Transcript Highlights:

• So the sewer line at the Natural History Museum is over 50 years old at this point.
• At 12%, we really do hold back for things like sewer lines and HVAC.
• For emergencies, we've created that system, but it's not funded in the way it can be.
• And allows that money to go back into the system.
• However, it creates new wrinkles for the system to address.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our city is already working diligently to upgrade aging water, sewer, and road systems.
• If enacted, this bill could overwhelm our water, our sewer systems, and our road systems, as well as
• We would have to invest $200 million to retrofit our water and sewer systems, which were never sized

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to be a leader, a progressive state, in our carceral system, our parole system.
• This compensation system is not working.
• The system is messed up.
• betterment bills and sewer use fees.
• I said, “Over the sewer bills.”

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on several Judiciary bills, with the largest portion focused on S. 1178/H. 2052 to reduce mass incarceration and end life without parole. People incarcerated at MCI Framingham, MCI Norfolk, and NCCI Gardner described personal growth, rehabilitation, restorative justice work, family separation, and the belief that parole eligibility after long sentences would better reflect public safety and human development. Speakers emphasized that life without parole removes hope and can undermine rehabilitation, while supporters argued that many lifers are older, less likely to reoffend, and could contribute positively if given a chance at parole review. Committee members did not take votes during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1139 to restore the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims involving tobacco use, with Sen. Keenan explaining that a recent SJC decision had cut off claims where the injured person did not sue within three years before death. He said the bill would restore families’ ability to seek redress in cases involving long-latency tobacco harms like COPD. Another major topic was S. 1205, which would add abusive litigation to the definition of coercive control in domestic violence law; Sen. Michael Moore said the bill would stop abusers from using repeated court filings to harass and financially burden survivors. The committee also took up S. 1114 on automatic record sealing, with Sen. Friedman and others arguing that the current petition-based process is slow, burdensome, and disproportionately harms people with criminal records, especially Black and Latino residents. Testimony also supported H. 1965/S. 1132 on compensation for wrongful conviction, with advocates and sponsors describing a faster administrative claims process, transitional support, and higher compensation without the current cap. Sen. Payano testified for S. 1241 to expand educational programming for incarcerated emerging adults, saying education reduces recidivism and improves reentry outcomes. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on S. 2522, an update to Massachusetts’ shield law for reproductive and gender-affirming care. Sen. Friedman, the Attorney General’s office, and DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said the bill is needed to strengthen protections against out-of-state legal attacks, protect patient and provider data, clarify enforcement authority, and add a state-level EMTALA-style emergency care requirement. Committee members asked detailed questions about prescription labeling, the prescription monitoring program, attorney discipline, custody and full faith and credit issues, and whether the bill’s enforcement language could create unintended limits or conflicts. The Attorney General’s office said it would provide follow-up written testimony on several technical questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we have tax expenditure 4.1.16, sewer services.
• sewer services. sewer services.
• <00:28:30.640> services Uh the objective of the sewer services Uh the objective of the sewer
• They need to be close to they have redundancies across the system.
• They need to be close to they have redundancies across the system.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Tax Expenditure Review Commission met on June 17, 2026, approved the January 20, 2026 minutes, and then adopted updated commission procedures. The procedural changes, presented by Legislative Budget Office Director Christian Larson, required a quorum of voting members to complete evaluations before a formal recommendation vote, and allowed members to bundle or unbundle tax expenditures for voting. The commission approved the revised procedures by roll call vote, with five ayes and four excused. The commission then reviewed member evaluation summaries for tax expenditures presented in December 2025 and January 2026. It first considered the alcoholic beverage tax credits for small brewers and microdistilleries, and after discussion voted to recommend repeal of those two expenditures, while leaving the small winery credit for a later meeting because it lacked enough member responses under the new procedures. The vote on the repeal recommendation passed 4-1, with Commissioner Marquart voting no. The commission next approved the lawful gambling bundle, which included bingo, raffle, and related exemptions. Larson reported that most members recommended continuation for each item, and the commission voted to recommend continuing all six lawful gambling expenditures. It then reviewed the residential utility services bundle—residential heating fuels, residential water services, and sewer services—where members generally favored continuation but several noted possible modifications or caps for higher-income users; the commission voted to recommend continuation of the bundle. Finally, the commission reviewed the data center equipment sales tax exemption, which Larson said had an estimated annual revenue loss of $95 million and was intended to create jobs in construction and data center industries. Members raised questions about its effectiveness and whether the exemption should be modified or capped, but the commission ultimately voted to recommend continuation. The meeting concluded with these recommendations set to be included in the commission’s 2026 annual report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, transportation systems.
• And so, we transportation system.
• for supplying light, water, sanitary sewer service, or storm sewer service, and the system is authorized
• light, water, sanitary sewer service, or storm sewer service, and the system is authorized by law to
• The sanitary sewer and the water and sanitary sewer mains were originally constructed in 1979 and 1998

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do not have any town or municipal sewer system in Raymond. So we solely rely on septic systems.
• <01:25:46.159> system have any town or municipal sewer system have any town or municipal sewer
• That septic system is designed systems.
• <01:30:59.679> Municipalities sewer or water system.
• Municipalities sewer or water system.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This microphone system is not working. Is that on? Can you hear me now? Try the one in the middle.
• projects, including roads and bridges, drainage and stormwater, infrastructure, flood protection, water, sewer
• operating procedures of what a city administrator or administration will do in order to, if there's a sewer
• If there's a sewer issue and you have to, it's the same difference in Lake Charles or Baton Rouge or
• The reason I made mention of infrastructure issues is because this is the normal road, sewer, drainage

Bills: SB348, SB444, SB485

Keywords: motor vehicles, enforcement, administrative support, law enforcement, private service provider, regulatory compliance, expropriation, public purpose, property rights, compensation, city governance, St. George, insurance premium tax, city of St. George, municipal authority, local taxation, East Baton Rouge Parish, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This microphone system is not working. Is that on? Can you hear me now? Try the one in the middle.
• projects, including roads and bridges, drainage and stormwater, infrastructure, flood protection, water, sewer
• operating procedures of what a city administrator or administration will do in order to, if there's a sewer
• If there's a sewer issue and you have to, it's the same difference in Lake Charles or Baton Rouge or
• The reason I made mention of infrastructure issues is because this is the normal road, sewer, drainage

Summary: The Municipal Program of Cultural Affairs Committee met with a quorum and took up three Senate bills by Senator Edmonds, all related to the new City of St. George. The first bill, SB 348, would allow a local enforcement agency to contract with third-party vendors for administrative support in motor vehicle liability enforcement, such as plate processing, insurance verification, and notices, while making clear the vendors would not have police powers. Members raised concerns that the bill as drafted appeared statewide rather than local to St. George, and discussed how to limit it properly. After debate, the committee adopted amendments to narrow SB 348 to cities incorporated after October 1, 2019 and to sunset the authority on July 31, 2028, with the understanding that St. George could return later with a properly advertised local bill. The bill then received favorable action. The committee then considered SB 485, which transfers authority to levy and collect the insurance premium tax within St. George to the city beginning January 1, 2027; it was reported favorably without objection. Finally, the committee heard SB 444, which gives St. George expropriation authority for public infrastructure projects such as roads, drainage, flood protection, water, sewer, and utilities, using procedures similar to other Louisiana municipalities and DOTD. Members asked about the process and confirmed it was standard municipal authority and not related to private industry. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The meeting ended with thanks to staff and members and a reminder that this was the committee’s last meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• two, and nine of article one require the Campaign Finance Board to establish an electronic filing system
• , both systems used to supply electricity to farmers and distribution systems owned by electric utility
• ,<00:08:43.760> both electric distribution systems, both electric distribution systems, both
• c> electricity<00:08:46.000> to systems used to supply electricity to systems used to supply
• farmers and of distribution systems farmers and of distribution systems owned<00:08:48.959> by

Bills: HF9

Keywords: energy policy, renewable energy standard, carbon-free standard, solar standard, hydroelectric, hydropower, electric utility, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, renewable portfolio standard, carbon capture and sequestration, CCS, greenhouse gas emissions, climate policy, nuclear power plant, certificate of need, fossil fuel plant demolition, utility compliance delay, beneficial electrification, sales tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• we have these things complete, it will wind up being almost double that in actual work in ground systems
• The agreements that we made require them to maintain those systems. Correct.
• That's why I asked the question about sewer and sanitary sewers in Alabama in particular and the fact
• And you have a system to follow up on these to make sure we get them completed. We do.
• It's kind of like sewers, you know, we all rely on it. We need it.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, as a note in the system, we do have concerns with the bill.
• Water that is stored underground is oftentimes moved throughout our systems.
• It requires built-in protection so the system shuts off during an outage.
• With a 1,200-watt system, savings could be more than $300 annually.
• Maintaining a safe and reliable electric system is our primary responsibility.

Bills: HB2099, HB2263, HB2264, HB2330, HB2341, HB2492, HB2757, HB2782, HB2843, HB2889, HB2912, HB2915, HB2918, HB4025, HB4100, HCR2020, HCR2057

Keywords: water storage, long-term storage credits, groundwater management, drought contingency, Arizona water regulations, Colorado River, replenishment, groundwater savings facility, groundwater storage, underground water storage, active management area, irrigation non-expansion area, Arizona water law, water rights, water replenishment, recharge, water conservation district, multi-county water conservation district, CAP water, Central Arizona Project

Transcript Highlights:

• Johnson uh Hawaii correctional system Johnson uh Hawaii correctional system oversight<00:16:45.560
• <00:20:13.039> oversight correctional system oversight correctional system oversight commission
• > the what's the sieges system um it's the what's the sieges system um it's the criminal<01:14
• is we identify a project you know sewer is we identify a project you know sewer and<02:26:45.640
• those who provide software and systems those who provide software and systems um<02:46:05.120>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on February 12 at 2 p.m. and heard several measures related to corrections, re-entry, law enforcement, retirement benefits, and gun violence prevention. On HB 10002, which would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify unannounced inspection authority, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it had no objection to the term length or to 24/7 unannounced access. The commission’s chair, Commissioner Mark Patterson, asked for a longer term, saying the commission needs more time and stability to manage reform efforts after years without staff during COVID. Community Alliance on Prisons and Carolyn Eaton also supported a longer term, with both suggesting six years would better insulate the position from politics. The chair noted he had asked Chair Bot for background on the prior committee’s changes and said that could be discussed during decision-making. The committee then heard HB 67, which would require DCR to help inmates obtain civil identification documents such as IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards as soon as practicable, including for people in furlough or community placement programs. DCR said it supported the bill and described ongoing work with the city and county on ID machines and with agencies on certificates and Social Security cards. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Oversight Commission, Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Office of Public Defense all supported the measure, emphasizing that identification is essential for housing, employment, and successful re-entry and noting the disproportionate impact of incarceration on Native Hawaiians. On HB 1183, which would classify certain law enforcement administrators and Department of Law Enforcement employees as Class A members for retirement purposes, the Department of Human Resources Development, the Employees’ Retirement System, and the Department of Law Enforcement all supported the bill. DHRD said it would help recruitment and retention, ERS said it had technical amendments to suggest, and DLE said the change would help with succession planning and allow the governor to appoint the most qualified leader. The committee also heard HB 1045, an emergency appropriation bill to cover payroll fringe benefits for Department of Law Enforcement personnel after salary funding had been shifted to other departments; Budget and Finance and DLE explained the need for the supplemental funding, and no opposition was noted. Finally, the committee took up HB 664, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a grant program, a resource bank, and a special fund. The Attorney General recommended adding standards for grant awards and warned of overlap with the existing Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission, suggesting consolidation and repeal of the older commission to avoid duplication. Supporters included the Brady Campaign, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action Hawaii, a physician, and an Army veteran, who argued the office would centralize data, coordinate prevention efforts, and help secure outside funding. Testimony was mixed, with the chair noting 37 supporters, nine opponents, and three commenters, but no vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• spent, get everything through the system spent, get everything through the system and<00:09:04.800
• And was that just for water, sewer?
• sewer? Were roads included in that? sewer? Were roads included in that?
• The referee system paying for that.
• On the flip side, if counties have a county system or referee system and they want it, then they are

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 3 February, 2026; 1:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard a proposal to consolidate small or outdated Treasury and agency accounts into pooled investment accounts so idle balances could earn interest and administrative costs could be reduced. Senator DuPree asked whether the change would also eliminate old accounts, and the sponsor said it would close outdated accounts and move funds where they could earn interest. The committee then voted title sufficient, do pass. Senate Bill 2694, described as the biomarker bill, would require mandatory biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, and monitoring of certain conditions when supported by medical and scientific evidence and nationally recognized clinical guidelines. The bill would apply to health insurance policies written in the state after September 1, 2026, require written reasons for denials, and include reporting requirements back to the Legislature. The sponsor estimated a total cost of about $5.2 million, with roughly $1 million as the state share, and the committee voted title sufficient, do pass. The committee then took up the ARPA bill, which would accelerate the spending deadline from December 31 to September 30 and create three buckets for remaining funds: $100 million for MDOT, about $62 million for lost revenue to help offset insurance costs, and any additional funds to be handled by DFA under the governor’s discretion within ARPA rules. Senators asked about lists of projects, the risk of rushing money out the door, and whether local city and county projects could be repurposed; sponsors said the bill is aimed at keeping funds from being returned to Washington and that projects already in process should be nudged to completion, while unused funds could be clawed back after missed reporting or reimbursement requests. The committee also discussed prior technical problems with some completed projects and said those cases would likely require separate legislative action. The committee voted title sufficient, do pass, committee sub. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 2578, which creates a small municipality match fund to help cities under 10,000 population meet the 20% local match needed for discretionary federal and state grants. The chair clarified that the bill establishes the fund but does not create a funding source, and the sponsor confirmed that point. The committee then voted title sufficient, do pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill number 140 by Representative Mooney, relating to public utilities, specifically sewer systems
• Those Shelby County water and sewer systems are owned by a parent company that owns additional unregulated
• sewer systems in other counties.
• This proposed legislation would allow those unregulated privately owned sewer systems.
• Unregulated privately owned sewer systems which are affiliated with the regulated sewer system to elect

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The present drinking water system and sanitary storm sewer systems on the lower campus were constructed
• In 2018, we contracted with an engineering firm and conducted a water and sewer system analysis.
• <01:27:33.600> storm<01:27:33.920> sewer<01:27:34.480> systems<01:27:34.920>
• on<01:27:35.040> the sanitarian storm sewer systems on the sanitarian storm sewer systems
• <01:28:30.840> the<01:28:31.080> system for the design of this system the system for

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• available for local water and sewer available for local water and sewer infrastructure<00:05:23.199
• systems.
• So from upgrading outdated water and sewer systems to repairing crumbling roads and bridges, there's
• systems<01:05:23.200> to<01:05:23.520> repairing water and sewer systems to repairing
• water and sewer systems to repairing crumbling<01:05:24.400> roads<01:05:24.640> and<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Capital and deal flow are what make a venture system work.
• Uh emergency services,<00:46:40.080> water,<00:46:40.800> sewer,<00:46:41.960> um
• > services, water, sewer, um services, water, sewer, um infrastructure<00:46:43.600> that<00:46
• system works best when it's transparent, coordinated, and tied to measurable outcomes.
• And so can you talk a little bit about the federal mandate versus a failing water system?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hawaii Water Resources Research Center, and this will test and evaluate new wastewater technology systems
• water drainage systems that rely on gravity no longer operate.
• For example, for the testing of human samples, this is part of our system of clinical medicine.
• We develop quality systems. We subscribe to proficiency testing systems.
• systems we train to proficiency testing systems we train people<00:47:33.119> and<00:47:33.359

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1232, which would create a three-year wastewater technology testing pilot program at the University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center and coordinate testing with state and county agencies. The Department of Health, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and University of Hawaiʻi representatives supported the bill, saying it would help certify new wastewater technologies, lower costs for cesspool conversions, and provide data to the Department of Health. Testifiers said the prior testing effort ended after the departure of Dr. Roger Babcock, and that the new program would use National Sanitation Foundation standards, graduate students, and local wastewater facilities such as Wahiawa. Committee members asked about the $750,000 total cost, the scope of existing research, prior test sites, and whether the program would be tied to individuals or a permanent program. One member raised concerns about the fairness and data basis for sewer conversion decisions in local communities, and the University said it would follow national standards and share results openly. The committee then took up Senate Bill 686, relating to a short-term management initiative for coconut rhinoceros beetle response and related appropriations. The Department of Agriculture and the University of Hawaiʻi testified in support, while a county representative and other advocates urged broader statewide coverage, including Kauaʻi, and asked that appropriated funds be usable on any island. Testimony emphasized the need for immediate action, outreach, tree-trimmer training, canopy treatments, K-9 inspections, container fumigation, and biocontrol research. A member summarized the bill’s funding components, including amounts for training, residential palm treatments, response teams, inspections, fumigation, and research, and noted the importance of directing money toward on-the-ground response. Committee questions focused on how much funding remained available, how the agencies would coordinate with DOA, whether the department was prepared to manage all the bill’s functions, and how infestations were being communicated to the public. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 657, which would appropriate funds for the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology’s Center for Climate Resilient Development. The Department of Land and Natural Resources testified in strong support, and the Department of Health also supported the measure, noting that it relies on the center’s data to inform decisions and recommendations on projects. The discussion on this item was brief in the portion provided, with no vote or final action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill, and currently the way the sewer company cannot cut off the sewer, so they're not getting paid.
• utility I'm sorry adding water system utility I'm sorry adding water system that's<00:10:02.399>
• to find out what situation sewer systems are currently in.
• . system can stabilize.
• system debt is<00:18:38.240> non-system is non-system is non-system proceeds<00:18:40.480>

Keywords: Energy - Room 210, 2 February, 2026; 4:15 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee took up several energy, utility, and infrastructure bills. Bill 2527 on solar decommissioning was presented as a landowner consumer-protection measure that would set statewide baseline requirements for solar lease agreements, preserve some freedom of contract, preempt duplicative local rules, and protect landowners from reclamation costs; after no questions, it was moved and passed. The committee also discussed changes to the Gulf Coast Regional Utility Act in HB 2058 and HB 2309, including new first-right-of-refusal language, prohibitions on unauthorized service, civil penalties and enforcement tools, and legislative intent language aimed at preventing duplication and protecting public investment; both were adopted as committee substitutes and passed. HB 2018 was amended to extend similar oversight to water systems, and it was reported after questions about the scope of the change. Several bills focused on water and wastewater oversight. SB 2311 and SB 2312 would create statewide A-to-F grading systems for drinking water and wastewater systems, require annual public reporting, and direct the health and environmental agencies to adopt objective scoring rules; both were passed. SB 2526 would create a Mississippi Rural Water Oversight Committee, require rate studies, capacity studies, and asset management plans for water associations, and provide staffing and funding support from existing revolving-fund resources; it was adopted as a committee substitute and reported, with supporters saying it would help identify and assist troubled associations. The committee also heard a bill creating the Metro Jackson Water Authority, allowing a lease of city system assets, special revenue bonds to refinance legacy debt, and supplemental revenue sources such as sanitation fees and possibly sales tax revenues; the sponsor said no general fund money would be used, and the bill was reported. The committee also advanced HB 2641, which was stripped down to a study committee on wind turbine facilities, grandfathered existing projects, and imposed a moratorium on new construction until the study is completed; members asked about existing projects and were told current projects under construction would not be penalized, and the committee substitute passed. SB 2783 would make targeted definition changes to BEAD-related broadband grant programs so remaining federal funds could support other state initiatives, including AI workforce training, and it was reported after questions about future federal guidance. Finally, HB 2787 would add propane to the school gas-leak testing statute; the sponsor said the inspections would not require additional state funding because propane dealers and the State Fire Marshal’s office already handle the checks, and the bill passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, our whole goal has always been to also get septic tanks off, put them on septic systems.
• Of put them on septic systems.
• to go on a system.
• Senator Bracy Davis, Senator Brodeur, yes. of put them on septic septic systems.
• to go on a system.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum and considered four bills. First, the committee took up SB 1724 on municipal utility services. A late-filed strike-all amendment by Senator Martin was adopted after he explained it would require annual customer meetings for certain extraterritorial utility customers, cap the use of utility revenues for general government purposes, eliminate a 25% surcharge and reduce the rate differential cap, remove municipal natural gas utilities from the bill, and preserve certain surcharges only as needed to satisfy existing bond covenants. The Florida League of Cities raised implementation concerns about the July 1, 2026 effective date and the time needed for rate studies and budget adjustments, but the bill as amended was reported favorably. The committee then heard SB 936 on temporary door locking devices by Senator McLean. The bill would define temporary door locking devices, authorize their installation at any height, require the Florida Building Commission to add standards to the Florida Building Code, and require their use to be incorporated into safety plans, drills, and training. With no opposition or debate, SB 936 was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 1014 by Senator Mayfield, which would prohibit municipalities from refusing water and wastewater service solely because a property owner declines annexation, if the property is near a municipal main line, not served by another utility, and the utility has capacity. An amendment narrowed the bill by defining “main line” and reducing the distance threshold from 2,000 meters to one-half mile. The Florida League of Cities opposed the bill as amended, citing concerns about large users, possible conflict with annexation law, potential enclave creation, and revenue impacts, but Senator Mayfield said he would continue working on the issues. The committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, Chair Bradley presented SB 1498 on community associations. A strike-all amendment was adopted that made technical changes to video conference recording, turnover inspection reports, and electronic voting, and added provisions requiring associations to provide records to law enforcement and prosecutors, creating a second-degree misdemeanor for willful refusal. It also targeted mandatory club or amenity fee structures controlled by developers or third parties, declaring such provisions against public policy, limiting assessments to proportional expenses, and allowing suits and conveyance of common areas after turnover. Testimony from homeowners described alleged governance abuses and opaque, profit-driven mandatory fees in their communities, while the Community Associations Institute supported the amendment. The committee reported CS for SB 1498 favorably. Members then recorded additional votes for the record, and the meeting adjourned.