Transcript Highlights:

• In order to hear as much from the public within the limits of our time, we will not permit disruptions
• As a reminder, testimony is limited to two primary witnesses in support.
• As a reminder, testimony is limited to two primary witnesses in support and two primary witnesses in
• needed for large-scale deployment, pipelines are widely recognized as the most efficient, lowest-emission
• So what was once a very limited practice of using these accounts has now become significant.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• communities, low-income households and small businesses for equitable and prioritized investments in zero emission
• However, the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program has limited resources and is only funded to
• California's birth defects monitoring program is currently limited to 10 counties to monitor.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But with this request, we would have to look at staffing reductions, increase in emissions, which is
• But with this request, we would have to look at staffing reductions, increase in emissions, which is
• But with this request, we would have to look at staffing reductions, increase in emissions, which is
• Access will be limited.
• Limited and managed, with the managed being north of Highway 2.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The number of long-term operating Class VI projects remains limited in the United States compared to
• And so we were very limited on—it has to be a fee for a specific purpose.
• How much does the generator or the emitter of the CO2 emission get for a tax credit per metric ton?
• is that the number that, you know, if a company, you know, was in business and they generated CO2 emission

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to hear as much from the public within the limits of our time, we will not permit disruptions
• As a reminder, testimony is limited to two primary witnesses in support.
• As a reminder, testimony is limited to two primary witnesses in support and two primary witnesses in
• needed for large-scale deployment, pipelines are widely recognized as the most efficient, lowest-emission
• So what was once a very limited practice of using these accounts has now become significant.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 804, the Hydrogen Pipeline Safety Act, from Senator Arreguín. He said the bill would designate the State Fire Marshal as the safety regulator for intrastate hydrogen pipelines and require hydrogen-specific standards, while not mandating any pipeline construction or bypassing environmental review. Supporters included labor groups, utility employees, and the City of Burbank, while Air Products opposed unless amended, citing concerns about the bill’s specificity, fee structure, and the need for a hydrogen-specific rulemaking process. The committee discussed safety, fees, and regulatory certainty, and later passed SB 804 on a 9-0 vote to Emergency Management with commitment to take amendments. The committee then took up SB 905 by Senator Becker, aimed at reducing electricity rates by changing utility incentives. The bill would tie part of executive compensation to keeping rates below inflation, require more performance metrics, and allow the CPUC to consider lower returns on equity for certain lower-risk investments and alternative financing options. Support came from consumer, environmental, agricultural, and large energy user groups, while Southern California Edison, CalChamber, PG&E, and utility labor groups raised concerns that the bill could reduce investment, create regulatory uncertainty, and raise borrowing costs. After extensive discussion about utility affordability, wildfire costs, and capital markets, the committee passed SB 905 on a 7-1 vote to Appropriations. SB 913, also by Senator Becker, would create a clearer pathway for distributed energy resources such as batteries and smart thermostats to participate in the resource adequacy market and compete with utility-scale resources. Supporters said the bill would better use existing grid capacity, lower costs, and build on the state’s Demand Side Grid Support Program; PG&E opposed unless amended, saying the use case was not yet proven and was already being addressed in other rulemakings. After the committee accepted amendments, one opposition group moved to neutral and another said it might do so after reviewing the changes. The bill passed 8-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call. Several other measures were heard and advanced, including SB 1196 on faster utility hookups for small energization projects such as ADUs and EV chargers, SB 931 reauthorizing the Diablo Canyon Essential Services Mitigation Fund through 2028, SB 1158 reducing the frequency of joint reliability assessments from quarterly to twice yearly, and SB 1245 directing further study of California’s gasoline market and potential use of non-CARBOB fuel during supply disruptions. SB 1196 and SB 931 both passed with broad support and no opposition after amendments, SB 1158 passed without testimony, and SB 1245 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates but opposition from fuel industry and business groups concerned about costs, confidentiality, and fuel standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• down on to appreciate that on the next section on the lawn for on the fleet is when you say zero-emission
• I mean, we try to do our best to be Compliant with the zero emissions there as well.
• Again, to a limited amount. Mountain Chief, did you want to expand on that? Mr.
• So how would I identify when they're going to be limited to certain counties? So, Mr.
• I'll just also note, as has been observed before, you've got very limited capacity in the current year

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a clean, zero-emission source of heat and electricity. Geothermal energy is always present.
• We're really limited only by our ability to deliver that power to the grid and to the customers, and
• But anyway, how are the emissions from geothermal plants, including non-condensable gases like hydrogen
• We need to manage the limited water resources that we have.
• Across the state differs by regions, and each water council needs to be created with those limited stakeholders

Transcript Highlights:

• They do have some limited ability.
• <00:32:40.720> ability<00:32:41.720> um<00:32:41.880> for have some limited
• Customers are paying 20% to 30% higher per month, and so we're seeking the fund as a way to limit the
• So I understand your concern, and we are cognizant of trying to limit the costs that are added to the
• The PUC typically looks at carbon emissions on a life-cycle basis, as defined in our statutes.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate hearing focused primarily on SB 1201, a wildfire measure that would create a wildfire recovery fund and allow securitization for electric utilities. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill, saying it would help protect customers, property owners, insurers, and the broader economy from future catastrophic wildfire liability while improving the utility’s credit profile and lowering financing costs. Support also came from DCCA Consumer Advocacy, the Attorney General’s office on written comments, Ulupono Initiative, Clearway Energy Group, IBEW Local 1260, Par Hawaii, KIUC, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, Plus Power, and numerous organizations and individuals. Opponents or commenters raised concerns about the liability cap, victim compensation process, and fund structure, including the Hawaiʻi Association for Justice, the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters, and the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land supported the concept of a fund but questioned the catastrophe threshold and whether the fund would be empty without a prudency finding. Much of the discussion centered on whether the proposed fund would actually help restore Hawaiian Electric to investment grade, with senators comparing the proposal to California’s wildfire fund. Hawaiian Electric said the bill was only one part of a broader process, alongside physical risk reduction and settlement finalization, and argued that without the bill the utility would not regain investment grade. Senators also questioned the proposed $1 billion fund size, the fairness of ratepayer contributions versus shareholder contributions, and whether customers should pay for consulting and administrative costs; Hawaiian Electric said its proposed amendment would remove those consulting-related charges. The company also said the fund would accrue interest and, if unused, could be returned to customers, and that there would be replenishment and supplemental contribution mechanisms if the fund were exhausted. The Attorney General’s office said it still had further amendments to discuss, and the departments had not yet resolved where the fund should reside administratively, though Hawaiian Electric said it believed DCCA was the appropriate place but was open to alternatives. KIUC requested two amendments. No vote or final committee action was taken during the hearing, and the measure remained under discussion with questions and proposed amendments still outstanding.

Transcript Highlights:

• many of those backup systems, particularly if they're diesel and de-energized, have TCEQ and EPA limits
• controls; they just had some discretion and they could... ...operate outside of their normal permit limits
• We would suggest that those emission events, especially for traditional generators, continue to be reported
• It limits the damages to the direct damages caused.
• This bill creates more insiders, and that's one of our concerns, with limited ability for utilities to

Bills: SB75, SB715, SB776, SB1299, SB1405, SB1968, SB2021, SB2077, SB2148, SB2321, SB2330, SB2411

Keywords: electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• license, helping separate legal farming from illegal operations, but also takes. a fair approach, limited
• It would also help enforcement. measures which I said license holders are limited to one negligent violation
• urban South Texas and urban centers face some of the highest rates of food insecurity because of limited
• We know that the beef industry has been attacked nationally. about their global emissions there are people

Bills: HB147, HB 1113, HB 1203, HB 1269, HB 1276, HB 1277, HB1437, HB147

Keywords: livestock, brands, marks, earmarks, tattoos, electronic registry, Texas Animal Health Commission, county clerk, Agriculture Code, cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, horses, animal identification, brand registry, livestock traceability, electronic filing, rerecording, law enforcement access

Transcript Highlights:

• Public comment will be taken at the end of this hearing and will be limited to 30 seconds to one minute
• Public comment will be taken at the end of this hearing and will be limited to 30 seconds to one minute
• Each year's production reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 7,600 metric tons.
• Each year's production reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 7,600 metric tons.
• I know that our opportunities might be a little bit more limited in the future, given that these...

Summary: The Assembly Subcommittee on State Administration held a budget hearing focused heavily on housing, homelessness, and related administrative proposals. HCD reported that California housing production has increased, with 2023 completions up 13% from 2022 and entitlement and construction timelines improving, while members and advocates criticized the Governor’s January budget for zeroing out or sharply reducing several housing programs. Public testimony urged funding for affordable housing production, preservation, youth housing, CalHome, LIHTC, HAP, and related programs, and several speakers argued the state should not pull back after recent progress. A major policy item was trailer bill language to allow HCD to access “excess equity” in existing affordable housing projects and recycle those funds into new or preserved housing. HCD and the LAO said the proposal could unlock tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, but members wanted guardrails and clearer statutory direction to ensure the funds stay within the intended housing purposes. The committee also discussed encampment resolution funding; HCD said the proposal would shift expenditure deadlines to the date of award rather than appropriation, while the LAO raised concerns about limited outcome data and urged the Legislature to use upcoming reporting before deciding on future funding. The hearing also covered HCD trailer bills to consolidate default reserve funds into a centralized continuously appropriated account and to clarify reporting requirements for early rounds of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program. HCD requested funding to implement chaptered legislation, including a new tribal housing program and reporting-related bills, and also sought extensions for certain reappropriations, including Homekey and REAP 2 deadlines. Public commenters and regional agencies supported flexibility for REAP 2 timing and other housing-related adjustments. Finally, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency presented the Governor’s reorganization proposal to split the current agency into a Housing and Homelessness Agency and a Consumer Protection Agency. The administration said the change would improve focus, efficiency, and coordination, but the LAO and several members questioned whether it would truly save money or improve accountability, especially given the need for new leadership, possible staffing changes, and the fact that the plan had not yet been formally submitted for review. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 52 percent from 2005 levels compared with only a 38
• What we need to focus on are things like buildings, which generate 40% of our greenhouse gas emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• running on battery electricity, emit no tailpipe emissions.
• So having them come into our emissions.
• Like me, I always do the speed limit. So that's the purpose.
• limited that they don't need to do that. limited that they don't need to do that.
• Welcome back, sir.” um because they're not limited uh in um because they're not limited uh in their<04

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• July 1, 2027, subject to determination in the 2027-28 May Revision, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset limit
• July 1, 2027, subject to determination in the 2027-28 May Revision, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset limit
• And we are responding to that and trying our best with limited resources to hang on to as much of that
• SB 168 strengthens the state's leadership by expanding access to zero-emission vehicles and ensuring
• We appreciate all the work on the Medi-Cal asset limit and rejecting that $2,000 limit, and we look forward

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee hearing has a 90-minute time slot, so there will be a 1-minute time limit for all testifiers
• The committee hearing has a 90-minute time slot, so there will be a 1-minute time limit for all testifiers
• Hawaii you know the requirements of the Hawaii clean<00:10:40.600> energy<00:10:41.120> emission
• and<00:10:42.360> thank<00:10:42.480> you<00:10:42.600> very clean energy emission
• and thank you very clean energy emission and thank you very much<00:10:42.880> I<00:10:43.000

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several measures on agriculture, energy, stadium governance, and hotel consumer protections. On SB 448 relating to agriculture, Agra Business Development Corporation and the Hawaii Farm Bureau testified in support of a proposed conservation easement acquisition in Central Oahu; the chair asked follow-up questions about the exact location, cost, and agricultural potential of the land, and the witness said the parcel had good soil and water and was former pineapple land, with cost still to be provided. On SB 827 relating to meat processing, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism said the state needs more meat-processing capacity and that any grant program should complement, not compete with, existing efforts; the Attorney General’s office warned the bill lacked legally sufficient standards for grants of public money under the state constitution and offered draft standards. Several industry and chamber witnesses supported the measure, while discussion focused on the need for brick-and-mortar or modular facilities, infrastructure costs, federal inspection needs, and access for hunters and neighbor islands. The committee then took up SB 1269 relating to geothermal resources, which drew broad support from county officials, energy consultants, utility representatives, and community advocates, with one witness opposing it. Supporters described geothermal as a viable, indigenous, firm baseload energy source that could help reduce Hawaii’s high electricity costs and support clean energy goals; one witness emphasized prior work in New Zealand and another urged the state to move forward with exploration. A DBEDT representative explained that the department is coordinating geothermal-related work with the Hawaii Technology Development Corp., the University of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Energy Office, noting a prior $3 million appropriation, phase-one community engagement work, and plans to seek a contractor for geoscience and exploration in phase two. Members pressed DBEDT to explain how this bill fits with other geothermal measures moving through different committees, and the chair asked the department to review SB 993 and better coordinate the package of geothermal bills. On SB 1337 relating to the Stadium Authority, the stadium manager testified in support of clarifying quorum rules, explaining that the authority currently has eight seated voting members out of nine possible voting seats and that the bill would help ensure voting members are counted for quorum; he said meetings have not been delayed. Finally, on SB 883 relating to hotels, the Attorney General’s office raised First Amendment and contract-law concerns and recommended adding a purpose statement and a non-impairment savings clause. Unite Here Local 5 and other supporters said guests should be notified of hotel service disruptions such as construction, closures, or labor disputes, while opponents questioned who would enforce the law, what penalties would apply, and whether the measure could require hotels to pay damages even without a complaint. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our weaknesses include high business costs, limited access to finance, and underdeveloped infrastructure
• Our weaknesses include high business costs, limited access to finance, and underdeveloped infrastructure
• Yes, you guys know that area has limited water supply. We did a site visit just last month.
• Yeah, some there were concerns that the permitting was limited to just one person.
• So those are the things that we're currently working on, but with a very, very limited capacity.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• claim because in the long term, early clinical studies examining the effects of exposure to Icos emissions
• the committee, I know that we've passed a lot of... that we've passed a lot of bills relative to limiting
• I better hold my commentary to a limited. Anyway, your point's well taken. I...

Bills: SB282, SB300, HB72, HB396, SB282, SB300, HB72, HB396

Keywords: virtual currency, cryptocurrency, tax exemption, state tax law, digital assets, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, business incentives, economic impact, firefighter, license plate, fees, funds distribution, support programs, memorial, disabled veterans, property tax exemption, debt-to-income ratio, homestead, veterans affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:37.520> I<00:25:37.600> will<00:25:37.760> vote allows for 400 limit
• I will vote allows for 400 limit I will vote no<00:25:39.840> okay<00:25:40.840> towards
• The time limit for each will be two minutes, and hearing notices, copies of the bills, and testimony
• I'm opposed to any kind of bill or anything that will limit access to local people.
• <01:18:48.679> uh treatment rather than desel emission uh treatment rather than desel emission

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 534, a measure concerning development in Kakaʻako Makai involving the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The chairs explained that the hearing was decision-making only and no testimony would be accepted, though members could ask clarifying questions. The chair outlined amendments to clarify HCDA’s approval process, require an environmental impact statement before residential development proposals are submitted, require Department of Health documentation on hazardous substances, and specify that only OHA-owned parcels would be eligible for certain residential development with a 400-foot height limit and maximum floor area ratio of 10.0. The amendments also addressed affordability, owner-occupancy, association fees, and a special fund, while noting Attorney General concerns that the fee could be construed as a tax and suggesting further review by Judiciary and Ways and Means. Members discussed the affordability threshold, with one senator suggesting 160% AMI instead of 140% due to high housing costs and concern that essential workers could be priced out. Others raised concerns about Native Hawaiian affordability, the long-term effect of perpetuity restrictions, and whether the process would protect OHA’s interests. An HCDA representative said 140% AMI was used in existing reserve housing rules and that lower thresholds could make development economically infeasible. OHA and other supporters said the proposal was still early in planning and emphasized the need for public hearings, community input, and compliance with environmental and remediation standards. The committees voted to pass SB 534 with amendments: Water and Land approved it 4-1, and Hawaiian Affairs also adopted the chair’s recommendation, with one member excused and one voting no. The meeting then moved to SB 3, relating to water resource management. The bill would authorize the Commission on Water Resource Management to retain independent legal counsel, create an executive director position, allow challenges to emergency orders under certain conditions, establish fines for water use offenses, and revise emergency and shortage declaration procedures; Red Hill-related provisions were noted as removed from this version. Testimony was largely supportive, including from DLNR, the Board of Water Supply, OHA, and Sierra Club, with OHA stressing the measure’s importance to Native Hawaiian water rights and past litigation. A Department of Hawaiian Home Lands representative supported the bill with amendments and recommended explicit language directing the commission chair or designee to advocate for water rights and reservations for homelands. The chair indicated the committees would use the prior Senate-passed version as the basis for further action, and the discussion then moved on to SB 130, a search-and-rescue reimbursement bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, the limit... I'm not sure that we're getting to a saturation point yet.
• So I don't think we've seen a saturation limit in terms of the demand yet for it.
• I don't think they have emissions that I'm aware of. I'm not the person to ask that.
• We plan that years in advance, and so if the forecast is too high, it might show limited capacity for
• I think there was an earlier question about air emissions. We do a lot of studies with TCEQ.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I understand the wanting to balance, um, you know, limiting liabilities on this because we don't
• <00:54:23.280> initial emergencies to provide emission initial emergencies to provide emission
• So, I think it's important to have some limitation on the value of gift.
• So, I think it's important to have<00:56:55.280> some<00:56:55.520> limitation<00:56:56.000
• on the value of have some limitation on the value of gift.<00:56:57.280> Now,<00:56:57.520>

Bills: HF1667, HF2526, HF68

Keywords: correctional fees, supervision fees, probation, Department of Corrections, criminal justice funding, electronic home monitoring, drug testing, restitution collection, community service work, postprison supervision, court-ordered services, fee sunset, fee phaseout, offender fees, community corrections, supervised individuals, 1183, house