Transcript Highlights:

• It includes an outdoor residential component at the urban water retailer scale: how much water are they
• Urban water retailers are required to report January 1st of every year.
• And because there's less water typically required for most renewables, including solar PV and wind, as

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:

• HB number 1606. by Metcalf relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure
• relating to the inclusion of recycling or disposal provisions in certain lease agreements of wind or solar
• Osa Adam relating to the periods during which retail firework permit holders may sell fireworks to the

Bills: HB29 , HB 125 , HB145 , HB171 , HB255 , HB50 , HB796 , HB363 , HB 116 , HB491 , HB589 , HB1495 , HB368 , HB 1285 , HB1905 , HB1360 , HB2002 , HB917 , HB2723 , HB2067 , HB 1238 , HB2337 , HB745 , HB 1188 , HB1606 , HB2003 , HB2147 , HB2391 , HB2355 , HB2546 , HB2495 , HB2818 , HB2249 , HB1749 , HB3109 , HB3228 , HB3240 , HB1507 , HB658 , HB1748 , HB1851 , HB1922 , HB2001 , HB2798 , HB 107 , HCR29 , SB5 , SB262 , HB 11 , HJR72 , HB 106 , HB18 , HB48 , HB27 , HB37 , HB1481 , HB581 , HB1696 , HB2216 , HB 1035 , HB1633 , HB742 , HB754 , HB1689 , HB1690 , HB2669 , HB391 , HB517 , HB 1024 , HB1607 , HB252 , HB1716 , HB1562 , HB4116 , HB1866 , HB1741 , HB2103 , HB2637 , HB2884 , HB503 , HB 1089 , HB2986 , HB972 , HB502 , HB29 , HB 125 , HB145 , HB171 , HB255 , HB50 , HB796 , HB363 , HB 116 , HB491 , HB589 , HB1495 , HB368 , HB 1285 , HB1905 , HB1360 , HB2002 , HB917 , HB2723 , HB2067 , HB 1238 , HB2337 , HB745 , HB 1188 , HB1606 , HB2003 , HB2147 , HB2391 , HB2355 , HB2546 , HB2495 , HB2818 , HB2249 , HB1749 , HB3109 , HB3228 , HB3240 , HB1507 , HB658 , HB1748 , HB1851 , HB1922 , HB2001 , HB2798 , HB 107 , HCR29

Transcript Highlights:

• include combinations of all sorts of things: windows and doors, insulation, HVAC systems, roofs, even solar
• So as of 2024, nearly 40% of our loan and PACE securities are supporting climate solutions such as solar
• So as of 2024, nearly 40% of our loan and PACE securities are supporting climate solutions such as solar
• totaling over $650 million in retrofits for things like windows, insulation, conservation upgrades, solar
• generation and storage, and even wind. ...insulation, conservation upgrades, solar generation and storage

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing on several housing-related bills, with chairs Adrienne Madaro and James Eldridge framing the discussion as part of the Legislature’s broader response to the state’s housing crisis and noting that many of the bills build on the 2024 Affordable Homes Act. The chairs reviewed hearing procedures, including the three-minute oral testimony limit, the option to submit written testimony, and the hybrid format. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony began with support for H. 3278, a bill to create a graduated deed excise tax for affordable housing. Representative Worel argued that higher-end real estate transactions should contribute more to fund affordable housing production, saying the measure would not burden working families and would help address racial inequities in homeownership and displacement. Representative Soder then supported H. 3247, which would promote redevelopment of abandoned buildings through expanded tax incentives for renovating vacant properties for sale or rent, arguing that it would bring blighted units back into use and generate future tax revenue. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3040/S. 1969, residential improvement or R-PACE legislation. Robert Giles of Home Run Financing and Nicole Steele of Amalgamated Bank described the program as a voluntary, assessment-based financing tool that could help homeowners pay for energy efficiency, resilience, and other major repairs without upfront costs, and said it could complement existing Mass Save programs while expanding access to more homeowners. In contrast, Judith Lieben of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute opposed H. 3039/S. 1946, the Housing Development Incentive Program bill, arguing it would expand subsidies for market-rate and luxury housing in Gateway Cities instead of directing resources to low-income renters. Representative Hawkins also testified in support of H. 3121, which would end large investor control of homes in Massachusetts by imposing an excise tax on large owners of small residential properties and using the revenue for first-time homebuyer down payment assistance. After testimony and a few member questions, the chairs asked whether anyone else wished to testify and then adjourned the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• and that new technology needs some similar requirements and regulations that we have for wind and solar
• And then also we do some amending and transparency for wind and solar.
• And then also we do some amending and transparency for wind and solar as well.
• I mean, I've run into this in my district regarding some solar facilities that have come in.
• And some individuals were upset about those solar facilities being close to them.

Bills: HB2989 , HB3724 , HB2992 , HB3464 , HB4246 , HB3989

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• and that new technology needs some similar requirements and regulations that we have for wind and solar
• And then also we do some amending and transparency for wind and solar as well.
• And then also we do some amending and transparency for wind and solar as well.
• He said some individuals were upset about solar facilities being close to them, and he argued that if
• He said that if the neighboring landowner chose to put in a pig farm, a chicken farm, a solar facility

Bills: HB2989 , HB3724 , HB2992 , HB3464 , HB4246 , HB3989

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 4246, which would expand training and technical assistance options for rural water-related programs by allowing the state to consider qualified suppliers other than the Rural Water Association. After brief questions about the type of vendors involved, the bill received a 7-0 due pass vote. House Bill 3989 followed and was described as cleanup language continuing prior negotiations among the oil and gas industry, electric co-ops, and investor-owned utilities; the committee adopted the PCS and passed the bill 7-0. Members then considered House Bill 2992, the Data Center Customer Protection Act of 2026. The committee adopted a PCS and an amendment reducing the threshold from 100 megawatts to 75 megawatts. The bill would require data centers to pay infrastructure costs tied to their electricity demand so those costs are not shifted to other ratepayers; it passed 7-0. House Bill 3464, which adds protections and regulatory requirements for battery storage and updates transparency and decommissioning provisions for wind and solar projects, also passed 7-0 after adoption of a PCS. House Bill 3724, as revised in a second PCS, drew the most debate. It would define high-demand facilities to include data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations, AI computing facilities, and large battery storage systems, and would impose restrictions on subsidies, infrastructure costs, water use, foreign ownership, agricultural land siting, noise, decommissioning, and local approval processes, including a petition mechanism to overturn local decisions. Supporters argued it was needed to protect communities, landowners, water resources, and ratepayers; opponents raised concerns about property rights, agricultural land restrictions, local control, and the petition/recall process. The bill failed on a 2-6 vote and remained in committee. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 2989, which would allow electric utilities to prepare wildfire mitigation plans, create a wildfire mitigation revolving fund, and direct the Conservation Commission to develop a wildfire mitigation test pilot and refine mitigation strategies. With a PCS adopted and no debate, the bill passed 8-0, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um things I wind capacity or 303x solar.
• Wind and solar performed at 205%. This is actual in MISO territory; it was a bit better.
• Wind and solar at 258% of capacity. Wind and solar performed at 205%.
• Wind and solar at 258% of capacity.
• With wind and solar, as we money, right?

Bills: HF4770

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then took up House File 4770, as amended by an A1 technical amendment. The bill was presented as a proposal to help Liberty Diversified International and Liberty Paper in Becker plan for replacement steam and energy supply as the Shuro facility closure approaches in 2030. Testimony described Liberty Paper’s current closed-loop steam arrangement with Shuro, the need to study future fuel and technology options, and the potential use of anaerobic digestion, biomass, construction and demolition waste, and food waste to produce steam and possibly power. Members asked about feedstock availability, the need for a feasibility study, possible backup natural gas use, and whether waste heat or wastewater heat could be useful. The bill was laid over as amended. The committee then heard a presentation from CenterPoint Energy on Minnesota heating demand and electrification. CenterPoint staff said affordability and reliability are central concerns and outlined how the utility manages customer costs through energy efficiency, contracting, storage, peak shaving, and conservation. Dr. Joel Lynch presented research on peak heating with natural gas and the “missing piece” in Minnesota’s electrification puzzle, explaining that Minnesota’s cold climate makes winter heating demand especially challenging and that replacing natural gas would require substantial new electric capacity and renewable resources. He compared his work with prior national and state studies and said the analysis used Minnesota-specific gas throughput, COP assumptions across several electrification scenarios, and January renewable capacity data. Lynch summarized preliminary findings that Minnesota’s peak gas heating throughput could be up to 40 gigawatts, with electric resistance heating implying roughly 36 gigawatts of new demand, and lower but still substantial demand under heat-pump scenarios. The presentation was informational only; no vote was taken on the CenterPoint presentation. The meeting ended with House File 4770 laid over and the energy demand presentation continuing.

Transcript Highlights:

• DOI, there was the rescission of the public lands rule that extended rights-of-way and leases for solar
• For wind and solar projects, if construction started prior to December 31, 2025, then the project must
• And so we pulled together a model ordinance for battery, solar, and onshore projects.
• Solar is going to start paying property taxes. So this is really urgent.
• My name is Lillian Mervis with the Large-Scale Solar Association.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held an oversight hearing on accelerating clean energy development and helping projects capture expiring federal tax credits. The chair framed the hearing around federal actions under HR 1, which sharply shortens the timeline for wind and solar projects to qualify for tax credits, and Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-3325, which directs state agencies to speed siting, permitting, and construction. Sarah Fitzsimmons of the Independent Energy Producers Association explained the federal deadlines, the shift from the 5% safe-harbor test to a physical-work test, and the main bottlenecks California projects face, especially interconnection delays, environmental review, and limited transparency around self-build options for network upgrades. Panelists from the Union of Concerned Scientists, Southern California Edison, and EDF Power Solutions largely agreed that transmission constraints, permitting, and queue management remain the biggest barriers. UCS emphasized long-standing transmission delays, the need for more accountability and standardized reporting, and the importance of keeping reforms focused on the projects most likely to reach completion. SCE said it has increased interconnection throughput through process changes, digital tools, and coordination with regulators, while noting that developers and utilities must work closely together on project-specific issues. EDF described how overlapping permitting, interconnection, and procurement timelines create risk, and argued that clearer policies on self-builds, equipment standards, and affected-system studies could help reduce delays. State agency representatives from the CPUC, CAISO, and Go-Biz reported strong recent clean energy progress, including record levels of new capacity and battery storage coming online, and described ongoing efforts such as the Integrated Resource Planning process, General Order 131-E updates, the Transmission Project Review Process, the Transmission Development Forum, and the TED Task Force. They said these efforts are helping identify delays, improve transparency, and coordinate solutions, including possible self-build arrangements and local permitting reforms. Committee members pressed the agencies on who is ultimately in charge of the effort, whether the state has quantified the ratepayer impact of losing federal tax credits, and whether the 90-day report required by the executive order is complete; the agencies said the report is still in development. Public commenters echoed the need to move beyond monitoring toward stronger prioritization and accountability to meet the 2029 and 2030 project deadlines.

Transcript Highlights:

• Prior to the new rules, which started in August 2025, a taxpayer building a utility-scale solar project
• And so we pulled together a model ordinance for battery, solar, and onshore projects.
• Solar is going to start paying property taxes. So this is really urgent.
• My name is Lillian Mervis with the Large-Scale Solar Association.
• My name is Lillian Mervis with the Large-Scale Solar Association.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you'll see some terms thrown around like solar radiation modification.
• </c><00:15:57.600><c> radiation</c> potential SRM that's solar radiation potential SRM that's solar radiation
• I've got a small solar array on my... on it. What do you on it.
• I've got a small solar array on my roof, and the smoke was so bad that my solar production, which I can
• solar energy.

Summary: The meeting began with a quorum call and approval of the prior meeting’s minutes. Senator Williams then presented a discussion draft involving KCNA and COOT/Kentucky Wired governance changes. He said the proposal would make the COOT executive director the KCNA director, place the education CIO as chair of a new board of constitutional officers, terminate existing KCNA employees at inception, and return KCNA funds to the general fund. He described the measure as a temporary holding pattern focused on customer connectivity until an audit is completed next summer. Senator West asked whether the bill would change existing Kentucky Wired contracts, and Williams said the contracts would remain in place and COOT would simply handle the work without an extra layer of bureaucracy. No vote was taken; the item was for discussion only. The committee then heard a presentation on geoengineering and related legislation from Rep. John Hodgson, Sen. Rollins, and retired meteorologist Randy Baker. They described geoengineering as attempts to alter climate or weather, including solar radiation modification, stratospheric aerosol injection, marine cloud brightening, and cloud seeding. The presenters distinguished these activities from ordinary jet contrails, crop dusting, ground-level emissions, and airport fog control, and said the proposed Kentucky bill would exclude those ordinary activities. They argued Kentucky lacks a current prohibition on weather modification, said the bill would protect farmland, crops, animal agriculture, aquaculture, and human health, and cited public concern, federal uncertainty, and similar legislation in other states. They also said cloud seeding is used in some western states but remains scientifically unproven and potentially harmful. Members asked about enforcement, federal preemption, and whether other states’ actions could affect Kentucky. The presenters said high-altitude spraying would be difficult to hide, that satellite imagery could detect large releases, and that the bill was intended as an assertion of state sovereignty even if federal law later changed. They also said there were no known active geoengineering projects in Kentucky. The discussion remained informational, with no committee vote or final action taken on either topic.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and then an evaluation of two sales tax exemptions, which pertain to solar energy systems and wind
• energy systems and wind pertain to solar energy systems and wind energy<00:06:37.919><c> conversion<
• The marriage credit, the wind energy conversion systems, and the solar energy systems are those that
• energy system since we'll provide solar energy system since we'll provide a<00:07:27.280><c> fuller<
• </c><00:07:40.319><c> energy</c> conversion systems and the solar energy conversion systems and the solar

Transcript Highlights:

• cross-references to the fee schedules that the investigation fee is based on to reflect the addition of solar
• cross-references to the fee schedules that the investigation fee is based on to reflect the addition of solar
• cross-references to the fee schedules that the investigation fee is based on to reflect the addition of solar
• cross-references to the fee schedules that the investigation fee is based on to reflect the addition of solar
• cross-references to the fee schedules that the investigation fee is based on to reflect the addition of solar

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• a reminder, House Bill 2296 establishes requirements and other conditions for the use of portable solar
• number of changes to the meter-mounted devices section, and it also completely removed the portable solar
• I am still a strong advocate for safe and accessible plug-in solar distributed generation, but clearly
• on their roof. ...who want solar on their roofs, who want to be able to charge their EV without having
• now, but I want to be involved ...with this over the interim and really understand what the balcony solar

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills related to energy, environmental regulation, and utility policy. House Bill 2436, on escort tug horsepower requirements for oil tankers, was described as a technical cleanup measure and passed unanimously. House Bill 2605, which exempts low-level naturally occurring fibrous silicate materials in aggregates, asphalt, and concrete from certain asbestos-related labeling, use, and inspection restrictions, also passed unanimously. House Bill 2301, expanding the paint stewardship program to additional paint products and adjusting collection standards, passed 19-1 after members noted it was industry-driven and popular with constituents. The committee also considered House Bill 2296 on meter-mounted devices and portable solar generation devices. The portable solar section had been removed in the substitute, leaving meter-mounted device provisions; two amendments were offered, one making utility cost recovery mandatory and another restoring local government authority to prohibit installations, but both failed. The substitute bill then passed 14-7. House Bill 2496, requiring government-to-government consultation with tribes during site certification reviews and exempting those consultations from the Open Meetings Act when no deliberation occurs, passed 15-6 amid comments supporting tribal consultation but raising concerns about public meetings and process details. House Bill 2212 on microfiber filtration requirements for washing machines was briefed with a proposed substitute and amendments, but no action was taken on it during the meeting. House Bill 2515, addressing emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers and cryptocurrency facilities, drew the most debate over fees, taxation, energy use, water impacts, and economic development; despite concerns from some members that it was not ready or could discourage investment, the substitute passed 11-10. The committee then adjourned after reporting out the bills noted above with due pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Energy Coalition, Solar Energy Industries Association.
• First, we're very concerned that this will allow larger solar projects to be broken up into smaller solar
• We look at what the impact of additional solar would be, and we would appreciate more solar.
• Our concern is the amount of subsidy paid to solar.
• And one of our concerns is that we are over-subsidizing solar right now.

Committee: Senate Senate Budget and Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> radiation</c> them is with solar radiation them is with solar radiation modification<00:03:09.040
• I like crops and having solar panels.
• crop yields, solar energy production, health, etc.
• crop yields, solar energy production, health, etc.
• For solar panels dropped by about 30%.

Bills: HB60

Committee: Joint Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The one gadget that she's referring to is solar inverters.
• capability is to cause rolling brownouts across the United States by controlling that one piece of solar
• critical infrastructure. ...by controlling that one piece of solar critical infrastructure.
• The one gadget that she's referring to is solar inverters.
• critical infrastructure. by controlling that one piece of solar critical infrastructure.

Committee: Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Summary: The Public Safety Committee approved several bills during the meeting. SB 1107, as amended, creates an alternative pathway to peace officer certification for honorably discharged veterans who served as military police, allowing abbreviated AZPOST training while still requiring certification testing, background checks, and fitness standards. The sponsor and a former military police officer testified that the bill would help address law enforcement staffing shortages without lowering standards. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 7-0. The committee also passed SB 1308, which creates a Foreign Adversary Fraud Office in the Attorney General’s Office to pursue consumer fraud claims involving technology produced by foreign adversaries and to help fund replacement of such technology in critical infrastructure. Supporters said the measure would protect consumers and critical systems from national security risks tied to foreign-made technology. SB 1020 was approved to create an Arizona Space Commission specialty license plate, with proceeds supporting the space exploration and aeronautics research fund; members and witnesses described it as a voluntary fundraising tool for Arizona’s growing space industry. SB 1160, as amended, was passed to prohibit operating drones within a mile of ticketed entertainment events, with exceptions for authorized personnel, utilities, and certain property owners. Supporters from Live Nation and NASCAR said it would improve safety and close a loophole around large events. SB 1117 was also approved to fund DPS crime lab services for evidence from counties under one million population, with the sponsor saying it would add staff to help rural counties process DNA evidence more quickly. Finally, SB 1216 passed to remove the sunset on traumatic event counseling for public safety employees and to add crime scene and digital forensic technicians to the covered employee definition. All bills received do-pass recommendations, and the committee adjourned after the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the Texas Property Code does not recognize solar roof tiles as solar energy, and so allows
• Solar roof tiles are miniature solar panels that resemble roof shingles and comprise an entire roof,
• unlike regular solar panels which are placed on top of existing shingles.
• In 2011, HB 362 granted solar panels legal protection against these HOA restrictions, but solar tiles
• Though current statutes already contain restrictions on solar-powered devices by property owners' associations

Bills: HB431 , HB648 , HB 1006 , HB1926 , HB2037 , HB2468 , HB2788 , HB2791 , HB3255 , HB3260

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• So one of the things that we are looking at is a solar project.
• I'm going to change the subject a little bit here now, and I'm going to go to the solar project.
• Okay, and then I want to talk a little bit about solar panels and putting solar panels in.
• So it says, "We decided to put in solar in 2020 with a company based out of Albuquerque."
• I think that's all I have on the solar panels. And then, Madam Chair, and Mr.

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> solar project for the a new roof there. solar project for the a new roof there.
• We’re collecting a quarter billion on community solar.
• We’re collecting a quarter billion on community solar.
• We’re collecting a quarter billion on community solar.
• Community solar.

Transcript Highlights:

• My comment on this is taken from the solar panel.
• Program that was very similar to this, that if you bought solar panels, the state was going to provide
• I heard from a number of constituents who were told by the salespeople that the solar panels they put
• What this is, because people entered into $20,000 contracts on solar panels and then found out that there
• Solar panels. This, we mandated the purchase of an item in this very legislation.

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 128, NMFA, Local Solar Access Fund. Materials on the bill are being passed out.
• We have supported community solar for a number of years now.
• End-of-life type deal: do they need new solar panels? Are they going to need new battery storage?
• Chair, representatives of the committee, the cost of solar systems has come down about 80%.
• Generally speaking, batteries would be roughly $50,000 to $100,000 on a $100,000 solar system.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources