier 4 diesel locomotives.
The Massachusetts Municipal Association and local officials from Sherborn, Conway, and Yarmouth strongly supported the bill, saying the increased Chapter 90 funding and road-mile formula have made a major difference for small and rural communities and that four-year funding would improve predictability, project bundling, and cost savings. They cited local road, bridge, culvert, and gravel-road needs and urged favorable action. A Better City and MAPC also supported the bill but urged the committee to use it for broader transportation policy changes and new revenue tools, including possible reforms to TNC fees, regional pricing, and other funding mechanisms. The committee took no vote during the hearing and adjourned after testimony.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- Meeting on state administration's hearing to review matters concerning state regulations, land bills,
- I am the Vice President of State and Local Government Affairs for Suffolk.
- and comparable states like New York. ...lagging behind the overall rate of the United States and comparable
- states like New York and Illinois.
- not touched upon in the building code.
Summary:
The joint committee held a public hearing on several bills covering state administration, land/public housing redevelopment, construction safety, memorialization, records management, rural grant equity, and animal research. Testimony in support of H. 3329 described an inequity in the Governor’s Council reimbursement statute, which currently cuts off travel, meals, and lodging reimbursement after four terms; the witnesses argued this disproportionately burdens members from western Massachusetts and creates geographic and economic barriers to service. The Boston Housing Authority supported legislation for the Brighton/Faneuil Gardens area, saying it would allow a mixed-use redevelopment that replaces all existing public housing units one-for-one, adds new affordable housing, creates replacement rehearsal space for displaced musicians, and preserves prevailing wage standards.
A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 2112, a construction safety bill. Suffolk Construction, Boston building trade representatives, and local inspectors testified that the measure would strengthen training, site safety standards, oversight of high-risk work, and enforcement, while helping protect workers and the public and improving retention and recruitment of inspectors. Witnesses said the bill would align Massachusetts more closely with higher safety standards in other states and build on lessons from past construction-related incidents. The committee also heard support for S. 2162, which would create a COVID-19 memorial; the witness emphasized the scale of pandemic deaths in Massachusetts and the educational value of public memorials.
Other testimony addressed H. 3321, which would modernize records preservation for registers of deeds by reducing reliance on costly microfilm in an increasingly electronic system; the witness said current law is outdated and expensive. H. 3311, aimed at advancing equity for rural communities receiving state grants, drew support from town officials in Leyden and Ashfield, who said small towns lack staff for grant writing and should be evaluated more on need and regional impact, especially for climate and public safety projects. Finally, S. 2117, concerning animal research, was supported by an animal welfare advocate who urged prohibiting state funds for animal experiments and shifting to non-animal research methods. After the hearing concluded, the chairs noted that additional hearings and polling votes would follow, and the committee then adjourned.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Good morning and welcome to Senate State Affairs.
- Both squadrons were extended to support United States...
- Senators Todd Lakey, State Senator from District 23.
- Mark Harris, Idaho State Senate, District 35.
- And so we've worked with state police on providing this recognition and honor for the service of state
Committee:
Senate State Affairs
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And the blessed state of Texas.
- United States. Now to the greatest state in the nation. Honor the Texas flag.
- It is a unique fact that both his father and son were Texas state reps, his father being a Texas state
- state prosecutors.
- combined base salary set in state law, state funding for the state prosecutor's salary is automatically