Transcript Highlights:

• Okay. energy and food security tax, energy and food security tax, and<00:39:35.880> the<00:39:
• Hawaii State Energy Office. Chris Yunker for the Hawaii State Energy Office.
• Uh Hawaii State Energy you, Garrison. Uh Hawaii State Energy Office. Office. Office.
• Um if there is an Hawaii Energy.
• Whatever way supporter of energy.

Bills: HB1736, HB1620, HB1695

Keywords: animal control, spay and neuter, pet overpopulation, sterilization, counties funding, tax designation, veterinary care, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, energy policy, rebate program, environmental impact, renewable fuels, sustainable aviation fuel, tax credit, greenhouse gas emissions, local production, energy resilience, agricultural innovation, job creation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1737, which clarifies allowable uses in agricultural districts for farm dwellings and farm employee housing, and HB 1604 HD2, which creates an agricultural workforce housing working group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Testimony on HB 1737 was overwhelmingly supportive, with county agriculture officials, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Farmers Union backing the measure; one witness asked for a definition of “affordable” to guard against misuse of farm housing. For HB 1604, the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Housing Hawaii’s Future, Hawaii Farmers Union, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, with OHA requesting disaggregated data and a seat on the working group. Committee discussion focused on housing shortages, possible misuse, affordability, and whether innovative housing models such as modular, tiny, and container homes should be considered. The committee then took action on both measures. HB 1737 HD3 was recommended to pass with amendments that would limit farm employee housing to agricultural employees and their immediate family members actively engaged in the farm operation, add a grandfathering provision for existing permitted housing, preserve county zoning authority, clarify that ag tourism must be secondary and not occur in employee housing, delete a square-footage-per-acre ratio, and defer the effective date to July 1, 2050. HB 1604 HD2 was also recommended to pass with amendments adding OHA and a housing-shortage organization to the working group, expanding its scope to include modular, tiny, and container homes and permitting/zoning streamlining, and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. Both motions were adopted unanimously by the members present. The joint hearing then moved to HB 1736, which would establish a spay and neuter special fund and require sterilization and declaration provisions for cats, with some discussion of dogs. DLNR and the Hawaiian Humane Society supported the bill, while Pacific Pet Alliance objected to the broader requirements and the inclusion of dogs; the Hawaiian Humane Society and American Bird Conservancy supported cat-focused sterilization and the special fund, while some testifiers opposed mandatory sterilization as too costly or intrusive. Members raised questions about toxoplasmosis, trap-neuter-release, enforcement, neighbor-island access, and funding needs, and DLNR indicated additional funding and third-party contracting would likely be needed. The transcript then began HB 1620 HD2 on energy, which would increase the environmental response energy and food security tax and shift funds from the hydrogen fueling subaccount to EV charging infrastructure; state agencies generally stood on written testimony in support, while the Tax Foundation objected to special fund earmarks and noted the bill raises only one part of the barrel tax structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I'm calling the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water to order.
• It would, they could have it near a window anywhere that provides the solar energy.
• On your question about energy usage, this is a generation device.
• long-term energy resilience, and provides environmental benefits.
• I think we all need to know that geothermal energy is extremely important.

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

Summary: The committee heard a series of water, energy, housing, and environmental bills, with several measures amended before passage. House Bill 2099, as amended, would limit long-term storage credits and related CAP water storage during declared Colorado River shortages; water utilities, CAP, Phoenix, and other water interests raised concerns about flexibility, contracts, and the law of the river, while the sponsor said the bill was intended to address shortage conditions. The committee adopted the Griffin amendment and passed the bill 6-3. House Bill 2263, also amended, would restrict where Colorado River water diverted for replenishment in an AMA may be stored; CAP, tribal counsel, and AMWA opposed it as too restrictive and potentially excluding existing facilities, but the bill passed 6-3 after amendment. House Bill 2264, requiring the University of Arizona to promote Arizona history and the five Cs through the mining museum, passed unanimously. House Bill 2330 and House Bill 2341, both concerning certificates of environmental compatibility for energy projects, passed 6-3 after amendments expanding siting factors to include character of an area and known off-takers, respectively. House Bill 2918, which would end certain tax benefits for renewable energy and storage equipment after 2026, also passed 6-3. House Bill 2889, appropriating $1 million for uranium contamination monitoring and a statewide registry with tribal epidemiology partnerships, passed unanimously after discussion about moving the program to ADEQ and adjusting the reporting date. House Bill 2492, which would bar state and local urban growth boundaries that prevent new development, passed narrowly 4-3 with one present and two absent. House Bill 2782, focused on utility rate transparency and regulatory assets, passed 5-3 after a late amendment and a motion to suspend committee rules for amendment distribution. House Bill 4025, creating a study committee on gasoline and petroleum refineries, passed 6-3, and HCR 2057 supporting a geothermal permitting roadmap passed unanimously. HCR 2020, supporting housing developments outside designated service areas under certain groundwater conditions, passed 6-2. House Bill 4100, requiring notice to customers about potential water-rate increases if CAP water is lost, drew concerns about public confusion and negotiation impacts; testimony from municipal water users opposed the bill as too speculative and difficult to implement, and the transcript ends while that bill is still under discussion.

Keywords: Energy - Room 216, 23 March, 2026; 4:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: Senator Simmons explained that the bill would allow BA County to create a utility district in the Chartaw community. The district would assume ownership, operation, and maintenance of the existing Chartaw Sewer Association sewer system, and would be governed by a board or commission of three to five members. He noted that the measure had received a unanimous local resolution. After a brief question and answer period, the committee moved to a do-pass recommendation. The motion was put to a vote and appeared to carry without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up on the agenda is House Bill 1305, municipal owned energy distribution systems expanding oversight

Keywords: Energy - Room 409, 3 March, 2026; 1:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 1049, which was explained as a House vehicle used to insert two previously introduced Senate bills: the rural water oversight committee bill and a measure expanding PSC authority to reject certain certificated areas for municipalities serving customers more than one mile outside city limits, with water utilities added to the existing electric utility language. The committee adopted the strike-off amendment and then passed the amended bill, which was reported out. Next, House Bill 1305 was taken up. The bill would expand oversight of municipally owned electrical distribution systems by allowing the Public Service Commission to conduct audits, but it included a reverse repealer because further work was still needed. The sponsor said he wanted to ensure systems that do not need auditing are not unnecessarily included. The committee adopted the strike-off amendment and then reported the bill. The final and most detailed item was a bill creating the Metro Jackson Water Authority. The sponsor described it as a response to Jackson’s water crisis and warned that without action the city could face bankruptcy and bondholder enforcement. The bill would create a new authority covering Jackson water and wastewater service areas, establish a board with appointments by the mayor, governor, lieutenant governor, and others, transfer operations when the court-ordered process ends, and give the authority powers over rates, contracts, bonds, procurement, reporting, and related financial matters. A committee member asked whether population-based language would capture any city other than Jackson; the sponsor said Jackson is the only city over 100,000 population and acknowledged a drafting issue, noting the reverse repealer was included because the bill was not yet perfect. After the strike-off was adopted, the committee voted to report the bill.

Keywords: Energy - Room 216, 2 March, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On the that's on the energy sector.
• energy provider. We could be the first. energy provider. We could be the first.
• energy on the planet earth. energy on the planet earth. >> Follow<00:26:44.799> up.
• global allies with their energy demands. global allies with their energy demands.
• Um and really energy leadership.

Bills: HB0120

Keywords: energy production, natural gas, industrial sovereignty, manufacturing, tax exemptions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• was one question I had, because I know the natural gas was a question on funding, which we had an energy
• which<00:28:28.320> we<00:28:28.480> had<00:28:28.880> an<00:28:29.200> energy

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.

Keywords: Energy - Room 216, September 9, 2025; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Energy - Room 216, 11 March, 2025; 12:30 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Energy - Room 216, 3 March, 2025; 4:30 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Energy - Room 216, 3 February, 2025; 3:30 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Energy - Room 409, 29 January, 2025; 1:30 P.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Therefore, SB 1754 prohibits tax abatements for renewable energy facilities that sell energy...
• SB 1754 prohibits tax abatements for renewable energy facilities that sell energy or ancillary services
• We specifically excluded renewable energy. Okay, I voted for the bill, but...”
• “We specifically excluded renewable energy. Okay, I voted for the bill. But although Mr.
• When energy demand dictates where the facilities locate, it is difficult for dispatchable energy generators

Bills: SB913, SB1086, SB1087, SB1143, SB1534, SB1553, SB1718, SB1754, SB2004, SB2322, SB2448

Keywords: hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax code, local government funding, Texas legislation, county taxation, economic development, hotel industry, local government, counties, taxation, tourism, workforce development, youth programs, employment, education, technical training, health physics, higher education, nuclear energy

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills, mostly related to economic development, tax incentives, and workforce programs. Senate Bill 1534 would direct a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission on health physics education and workforce needs; resource witnesses from the Workforce Commission and Coordinating Board testified, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1553 would authorize Kerr County to impose a hotel occupancy tax for tourism-related uses, and Senate Bills 1086 and 1087 would authorize similar county hotel taxes for Children’s County and Mason County; all three bills received supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1754, which would prohibit county and local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power wholesale, with testimony sharply divided between landowners and policy groups opposing renewable subsidies and industry representatives and some senators arguing the bill would harm clean energy investment and local decision-making; the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2322, which would exempt dispatchable electric generation facilities from the JEDI program’s compelling-factor test so they could qualify for school district tax incentives; testimony was mixed, and the bill was left pending. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 1718, which would add the NRA annual meeting to the state’s major events reimbursement program. The bill’s sponsor and NRA representatives argued the event brings substantial tourism and economic activity, while opponents said it would use taxpayer funds to subsidize an organization that opposes gun safety measures; the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events reimbursement program, with the committee substitute exempting it from the usual competitive site-selection requirement because of timing; testimony from the event organizers and Arlington tourism officials was supportive, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program at the Texas Workforce Commission to support college-and-career readiness and technical assistance in rural communities; witnesses from Texas 2036, Collegiate Edgination, and a rural school district supported it, and it was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 913 would repeal a special requirement that Alpine dedicate at least 50% of its hotel occupancy tax to advertising and promotion, and Senate Bill 1143 would require more coordination and reporting for youth workforce programs serving disconnected young Texans; both bills received supportive testimony and were left pending. At the end of the hearing, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess, subject to the call of the chair.

Bills: SJ0001

Keywords: mineral leasing, federal lands, Wyoming, energy policy, local control, federalism, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• inconsistent, unpredictable, and subject to political delays that negatively impact Wyoming's economy, energy
• inconsistent, unpredictable, and subject to political delays that negatively impact Wyoming's economy, energy
• So, the system works well for energy companies interested in drilling on available federal lands.
• So, the system works well for energy companies interested in drilling on available federal lands.
• Um, and energy companies have been able to develop what they want to develop out of what's available

Bills: SJ0001

Keywords: mineral leasing, federal lands, Wyoming, energy policy, local control, federalism, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Brandon Williams has been nominated to be Undersecretary of Energy for Nuclear Security.
• You have been nominated to be the Undersecretary of Energy for Nuclear Security and Administrator of
• You will oversee the Department of Defense for energy installations and environment.
• As a member of Congress, I served as the chairman of the Energy Security Committee.
• This is an evaluation of are we innovating, are we spending money in NSA in an optimal way.

Keywords: national security, nuclear energy, Department of Defense, military readiness, public commentary, nominations

Summary: The meeting convened with a focus on the scrutiny of various nominations and their implications for national security. Mr. Brandon Williams was nominated as the Undersecretary of Energy for Nuclear Security, drawing attention to the pressing need to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal amid growing threats from other countries. This was echoed in discussions led by committee members who expressed concern over military readiness and the management of military installations, with emphasis on ensuring accountability within the Department of Defense. Public commentary was notably supportive of the nominations, although some concerns were raised regarding the administration's broader strategies.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through this program, the state has optimized nearly $1.5 billion.
• I'm the Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Industries Association. Association.
• , and energy is badly needed right now as there's greater and greater demand for energy.
• I'm the president of Positive Energy and also a board member of the Renewable Energy Industry Association
• Rooftop solar is part of the energy transition.

Bills: SB101, SB58, SB55

Keywords: SB 101, Health Care Delivery and Access Act, repeal of repeal, sunset repeal, delayed repeal, health care, healthcare, access to care, medical services, provider regulation, state health law, New Mexico, SB58, metropolitan redevelopment, redevelopment property, property tax exemption, payments in lieu of taxes, PILOT, municipal redevelopment, local government

Bills: SB 458, SB 819, SB 1238, SB 1642, SB 1643, SB 1644, SB 1791, SB 1810, SB 1824, SB 1825, SB 758, SB 1455, SB 1706

Keywords: renewable energy, solar power, wind energy, public interest determination, environmental impact, property rights, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, insurance, discrimination, marital status, widowers, spousal death, equitable treatment, Texas Department of Insurance, commission appointments, insurance regulation, oversight, consumer advocacy, insurance rates, property insurance

Bills: SB 458, SB 819, SB 1238, SB 1642, SB 1643, SB 1644, SB 1791, SB 1810, SB 1824, SB 1825, SB 758, SB 1455, SB 1706

Keywords: renewable energy, solar power, wind energy, public interest determination, environmental impact, property rights, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, insurance, discrimination, marital status, widowers, spousal death, equitable treatment, Texas Department of Insurance, commission appointments, insurance regulation, oversight, consumer advocacy, insurance rates, property insurance

Bills: SB 458, SB 819, SB 1238, SB 1642, SB 1643, SB 1644, SB 1791, SB 1810, SB 1824, SB 1825, SB 758, SB 1455, SB 1706

Keywords: renewable energy, solar power, wind energy, public interest determination, environmental impact, property rights, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, insurance, discrimination, marital status, widowers, spousal death, equitable treatment, Texas Department of Insurance, commission appointments, insurance regulation, oversight, consumer advocacy, insurance rates, property insurance