Transcript Highlights:

• That's capacity: the availability of power 24/7, 365. That's about 30% of our power supply cost.
• That's capacity: the availability of power 24/7, 365. That's about 30% of our power supply cost.
• About 20% of our power supply cost.
• So those power purchase agreement.
• </c><01:43:21.520><c> It's</c> retail power I was selling. It's retail power I was selling.

Bills: HF3830 , HF3688

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are opposed to House Bill 2457, as it loosens requirements for siding power plants as long as
• For example, a wall because, you know, these gas power plants, they're jet engines, right?
• So if it was being sited with power generation, then yes.
• The committee can then ask the applicant those questions. power generation, then yes.
• Unfortunately, as with any power plant, but particularly these, there's quite a long runway.

Bills: HB2051 , HB2324 , HB2439 , HB2457 , HB2686 , HB2837 , HB2875 , HB2953

Committee: Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Keywords: AHCCCS, lactation care, breastfeeding, health services, healthcare access, HB2324, fire code, fire marshal, state fire marshal, municipalities, cities and towns, county-owned buildings, county buildings, intergovernmental agreement, IGA, fire inspection, occupancy certificate, building inventory, local government, county government

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:53.040><c> ask</c><00:03:53.440><c> Attorney</c> Governor Wall should also ask Attorney Governor
• Years, and the governor needs to answer.
• government uh Governor Walls. Um they've government uh Governor Walls.
• </c> Well, we look forward to when Governor Well, we look forward to when Governor Walls<00:19:32.160
• He hasn't fired a single governor.

Transcript Highlights:

• power outages.
• solar and backup power. business in Duluth, Star Power Electric. business in Duluth, Star Power Electric
• ,</c> batteries and backup power, batteries and backup power, as<00:13:58.080><c> well</c><00:13:58.200
• </c> you could really pull a lot of power. you could really pull a lot of power.
• </c> come by, unplug it, and still have power come by, unplug it, and still have power available<00:18

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• We are waiting for the governor to do that.
• What I forward to the governor today.
• </c> And now it's clear that the governor And now it's clear that the governor really<00:03:13.040><c
• </c> included uh the fact that the governor included uh the fact that the governor is<00:03:36.560><c
• </c><00:05:09.759><c> want,</c> opportunity should the governor want, opportunity should the governor

Transcript Highlights:

• And I noticed in this read this time around power management equipment—would that include generators?
• says after electric snow shovels, as well as batteries, which is what you just said, chargers, and power
• So what would power management equipment look like?
• , so it would have to be a battery-powered power management device.
• So, again, it would have to be a battery-powered power management device.

Committee: Senate Energy And Telecommunications

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications, chaired by Senator Kevin Parker, considered a lengthy agenda of energy- and utility-related bills. The committee discussed measures on utility outage penalties for combination utilities, a NYSERDA-backed electric landscaping rebate program, stronger utility storm response compliance, a study on utility reporting of late payments to credit agencies, a used zero-emission vehicle rebate program, alternative fuels along the New York State Thruway, a property tax exemption for energy-related utility real property, a NYSERDA pilot microgrid at Glenwood Houses, a prohibition on PSC approval of certain utility rate increases, a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, a usage monitoring program, and a bill on denial of increased utility rates and charges. Several bills prompted questions about who would pay for the programs or penalties, with sponsors and staff repeatedly stating that fines would be paid by utilities and that many programs would be funded through NYSERDA or existing appropriations, though members raised concerns about whether ratepayer funds or system benefits charges could be used. The electric landscaping rebate bill drew extended debate over whether its equipment definitions could allow companies to use battery equipment charged by generators, while the microgrid pilot and used EV rebate bills were defended as investments to improve reliability, lower peak costs, and build a secondary EV market. Senator May spoke in support of the Glenwood Houses microgrid and the related investment rationale. Most bills were advanced after motions and votes, often with some no votes or without-recommendation votes. The committee reported several measures to third reading, including the utility outage penalties bill, the utility storm response bill, the utility rate increase restriction bill, the usage monitoring program, and the denial of increased utility rates and charges bill. Other bills were advanced to the Finance Committee, Budget and Revenue Committee, or Local Government Committee, including the electric landscaping rebate program, the used EV rebate program, the alternative fuels bill, the tax exemption bill, the Glenwood Houses microgrid pilot, and the sustainable aviation fuel tax credit.

Transcript Highlights:

• We like the concept, but we are short on power statewide, so every electron helps.
• There's power going to that outlet from the electrical panel, so there's power going that way.
• I'm out of power, and other utilities across the nation are also out of power, and so they're in the
• Firm, dispatchable power protects in-state jobs.
• Again, we're out of power.

Summary: The committee began with member and staff introductions, then held a work session on emissions-intensive trade-exposed facilities (EITEs) under Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. Ecology staff reviewed how cap-and-invest works, explained EITE no-cost allowance allocations, and summarized a new report to the Legislature on policy options for 2035-2050. Ecology recommended continuing no-cost allocations but adjusting them to fit the cap, considering a consignment approach that would require EITEs to invest part of the value of free allowances in decarbonization, and studying additional benchmarking and leakage-mitigation refinements. Quebec officials described their cap-and-trade system, including a consignment model that withholds part of free allocations, holds the value in trust for facilities, and requires technical studies and investment in mitigation projects; they said it has encouraged industrial investment and no business closures. Members asked about facility closures, compliance costs, eligible uses of consigned funds, and adaptation spending. The work session then closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2296, which would expand distributed energy resources by allowing portable plug-in solar devices and meter-mounted devices. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to lower barriers and startup costs for renters and homeowners who want to electrify or add solar. Supporters, including a nonprofit promoting plug-in solar and a physician group, said the devices could broaden access to clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas and health harms. Utilities, labor, and industry groups opposed the bill as written, citing safety concerns, lack of national electrical code standards, possible backfeeding and fire risks, utility-worker hazards, unclear interconnection rules, and concerns about multifamily housing and small-utility review burdens. Some witnesses said they were open to continued work on the proposal. Next, the committee heard House Bill 2285, which would allow natural gas generation paired with carbon capture, utilization, storage, or mineralization to count toward Clean Energy Transformation Act compliance. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill would provide a “bridge” for firm power, help address reliability and transmission constraints, and support jobs while reducing emissions compared with conventional gas. Opponents said the bill would weaken CETA’s 100% clean electricity target by allowing resources that still emit carbon to qualify, and they questioned whether 75% capture is sufficient. Other testimony raised cost concerns and warned that carbon capture could increase ratepayer costs. The hearing on HB 2285 was later suspended and reopened briefly for additional testimony from Ecology, which said the bill would permanently weaken CETA standards and likely reduce emissions reductions. The committee also briefly received a staff briefing on House Bill 2272, a ski-area terminology bill, and then suspended that hearing to take it up later.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are waiting for the governor to do that.
• What I forward to the governor today.
• Again, the governor is the only work.
• </c> And now it's clear that the governor And now it's clear that the governor really<00:03:35.920><c
• </c> included uh the fact that the governor included uh the fact that the governor is<00:03:59.439><c

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 3252, which amends the powers and duties of the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission
• She added that since Governor Green took office, over 50,000 acres have been either transferred or are
• /c><00:46:38.480><c> since</c> and then in the last um uh since and then in the last um uh since Governor
• Green took office we actually Governor Green took office we actually have<00:46:40.640><c> been</c><
• </c><00:49:15.839><c> Green's</c> has been done during Governor Green's has been done during Governor

Bills: SB2606 , SB3253 , SB237 , SB3252 , SB1178 , SB2322 , SB2019 , SB3043 , SB3014 , SB2972 , SB1190 , SB2488

Committee: Senate Water, Land, Culture and the Arts

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several measures related to wildlife, conservation, shoreline adaptation, and climate governance. On SB 2606, which would establish the Freshwater State Recreational Area Wildlife Sanctuary Corporation, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said it had concerns about employee eligibility and was not yet prepared to comment further on the bill’s ramifications. After testimony ended, a senator asked DLNR to follow up with more detail, and the department said it would relay the questions to leadership and respond later. No vote was taken on the measure during the excerpt. On SB 3253, which would create the Hawaii Conservation Sanctuary as a nonprofit entity to work with DLNR, the department said it supported the bill. In discussion, DLNR said Hawaii has not done anything like this before, described a similar model in New Zealand, and estimated that developing such a sanctuary could cost millions of dollars. Members also discussed whether the concept would fit with existing efforts such as Hakalau, and DLNR said the bill could apply to private or state lands depending on the site. No action was taken. The most extensive discussion was on SB 237, which would expand state and county authority to develop adaptation pathways for relocating infrastructure away from sea level rise and coastal flooding areas. DLNR supported the bill, saying it prioritizes public trust resources over economic development or private property. The Kahana Bay Steering Committee and the Shoreline Preservation Coalition opposed the measure, arguing it was too focused on managed retreat and should include a broader range of shoreline responses, such as erosion mitigation, groins, sand nourishment, and other interim protections. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development said it appreciated the bill’s intent but wanted broader language that would allow more tools in the toolbox. Members debated whether retreat is inevitable, whether different shorelines require different approaches, and whether the bill should be more flexible. No vote was taken. The final measure discussed was SB 3252, which would amend the powers and duties of the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, create a coordinator position, and appropriate funds. The commission’s coordinator testified in support, while OPSD opposed the bill, saying it would remove the two cabinet-level co-chair positions, raise accountability concerns, and duplicate some of OPSD’s functions. In questioning, members debated whether the current commission structure has been effective, who would appoint or confirm the coordinator, and whether the bill would improve transparency and implementation. OPSD said it supported more statewide interdepartmental funding for climate planning and staffing, but had concerns about the proposed governance changes. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thanks to the support of the legislature, the governor, and the lieutenant governor, and our Ready Keiki
• legislature,</c><00:51:31.520><c> the</c> support of the legislature, the support of the legislature, the governor
• :51:31.920><c> and</c><00:51:32.079><c> the</c><00:51:32.240><c> lieutenant</c><00:51:32.640><c> governor
• ,</c> governor, and the lieutenant governor, governor, and the lieutenant governor, and<00:51:33.520>
• different occasions with four different preparations. >> But isn’t that a failure of your oversight powers

Bills: HB2185 , HB2621 , HB2179 , HB2534 , HB2168 , HB2427 , HB2560 , HB2565 , HB2172 , HB2298 , HB2304

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• What is the power of government to resolve issues in the market?
• For example, California has sent legislation to the governor that, if signed, will create an automatic
• And another bill, if the governor signs it, will expand the definition of basic property insurance to
• that if signed, will to the governor that if signed, will create<00:36:11.440><c> an</c><00:36:11.680
• bill, if the governor signs it, will<00:36:16.240><c> expand</c><00:36:16.560><c> the</c><00:36:16.800

Transcript Highlights:

• committee, though, was that our office, as well as the entirety of state government, is awaiting Governor
• Basher's signature for the AI governor Basher's signature for the AI policy<01:41:38.320><c> for</c>
• terms of accessing child abuse and adult abuse records, which resulted in litigation against the governor
• </c><01:44:32.880><c> That's</c> governor successfully resolved.
• That's governor successfully resolved.

Summary: The committee first approved the July 9 minutes without objection and heard from Jay Hartz and Jonathan Harris of the Legislative Research Commission. Members asked about Capitol and legislator security in light of recent targeted shootings in other states. Hartz said LRC had removed members’ home addresses from its website, was reviewing other state-government records for similar information, and was working with the Speaker, Senate President, Kentucky State Police, and outside security experts on broader safety measures. He also said LRC is exploring commercial products to help block personal contact information from public view, but declined to name vendors publicly. Harris added that driver’s license scans at the Capitol are handled by Kentucky State Police, while LRC has a process for flagging high-volume or concerning contacts for police review. The LRC also reported that redistricting work has already begun, with census coordination underway, evaluation of redistricting software including Mapitude and open-source tools, and plans to make the same tools available to the public in the LRC library. The committee then heard from Kentucky Wired Operations Company CEO Robert Morphonius, COO Tom Snyder, and counsel Patrick Hughes about the Kentucky Wired network. They explained the corporate structure: Kentucky Wired Operations Company is a private for-profit special purpose entity that designs, builds, operates, and maintains the network; Kentucky Wired Infrastructure Company is a nonprofit instrumentality used for financing; and Open Fiber Kentucky handles commercialization of excess capacity under a wholesale agreement. They said Kentucky Wired Operations is in the operations and maintenance phase, with those obligations continuing until 2045, and that technical changes to the network generally require KCNA approval through formal change-order processes. They also said the company conducted a market test in June 2023 under Schedule 19 of its contract, considered proposals including Open Fiber and the incumbent service provider, and retained the existing provider. Members asked about KCNA’s role, procurement, network customers, and revenue. The witnesses said Quac operates outside normal state procurement because its process is governed by contract, while KCNA acts as the Commonwealth’s oversight authority and filter for changes. They identified current network users as including AOC, KCTCS, postsecondary education, and other Commonwealth agencies, with all requests routed through KCNA; they also said a separate change process for Exceliccom is in litigation. On funding, they said the operation is paid through monthly appropriations, with roughly a million dollars a month for the service provider and a couple hundred thousand for Quac’s oversight, not including debt service, which is bundled into the availability payment. The discussion ended as members began asking about responsibility for damage-related costs such as squirrel-related outages.

Transcript Highlights:

• That means a lot of staff power to process those applications, given the demand for the services much
• </c><01:13:22.800><c> Governor's</c> you to the the governor Governor's you to the the governor Governor's
• He said the legislature and the governor have been moving in that direction for quite some time from
• is</c><01:47:29.960><c> suggesting</c><01:47:30.360><c> we</c><01:47:30.520><c> do</c> what the governor
• is suggesting we do what the governor is suggesting we do this<01:47:30.880><c> year</c><01:47:31.119

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendments in this really are to remove that power for elections, so that election power and kind
• To remove that power for elections, so that election power and kind of determining how those are operated
• have some power over elections that were strong. ...and counties in their home rule powers have some
• power over elections that were struck in 1307 to align with what 1297 did.
• Home rule charter retains some power when it comes to petitioning. Exactly.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Summary: The State and Local Government Committee met to reconsider and amend House Bill 1165, which dealt with petition circulation requirements and ballot receipt rules. The committee walked through technical changes requested by the Secretary of State’s office, including moving petition-title language, adding a 15-business-day submission deadline for petition packets, and revising language related to mailed absentee ballots and the presidential executive order requiring ballots to be received by election day rather than merely postmarked. The State Election Director explained that the change was intended to provide clarity and consistency for voters and election officials, while Senator Braunberger objected that it was an unnecessary reaction to an executive order that could be challenged. The committee adopted the amendment 5-1 and then passed the bill as amended on a 5-1 vote, with Senator Braunberger voting no. The committee then took up House Bill 1307, which concerned election authority, home rule powers, and related city and county petition/signature provisions. After questions from members and clarification from the Deputy Secretary of State and a League of Cities representative, the committee agreed the amendment was intended to preserve city petition power and align the bill with changes made in another election bill, while also addressing park district language. The amendment was adopted 6-0, and the bill was passed as amended 6-0. Senator Castaneda was designated as the carrier. Finally, the committee discussed House Bill 1580, a study bill on state employee compensation. Members used language from an earlier draft tied to health plan changes and broadened it to study total rewards compensation, including pay grades, classifications, comparisons among state employees across departments and with similar private-sector jobs, equity funding and bonuses, prevailing wages on state projects, and the impact of changes to health plan benefits and premium structures. The committee agreed to make the language more generic and adopted the amendment 6-0, then passed the bill as amended 6-0. House Bill 1601 was not acted on and was held until after floor session so members could continue discussions and await additional input.

Transcript Highlights:

• As big companies get bigger, they use their market power to squeeze the little guys.
• As big companies get bigger, they use their market power to squeeze the little guys.
• The abuse of market power by problem.
• Contrary to what some in the power.
• I study corporate concentration and monopoly power.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor has said that this is a budget discussion, and the governor wants to negotiate with the
• I, along with the current governor and previous governor, view tax cuts as part of budget negotiations
• Hobbs' budget, or Governor Hobbs' department issued.
• But generally, when the Speaker and the Senate President write a letter to the governor, the governor
• I keep hearing people talk about the governor this, the governor that.

Bills: HB2011 , HB2089 , HB2090 , HB2092 , HB2477 , HB2785

Committees: House Ways & Means , House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Keywords: individual income tax, subtraction, Arizona Revised Statutes, retirement benefits, adoption costs, charitable contributions, health insurance, premium payment, Arizona State Retirement System, contingent annuitant, long-term disability, benefits limitations, disability compensation, social security, retirement system, elected officials, ASRS, eligibility waiver, age 65, education savings

Transcript Highlights:

• HHSC to draft the standards for the integration of backup power sources.
• We needed to get fuel out if there was no power.
• Disruption of normal power does not require cooling systems to be on emergency power.
• Power of attorney is about something else.
• If it's a medical power of attorney, it pertains to your medical decisions, or a durable statutory power

Bills: SB397 , SB481 , SB596 , SB760 , SB855 , SB1195 , SB1196 , SB1233 , SB1257 , SB1318 , SB1368 , SB1388 , SB1398 , SB1524 , SB1558 , SB1589 , SB1677 , SB1792 , SB2034

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• You're under your own power, and as a cyclist, it's been difficult to start.
• E-motos, mid-power and high-power variants, and e-motorcycles, all based on wattage and top speeds.
• To prohibit the moto bikes which are faster powered than the actual e-bike.
• It would give cities unilateral power to lower speed limits down to 20%.
• Power can and will be abused against drivers to slow traffic unnecessarily.

Bills: HB535 , HB2120 , HB2822 , HB3243 , HB3457 , HB3544 , HB4089 , HB4192 , HB4669 , HB4868 , HB4955 , HB5253 , HB5669 , SB1371 , SB1919 , SB2001

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Conventional fossil fuel-powered HVAC systems and DARCI systems we expect to last 50-plus years.
• Versus a 90, say, high-efficiency gas-powered system would be 95, you know, to 98% efficiency.
• We have four solar arrays and a combined heat and power system with two engines on site.
• that electrolyzer to help control and provide consistent power to the electrolyzer.
• So it's not just the solar that's going to be powering it.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, does this new subpoena power negate any power of any local law enforcement? Mr. Wanka.
• /c> power issue, same section power issue, same section same<00:12:47.080><c> page.
• </c> subpoena power beyond Medicaid fraud? subpoena power beyond Medicaid fraud?
• So, for instance, if someone power.
• county attorney power or not.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety