Transcript Highlights:

• Does something like solar come up anywhere?
• You know, I have solar panels on my house.
• Chair, Senator Stewart, I know we've had some discussion at the PSFA about solar.
• I know some school districts are migrating... ...to their own solar panels.
• Aztec is one, for example, where they have put solar panels on.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• I think you're familiar with Senator Hamblin's initiative for solar lights.
• solar lights.
• Well, they're solar street lights.
• They're street lights that you install, and they're not on the grid because they're charged by solar.
• I have solar panels, etc. So, it's all our responsibilities, and I think we can make a difference.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Looking back on page 19 on these solar panels, the county paid $305,000 for installation of solar panels
• When I was on the quorum court, we reported that to legislative audit that the solar panels have not
• The county did pay the $305,000 and there's no solar panels, correct? County, I'm sorry.
• So there's no solar panels. We check every year to see if they've installed them yet.
• So there's no solar panels in any of these three buildings yet? Still not solar panels. Okay.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Summary: The committee adopted the minutes from its June 4 meeting and then received a series of updates on delinquent municipal and water/sewer reports. Staff reported that three entities had forfeited a combined just under $126,000 in state turnback under Act 453 of 2023 for failure to file required reports, and that several other cities and utilities remained delinquent or were moving toward compliance. The committee also heard that Fargo would be placed on the 50% turnback escrow process for continued noncompliance, while Ulm, Montrose, and several other entities were removed from or deferred in the process after making progress or providing responses. Boxite remained the only private city report still outstanding among one group of filings, and the committee filed or deferred reports as recommended by staff throughout the meeting. Several local officials appeared to explain repeat audit findings and corrective actions. The mayor of Falk described efforts to catch up on audits and said the city had enough money on hand to pay for them, though the committee emphasized that the city had already lost turnback funds under the statute. Lead Hill’s recorder-treasurer said the town had implemented new procedures, including electronic payment ordinances, fixed asset records, and improved receipt and reconciliation practices, but the committee still started the 60-day clock on the report. St. Joe’s new mayor and recorder-treasurer said the town had made substantial progress, so staff withdrew its earlier recommendation to start the clock. Marion County’s treasurer said computer conversion problems were being corrected, and the committee deferred the report until the county judge and sheriff could appear. The committee then reviewed a long list of county, municipal, and utility audit findings, many of them repeat issues involving missing documentation, weak bank reconciliation controls, improper disbursements, and failure to follow municipal accounting law. Notable matters included Cotton Plant’s large unpaid payroll tax liabilities and deficit fund balance, Jefferson County’s procurement and contract issues and an unresolved $305,000 solar panel payment, Wabaseka’s long-running payroll tax delinquency and deficit, and multiple private water and sewer reports involving missing receipts, unsupported payments, or uncollateralized cash balances. Many reports were filed without objection, some were deferred for later response, and several findings involving possible misuse of public funds or improper payments were referred to the prosecuting attorney and Attorney General’s office.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we go with solar? Do we go with nuclear?
• Do we go with solar? Do we go with nuclear? And the answer is yes, to all of them.
• Over the last 11 years, when we said solar and wind is going to be the answer...
• that deficit with 350 megawatts of solar and wind.
• We need to move quickly, and we need to incorporate all assets that we have: solar, wind, nuclear, and

Summary: The meeting focused on finalizing recommendations from the Delaware Nuclear Energy Task Force, with most of the discussion centered on how the state should organize itself to evaluate and potentially pursue nuclear power. Public commenters strongly supported nuclear energy, emphasizing energy reliability, economic competitiveness, data center demand, and the need for Delaware to act quickly. Several speakers argued that Delaware is falling behind neighboring states and should not delay if it wants to attract developers and preserve access to federal tax incentives. Members then worked through revisions to the recommendations, especially the section on state actions moving forward. There was broad agreement that Delaware needs a clearly empowered leadership structure, but disagreement over the best form: a cabinet-level energy agency, an expanded existing agency such as DENREC, a dedicated coordinator, an expanded Sustainable Energy Utility, or a separate quasi-independent authority. Some members favored a nimble, one-off entity with bonding and financing authority; others cautioned against creating a new body outside state government and stressed the need for coordination with existing agencies, public oversight, and cost discipline. The group also discussed adding responsibilities such as site identification, public engagement, coordination with PJM and federal agencies, and financing tools, while removing or folding in items that seemed duplicative or too broad. The committee also revised earlier modules to broaden the focus from small modular reactors to nuclear power more generally, while keeping the task force’s original SMR work in view. Members agreed to keep recommendations on state and local regulatory readiness, financial mechanisms, permitting coordination, and public engagement, and to add a recommendation for Delaware to participate as an observer in the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative through NASEO and NARUC. The committee approved the revised Module Four recommendations by vote, with one abstention from Tom Noyes. Minutes from the prior meeting were also approved with minor corrections.

Transcript Highlights:

• accessing it and constructing solar panels and generating power that way.
• You said that solar companies are currently using this land.
• put solar panels up.
• Utilize that area; that's all I wanted to mention as for a solar company. As a potential.
• Chair, that solar array area, do you know? I know, yeah. So that used to be Range Lab.

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida homeowners can see long delays in solar permitting and inspections for residential solar systems
• Solar permitting times are up four times longer in local jurisdictions that have resisted alternative
• This bill also clarifies the statute to include residential solar energy and energy solar systems and
• Any of my cities giving a solar hard time? I would love to provide you that and follow up.
• But I've never heard from anybody saying we're having a problem with permitting solar.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1134, which would extend and clarify the use of qualified private providers and computer-based tools in the building permit and inspection process for residential solar energy systems. The sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce long delays in solar permitting and make the process faster and cheaper; Senator Pizzo questioned whether the problem was limited to specific local governments, and a late-filed amendment clarifying the word “application” was adopted. After brief testimony from an industry representative supporting the measure, the committee reported the bill favorably, with Senator Pizzo voting no. Next, the committee considered SB 784, dealing with issuance of addresses and parcel identification numbers for plats and new development. The bill sets a 14-day timeframe, and an amendment was adopted that would allow use of a private provider if the deadline is missed and would bar fee collection if the local government fails to act within five business days. County representatives said they wanted to keep working on the bill and raised concerns about the private-provider language and the short deadlines, while several senators discussed whether the process should be handled earlier on the front end. The committee then reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 1738 on transportation concurrency, which would let counties that previously opted out of concurrency opt back in by maintaining current levels of service. SB 1080, a local government land regulation bill, was described as a measure to speed development approvals by setting stricter timelines, limiting repeated information requests, and imposing penalties for noncompliance; local-government testimony opposed it as a loss of local control, while builders supported it. After debate, SB 1080 was reported favorably. SB 1260, which clarifies county constitutional officer budget procedures and creates an appeal process for clerks and supervisors of elections similar to sheriffs, was also reported favorably after members discussed possible adjustments to avoid burdening county budget negotiations. Finally, the committee took up SB 420, as amended by a strike-all, which would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting or funding DEI-related ordinances, policies, programs, offices, or contracts, and would expose officials to misfeasance/malfeasance claims and local governments to lawsuits. The sponsor said the amendment removed retroactive language, delayed the effective date, and added definitions and contract-certification requirements, but many senators and public speakers argued the bill was overbroad, vague, and would chill local efforts such as Black History Month, women-owned business programs, minority contracting, and community outreach. Supporters said it would ensure merit-based government action and consistency with state standards. The amendment was adopted, but the bill drew extensive opposition testimony and debate over its scope and potential conflict with federal and state law.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think about this with solar.
• solar monthly payments and usually give them an additional cash flow.
• I think about this with solar. Solar folks do, insurance premium discounts.
• I think about this with solar.
• solar monthly payments and usually give them an additional cash flow.

Transcript Highlights:

• the purpose of this joint memorial is to urge the United States Congress to prohibit unauthorized solar
• due to some concerns that some people had in separating weather modification and cloud seeding from solar
• geoengineering, I worked with all the invested parties. ...weather modification and cloud seeding from solar

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• to build large energy infrastructure projects like high-voltage transmission lines, power plants, solar
• Standard review covers wind, solar, storage, and smaller-scale high-voltage transmission lines.
• Standard review covers um wind, solar, Standard review covers um wind, solar, storage<00:23:42.400><c
• distribution systems in order to allow for the interconnection of distributed energy projects like solar
• distribution systems in order to allow for the interconnection of distributed energy projects like solar

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• I've heard that, you know, the feds stopped funding for moderate and low-income folks for their solar
• I've heard that, you know, the feds stopped funding for moderate and low-income folks for their solar
• </c> for their solar for their solar uh<02:44:11.720><c> arrays,</c> uh arrays, uh arrays, but<02:44:
• It increases the per-container handling fee that the PRO pays the retailer and redemption centers from
• It also enables a retailer to refuse to redeem beverage containers if their building is less than 5,000

Transcript Highlights:

• Lee Helgen, Minnesota Crop Production<00:19:10.559><c> Retailers.</c> Yes, >> Thank you.
• Lee Helgen, Minnesota Crop Production Retailers. >> Yes. >> Representative, how are you?
• I'm the executive director with Minnesota Crop Production Retailers.
• co-ops and retailers who would sell treated seeds to the farmer-grower customers.
• </c> with Minnesota crop production retailers with Minnesota crop production retailers were<01:07:16.160

Bills: HF3965 , HF3704 , HF3260 , HF3718

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: pesticide, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, chemical safety, local agriculture, insecticides, pollinators, seeds, environmental health, neonicotinoids, systemic insecticides, civil penalties, pest management, land trends, report, appropriation, farmers, veterinary medicine, veterinary technology

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, HB 4060 is the Plug-in Solar Act.
• Members, HB 46 is the Plug-in Solar Act. Thank you. Members, HB 46 is the Plug-In Solar Act.
• What we're trying to do is put some common-sense regulations in place for wind, solar, and battery storage
• all know, in the past I've worked really hard on putting landowner protections in place, like for solar
• all know, in the past I've worked really hard on putting landowner protections in place, like for solar

Bills: HB4246 , HB4230 , HB3617 , HB3657 , HB2976 , HB3391 , HB4459 , HB4128 , HB3989 , HB2989 , HB4060 , HB3145 , HB2992 , HB3464

Committee: House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of energy, agriculture, wildlife, water, and utility bills, adopting PCS drafts and amendments on several measures before voting them out. Early bills, including HB 4246 and HB 423, would let DEQ obtain technical assistance and instruction from outside suppliers, and both passed with 11-1 votes. HB 3617, the agricultural equipment right-to-repair bill, drew the most extended debate; supporters said it would help farmers and ranchers keep equipment operating and preserve access to parts, tools, and diagnostics, while opponents raised concerns about private contracts, intellectual property, and government mandates. The author agreed to continue working on the language and to strike the title later, and the bill passed 13-9-2. HB 3657, updating agricultural wage reporting and adding the Workforce Commission to employment-data recipients, passed 15-0. HB 2976, directing DEQ to set water-quality criteria for aluminum using EPA guidance as a tool, passed 14-1. HB 3391, requiring licensed commercial pet breeders to display their ODAF license number in advertisements, passed 15-0. The committee also advanced several natural resources and land-use measures. HB 4459 created a voluntary five-year averaging option for permitted water users, with metering required only for participants; members emphasized that nonparticipants could continue current practices unchanged, and the bill passed 12-1-3. HB 4128, as amended, moved Oklahoma’s bear season earlier by two weeks; the author said it was intended to address nuisance bears in southeast Oklahoma and protect hunters and landowners, while members raised concerns about population impacts and whether the Wildlife Department could manage harvest levels. The bill passed 13-1-2. HB 3989, described as a cleanup bill from the earlier “one megawatt fight,” passed 15-1 after the author said a compromise had been reached. HB 2989, as amended, authorized electric utilities to prepare wildfire mitigation plans and created a revolving fund, with the amendment limiting recovery to reasonable and prudent mitigation costs; the author said it was not a liability shield, and the bill passed 14-1. Later, the committee considered utility and renewable-energy regulation. HB 4060, the Plug-in Solar Act, addressed interconnection agreements and behind-the-meter solar for residents; it passed 14-1. HB 3145 cleaned up language affecting the commercial hunt industry and passed 14-1. HB 2992, the Data Center Customer Protection, Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, would require new large-load customers such as data centers, crypto mining, and AI facilities above 75 MW to cover their own infrastructure and provide collateral so costs are not shifted to ratepayers; members discussed protections for existing contracts and utility oversight, and it passed 14-1. Finally, HB 3464 imposed common-sense regulations on wind, solar, and battery storage projects, including surety bonds for land restoration, permit fees to support local fire departments, and a 30-day Fire Marshal response timeline; the author said more amendments were likely, and the bill passed 14-0. The meeting then recessed and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see broad component definitions for items that are included in 45X, including solar and wind energy
• have—well, let me say this: I think the only criticism that could be offered of the bill would be, are the solar
• Very high potential for wind, solar, and geothermal, and difficulty moving that power around the state
• We drafted it to have the door open for renewable community and utility scale solar projects.
• There are several large solar installations proposed for my district; at least two of them have substantial

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• liabilities between nuclear energy generation and other forms of generation, including renewables like solar
• 06:04.440><c> like</c> generation, including renewables like generation, including renewables like solar
• > wind,</c><00:06:06.920><c> geothermal,</c><00:06:07.720><c> and</c><00:06:07.840><c> battery</c> solar
• , wind, geothermal, and battery solar, wind, geothermal, and battery storage. storage. storage.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, that has happened with every take, the solar exemption, you know, that you...
• that that has happened with every take that that has happened with every take the<01:45:42.760><c> solar
• 44.040><c> you</c><01:45:44.159><c> know</c><01:45:44.440><c> that</c><01:45:44.599><c> you</c> The solar
• </c><03:05:36.920><c> we</c><03:05:37.040><c> say</c> yes nice try you know in retail we say yes nice
• try you know in retail we say you<03:05:37.399><c> got</c><03:05:37.640><c> you</c><03:05:37.760><c>

Summary: The subcommittee first reviewed its schedule, noting that 13 bills were being executed the next day and that additional subcommittee work would be scheduled around Town Meeting Day and the following session days. The chair explained that the committee would not meet on Town Meeting Day, would handle the remaining bills on the next available subcommittee day, and would continue any unfinished items later in the month. The committee then took up House Bill 774, which concerned Medicare-related coverage issues. Members discussed the bill’s purpose and the differences between Medicare standard and Medicare Advantage, with one member saying the proposal was informative but did not offer a workable solution. The committee also moved to inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 185, and the motion passed on a 6-0 vote. House Bill 241, relating to alternatives to opioids, was retained for further work. Members said the bill raised concerns about insurers effectively practicing medicine and about the lack of evidence on the efficacy of some alternative treatments, while also noting that chiropractic coverage mandates already exist in statute. The committee voted to retain the bill, with the motion passing 6-0. The most extended discussion was on House Bill 648, which would expand insurance coverage for glucose monitoring. Testimony and committee comments focused on whether coverage should be tied to insulin use or instead to a physician’s medical judgment, the role of continuous glucose monitoring for people with type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin, and the potential cost impact. An insurance department fiscal analyst said the original $22-per-member estimate was based on the unamended bill and that the amended version would require updated analysis; members agreed to retain the bill to narrow the eligible population and revisit the language later.

Transcript Highlights:

• How does this handle with regards to what you, as the retailer, pay your wholesale price?
• If that changes, can you reflect that in your retail price? Are you asking 24 hours?
• </c> And you know, having been in retail And you know, having been in retail myself,<00:15:27.360><c>
• </c> what you as the retailer what you as the retailer with<00:15:40.160><c> regards</c><00:15:40.480
• </c> can you reflect that in your retail can you reflect that in your retail price?

Transcript Highlights:

• Thomas microgrid, and the other for a rooftop solar array on the National Sports Center.
• To allow the market to dictate how to get there, whether that's industrial solar, whether that's wind
• But we're tied to the 100 percent electric, let's go solar, let's, you know, we need to think ahead of
• The number one cause of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is moving not from coal to solar, but from
• But the idea that we're going to move from coal to this fantasy where we're all going to have solar on

Transcript Highlights:

• Both a combination of a solar canopy with on-site energy storage allows you to retain as much energy
• Yeah, and in many cases, it'll store the actual solar power into that unit there on site when it's not
• You're not taking the battery away and charging it; you're actually using the solar power to charge it
• But the real beneficiaries are people who don't have a strong enough grid that we could use solar to
• We could use solar to capture for one site for one purpose for the cars.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of housing, local government, and governance bills, beginning without a quorum and proceeding as a subcommittee until quorum was established. SB 1003, by Senator Grayson, would create an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local governments and developers fund infill housing infrastructure; supporters said infrastructure costs often prevent projects from penciling out, while a senator questioned whether the state would actually fund the new program. The bill passed the committee 3-1 on call. The committee also adopted a consent calendar covering SB 1169, SB 1086, SB 1126, and SB 1439-1442, also 3-1 on call. SB 1014 would require local jurisdictions to provide early good-faith estimates of on-site and off-site improvements and bar undisclosed later requirements; Habitat for Humanity, SPUR, and housing advocates supported the bill, while the City of San Mateo opposed the preliminary-application timing. Members raised questions about the 30-business-day deadline and coordination with other agencies. The bill passed 4-2 on call. SB 1036, which would require fee credits for prior site uses when redeveloping a site with similar prior uses, drew broad support and no opposition and passed 5-0 on call. SB 1145, a district bill for the Concord Naval Weapons Station reuse project, would streamline CEQA and federal base-closure review for qualifying projects; labor, the city, and county supported it, while housing legal advocates opposed unless amended over Surplus Land Act concerns. The bill passed 6-0 on call after discussion of affordability and enforceability amendments. The committee then heard SB 908, which would streamline permits for energy-code-compliant residential window replacements and limit city/HOA design restrictions; supporters said it would let homeowners and affordable housing providers lower energy costs, while local government groups opposed, citing local control and design standards. It passed 3-1 on call. SB 1172, the Local Tax Savings Act, would add guardrails and transparency to local tax-sharing consultant agreements; the City of Shafter and League of California Cities supported it, and it passed 4-0 on call. SB 1379 would separate the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner offices and create an independent medical examiner; supporters cited in-custody death rates and public trust concerns, while the sheriff’s association and county representatives opposed on cost and local control grounds. The bill passed 4-1 on call. Finally, SB 1283 would expand streamlined permitting for EV charging stations to include canopies and on-site energy storage systems; EV industry supporters said the bill updates outdated rules, while cities and counties warned about safety review, liability, and litigation risk. Members discussed battery storage safety and local permitting authority, and the bill passed 4-0 on call. The committee also heard SB 1414, which would create an independent redistricting commission for San Bernardino County; supporters argued it would improve transparency and reduce political self-interest, while the county opposed due to its existing advisory commission and estimated implementation costs. The transcript cuts off during questioning on SB 1414, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could that be used to procure less solar somehow because it's more available outside a peak?
• give DWR more clarity when they're evaluating the different types of resources, whether it be wind, solar
• location of the resource because essentially the way DWR operates the project is they'll be purchasing solar
• The federal government has canceled tax credits for solar and wind projects.
• The federal government has canceled tax credits for solar and wind projects. is under threat.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of energy, water, and utility bills. SB 952, SB 1417, SB 924, SB 925, SB 1011, SB 1168, SB 1196, and SB 1350 were all discussed, along with consent items SB 1008 and SB 1245. SB 952 would give the Department of Water Resources more flexibility in meeting clean energy procurement goals for the State Water Project; it drew support from the State Water Contractors and California Municipal Utilities Association and no opposition. SB 1417 would extend transparency and notice requirements to mutual water companies, especially in response to wildfire-related rate increases in Altadena; supporters described lack of notice, meeting access, and public accountability, while the California Association of Mutual Water Companies opposed the bill as overly prescriptive and potentially conflicting with existing law. SB 924 would modernize low-income energy assistance and weatherization programs to better measure affordability outcomes and tenant benefits, and it passed with broad support. SB 925 would direct the Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy; it was supported by industry and clean energy groups and passed without opposition. SB 1011 would require CPUC standards for human review of utility AI systems and labor consultation; supporters framed it as a safety and workforce protection measure, while utilities and business groups warned about cost, duplication, and overbroad regulation. SB 1168, now a study bill, would have the CPUC examine how data centers pay for load growth and rate impacts; it drew mixed reactions, with some industry opposition and some labor support after amendments. SB 1196 would speed utility hookups for ADUs and JADUs by allowing earlier applications and setting timelines; housing advocates supported it and it passed. SB 1350 would allow renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using green hydrogen, with strong support from hydrogen, labor, and utility interests, but TURN opposed it unless amended, arguing it lacked safeguards against greenwashing and resource shuffling. The committee also approved the consent calendar and several bills were reported out on recorded votes, with most measures advancing on strong bipartisan support and a few no votes from Senators Strickland and Dahle on selected items.

Transcript Highlights:

• were able to put language in there to hold them harmless for ground-level agricultural operations, solar
• 06:45.120><c> and</c> telecommunications and agriculture and telecommunications and agriculture and solar
• energy and wind energy wanting solar energy and wind energy wanting some<00:06:47.680><c> specific</
• </c><00:06:56.319><c> panels,</c><00:06:56.639><c> windmills,</c> operations, solar panels, windmills
• , operations, solar panels, windmills, things<00:06:57.680><c> like</c><00:06:57.759><c> that.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy