Transcript Highlights:

• Energy from enforcing energy efficiency Energy from enforcing energy efficiency standards<00:20:
• response to energy efficiency mandates. response to energy efficiency mandates.
• . efficiency. efficiency.
• Stop demonizing efficiency money.
• These efficiency over 30 years.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, January 9, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill addresses this by exempting institutions of higher education... education from the 90-day notice
• So I think we don't want to offset the efficiency gains by making it an impersonal system.
• Educational institutions also have the authority to do it.
• HB 4233 is focused on clarity, accountability, and efficiency.
• Texans from diverse educational backgrounds while promoting a more inclusive and efficient state workforce

Bills: HB111

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:35.840> but it will make that more efficient but it will make that more efficient but
• Let's move on to Senate Bill 635, relating to Energy Efficiency.
• This one would require state agencies to expeditiously use energy-efficient lighting.
• expeditiously use energy efficient expeditiously use energy efficient Lighting<00:24:50.279>
• Don't you guys already try to use energy-efficient lighting? And we do, in fact.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing began with SB 133 on energy, which drew opposition testimony from James Abraham, who said the bill was unnecessary because the Public Utilities Commission had already opened a proceeding to investigate wheeling, including intergovernmental wheeling, and should be allowed to finish its collaborative process. The committees then moved to SB 161 on county permitting and inspection, where several agencies submitted written comments or opposition, while the Grassroots Institute and HCDA-related testimony supported the measure. Members raised concerns about accountability and whether state agencies would report back on projects approved under any permitting exemption, and witnesses suggested annual reporting or amendment language to address that issue. The hearing then turned to SB 232 and SB 588, both related to renewable energy permitting. Testimony on SB 232 was largely supportive, but Rocky Mold of the Hawaii Solar Energy Association said SB 232 was an older version of a bill and that SB 588 was the preferred, updated measure. Members discussed whether the bill should be limited to residential or behind-the-meter customer-sited systems rather than utility-scale projects, and Mold clarified that the proposal was intended for customer-sited systems, not utility-scale facilities. For SB 588, the Department of Land and Natural Resources warned that state or county laws inconsistent with the National Flood Insurance Program could jeopardize flood insurance eligibility and related federal assistance, while Mold argued the bill’s FEMA floodway exemption was needed to avoid blocking solar installations on existing structures. The chair expressed concern about risking federal funding and questioned whether the exemption could be narrowed without defeating the bill’s purpose. SB 412, also on renewable energy, received supportive testimony from the State Energy Office and others. Members questioned whether a single coordinating entity should compile agency assessments, and Mark Glick said the Energy Office could take on that role if given the duty and sufficient staff. The committee then discussed SB 635 on energy efficiency, which would require state agencies to use energy-efficient lighting. Mark Glick testified that much of the work was already underway through benchmarking and related contracts, and a DAGS representative said the state was already assessing 590 buildings over 10,000 square feet, with results expected around 2027. Members suggested amending the bill to require annual status reports so the committees could track progress and avoid duplication. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We build quality educational environments.
• What can we do to help educate you to a better level?"
• Improving the educational environment.
• Water efficiency.
• We are prepared to start educating.

Transcript Highlights:

• I thank you for educating us. Our educating me, they may know. He may know, but I don't know.
• I mean, to educate us. I just, if there anything else you want to educate us on?
• education.
• So let's pick education.
• Education specific. Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• DATA CENTERS AGGREGATE COLLECT COMPUTING DEMANDS EFFICIENTLY AND SECURELY.
• MOREOVER DATA CENTERS ARE HIGHLY INCENTIVIZED TO CONTINUE OPERATING AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
• APART FROM MEETING SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS DATA CENTER COMPANIES STRIVE TO MAXIMIZE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
• YOU CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT BUT YOU STILL TO PAY FOR 100 PERCENT OF THE GENERATION.
• SPEED AND EFFICIENCY IS VITAL.

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes unspent contingent appropriations of $5.4 billion for public education, education savings
• So moving to higher education, still on slide 6.
• Judicial efficiency—that's a good term for it. Well, I'm not a judge.
• Judicial efficiency—that's a good term for it. Well, I'm not a judge.
• Judicial efficiency—that's a good term for it. Well, I'm not a judge.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue. The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:07:05.720> that else we will lose that efficiency that else we will lose that efficiency
• Hampshire saves each year to educate the Hampshire saves each year to educate the public<01:59:50.880
• <04:20:39.119> trust education trust education trust fund<04:20:41.359> so<04:20:42.199
• no impact on the funding of Education no impact on the funding of Education short<04:20:48.760><
• , but the Education Trust Fund isn't the only place that education revenue comes into the coffers of

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That means efficient transportation.
• That means efficient transportation.
• We like efficiencies. That's what we need: more efficiencies, less waste.
• We like efficiencies. That's what we need: more efficiencies, less waste.
• We like efficiencies. That's what we need: more efficiencies, less waste.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re working towards a statewide education campaign regarding youth prevention.
• We did find some efficiencies.
• The other is the youth education campaign, which is multipronged.
• The value of a provider spending time with patients to educate That's invaluable.
• And so there aren't really savings or efficiencies to report there.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've done this in other areas of continuing education.
• to take 30 hours of continuing education to take 30 hours of continuing education every<00:48:14.640
• <01:08:51.960> with operating very very efficiently with operating very very efficiently with
• <01:37:35.440> or going to find some of this efficiency or going to find some of this efficiency
• Thank you. probably there are efficiencies to be probably there are efficiencies to be gained<01:39:03.599

Bills: HF2335, HF2400, HF2401, HF2522

Keywords: Medicare, health insurance, supplement policies, preexisting conditions, medical assistance, premium classification, real estate, appraisers, disciplinary actions, sanction matrix, Minnesota Statutes, continuing education, out-of-state, licensing, commerce, fraud prevention, automobile theft, law enforcement, insurance crimes, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• education and then we have education education and then we have education Freedom<00:53:10.000><
• of fiscal constraint, and now is the time to champion universal EFA as a tax-efficient approach to educational
• delay progress investments in education delay progress investments in education educational<00:58
• EFAs promote efficiency by allowing parents to direct education funding to the schools and programs that
• and promote accountability in efficiency and promote accountability in the<02:27:41.319> education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our goal here is to be sure that we provide efficient and effective services for the constituents that
• Our goal here is to be sure that we provide efficient and effective services for the constituents that
• I have a little time today efficiencies.
• So these are ways that I think we can bring efficiency and more bang for the taxpayer dollars.
• I'm I'm this make that more efficient.

Keywords: Government Structure - Room 409, 12 January, 2026; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee held its first meeting under its new Government Structure Committee name and began by electing Senator Chris Johnson as secretary. The chair explained the committee’s purpose as improving efficiency, effectiveness, and stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and said members had asked statewide officials and agencies for ideas on streamlining government and reducing costs. Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gibson testified at length about ways his agency has found efficiencies, especially after the COVID-era consolidation of three agencies into one. He said state procurement and construction rules can add major time and cost to projects, citing a proposed $300,000 building that grew to about $1 million through the state process. He recommended raising repair and quote thresholds, streamlining construction procedures, reconsidering restrictions on payments between state agencies, and allowing more flexibility for agencies to help one another when authorized. Members questioned Gibson about the repair caps, the construction cost increase, Ticketmaster and other technology/vendor arrangements, and whether agencies should have more decentralized control over contracts. The chair and several senators agreed the committee should examine red tape, vendor relationships, and procurement rules, and Gibson said he would provide more information and work with the committee. No formal legislation was acted on in the portion provided. The transcript then shifted to testimony from the Insurance Commissioner, who said his department is heavily affected by IT and board structure issues and oversees 17 boards. He urged consolidation of some boards, criticized the effects of SB 2362 on special-fund agencies, and said the State Fire Academy and other operations have been constrained by general-fund treatment and limited authority. He also discussed insurance-rate pressures, including projected premium increases, wind pool rate concerns on the Gulf Coast, and the need for mitigation to stabilize costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Refer to the Committee on Public Education.
• Refer to the Committee on Public Education. HB 1416 by Allen relating to the program.
• Refer to the Committee on Delivery of government efficiency.
• I'll refer to the Committee on Public Education HB 1445 by Hernandez.
• As optional holidays, I refer to the Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Assembly Higher Education Committee is now called to order.
• incentive grant for local education agencies to, in turn, create career technical education and pathways
• So there's a lot of work to be done to create efficiencies, reduce overlap, and...
• Comments in the Higher Education analysis showed valid concerns.
• I appreciate the amendments you took in the Assembly Education Committee.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee met in a special hearing and took up SB 638 by Senator Padilla, a workforce development bill aimed at creating a coordinating entity called the Middle Class Pipeline Project. The bill would streamline interagency education and workforce programs, improve career technical education and career pathways, and direct resources toward high-unemployment, low-income regions through changes to the CTE incentive grant program. Supporters, including the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, the California Edge Coalition, National University, Long Beach City College, and United Ways of California, argued that California needs a statewide coordinating body to reduce silos, improve access to high-quality jobs, and better align education with labor market needs. Committee members focused heavily on whether the proposed entity would duplicate existing bodies such as the California Workforce Development Board and other education/workforce agencies, and whether its broad duties could be carried out with the $1.5 million budget allocation. The author said the bill is intended to move an operational coordinating entity into broader tri-party negotiations with legislative leadership and the Governor, and that the final structure and staffing would depend on those talks. Some members supported the concept but raised concerns about scope, duplication, and whether the bill should be delayed or audited; one member opposed it as too broad and underfunded. The committee ultimately voted to pass SB 638 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a courtesy vote. The roll call showed five ayes and three noes, with one member not voting, and the chair later allowed additional members to add on, including an additional aye from Assemblymember Haney. The hearing then adjourned with the chair noting that further conversations would continue on the coordinating entity and its responsibilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I want to thank my colleague from the Los Angeles area, chair of the committee on education, on education
• And again, as a former higher education student, lobbying your former senator that's here today.
• And health care and, you know, and other jobs, education. And so I'm happy you highlighted that.
• These small gains in efficiency produce massive economic returns.
• I'm the Director of Education, Environmental Advocacy for Wilmar de Colores.

Summary: The joint hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on California-Mexico Bi-National Affairs and the Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee focused on the USMCA and how the agreement affects California’s economy, jobs, supply chains, and competitiveness. Opening remarks emphasized California’s heavy trade dependence on Mexico and Canada, the importance of stable trade rules, and concerns that tariffs or uncertainty could harm workers, small businesses, agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, and border communities. Members said the hearing would help inform a future legislative report or resolution on California’s priorities for the agreement’s review. Academic and policy witnesses argued that the USMCA is central to North American economic integration and California’s role in it. Testimony from UC San Diego and CETYS University described California and Mexico as co-producers rather than simple trading partners, highlighting sectors such as medical devices, aerospace, semiconductors, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. Witnesses also warned that the upcoming review could involve not just trade but security and immigration issues, and they urged a stronger, longer-term agreement with more certainty, better border efficiency, and new tools such as specialized technician visas, binational certification standards, innovation zones, and a technology fund. Go-Biz and chamber representatives said USMCA provides predictability, market access, and support for small and medium-sized businesses, while also creating compliance burdens through rules of origin, labor standards, and customs procedures. They pointed to California’s trade missions, export support programs, and state-level cooperation with Mexico and Canada as ways to help firms participate in regional supply chains. Mexican government and business representatives said the agreement is largely functioning well, that Mexico’s public consultation process received nearly 800 submissions and about 2,000 chapter-specific comments, and that many stakeholders favor maintaining or extending USMCA. No formal votes were taken; the committee heard testimony and asked witnesses for follow-up information to inform its report and future recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• or um lack of an educational program. or um lack of an educational program.
• education meet me over in this corner. education meet me over in this corner.
• efficiency among all vehicles. efficiency among all vehicles.
• mostly of this is just fuel efficiency mostly of this is just fuel efficiency because<01:08:33.440
• and identifying potential efficiencies and identifying potential efficiencies related<01:28:42.719

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• reforms, including career technical education.
• , the Hispanic Education Act, the Multilingual Education Act, those $500,000 amounts.
• New Mexico's education system was not providing a uniform nor sufficient education to all students.
• its education system than other states and continues to make educational investments despite ongoing
• It's for the Higher Education Department for its longitudinal data system.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The meeting began as an informal education budget work group focused on reviewing a revised House Appropriations and Finance Committee scenario and flagging concerns rather than taking votes. Staff outlined the main changes from the LFC recommendation, including moving the statewide student information system appropriation, adding funding for the Black, Bilingual, Multicultural and Hispanic Education Act, universal school meals overrun costs, an evidence-based CTE pilot with a 50% local match, STEM network funding, wellness room pilots, Martinez-Yazzie action plan items, and changes to innovation zone and out-of-school time appropriations. A separate handout on the seven-year CTE pilot explained spending patterns, reversions, and possible federal maintenance-of-effort concerns if the state continues funding beyond a true pilot. Members then debated CTE extensively, with several arguing it improves attendance, graduation, and career readiness and should be sustained or expanded, especially in rural areas, while staff and others emphasized that much of the current funding has gone to general operational costs rather than intentional program design and that regional or matched funding models may be more effective. Members also discussed STEM and math initiatives, the need for more industry involvement, and whether the proposed match requirements would be too burdensome for smaller districts and BIE schools. The discussion also covered the Black, Hispanic, and Multilingual Education Acts and the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit. Some members stressed that the acts should be explicitly named in the budget language and not merely implied, while staff said the scenario reaffirms prior commitments by building the costs into agency operating budgets. Members raised concerns about charter school hold-harmless funding, declining enrollment, and the need to align spending with the needs of at-risk students. The work group ended the education portion without any votes, with staff noting they would incorporate the feedback and return with clarifications, including on CTE funding, the educational acts, and the charter hold-harmless item. The meeting then shifted to the child well-being and early childhood work group, where staff presented a revised Early Childhood Education and Care Department scenario. The proposal moved money toward child care assistance and early pre-K, kept the FIT program funding level unchanged, and used a mix of trust fund, TANF, federal, and operating-budget adjustments to close part of the gap between the executive and LFC recommendations. Members questioned the policy direction, especially the shift toward infant and toddler care and pre-K expansion, the impact on school-age child care, and the implications for continuity of care and provider costs. Staff explained that the scenario prioritizes younger children and at-risk families, includes language for a wage and career ladder, and would require legislation to raise the early childhood trust fund distribution cap from 500 to 525. Members also discussed a separate proposed CYFD pilot bill (HB 65), which would be distinct from ECECD funding. No votes were taken, and staff said they would return with more cost information on full pre-K plus wraparound care. A final work group reviewed C2 and Department of Information Technology-related appropriations. Staff compared the LFC and executive recommendations for new funding and reauthorizations, noting that the LFC generally limited new projects while the executive funded more. Members discussed several IT modernization requests, including the Secretary of State’s voter registration and election management systems, the Spaceport Authority, Game and Fish, the State Engineer’s WATERS system, ECECD’s FitKids and EPIC replacement discovery, and Aging and Long-Term Services’ enterprise system modernization. The main themes were whether to fund planning versus full replacement, how to avoid piecemeal spending, and whether new systems should wait for incoming leadership. The Secretary of State’s office said its system is nearing end of life and the planning funds would help prepare a realistic replacement request, while other agencies described aging infrastructure, cybersecurity risks, and the need for modernization. The work group did not vote on any of the items and ended with staff noting additional follow-up on funding needs and reauthorization details.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:27:04.720> insurance the bipartisan educator group insurance the bipartisan educator group
• Mananderville educators have seen 11.1% Mananderville educators have seen 11.1% average<00:35:18.160>
• <00:40:12.400> counterparts than our equally educated counterparts than our equally educated
• We need a more efficient,<00:41:35.040> cost-effective<00:41:35.839> health efficient,
• <00:51:15.440> and programs like special education and programs like special education and

Bills: HF3422, HF3461, HF2904

Keywords: state grants, grant oversight, grants management, executive agencies, Minnesota Department of Administration, commissioner of administration, fraud prevention, waste prevention, grant monitoring, financial reconciliation, grant compliance, state government, public funds, grant recipients, competitive grants, grant administration, administrative oversight, monitoring visits, grant policy, legislative leave

Transcript Highlights:

• We do a lot of education, especially around Dig Safe.
• division but um for more efficiencies division but um for more efficiencies within<00:57:07.079>
• <00:57:24.760> for 1891 just makes it more efficient for 1891 just makes it more efficient
• Choices, etc., and education helps.
• <04:50:15.958> helps um um choices Etc and education helps um um choices Etc and education

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard the Banking Department’s fiscal year 2026-2027 budget presentation from Commissioner Amelia Galeri. She described the department as a self-funded consumer protection regulator overseeing two main areas: the Banking Trust Division, which supervises state-chartered banks, credit unions, and trust companies, and the Consumer Credit Division, which oversees more than 7,000 licensees including mortgage and money transmitter businesses. She said the department’s budget is about 86% salaries and benefits, with 53 positions all filled, and explained that the agency funds itself through fees, fines, and end-of-year assessments on regulated entities. Galeri said the department is facing workload growth from several directions: continued growth in the trust industry, increased fintech supervision, and a new requirement to regularly examine auto dealers that take finance applications, which adds about 300 exams over two fiscal years. She said the department was directed to flat-fund its budget based on 2025 levels but was allowed to increase travel and training. To stay within that limit, she said the department reduced office space, went paperless, converted administrative and licensing positions into examiner positions, and expects to defund an embedded DOJ database administrator position once a new SharePoint system is fully implemented. Members asked about how the department’s revenue and assessments work, including whether fees were increasing and how much existing banks would pay. Galeri said fees are not being raised, most banks pay little or no fines, and assessments are based largely on asset size, with trust companies paying the bulk. She also explained that fines are set by statute, generally capped at $2,500 per violation for consumer credit entities, and said she would not recommend increasing that cap. The committee then voted to accept the Banking Department’s budget proposal as presented in HQ1, with a motion and second and no discussion. The transcript then moved to the Department of Energy budget. Commissioner Jared Chakin and Chief of Operations Lenny Radio discussed federal program funding, including LIHEAP fuel assistance and weatherization. They said the apparent drop in fuel assistance funding from FY 2024 actuals to the budgeted amount is due to the loss of ARPA and CARES Act supplemental funds, while weatherization remains a federally constrained program with a waiting list and limited flexibility. Members also asked about a proposed transfer from the renewable energy fund; staff said the transfer would still allow the department to carry out its statutory duties for the year, though the committee deferred deeper discussion until House Bill 2.