Transcript Highlights:

• not doing that in this budget, but we did really try to be fair and take the resources we had and distribute
• out lease costs for a lot of the agencies is as we were trying to figure out how to be fair in distributing
• kind of put that on the sheet first and then said, what do we have left for compensation, and then distributed
• out lease costs for a lot of the agencies is as we were trying to figure out how to be fair in distributing
• out lease costs for a lot of the agencies is as we were trying to figure out how to be fair in distributing

Bills: HF2300

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Local sales tax allows us to distribute Local sales tax allows us to distribute the<00:13:08.320
• Um the sales tax distribution is Wild.
• <00:29:37.679> some would effectively be distributing some would effectively be distributing
• It provides us distributed annually.
• <01:58:35.840> out recaptured food that's distributed out recaptured food that's distributed

Transcript Highlights:

• of targeted education aid distribution of targeted education aid between<01:09:31.120> cities
• <04:29:29.600> of issue of the public distribution of issue of the public distribution of
• <05:38:03.600> These utilities distribution capacity.
• These utilities distribution capacity.
• offers for sale, or co distributes offers for sale, or co distributes covered<06:21:29.120> batteries

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Farmers and ranchers for distribution to families facing food insecurity across our state.
• The produce and proteins purchased will be distributed by the five food banks.
• But of that $18 million, $14 million is the value of the food we distribute.
• We're doing diaper distribution, Now we're exploding.
• We're doing diaper distributions, food distributions, emergency stuff, Christmas stuff, food.

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'm just trying to get you the amendment distributed.
• And so that those can get distributed as far and wide. And as I said, we would love help.
• can get distributed as far and and wide. can get distributed as far and and wide.
• Um, and then it sets out that cost share distribution, and then we do receive checks.
• Um, and then it sets out that cost share distribution, and then we do receive checks.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to consist of distributions, appropriations, gifts, grants, etc. 5% of this trust fund will
• That makes my other question with the equitable distribution of resources and information across the
• And maybe fortifying that equal distribution so everyone's data systems are talking with one another.
• Equitable and distribute 155 million is a lot, but to meet up between— Our mantra lately has been being
• For you all to consider that will increase the distribution from the health insurance premium surtax,

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This inevitable distribution, or this inequitable distribution of cost savings, could drive customers
• This inevitable distribution, or this inequitable distribution of cost savings, could drive customers
• One of them is that it’s only fair to distribute rebates across the entire plan, that this would only
• One of them is that it’s only fair to distribute rebates across the entire plan, that this would only
• One of them is that it’s only fair to distribute rebates across the entire plan, that this would only

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:10 SB145 Discussion: 02:23 SB145 Vote: 05:13 SB183 Discussion: 06:13 SB183 Vote: 11:37 HB413 Discussion Only: 16:15, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum and first took up Senate Bill 145, sponsored by Sen. David Givens. The bill would update retail installment contract statutes for automobile sales, allowing retailers with installment contracts shorter than 28 days to begin collections after three days instead of waiting for multiple missed payments, and it also harmonizes a related dollar amount in statute from $10 to $15. The committee asked no questions, and the bill received a favorable expression on a roll-call vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 183 from Sen. Matt Nunn, with testimony from Chris Nolan of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. The bill would require proxy advisers acting for the State Retirement System to act solely in the financial interest of current and future retirees and to avoid political or social considerations in shareholder voting recommendations. Supporters argued it would keep politics out of public pensions and align proxy advice with fiduciary duties; members praised the bill and noted Kentucky could be among the first states to adopt such a model. The committee approved the bill with favorable expression after a roll-call vote. The committee also reviewed administrative regulation 808 KAR 9:10 from the Department of Financial Institutions, with no vote required. It then took up House Bill 413, a PBM rebate pass-through bill, with testimony from Sarah Wood of the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition. She said the bill would require 85% of negotiated drug rebates to be passed through to patients at the point of sale, lowering out-of-pocket costs, especially for high-rebate drugs such as insulin, while still allowing 15% to remain with plans. She cited examples from other states and argued the bill would benefit about 650,000 Kentuckians. Hope McClaflin of Anthem opposed the bill, saying it would reduce employers’ ability to use rebates to lower premiums, could disproportionately favor high-cost brand-name drug users, and could create significant costs for state and fully insured plans. Members asked questions about other states’ pass-through rates and the effect on premiums, but no final action on House Bill 413 was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• working 40 hours a week to pay the skyrocketing property taxes that fund these schools, that if you distribute
• And that is why our criminal laws prohibit the distribution of materials that appeal to their prurient
• Public schools and municipal libraries should not be operating as state-sponsored distribution centers
• we will also be including technical changes to the proceeds of those sales to ensure revenue is distributed
• , line 14, by inserting after the word 'transfer' the following: Provided that no fund shall be distributed

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House began with routine ceremonial business, including the Pledge of Allegiance, adoption of several congratulatory resolutions, and suspension of Joint Rule 12 to send two petitions to committee. It then took up a supplemental fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill (H. 5393 / H. 5493), which Ways and Means reported at about $227.3 million for items including snow and ice costs, no-cost calls, substance use services, homeless programs, and technical changes related to lottery revenue and other outside sections. The bill was advanced through second and third reading and later passed to be engrossed after a roll call vote. The chamber also passed to engrossment a land transfer bill for the Town of Marion (H. 5388) and a Bolton alcohol licensing bill (S. 2628, as amended). The House also enacted two local bills: one further regulating special meetings of the Holyoke City Council and one amending the charter of the town of Reading. A major floor debate centered on S. 2726, an act regarding free expression, which was framed by supporters as a response to book challenges and censorship in public and school libraries. Supporters, including Representatives Garballey and Moran, argued the bill would protect librarians, require reporting of book challenges, preserve age-appropriate access to materials, and keep challenged books on shelves during review; opponents raised concerns about parental rights and local control. Several amendments were offered and rejected, including one that would have removed a criminal-law protection for librarians and educators, and another that would have shifted school review authority more directly to elected school committees. Two amendments were adopted: one clarifying that challenged material is considered in its entirety, and another narrowing who may initiate certain complaints to parents or guardians of a student in the school. The bill ultimately passed to be engrossed by a large roll call vote. The House also debated and passed H. 5491 / S. 1646, implementing recommendations of the Walsh Kennedy Commission on hot work safety after the 2014 Beacon Street fire. Supporters said the bill would require certification for hot work, strengthen penalties for repeated or reckless violations, and improve public notification and enforcement to prevent future tragedies; the bill passed to be engrossed unanimously or near-unanimously after roll call. In addition, the chamber advanced a local land transfer for the Yankee Doodle Bike Path in Billerica and a bill concerning ownership and maintenance of culverts and dams in Town Line Brook and Lindenbrook. The session included several recesses, quorum checks, and recognition of guests, including Danvers High School graduates, a former state representative, and WGBH representatives for Public Media Awareness Day.

Transcript Highlights:

• land use changes and habitat loss affect migratory waterfowl productivity and breeding population distribution
• , behavior, wintering distributions, and associated economic outcomes in the Mississippi Flyway.
• land use changes and habitat loss affect migratory waterfowl productivity and breeding population distribution
• , behavior, wintering distributions, and associated economic outcomes in the Mississippi Flyway. ...behavior
• , wintering distributions, and associated economic outcomes in the Mississippi Flyway.

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources Committee met on May 21 with a quorum, approved the May 14 minutes, and then took up a series of natural resources, wildlife, flood control, and transportation-related measures. HB 841 on expropriation procedures was amended to strip most of its substantive language and then deferred. The committee also adopted a technical amendment and reported SCR 54 favorably, which memorializes Congress to fully fund the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act to help address invasive carp and other aquatic invasive species. Several wildlife bills were heard and reported favorably. HB 1248 allows licensed wildlife rehabilitators to possess white-tailed deer for rehabilitation, and HB 1258 codifies a policy for sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife so the department does not automatically euthanize animals that can be rehabilitated or released. HCR 5, which allows limited red drum harvest at certain established rodeos under strict guardrails, drew opposition from a fishing guide concerned about impacts to redfish recovery, but the committee still reported it favorably. HB 688 adds Atlantic tarpon to the definition of saltwater game fish, with support from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and others, and it was also reported favorably. The committee also advanced several infrastructure and flood-related measures. HB 595 requires local governments to respond within 30 days to certain road-use permit requests tied to natural resource development, and it was reported favorably after testimony from oil and gas and industry representatives. HB 802 creates a watershed restoration and conservation fund, narrowed to the Amite River Basin, and was reported favorably with support from conservation and levee interests. SCR 59, urging Congress to ensure FEMA lowers flood insurance rates once the Comite Diversion Canal project reaches 50% completion, was amended and reported favorably, and HCR 62, asking FEMA to review Louisiana flood maps every five years, was also reported favorably. The committee deferred HB 1171, which would have authorized airboats in the Maripaw Swamp Wildlife Management Area, after extensive testimony from supporters and from LDWF officials who raised concerns about habitat sensitivity, migratory birds, user conflicts, and deed restrictions. Finally, HB 1161, transferring certain state property in Lafourche and Jefferson parishes to local governments, HCR 78 supporting the American Seafood Competitive Act, HCR 86 supporting a migratory waterfowl study, and HB 1189 requiring charter boat guides on certain waters to hold U.S. Coast Guard licenses were all reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• And while I appreciate flow charts being handed out and distributed on the floor that help legislators
• <00:02:20.200> handed<00:02:20.520> out<00:02:20.640> and<00:02:20.720> distributed
• <00:02:21.200> on uh being handed out and distributed on uh being handed out and distributed
• I can print them off and have those distributed as well, but we all know what we're talking about.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 3679, which would allow mandatory reports to legislative committees to be submitted electronically instead of on paper, was presented as a bipartisan efficiency measure by Representative Nash. The bill also carried an A1 amendment, adopted by voice vote, that addressed interim administrative authority for the Chief Clerk during a gap in caucus leadership and was described as a procedural fix worked out with caucus leaders. A second amendment, A2, offered by Representative Engen, sought to prohibit legislators from participating in appropriations to named nonprofit recipients that later employ or contract with them, arguing this created conflicts of interest and self-serving governance. Supporters said the amendment was needed for institutional integrity and taxpayer trust, while opponents argued it was too narrow, not well defined, and would unfairly single out certain jobs or industries; the debate included references to direct appropriations, conflict-of-interest rules, and examples involving nonprofits, law firms, farmers, teachers, and other outside employment. The A2 amendment was put to a roll call and failed on a 66-66 tie. After the amendment vote, the bill was read a third time and received broad support. Representatives Nash and Cleborne urged a green vote, and the House passed House File 3679 as amended by a vote of 132-0, with its title agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the cumulative deviation from DF&A net general revenue available for distribution forecasts.
• From DF&A net general revenue available for distribution forecasts.
• Staff has received information to distribute to the interested parties.
• Staff has received information to distribute to the interested parties.
• But we did produce some information to be distributed later yesterday that has some current state figures

Summary: The meeting began with a prayer, approval of the prior minutes, and a February 2026 revenue report from Carlos Silva of the Bureau of Legislative Research. He reported gross revenues of $5.36 billion and net collections of $4.5 billion, both above the prior year, and said the updated forecast showed a larger expected surplus than before. Members asked about declines in some tax categories, natural gas severance fees, and possible effects of inflation and international conflict; Silva generally attributed the changes to timing issues, prior tax cuts, refund activity, and price fluctuations, and said he could not speculate on future impacts. The committee then heard and adopted several subcommittee reports, including the Executive Committee, Administrative Rules, Claims Review, Game and Fish State Police, Higher Education, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Occupational Licensing Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and APER filings. Most reports were approved without objection. One budget classification transfer for the Commissioner of State Lands was reviewed and failed. The review report also led to discussion of several contracts, including DHS staffing contracts and a Department of Education security contract, with some items held or separated for individual votes. A major portion of the meeting focused on DHS and state staffing contracts for the Human Development Centers, Arkansas State Hospital, and related facilities. DHS officials said the contracts were on track against seven-year projections, but members expressed concern about heavy reliance on contract labor, vacancy rates, and the need to move workers onto state payrolls. Officials said they were preparing a recruitment and retention plan and described staffing levels, vacancies, and turnover. Members also questioned contract projections and federal-state funding matches, and several urged faster action to reduce contract labor costs. The committee also discussed a Department of Commerce reduction-in-force affecting the Division of Services for the Blind and Employment and Training. Secretary Hugh McDonald said the cuts were driven by funding shortfalls, over-obligation of funds, and federal issues, and that 27 positions would be permanently eliminated while furloughed employees would be recalled. Members raised concerns about service impacts, board appointments, and the division’s fiscal management. The meeting ended after the personnel report was adopted and APER was filed as reviewed, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think maybe just looking at Those numbers and the distribution, as we're, you know, to give you
• And although we are hiring those positions, our distribution of those funds did not include those five
• timing on our vacancies and bad timing on when they had to get the numbers turned in in terms of distributing
• Again, we weren't part of the discussion on what the distribution was of the group health insurance.
• And that is the Motor Vehicle Suspense Fund, where we already get distribution.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Municipalities distribute funds locally and then report data to us, and I'll walk you through the process
• The Department of Revenue collects the lodging tax revenue and distributes it to municipalities.
• In 2024, 213 municipalities received a lodging tax distribution.
• From its start until 2020, OPDP did so through in-person meetings across the state, distributing privacy
• Statute and grant agreements direct revenue distribution. 53% of the revenues were directed to general

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee met on September 17, 2025, in hybrid format. After roll call, the committee initially lacked a quorum and deferred approval of the July 15 minutes until Representative Berg arrived; the minutes were then adopted. Members also discussed the proposed 2026 JLARC meeting schedule, including possible changes to address crowded July meetings and the annual tax exemption review workload. Staff presented the annual lodging tax expenditures report, noting that 213 municipalities received distributions in 2024, with 91% reporting compliance, $114 million awarded for more than 1,700 activities, and no independent verification of the self-reported data. Several members questioned the value and usefulness of the report, and the executive committee indicated it may recommend removing the statutory reporting requirement. The committee then heard the preliminary performance audit of the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, which found the office meets its statutory responsibilities and has high user satisfaction, but recommended updating the statute to better match the office’s current capacity and focus and improving performance measures to reflect long-term privacy outcomes rather than outputs. Members asked about FERPA and other federal privacy laws, and OPDP staff said they provide general privacy training and consultation but not law-specific training unless requested. The committee adopted the final report on Washington State recreational boating programs without recommendation, after staff reported that boating revenues support both general government and boating activities and that no participating agencies submitted formal comments. Members asked about boater safety education and possible overlap among the six agencies involved; Parks staff said education has reached more than 500,000 boaters and that fatalities and incidents have declined. The committee also reviewed planned study questions for a JLARC review of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker laws, with members raising scope questions about the term “farm worker” versus “agricultural worker,” and for DNR’s Eastern Washington sustainable harvest calculation, which JLARC will review as DNR completes its recalculation. Finally, staff outlined the 2026 tax preference performance reviews covering seven preferences, and members asked about racial equity, environmental impacts, disclosure of beneficiary savings, and how the reviews will measure effectiveness; the meeting adjourned before noon.

Transcript Highlights:

• These facilities have not distributed themselves evenly across our state to meet the greatest need.
• The written testimony that was just distributed has lots of information and some items for further research
• This bill closes the gap by addressing a unique challenge of AI misuse in creating and distributing intimate
• So one is the person who actually creates, distributes the person that is doing that harm, but then the
• second is If that image is being, uh, distributed through a website, whether that's, uh, Twitter or

Transcript Highlights:

• In regards to various other taxes, it doubles the distribution from $30 million to $60 million from beverage
• In regards to various other taxes, it doubles the distribution from $30 million to $60 million from beverage
• In regards to various other taxes, it doubles the distribution from $30 million to $60 million from beverage
• In regards to various other taxes, it doubles the distribution from $30 million to $60 million from beverage
• In regards to various other taxes, it doubles the distribution from $30 million to $60 million from beverage

Summary: The Finance and Tax Committee met and first heard SB 674, which would allow county property appraisers, like tax collectors already can, to budget for and pay hiring or retention bonuses if approved in their Department of Revenue budget. Support came from property appraiser representatives, who said the bill would help them compete for specialized staff without requiring new funding. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SJR 318, a proposed constitutional amendment on tangible personal property used on agricultural land, along with an amendment clarifying the exemption’s scope and allowing the Legislature to set conditions by general law. Farm Bureau and the Florida Chamber supported the measure, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the joint resolution favorably. Members also took up CS for SB 1664, which would require voter reapproval of local discretionary taxes when they expire; an amendment changed the bill to require expiration dates and tied reapproval to tax expiration rather than a fixed eight-year cycle. Local government and tourism groups raised concerns about impacts on tourist development taxes, transportation surtaxes, beaches funding, and long-term financing, while supporters argued voters should periodically affirm local taxes. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee considered SJR 1510 and its implementing bill SB 1512, both dealing with a homestead-style property tax benefit for certain long-term leased residential properties. After multiple amendments narrowed the proposal substantially, limiting it to one qualifying property and then to single-family homes, mobile homes, and condominium units, counties and cities still opposed the measures as a tax shift to other taxpayers. The sponsor said the changes reduced the scope and fiscal impact, and both measures were reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SPB 7034, the Senate tax package, which includes permanent sales tax exemptions, multiple tax holidays, motor vehicle fee reductions, a property tax study, rural investment tax credits, a freeze on local communications services tax rates, and other tax changes, with an estimated $2.1 billion revenue reduction. Testimony was mixed: property appraisers supported the property tax study, while many public commenters opposed the firearm and ammunition tax holiday and urged inclusion of gun safes and locks instead. County, city, tourism, and lodging representatives raised concerns about tourist development tax limits and other local revenue impacts, while supporters emphasized tax relief and the study’s value. After debate, the committee adopted a motion to submit SPB 7034 as a committee bill and reported it favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the authority of the Public Utility Commission and addresses criminal offenses for creating, distributing
• to the authority of the Public Utility Commission and addresses criminal offenses for creating, distributing
• HB 912 by Mooney, relating to the compensation of a distributed renewable generation owner for certain
• to the authority of the Public Utility Commission and addresses criminal offenses for creating, distributing
• SB 1118 by Huffman relates to the distribution of state traffic fine revenue received by the comptroller

Bills: HJR99, HB1399, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HCR35, SB14, HB 12, HB1522, HB422, HB675, HB204, HB748, HB912, HJR99, HB1399, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HCR35, HCR123, HCR124, HR57, HR87, HR111, HR228, HR230, HR322, HR624, HR625, HR626, HR627, HR628, HR630, HR631, HR634, HR635, HR636, HR637, HR638, HR639, HR640, HR645, HR646, HR648, HR649, HR651, HR652, HR653, HR654, HR664, HR665, HR668, HR675, HR676, HR678, HR679, HR680, HR683, HR686, HR688, HR689, HR694, HR695, HR697, HR698, HR699, HR472, HR622, HR632, HR633, HR643, HR655, HR657, HR660, HR661, HR662, HR663, HR667, HR670, HR674, HR681, HR682, HR696

Keywords: animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, constitutional amendment, retail sale, tangible personal property, Texas tax code, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption, regulation, deceased transportation, HB 365

Transcript Highlights:

• construction, operation, maintenance. and leasing of state facilities, and the sale, relocation, or distribution
• Texas currently has no mandatory minimum standards related to transmission and distribution infrastructure
• More distribution into the Permian Basin because of the bill I passed last time or not?
• need to go to ensure, one, that we're building the right amount and right type of transmission distribution
• around 760 P5, so what I have asked staff to do is make sure that not only those transmission distribution

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've distributed over 10,000 pounds of produce in Harding and Union counties.
• I believe it's a distribution of Narcan as well as helping out our veterans. Mr.
• I believe it's a distribution of NARCAN as well as helping out our veterans. Mr.
• And the second is to increase distribution of MAT to individuals who are uninsured, specifically.
• And so I appreciate. ...the distributions. And so I appreciate you sort of clarifying that.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• fund in 2028 from distribution fund in 2028 from 43.5%<00:26:46.640> to 43.5% to 43.5% to 36.5%
• <00:27:06.320> fund highway user tax distribution fund highway user tax distribution fund
• And I've distributed that. Uh, you all should have a version of it.
• Chair, there will be distributed a um landscape document that's slightly different than this what's in
• a um landscape document distributed a um landscape document that's<01:12:43.520> slightly<01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:23:10.560> companies the transmission distributions companies the transmission distributions
• The transmission distribution cost—this would probably be transmission, not distribution, but it would
• transmission and distribution transmission and distribution electricity<01:25:34.280> rates
• <01:26:06.520> transmission about the distribution transmission about the distribution transmission
• :49.840> distribution<01:27:50.719> but<01:27:50.880> would transmission not distribution

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.