Transcript Highlights:

• Hello, John Hart with the California Solar and Storage Association. Thank you.
• John Hart with the California Solar and Storage Association.
• McKinley-Thompson-Worley on behalf of the Solar Energy Industries Association in support.
• And John Hart with the California Solar and Storage Association.
• John Hart with the California Solar and Storage Association.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• Where does that center stand on the solar panel farms that are going up around the state?
• High-fence solar panels, by the way, so he's going to be an island.
• Where does the center stand on the solar panel farms that are going up around the state?
• High fence solar panels, by the way, so he's going to be an island.
• Yeah, I mean, you're talking 2,500 acres of farmland gone for this one solar array farm.

Committee: House Conservation and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Does something like solar come up anywhere?
• You know, I have solar panels on my house.
• Chair, Senator Stewart, I know we've had some discussion at the PSFA about solar.
• I know some school districts are migrating... ...to their own solar panels.
• Aztec is one, for example, where they have put solar panels on.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• I think you're familiar with Senator Hamblin's initiative for solar lights.
• solar lights.
• Well, they're solar street lights.
• They're street lights that you install, and they're not on the grid because they're charged by solar.
• I have solar panels, etc. So, it's all our responsibilities, and I think we can make a difference.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:09:39.160><c> work</c><00:09:39.320><c> to</c><00:09:39.519><c> build</c><00:09:39.760><c> a</c> solar
• um and as we work to build a solar um and as we work to build a reliable<00:09:40.399><c> affordable
• that you see with migrating<00:13:55.399><c> birds</c><00:13:56.199><c> with</c><00:13:56.360><c> solar
• <00:13:57.000><c> it</c><00:13:57.160><c> it</c><00:13:57.480><c> there's</c> migrating birds with solar
• it it there's migrating birds with solar it it there's effects<00:13:58.079><c> on</c><00:13:58.279>

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• Some people were doing good work, some people were just floating.
• Some people were doing good work, some people were just floating.
• Some people were doing good work, some people were just floating.
• c><00:21:28.640><c> just</c> good works, some people were just good works, some people were just floating
• And so this is this was this floating.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And all of the crazy ideas that I have floated past you and many of the people in this room that have
• I have floated past you and many of the people in this room that have agreed to doing some of these things

Committee: Joint Capital Improvement

Summary: The committee met for a fiscal year 2027 capital budget writing session with all 12 members present. It first reviewed and approved the DNREC Resource Conservation and Development drainage project list, which would add projects across New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties and bring the total eligible projects to 1,561. Members offered personal remarks thanking retiring conservation district staff, especially Kevin Donnelly, for years of work on drainage and water issues. The committee then reviewed DelDOT Rule 12 changes, including annual date updates and a reduction in the inflation markup applied to older estimates, and approved the rule as amended. The committee next adopted DelDOT Appendix A and the FY27 paving and rehabilitation list, including the subdivision street management fund and various road resurfacing projects. DelDOT explained that paving projects are for state-of-good-repair work and that major changes from corridor studies would be handled separately. The committee also approved DelDOT epilogue changes, including updates to authorization amounts, a $25 million increase for toll infrastructure work, changes to subdivision street paving language, and an increase in the subdivision street paving management fund to $30 million. Several sections were placed on hold for later updates. The committee then moved through boilerplate epilogue sections in the bond bill, approving a wide range of provisions affecting conservation districts, housing, economic development, corrections, DNREC, public safety, transportation, agriculture, fire prevention, education, and other agencies. Many sections were adopted in groups, while some were held for later revisions or deleted as no longer needed. The session included updates to school capital rules, transportation restrictions and reporting requirements, DNREC conservation and land-use provisions, and funding and administrative authorities across multiple agencies. The committee broke for lunch after approving the education-related sections through 147, with additional sections still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will say, as an aside, there are bills both floating in the Senate and the House of Representatives
• I will say, as an aside, there are bills both floating in the Senate and the House of Representatives

Bills: S7020 , S0308 , S0692 , S0474 , S0572 , S1106 , S1650 , S0350 , S1442 , S7032

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Summary: The committee heard and voted on several measures. SB 308 on the Florida Museum of Black History was explained as implementing a prior task force recommendation by designating St. Johns County as the museum site, creating a board, and coordinating with a supporting nonprofit; it passed favorably. SB 692 on cybersecurity standards and liability was amended to bar local governments from imposing cybersecurity requirements on vendors beyond generally accepted best practices, and after testimony both for and against, it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 572 updated ethics law to include legally recognized foster parents and foster children in the definition of relative; after a technical amendment and support from the Ethics Commission, it passed unanimously. SB 1442 revised the long-range program plan to require more specific performance metrics and agency-specific measures; it also passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 1106, as amended by a strike-all, to require state agencies and certain educational materials to use “Judea and Samaria” instead of “West Bank,” despite opposition arguing it would impose political language and conflict with federal and international terminology. SB 7020 reenacted a public records exemption for certain aquaculture and shellfish production records and passed with support from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. SB 474 expanded military leave and related benefits for public employees and officials, including members of the Coast Guard and Florida State Guard, and added three amendments before being reported favorably. SB 350, dealing with public records protections for crime victims and certain law enforcement victims, was heavily amended to add time-limited confidentiality for an officer’s name in some cases and then passed favorably after discussion about balancing transparency and safety. Finally, the committee approved SPB 7032 as a committee bill to shift more fleet management responsibilities from DMS to individual agencies, while still requiring data reporting to DMS for legislative oversight. SB 1650 by Senator Gates was temporarily postponed. At the end of the meeting, members recorded votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE 6 ACRES RELEASE FROM THE STATE A FLOATING WATER COLUMN AND I HAVE THE LUXURY OF BEING THE CEO
• THE FARM AND HE CALLED ME AND SAID I FOUND YOUR OYSTERS, WHAT DO I DO WITH THEM, BUT THEY'VE BEEN FLOATING

Transcript Highlights:

• OWNER AND IT REDUCES THE REMOVAL COST BECAUSE THESE VESSELS ARE OFTEN REMOVED WHILE THEY ARE STILL FLOATING
• IF WE CAN GET MORE BOOKS BEFORE THEY BECOME DERELICT AT A CHEAPER COST BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL FLOATING

Transcript Highlights:

• Looking back on page 19 on these solar panels, the county paid $305,000 for installation of solar panels
• When I was on the quorum court, we reported that to legislative audit that the solar panels have not
• The county did pay the $305,000 and there's no solar panels, correct? County, I'm sorry.
• So there's no solar panels. We check every year to see if they've installed them yet.
• So there's no solar panels in any of these three buildings yet? Still not solar panels. Okay.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Summary: The committee adopted the minutes from its June 4 meeting and then received a series of updates on delinquent municipal and water/sewer reports. Staff reported that three entities had forfeited a combined just under $126,000 in state turnback under Act 453 of 2023 for failure to file required reports, and that several other cities and utilities remained delinquent or were moving toward compliance. The committee also heard that Fargo would be placed on the 50% turnback escrow process for continued noncompliance, while Ulm, Montrose, and several other entities were removed from or deferred in the process after making progress or providing responses. Boxite remained the only private city report still outstanding among one group of filings, and the committee filed or deferred reports as recommended by staff throughout the meeting. Several local officials appeared to explain repeat audit findings and corrective actions. The mayor of Falk described efforts to catch up on audits and said the city had enough money on hand to pay for them, though the committee emphasized that the city had already lost turnback funds under the statute. Lead Hill’s recorder-treasurer said the town had implemented new procedures, including electronic payment ordinances, fixed asset records, and improved receipt and reconciliation practices, but the committee still started the 60-day clock on the report. St. Joe’s new mayor and recorder-treasurer said the town had made substantial progress, so staff withdrew its earlier recommendation to start the clock. Marion County’s treasurer said computer conversion problems were being corrected, and the committee deferred the report until the county judge and sheriff could appear. The committee then reviewed a long list of county, municipal, and utility audit findings, many of them repeat issues involving missing documentation, weak bank reconciliation controls, improper disbursements, and failure to follow municipal accounting law. Notable matters included Cotton Plant’s large unpaid payroll tax liabilities and deficit fund balance, Jefferson County’s procurement and contract issues and an unresolved $305,000 solar panel payment, Wabaseka’s long-running payroll tax delinquency and deficit, and multiple private water and sewer reports involving missing receipts, unsupported payments, or uncollateralized cash balances. Many reports were filed without objection, some were deferred for later response, and several findings involving possible misuse of public funds or improper payments were referred to the prosecuting attorney and Attorney General’s office.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we go with solar? Do we go with nuclear?
• Do we go with solar? Do we go with nuclear? And the answer is yes, to all of them.
• Over the last 11 years, when we said solar and wind is going to be the answer...
• that deficit with 350 megawatts of solar and wind.
• We need to move quickly, and we need to incorporate all assets that we have: solar, wind, nuclear, and

Summary: The meeting focused on finalizing recommendations from the Delaware Nuclear Energy Task Force, with most of the discussion centered on how the state should organize itself to evaluate and potentially pursue nuclear power. Public commenters strongly supported nuclear energy, emphasizing energy reliability, economic competitiveness, data center demand, and the need for Delaware to act quickly. Several speakers argued that Delaware is falling behind neighboring states and should not delay if it wants to attract developers and preserve access to federal tax incentives. Members then worked through revisions to the recommendations, especially the section on state actions moving forward. There was broad agreement that Delaware needs a clearly empowered leadership structure, but disagreement over the best form: a cabinet-level energy agency, an expanded existing agency such as DENREC, a dedicated coordinator, an expanded Sustainable Energy Utility, or a separate quasi-independent authority. Some members favored a nimble, one-off entity with bonding and financing authority; others cautioned against creating a new body outside state government and stressed the need for coordination with existing agencies, public oversight, and cost discipline. The group also discussed adding responsibilities such as site identification, public engagement, coordination with PJM and federal agencies, and financing tools, while removing or folding in items that seemed duplicative or too broad. The committee also revised earlier modules to broaden the focus from small modular reactors to nuclear power more generally, while keeping the task force’s original SMR work in view. Members agreed to keep recommendations on state and local regulatory readiness, financial mechanisms, permitting coordination, and public engagement, and to add a recommendation for Delaware to participate as an observer in the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative through NASEO and NARUC. The committee approved the revised Module Four recommendations by vote, with one abstention from Tom Noyes. Minutes from the prior meeting were also approved with minor corrections.

Transcript Highlights:

• accessing it and constructing solar panels and generating power that way.
• You said that solar companies are currently using this land.
• put solar panels up.
• Utilize that area; that's all I wanted to mention as for a solar company. As a potential.
• Chair, that solar array area, do you know? I know, yeah. So that used to be Range Lab.

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Other ones want to lease town property for solar arrays, and they're limited by being able to do this
• Other ones want to lease town property for solar arrays, and they're limited by being able to do this
• cell tower<00:48:28.640><c> site</c><00:48:29.319><c> on</c><00:48:29.880><c> a</c><00:48:30.520><c> solar
• um</c><00:48:32.000><c> site</c><00:48:33.000><c> and</c><00:48:33.160><c> you</c> tower site on a solar
• um site and you tower site on a solar um site and you are<00:48:33.559><c> generating</c><00:48:34.280

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• That was a standard we held ourselves to with the Kingston Solar Array.
• That was a standard we held ourselves to with the Kingston Solar Array.
• Um, and thank you, um, Kingston Solar is a great project. >> Thank you. Good to see.
• Um, and thank you, um, Kingston Solar is a great project. >> Thank you. Good to see.
• </c> bunch of solar panels and wind turbines. bunch of solar panels and wind turbines.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, power plants, oil wells, and wind and solar facilities.
• This is done for nuclear power plants, for coal mining, coal ash ponds, wind and solar industry.
• As we know, solar doesn't shine for all hours of the day.
• In 2020, when we had tough conditions on the grid, it was primarily happening when the overall solar
• Obviously, we have a lot more solar and storage that we put into place.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard SB 1259, which would require refineries to provide advance closure and remediation planning information, and SB 1425, which would authorize the High-Speed Rail Authority to create a permit process for encroachments in its right of way. The committee also held an informational hearing on California electricity reliability and the future of the Strategic Reliability Reserve. The chair opened by noting the hearing room change, testimony limits, and that the committee would proceed without a quorum at first, then later established quorum for votes. On SB 1259, Senator Blake Spear argued the bill would give communities and state agencies needed information to plan for refinery closures, cleanup, and land reuse, comparing the requirement to estate planning. Supporters, including Benicia City Councilmember Carrie Birdseye and UC Santa Barbara professor Ranjit Schmook, said the bill would help communities facing refinery closures avoid being left without information and better prepare for redevelopment and remediation. Opponents, including the Western States Petroleum Association, the State Building and Construction Trades Council, and business groups, argued the bill could send negative market signals, create conflicts with federal reporting, and potentially accelerate refinery closures. The committee passed SB 1259 on a 7-3 vote, later reopening the roll and recording additional votes before moving it out as amended to Appropriations. On SB 1425, Senator Cortese and sponsor Robert Pearsall said the bill would help the High-Speed Rail Authority manage utility, broadband, drainage, and vegetation encroachments along the project corridor and reduce delays. Labor and construction groups supported the measure as a way to add certainty and speed project delivery. Utilities and local agencies, including LADWP, Southern California Gas, Southern California Edison, PG&E, and others, opposed unless amended, saying the bill needed clearer language on emergencies, existing agreements, and potential impacts on their own rights of way and service obligations. After discussion about emergency language and utility coordination, the committee passed SB 1425 as amended to Appropriations on a 10-3 vote. In the oversight hearing, CEC, CPUC, CAISO, and DWR officials reported that California’s summer reliability outlook is better than in prior years, with substantial new procurement, storage, and demand-response resources added since 2020. They said the state is projected to meet its summer reliability standard and has not needed a flex alert for three straight years, but cautioned that extreme heat, fire, hydro conditions, and federal policy uncertainty still pose risks. Officials emphasized that the current Strategic Reliability Reserve remains important as a backstop, while longer-term planning must address rising demand from electrification and data centers and the eventual retirement of emergency resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the net-metered solar power that's And the net-metered solar power that's not<04:46:57.040><c> dispatchable
• </c> uh in the use of plug-in solar devices. uh in the use of plug-in solar devices.
• </c> the guidance on US portable solar the guidance on US portable solar standards<05:03:56.320><c> is
• </c> the safe operation of of portable solar the safe operation of of portable solar devices.<05:05:28.800
• We already allow utilities to own solar fields.

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida homeowners can see long delays in solar permitting and inspections for residential solar systems
• Solar permitting times are up four times longer in local jurisdictions that have resisted alternative
• This bill also clarifies the statute to include residential solar energy and energy solar systems and
• Any of my cities giving a solar hard time? I would love to provide you that and follow up.
• But I've never heard from anybody saying we're having a problem with permitting solar.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1134, which would extend and clarify the use of qualified private providers and computer-based tools in the building permit and inspection process for residential solar energy systems. The sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce long delays in solar permitting and make the process faster and cheaper; Senator Pizzo questioned whether the problem was limited to specific local governments, and a late-filed amendment clarifying the word “application” was adopted. After brief testimony from an industry representative supporting the measure, the committee reported the bill favorably, with Senator Pizzo voting no. Next, the committee considered SB 784, dealing with issuance of addresses and parcel identification numbers for plats and new development. The bill sets a 14-day timeframe, and an amendment was adopted that would allow use of a private provider if the deadline is missed and would bar fee collection if the local government fails to act within five business days. County representatives said they wanted to keep working on the bill and raised concerns about the private-provider language and the short deadlines, while several senators discussed whether the process should be handled earlier on the front end. The committee then reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 1738 on transportation concurrency, which would let counties that previously opted out of concurrency opt back in by maintaining current levels of service. SB 1080, a local government land regulation bill, was described as a measure to speed development approvals by setting stricter timelines, limiting repeated information requests, and imposing penalties for noncompliance; local-government testimony opposed it as a loss of local control, while builders supported it. After debate, SB 1080 was reported favorably. SB 1260, which clarifies county constitutional officer budget procedures and creates an appeal process for clerks and supervisors of elections similar to sheriffs, was also reported favorably after members discussed possible adjustments to avoid burdening county budget negotiations. Finally, the committee took up SB 420, as amended by a strike-all, which would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting or funding DEI-related ordinances, policies, programs, offices, or contracts, and would expose officials to misfeasance/malfeasance claims and local governments to lawsuits. The sponsor said the amendment removed retroactive language, delayed the effective date, and added definitions and contract-certification requirements, but many senators and public speakers argued the bill was overbroad, vague, and would chill local efforts such as Black History Month, women-owned business programs, minority contracting, and community outreach. Supporters said it would ensure merit-based government action and consistency with state standards. The amendment was adopted, but the bill drew extensive opposition testimony and debate over its scope and potential conflict with federal and state law.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think about this with solar.
• solar monthly payments and usually give them an additional cash flow.
• I think about this with solar. Solar folks do, insurance premium discounts.
• I think about this with solar.
• solar monthly payments and usually give them an additional cash flow.

Transcript Highlights:

• liabilities between nuclear energy generation and other forms of generation, including renewables like solar
• 06:04.440><c> like</c> generation, including renewables like generation, including renewables like solar
• > wind,</c><00:06:06.920><c> geothermal,</c><00:06:07.720><c> and</c><00:06:07.840><c> battery</c> solar
• , wind, geothermal, and battery solar, wind, geothermal, and battery storage. storage. storage.