Transcript Highlights:

• of the utility, and that's also done to fund the Public Utilities Commission.
• such residential utility of util such residential utility customers<00:39:44.880><c> represent</c><00
• </c><01:23:21.400><c> electricity</c> consumers of electricity electricity consumers of electricity electricity
• We are a gas and electric utility in the state of New Hampshire.
• I live in Hooksett, New Hampshire, and I have more than four decades of electric utility experience here

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 610, which would fold the Office of the Consumer Advocate into the Department of Energy rather than fully eliminate consumer advocacy functions. The prime sponsor argued the current office is small, funded by a special assessment on ratepayers, and duplicative of DOE work. He said moving the function to DOE would streamline energy policy review, reduce bureaucracy, and better focus the larger agency on lowering residential energy costs. He also disputed claims that the Consumer Advocate is independent, saying the office is appointed through a political process similar to DOE leadership. Committee members and the sponsor discussed whether the bill would actually relocate existing positions or replace them, and whether the Department of Energy would absorb the cost of the transferred staff. The sponsor said the fiscal note shows roughly a million-dollar reduction in both revenue assessment and spending, and that the bill would effectively reduce the office from five positions to three. He also defended his cost estimates for energy-code-related housing impacts and said the Consumer Advocate has sometimes supported policies he считает increase costs, such as energy-efficiency measures and building code changes. He argued the office should focus more on energy supply and generation, including natural gas and nuclear, rather than efficiency alone. Representative Wendy Thomas testified in opposition, saying the Consumer Advocate is an important, fair, and impartial voice for ratepayers and warning that the bill was fiscally irresponsible because the incumbent could still be owed salary and benefits if the office were repealed. She also said the bill’s drafting was confusing and that the Consumer Advocate’s role is to push back on utilities on behalf of consumers. Other members raised questions about whether the DOE would simply inherit the same political appointment structure and whether the bill would meaningfully lower bills. No vote was taken in the excerpt; the chair indicated additional testimony would follow, and the Department of Energy was present to answer questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• With Amtrak, that's not always been fiscally responsible, I believe, nor have they been cooperative.
• Do you believe the cancellation of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Funding by Secretary
• Chair workers staff report concluded that the level of cooperation by FAA and DOT was unacceptable and
• Kansas has five airports that utilize essential air service.
• and by 2035 all of them have to be electric, actually move that forward.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Keywords: transportation, air traffic control, safety regulations, Boeing 737 MAX, Department of Transportation, infrastructure funding, public safety, legislative oversight

Summary: The committee meeting addressed several pressing issues concerning transportation, particularly focusing on the need for improved safety standards and efficient management at the Department of Transportation. Specific discussions revolved around air traffic control, with members highlighting the urgency for a significant upgrade in systems and personnel. Notably, concerns were raised regarding past practices, especially the handling of safety regulations during the Boeing 737 MAX incidents. The committee expressed a clear intent to ensure rigorous safety oversight moving forward, emphasizing that the health and safety of the public must remain the top priority in all legislative and funding decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment Number 6 seeks to expand the Reggie utility credit to Virginia cooperatives and clarify credit
• House, I get up all the time and talk about Reggie, and I'm glad that the Governor included the cooperatives
• We appreciate that, those of us who have cooperatives in our region.
• So, you know, we all need to work as we move forward next year and the years after to make our electric
• I think we just need to continue to make our electric bills more transparent because folks ask, hey,

Keywords: June 29, 2026 - Special Session 1, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to be raising electrical grids.
• We didn’t have an electric engine. We had a diesel engine.” We didn’t have an electric engine.
• They can't provide electricity. We are in an emergency place.
• Like I said, I like electricity. I'm using it right now.
• We represent the utilities. We represent solar developers.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are completely zero-emission.
• So, when we talk about EVs, there's battery electric and there's fuel cell electric.
• Even a hydrogen fuel cell bus is a battery electric hydrogen fuel cell.
• , publicly owned utilities, and all utilities to utilize renewable hydrogen in gas turbines.
• buses, battery electric buses, and many other projects.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These utilities provide essential services to residents, including electricity and gas, water, telecommunications
• Electricity supply is provided to customers not just by the investor-owned utilities, but also by community
• We also know that two of the biggest drivers of electric utility rate increases are investments made
• Electricity supply is provided to customers not just by the investor-owned utilities, but also by community
• We also know that two of the biggest drivers of electricity, electric utility rate increases are investments

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> prescriptive easements for electricity prescriptive easements for electricity delivery,<00:40:29.359
• </c> delivery, sponsored by Senator Cooper. delivery, sponsored by Senator Cooper.
• &gt;&gt; No.<01:01:18.400><c> Cooper.</c> &gt;&gt; No. Cooper. &gt;&gt; No. Cooper. &gt;&gt; Hi.
• </c> financing surface water drainage utility financing surface water drainage utility has<01:07:31.200
• Hi &gt;&gt; Cooper. &gt;&gt; Cooper. &gt;&gt; Cooper.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These utilities provide essential services to residents, including electricity and gas, water, telecommunications
• Electricity supply is provided to customers not just by the investor-owned utilities, but also by community
• We also know that two of the biggest drivers of electricity utility rate increases are investments made
• utilities.
• For utilities that request such a certification annually, PG&E, Edison, San Diego, and Bear Valley Electric

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held an oversight hearing with leaders from the CPUC, Public Advocates Office, CAISO, the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, and the Energy Commission. Chair Petrie-Norris framed the hearing around high utility bills, wildfire risk, grid reliability, clean energy buildout, and the state’s long-term decarbonization goals, and also noted it was CPUC President Alice Reynolds’ final week at the commission. Each agency gave an update on its role: the CPUC described efforts to reduce rate increases while maintaining reliability and clean energy procurement; the Public Advocates Office focused on affordability and the need to control underlying utility costs; CAISO discussed transmission planning, market operations, and the upcoming extended day-ahead market; Energy Safety reviewed wildfire mitigation oversight and inspections; and the Energy Commission highlighted clean energy growth, EV adoption, storage, efficiency, and gasoline price monitoring. A major theme was affordability versus the costs of the clean energy transition. Reynolds said the CPUC has lowered utility revenue requests, reduced utility returns, adopted a base services charge, and reworked net metering, while also continuing to manage wildfire-related costs and support resource adequacy and demand flexibility. Sarazawa argued that recent rate decreases may not be durable because billions of dollars in wildfire and other utility costs are still pending or unbilled, and she urged tighter use of general rate cases, lower-cost financing, program reform, and more equitable rate design. Members pressed the agencies on whether state policy is sufficiently accounting for labor, local economic development, and the cost impacts of transmission and procurement decisions, especially where out-of-state resources are being considered. CAISO and the Energy Commission emphasized that the state’s planning and market reforms are helping lower costs and improve reliability. CAISO said the Western Energy Imbalance Market has produced billions in benefits, the extended day-ahead market is on track to launch, and transmission planning is being aligned with long-term resource needs while reducing queue delays. The Energy Commission said California is now getting roughly two-thirds of its power from clean sources, has added massive amounts of storage and renewables, and is seeing strong EV and charger growth that can help spread fixed grid costs. Energy Safety reported thousands of inspections, hundreds of notices of non-performance, and a decline in reportable ignitions, while noting that major fires show more work is needed. Members also raised concerns about the SB 100 report delay, memo and balancing accounts, the future of battery storage, and whether decarbonization zone pilots will affect residential and commercial customers.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just appreciate it as honesty and his good overview of the utility industry.
• And the cooperatives do that on their own through their own process.
• Air cooling: higher electricity, but no water.
• Coal utilizations, we saw some of that, and then hydrogen.
• It has robust ventilation and electrical systems.

Committee: Joint Energy Development and Transmission Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. a turkey marketing Cooperative up in a turkey marketing Cooperative up in Thief<00:09:40.120
• I want to also emphasize that we do think that corn utilization for SAF could come from existing corn
• </c><00:58:53.559><c> a</c> saff production Pathways that utilize a saff production Pathways that utilize
• We're a dairy cooperative based here in Minnesota. We really go from state line to state line.
• </c> First District we're a Dairy Cooperative First District we're a Dairy Cooperative based<01:20:28.560

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we have Noel Kakimoto, Hawaii Electric, providing comments.
• My name is Noel Kakimoto, and I'm testifying on behalf of Hawaii Electric.
• Next we have Noel Kakimoto, Hawaii Electric, providing comments.
• Next we have Noel Kakimoto, Hawaii Electric, providing comments.
• My name is Noel Kakimoto, and I'm testifying on behalf of Hawaii Electric.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened its first hearing of the 2025 session with procedural instructions about testimony limits, Zoom participation, written testimony, and a reconvening date if needed. It then heard SB 200 on speedy trials. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it could create conflicts of interest for prosecutors, potentially make victims or witnesses quasi-parties to criminal cases, force traumatizing testimony on continuance motions, and unfairly delay trials for in-custody defendants. A World Care representative supported the bill and urged broader protections for minors, disabled people, and seniors. The chair also pressed the public defender to suggest improvements, emphasizing that the bill was driven by victims and families. No vote or final action was taken on SB 200. The committee next took up SB 8 on jury duty exemptions for health professionals. Testimony was strongly supportive from nurses, physicians, and disability advocates, who said APRNs and other nurses are in short supply and that jury service can disrupt patient care, especially in rural and neighbor island areas. One witness suggested expanding the exemption to include registered nurses as well as APRNs, while a senator raised concerns about blanket exemptions for non-practicing APRNs and suggested a time limit. The bill remained under discussion with no final action reported. The committee then heard SB 144 on chiropractic, with the state chiropractic board offering comments and the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association supporting the measure as a way to address workforce shortages and provide students more hands-on clinical experience. A World Care witness also supported the bill after clarifying her remarks. The chair then moved to SB 107 on medical informed consent, where the Hawaii Medical Board opposed the bill and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii and Queen’s Health System offered comments, citing concerns about duplicative standards. A support witness proposed expanding the bill to better address combined mental and physical health conditions. Finally, SB 189 on breast cancer screening drew support from the Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Radiological Society, Queen’s Health Systems, and others, while the Insurance Division raised concerns about possible insurance mandate defrayment and the need for a sunrise analysis. Senators also asked about local demographic data and coverage impacts; the chair indicated decision-making would be deferred to another day.

Transcript Highlights:

• So thank you all for your cooperation on the housekeeping items.
• We'll then turn to the California Public Utilities Commission, whose staff will provide an update on
• I am with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, but my presentation today is
• Like electricity, like water.
• Again, my name is Rodney Cooper.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:37:58.080><c> bill</c> they cannot afford the utility bill they cannot afford the utility bill
• </c><02:46:01.359><c> bills,</c> including their utility bills, including their utility bills, showerheads
• </c><02:58:30.479><c> for</c> fossil fuel generated electricity for fossil fuel generated electricity
• , help lower electric bills, help cut<03:09:43.279><c> pollution.
• </c><03:09:50.960><c> bills</c> the Trump administration, electric bills the Trump administration, electric

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk: H.R. 950 by Money in the memory of Officer Cooper Dawson of the Greenville Police Department.
• Members, HB 29 enhances accountability and efficiency among large municipally owned water utilities.
• This bill requires utilities to provide information on how customers can Rep.
• Craddick: ...involving persons operating bicycles, electric bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters.
• Monday in memory of Officer Cooper Dawson of Greenville. Speaker: Is there objection?

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Bachelor of Science degree in electrical Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering<00
• </c> and promote the adoption of electric and promote the adoption of electric vehicles<00:03:33.040>
• </c> trips in electric vehicles. trips in electric vehicles.
• </c> electric vehicles, is less than 30,000. electric vehicles, is less than 30,000.
• </c><00:14:13.760><c> Um,</c> electric vehicles. Um, electric vehicles.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met with a quorum, approved the June 3, 2026 minutes, and then heard a presentation from Mike Proctor of Evolve Kentucky on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Proctor described Evolve Kentucky as a nonprofit formed in 2016 to promote EV adoption and charger deployment, said the group has helped place more than 135 chargers at 65 locations, and reported that Kentucky EV registrations have grown rapidly but still represent about 1% of the state’s roughly 3 million vehicles. He also outlined the group’s view that EV drivers and charger operators already contribute to state revenue through annual vehicle fees, charger taxes, utility taxes, and related business taxes, and cited figures showing rising revenue collections as EV adoption increases. A major theme of the presentation was that EV owners are paying their “fair share” rather than being overcharged. Proctor said the current $126 annual EV fee is roughly comparable to the fuel tax a typical gasoline vehicle would pay, and noted that public charging can add additional tax burdens for drivers who cannot charge at home, such as those living in apartments or condos. He also argued that EVs provide broader benefits, including lower noise and air pollution, grid-stabilizing nighttime charging, tourism spending at destination chargers, and reduced road wear for passenger EVs compared with much heavier vehicles. Members questioned Proctor about whether EV owners are paying more than their fair share, how the fee compares with gasoline taxes, and whether apartment and condo residents are disproportionately affected because they rely on public chargers. Proctor responded that the fee was intended to bring EV owners into parity with gas vehicles, not to overcharge them, and said some public chargers are free while others are used by drivers who cannot charge at home. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond the minutes approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• River, would you like, ...for his cooperation and support. And with that, Mr.
• SB 1233 Allen, utility rate information, holding committee.
• SB 1330, Aragon, utility workers, do pass out on an A roll call.
• SB 1167, Blakespear, electrical bikes, do pass out on an A roll call.
• SB 742, Perez, abandoned electrical lines, do pass. That's out on an A roll call.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its August 13, 2026 suspense-file hearing on Senate bills, with the chair opening by thanking staff and recognizing consultant Jennifer Swenson’s retirement after 30 years in the Legislature. The committee explained that it was weighing the fiscal impact of 293 bills and that some would move forward while others would be held because of cost, duplication, or competing budget priorities. The committee then took up the suspense file in alphabetical order and acted on a large number of measures, sending many to the Assembly floor as due pass or due pass with amendments. Examples included bills on battery recycling, wildfire resilience loans, mobile home park disaster assistance, price gouging, veterans’ property tax exemptions, housing and insurance issues, energy and utility regulation, election procedures, criminal justice, health care, education, housing, environmental protection, and artificial intelligence. Many bills were amended to narrow scope, delay implementation, add reporting requirements, clarify definitions, or reduce costs; others were held in committee. Among the notable actions, several bills were advanced on roll calls while others were held, including measures related to water quality, utility rate information, juvenile detention, CARE Court, and various housing and energy proposals. The committee also moved a number of sunset and technical cleanup bills, and several members requested to be added as principal or joint authors on amended measures. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted that the committee had moved a large number of bills to the Assembly floor, usually with amended language, and that the amended versions would be posted online. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> House Bill 1532, the speaker utility House Bill 1532, the speaker utility relief<00:12:56.399><c
• <00:41:50.560><c> utilizing</c><00:41:51.040><c> greenhouse</c><00:41:51.520><c> gas</c> utilizing utilizing
• </c> place so we can get electricity. place so we can get electricity.
• electricity? electricity?
• </c> courtesies that we have with electric. courtesies that we have with electric.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, April 13, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Everybody will cooperate with that.
• Electric appliances. I believe that permit revenue can be used to lower retail electricity prices.
• Greenhouse gas reduction fund versus utility benefits and so on.
• rates is decrease the liability that utilities are exposed to right?
• electrification, you might consider doing that through the electric utilities exclusively or primarily

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this amendment simply excludes electric cooperatives and municipally owned utilities from the
• Darby to explain the amendment members this amendment simply excludes the electric cooperatives and municipal
• owned utilities from the bill and it is acceptable offer and I move adoption mr.
• SB 1963 by Creighton, relating to a financing mechanism allowing electric utilities to obtain recovery
• It has never been utilized, and as far as we know, no one has ever applied to use them.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, heard the invocation and pledges, and then took up a series of memorial resolutions and recognitions. Members adopted memorial resolutions honoring former President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Alice Gail Hudgens, with remarks highlighting their public service and community impact, and adopted resolutions recognizing Victoria College’s 100th anniversary and May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month. The chamber also recognized Texas A&M system interns and later granted permission for several committees to meet while the House was in session. The House then moved through a long third-reading calendar, passing a number of bills on wide margins. Measures approved included SB 304 on municipal court jurisdiction over nuisance abatement ordinances, SB 608 on reporting evidence collection kits, SB 2312 creating a Texas Advisory Committee on Geopolitical Conflict, SB 494 creating a petroleum theft task force, SB 530 on postsecondary accreditation, HB 45 giving the Attorney General a role in prosecuting human trafficking cases, HB 35 on peer support for first responders, HB 47 and HB 3073 on sexual assault policy and prosecution, HB 318 and HB 3000 creating rural sheriff and ambulance grant programs, HB 554 on Juneteenth fireworks sales with county opt-in authority restored, HB 705 and HB 932 joining licensure compacts for cosmetology and occupational therapy, HB 849 allowing county park boards to meet by video conference, HB 1119 on mental health bed reporting, HB 3041 on students with nontraditional secondary education, HB 713 on maternal mortality review reporting, HB 3104 on Webb County bailiff appointments, HB 3970 on electricity planning for large loads, HB 4042 on Railroad Commission safety provisions for gas distribution pipelines, HB 4490 protecting next-of-kin information, HB 1731 on the physician assistant compact, HB 2607 on Walker County Hospital District governance, HB 3689 on Texas Windstorm Insurance Association funding, HB 1788 on continuing education for barbers and cosmetologists about abuse and trafficking, HB 1612 on hospital direct payments for uninsured patients, and HB 138 on health impact cost and coverage analysis. Several bills drew extended debate or amendments. HB 353, creating a trespass offense near schools and daycares, prompted questions about constitutional concerns and property rights before passing. HB 3211 on optometrists in managed care plans received a perfecting amendment and a Medicaid-related amendment setting a minimum payment level. HB 1056 on gold and silver specie and a state-based currency prompted detailed questioning about its mechanics and fees, followed by a point of order challenging the caption. The House also adopted or postponed a number of items, including postponing HB 2520 and HB 1359 until later in the calendar before later passing both, and laying several bills on the table subject to call. Many measures passed overwhelmingly, while a few, including HB 3326 on loan forgiveness for adjunct professors and HB 3237 on energy consumption goals, passed with narrower margins.

Transcript Highlights:

• increasing the criminal penalty of the offense of the criminal mischief involving impairment of the electric
• Elishment of Electric Truck Advisory Council for the Committee on State Affairs.
• Certain coastal facilities and provisions of electric services referred the Committee on State Affairs
• HB 1918 by Wally learning to cast a water sewer utility rate increases or for the Committee on Natural
• , services based on the electric electricity transfer for the Committee of Ways and Means.