Transcript Highlights:

• One has to do with the biofuels innovation and efficiency pilot program, and of course I've noticed a
• One has to do with the biofuels innovation and efficiency pilot program, and of course I've noticed a
• One has to do with the biofuels innovation and efficiency pilot program, and of course I've noticed a
• </c><00:36:06.400><c> in</c> there are significant lapses in there are significant lapses in resources
• Um and while I am get a lot of notice.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just wanted to comment, as you probably noticed, I'm perfectly okay with not going follow-up.
• RIMS allows us to send out reminder-to-pay letters, so we send out a tax notice and then, in 30 days,
• lapses, you would be transferred to collections, and collections would contact you.
• </c><01:16:50.880><c> and</c> if a taxpayer receives a tax notice and if a taxpayer receives a tax notice
• I noticed in your cover letter you said you had about a 4% cut in your budget.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority officials, led by Executive Director Rob Dapice, briefed legislators on the agency’s structure and funding. They explained that the authority is created by state law but is not a state agency, its debt is not state debt, and it is governed by a board appointed by the governor and approved by the Executive Council. The discussion focused on the Affordable Housing Fund and the lead paint hazard remediation fund, including how state appropriations and federal resources are combined to finance affordable rental housing and lead abatement work. Dapice said the Affordable Housing Fund is used as gap financing for multifamily affordable housing projects, typically alongside federal tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, and that state dollars leverage roughly 2:1 to 10:1 in additional federal and private investment, averaging about 4:1. He said the fund has received historic appropriations in recent budgets, including $30 million over the last two biennial budgets and an annual $5 million set-aside from the real estate transfer tax. He also said the fund is usually structured as 0% interest, deferred loans rather than grants, with repayments returning to the fund if projects generate cash flow. Members asked about rents, oversight, staffing, revenues, and whether the programs had added positions. Dapice said affordability restrictions generally last 30 to 99 years, rents are tied to income limits and capped so tenants pay no more than 30% of income, and compliance staff inspect properties regularly to verify income eligibility and rent limits. He said the organization has about 130 to 135 employees, down from about 145, with no new positions added because of the appropriations. He estimated total revenues at roughly $300 million, with administrative budget around $22 million, much of it pass-through grant money. On lead paint remediation, he said the state first appropriated $6 million in 2019, plus $1 million in ARPA funds, and that the program has cleared more than 500 units. He said the federal grant program is not annual or predictable, with a recent award of about $7.75 million, and that the maximum federal grant per unit is $177,000, typically paired with up to $100,000 in state loan support. He also noted that the program can address homes before a child is poisoned if lead hazards are identified, but that cases involving an already exposed child are a higher priority. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Notice has been provided as required by law.
• So, based upon the return of service provided by counsel, this certifies that the notice of hearing on
• Sheriff Joe Harper certifies that he was unable to serve a copy of said notice and petition upon the
• And this, if you notice the title, it talks about ineligibility, and the courts have construed this as
• And that's what the lapse with that office's election.

Summary: The Oklahoma State Election Board held a special meeting to address several candidate contests and related procedural matters. After roll call and opening remarks, counsel explained the hearing procedures, burden of proof, and possible outcomes. Several cases were noted as resolved or withdrawn, including Timmons v. Jones, Banning v. Sutterfield, and Roberts v. Gaw. In Ranson v. Riley, the board accepted constructive service after the respondent did not appear, heard that Riley was not a registered voter in the required district for the required period, and voted 3-0 to sustain the petition and strike him from the ballot, with costs assessed to the petitioner. The board then heard Hasenbach v. Pugh, a contest challenging Senator Adam Pugh’s candidacy for Superintendent of Public Instruction under the Oklahoma Constitution’s emoluments ineligibility clause. The petitioner argued that Pugh was a sitting legislator whose office’s salary and benefits had increased during his term, relying on stipulated facts, a compensation commission order, and prior case law. The respondent argued the salary increase came from an independent commission that expressly excluded current legislators and that benefit changes were automatic under a preexisting statute, so no qualifying increase applied to Pugh. The board resolved several procedural issues first, including striking a reply brief as beyond the original petition and admitting joint stipulations into the record. After a recess and executive session, the board returned to open session and voted 3-0 to deny the petition in Hasenbach v. Pugh, retaining Pugh as a candidate on the ballot and assessing costs to the petitioner. The meeting concluded with closing remarks from the secretary and a unanimous vote to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so then you have a lapse for that fall semester, and you hope that you'll have enough credits then
• Um, so you'll have the health insurance then moving forward in the spring, but you always have that lapse
• And so then you have a lapse for that fall semester, and you hope that you'll have enough credits then
• Um, so you'll have the health insurance then moving forward in the spring, but you always have that lapse
• Um, so you'll have the health insurance then moving forward in the spring, but you always have that lapse

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• at times can take two to three years, during which time any appropriation tied to this bill would lapse
• at times can take two to three years, during which time any appropriation tied to this bill would lapse
• at times can take two to three years, during which time any appropriation tied to this bill would lapse
• at times can take two to three years, during which time any appropriation tied to this bill would lapse
• Would lapse, and we know that that could jeopardize the program ever coming to fruition at all.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills, with testimony largely in support. SB 1388 and SB 1393, both concerning the School Facilities Authority and Department of Education representation and land conveyances, received support from DOE and the School Facilities Authority, with no questions or action taken. SB 423, which would add Head Start representation to the Early Learning Board, was supported by the Early Learning Board and the Executive Office on Early Learning, which explained the bill would realign the board with federal Head Start Act requirements after the board was restructured in Act 170; EEL also requested an effective-date amendment. SB 422, allowing DOE to award diplomas to students whose education was disrupted by war, drew support from DOE, the Chamber of Commerce, the Military Council, and the Special Education Advisory Council, but also significant opposition from the Hawaii Patriot Republicans and many individuals; members asked questions about the bill, and DOE explained the measure’s purpose, but no vote was taken. The committee also took testimony on SB 532, which would expand who may administer certain medications in schools. DOE, the Department of Health, and the University of Hawaii supported the bill. Members asked detailed questions about oral, nasal, and topical medications and the process for prescription review and administration; DOE explained that parents request the medication, a school form is completed, a nurse reviews it, and either a trained school health assistant or a contracted nurse administers the medication. DOE said the measure could improve attendance and learning, especially for students with ADHD, asthma, and other chronic conditions. The committee then heard SB 659 on locally sourced food products and school meals, where DOE’s procurement office opposed the higher small-purchase threshold and DOE exemption from procurement rules, while Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others supported the bill as a way to advance farm-to-school goals and the 30% local food target by 2030. Testimony and questioning focused on the proposed threshold increase, transparency, and whether an online bidding system would be preferable. Finally, the committee heard SB 1300 on subsidies for ALICE families’ school meals. DOE supported the bill but requested amendments: defining eligibility at 250% of the federal poverty level, delaying implementation until the 2026-2027 school year, and covering reduced-price lunch students in full for 2025-2026. HSTA, Hawaii Appleseed, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Pride at Work Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and others supported the measure, emphasizing food insecurity, the burden of meal paperwork, and the educational importance of free meals. Hawaii Appleseed suggested replacing ALICE with a federal poverty level standard and removing a rulemaking requirement that could delay implementation. No votes or final committee actions were reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The June 1st notice that is expected is expected to be very similar to the notice that was released on
• We also put a notice on the North Dakota Legislative Branch website.
• We also put a notice on the North Dakota Legislative Branch website.
• You will notice that there are eight counties in black.
• You'll notice an initial interest in the survey that then tapers off.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• California policyholders unfortunately receive a non-renewal notice from their insurers at the fourth
• They're treated appropriately by prohibiting unfair... ...transparent notices.
• They're treated appropriately by prohibiting unfair. transparent notices.
• California already has one of the longest non-renewal notice periods in the country at 75 days.
• Thank you for noticing. I noticed. Okay, all right, file item number one, SB 1209, Allen.

Summary: The committee heard three major insurance-related bills. SB 1209 by Senator Allen would give the Insurance Commissioner new authority to require insurers to implement corrective actions found in market conduct and financial exams, with penalties for failure to comply. Supporters, including Commissioner Ricardo Lara and his deputies, said current law leaves CDI without a direct way to compel remediation of repeated violations or obtain needed financial information, while opponents argued the bill expands CDI authority too far, could duplicate existing penalties, and should be limited to legal violations rather than recommendations. After discussion, members and the author agreed to narrow the bill through amendments, including tying it to legal violations, applying penalties per exam rather than per policy, and clarifying accounting language; the committee then passed the bill 5-1 to Appropriations, with one member on call. SB 1301, also by Senator Allen, would reform residential property insurance non-renewals by requiring clearer written explanations, giving homeowners a chance to mitigate correctable issues, and prohibiting certain unfair non-renewal bases such as claims below deductible or claims not paid by the insurer. The author and supporters said Californians face unusually high non-renewal rates and often receive vague notices that make it hard to keep coverage, while opponents warned the bill’s original 180-day notice period and reporting requirements were too burdensome and could worsen availability. Senator Richardson said he would support the bill after the author agreed to reduce the notice period to about three months and continue working on a mitigation-based process; the committee then approved the bill 4-1, with one member on call. The committee also considered SB 1026 by Senator Gonzalez, which would strengthen regulation of bail fugitive recovery agents by allowing CDI to suspend or revoke licenses without a criminal conviction, expanding prohibited conduct, and tightening insurance and appointment requirements. Supporters, including Commissioner Lara, said the 2022 licensing law left loopholes that allow misconduct to continue and that the bill would improve public safety and accountability. Opponents from the bail industry and crime victims groups argued the bill requires unavailable or impractical insurance coverage, including coverage for willful acts, and could reduce the number of recovery agents and delay justice. Members raised concerns about the insurance language and availability, and the author said the bill was still being worked on with opposition; the committee passed it 4-1, with one member on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 982 by Senator Wiener, the Affordable Insurance and Recovery Act, which would let the Attorney General seek recovery from fossil fuel companies for climate-related costs affecting the Fair Plan and private policyholders. The author said Californians are paying rising insurance and disaster costs while fossil fuel companies that contributed to climate change are not, and witnesses from flood and wildfire communities and climate policy experts supported the bill as a way to fund recovery and resilience. Opponents, including business and labor representatives, argued the bill would impose broad liability, invite litigation, and harm jobs and energy affordability. The hearing included extensive testimony, but no vote was taken on SB 982 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• California policyholders unfortunately receive a non-renewal notice from their insurers at the fourth
• California already has one of the longest non-renewal notice periods in the country at 75 days.
• Unfortunately, extended notice periods often add very little value for many consumers and likely lead
• But notices are often filed after the apprehension and in some cases appear to have been backdated.
• Thank you for noticing. I noticed. Okay, all right, file item number one, SB 1209, Allen.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• “California policyholders unfortunately receive a non-renew notice from their insurers at the fourth
• They’re treated appropriately by prohibiting unfair...” “...transparent notices.
• Unfortunately, extended notice periods often add very little value for many consumers and likely lead
• But notices are often filed after the apprehension and in some cases appear to have been backdated.
• Thank you for noticing. I noticed. Okay, all right, file item number one, SB 1209, Allen.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several insurance-related bills. SB 1209 by Senator Allen, sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, would give the Department of Insurance stronger enforcement tools when insurers fail to implement corrective actions identified in market conduct or financial examinations. Supporters said the bill would close gaps that allow repeated violations, improve solvency oversight, and protect policyholders; opponents argued CDI already has broad authority and raised concerns about duplicative penalties, due process, and the bill’s scope. Members discussed amendments to limit the bill to legal violations rather than recommendations, apply penalties per exam rather than per policy, and clarify accounting language. The committee voted to send SB 1209 to Appropriations, with the bill placed on call after a roll vote that included one no vote from Senator Niello. The committee also considered SB 1301, which would require more detailed non-renewal notices for residential property insurance, give policyholders time and information to address correctable issues, and restrict certain non-renewal reasons such as claims below deductible or not covered by the policy. Support came from homeowners, fire survivors, and consumer groups who said notices are often vague and leave families unable to keep coverage; insurers opposed the bill, warning that California’s notice period is already among the longest in the country and that the bill could worsen availability and add burdensome reporting requirements. The author said he was willing to reduce the notice period from 180 days to about three months and work on a mitigation-based process. The committee passed the bill to Appropriations, with Senator Niello voting no and the item placed on call. SB 1026 by Senator Gonzalez would tighten regulation of bail fugitive recovery agents by allowing the Department of Insurance to suspend or revoke licenses without a criminal conviction, adding conduct restrictions, and requiring continuous liability coverage and proper appointment notices. Supporters, including Commissioner Lara, said the bill addresses serious misconduct and loopholes that have led to unsafe conduct and weak oversight. Bail industry representatives and crime victims’ advocates opposed the measure, arguing that the required insurance coverage is unavailable or unlawful as written, that the bill would be hard to comply with, and that it could reduce the number of recovery agents and delay justice. The committee moved SB 1026 to Appropriations, with Senator Niello voting no and the bill placed on call. The committee then heard SB 982 by Senator Wiener, the Affordable Insurance and Recovery Act, which would authorize the Attorney General to sue fossil fuel companies to recover costs tied to climate disasters and insurance losses, with supporters framing it as a way to shift some climate-related costs away from policyholders and taxpayers. The author said amendments would remove retroactivity and delay liability until 2032, while supporters from flood and wildfire survivor groups and climate organizations said the bill would help fund recovery and stabilize insurance costs. Opponents from industry and building trades argued the bill was legally vulnerable, would create a de facto tax or liability scheme, and could harm jobs, energy production, and affordability. Testimony on SB 982 was extensive, but the transcript ends before any committee vote or final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Norwood is barely mentioned, though I noticed there is a bill today.
• She suffered lapses in coverage when he did too much overtime.
• After a final lapse in coverage, Her health deteriorated irreversibly.
• committee that when someone signs up to testify at these State House hearings, they should get a return notice

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on 16 bills, with the chairs noting a busy legislative day and asking speakers to keep testimony brief. The committee first heard testimony on Senate 860/House 1405, the Medicare for All bill, with Sen. Jamie Eldridge and many advocates, clinicians, municipal officials, and patients arguing that a single-payer system would make care a right, reduce administrative waste, lower costs, and protect residents from rising premiums, medical debt, and hospital closures. Several speakers cited the Steward hospital crisis, affordability problems, and polling or ballot questions showing public support for single-payer coverage. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then took testimony on S. 863, a bill on non-opioid options for chronic pain. Pain specialists, patients, and advocates said the bill would improve care coordination for MassHealth members, expand access to non-opioid medications, require provider education, and collect data on chronic pain. Testifiers described long delays in diagnosis and treatment, stigma toward pain patients, and the need for multidisciplinary care and transportation support. Again, the committee heard testimony only and took no action. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 1360/S. 869, which would prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in health care. Disability advocates, clinicians, and patients described being denied or delayed care, pressured into DNR orders, or treated based on assumptions about quality of life rather than medical facts. Speakers referenced COVID-era crisis standards of care, discriminatory metrics, and personal stories involving canceled procedures, inadequate accommodations, and poor treatment in hospitals. Committee members thanked speakers for their testimony and said they would review the bill and its implications, but no vote was announced. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1399, an individual Medicare marketplace option for municipal retirees, where supporters said it would give cities and towns a lower-cost alternative for retiree health benefits through HRAs and individual Medicare plans. The hearing then returned to Medicare for All testimony, with additional supporters repeating arguments about cost, access, municipal budget pressure, and the need for global budgeting and universal coverage. The transcript ends with continued testimony and no recorded committee vote or final action on any bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• any kind of actual background in and education in the sciences, which I just think it's kind of a lapse
• This law defines what a migrant vessel is establishes a five-day removal notice period and authorizes

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then on the, the non non-recurring side, I feel like I noticed uh large additions for firefighter
• And, and it went through by a lapse of time. Uh, I'd have to look back.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 5534 affords the county commissioner's court the ability. to post a meeting agenda notice
• rights to a private provider by adding fair notice requirements.
• Unfortunately, there was a small lapse in the bill; we said that these people had to go file with the
• A taxpayer receives a notice that they'll be set for trial in two weeks.
• If the taxpayer receives a notice, they'll have an hour to process for their trial.

Bills: SB2784, HB23, HB247, HB1533, HB2011, HB2013, HB2273, HB2421, HB2464, HB3120, HB3424, HB3575, HB3788, HB4370, HB4809, HB5057, HB5084, HB5534, HB5668, HJR34, HB23, HB247, HJR34

Keywords: Somervell County, hospital district, board of directors, elections, local governance, staggered terms, third-party review, property development, local government, permits, construction inspection, regulatory authority, land development, liability, occupancy certificate, border security, tax exemption, ad valorem, real property, infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't want to lapse into too much political punditry, but people have pointed this out.
• that's very interesting I I don't<00:12:02.279><c> want</c><00:12:02.360><c> to</c><00:12:02.519><c> lapse
• </c><00:12:03.000><c> into</c><00:12:03.200><c> too</c><00:12:03.360><c> much</c> don't want to lapse
• into too much don't want to lapse into too much political<00:12:04.160><c> punditry</c><00:12:05.200
• have accidents in place and we just do have accidents in place and we just never<01:19:29.560><c> notice

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The public has a right to document, give notice, and record public law enforcement activities.
• First step is the defendant needs to receive notice, and it's Rule 26.12(c).
• The notice says it shall be by summons, not by arrest warrant initially, unless a court can find the
• The JPs, because they deal with petty offenses, noticed that those petty offenses cannot be sealed.
• Those are typically handled by the JP courts, which is why they noticed the oversight.

Bills: HB2109, HB2168, HB2198, HB2226, HB2415, HB2440, HB2665, HB2805, HB2811, HB2825, HB2857, HB2874, HB2966, HB4067, HB4117, HCR2001, HCR2016, HCR2051

Keywords: distracted driving, portable wireless communication devices, motorcycles, traffic safety, civil penalties, public nuisance, nuisance abatement, abatement action, injunction, superior court, attorney general, county attorney, city attorney, board of supervisors, obscenity, obscene materials, adult materials, pornography, schools, parks

Bills: SB6277, SB5992, SB6078, SB6089, SB5918, SB5861, SB6118, SB6065, SB6052

Keywords: military families, military children, school enrollment, residency requirements, public schools, school districts, educational stability, student mobility, interstate compact, military relocation, active duty, military orders, special education, IEP, Section 504, records transfer, conditional enrollment, Washington schools, RCW 28A.225.215, military installation

Summary: The Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee began with a clarification about a prior budget bill affecting Running Start, emphasizing that it would reduce funding to colleges per student but would not reduce student participation in the program. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6277, which would promote educational stability for children of military families by easing enrollment requirements, extending proof-of-residency timelines, allowing conditional enrollment before arrival, and requiring prompt transfer of IEP and 504 records and services. The bill sponsor, student witnesses, school psychologists, military family representatives, and district officials generally supported the measure, while some school district testimony noted concerns about the accelerated special education timelines and related costs. The chair noted the importance of lived experience testimony and closed the hearing. The committee then moved into executive session on a first packet of bills. It adopted a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5992, creating a youth development fund and adding tribal consultation and priority provisions; passed Senate Bill 6078 on child care provider supports; adopted a substitute for Senate Bill 6089 on P20W data coordination and dashboard development; and adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 5918 increasing MSOC allocations, then sent it to Ways and Means. After caucus, the committee took up a second packet. For Senate Bill 5861 on school director districts, an amendment to require director-district candidates to be elected only by voters in the director district failed, but the proposed substitute passed. For Senate Bill 6118 on cardiac emergency response plans, the committee adopted a substitute limiting requirements to the extent state funding is appropriated, then passed the bill. Senate Bill 6065, allowing certain districts to use transportation vehicle funds for temporary loans or transfers under financial oversight, passed without amendment. Senate Bill 6052, requiring a statewide digital transcript exchange platform, passed and was sent to Ways and Means. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fourth, the bill removes a requirement for advance notice to be given to the state finance committee

Bills: SB6018, SB6026, SB6027, SB6028, SB5937, SB5938

Keywords: housing, finance, commission, state funding, affordable housing, residential development, zoning reform, mixed-use zoning, commercial zones, Growth Management Act, GMA, state preemption, local land use, development regulations, ground-floor retail, ground-floor commercial, permit waiver, waiver process, density, urban growth area

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 6026, which would require cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act with populations of 30,000 or more to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones and prohibit mandatory ground-floor commercial or mixed-use requirements in most such areas, with exemptions for certain sensitive or constrained locations. The prime sponsor, Senator Alvarado, and supporters from the Governor’s Office, Commerce, housing advocates, developers, and major employers said the bill would unlock underused land, reduce housing costs, and add flexibility where infrastructure already exists. Local government and business representatives raised concerns about impacts on small business corridors, tax base stability, planning assumptions, and the loss of ground-floor retail in main street and transit-oriented areas, while several asked for narrower carve-outs or technical amendments. The committee also took public hearing testimony on Senate Bill 6018, which would update the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s authority to allow more flexible financing tools, including direct mortgage lending to borrowers, while clarifying that the bill is not intended to authorize first-mortgage lending for homebuyers. The commission, the sponsor, and banking stakeholders said the changes would modernize outdated statutes and help finance affordable housing, and bankers said they were working with the sponsor on clarifying language. No vote was taken on SB 6018 during the hearing. Senate Bill 6027 was heard next and would expand how local housing-related sales tax revenues and state affordable housing funds can be used, including for operations, maintenance, preservation, and rehabilitation of existing affordable housing and supportive housing. Supporters from counties, cities, housing providers, and advocacy groups said the bill would help preserve existing units and respond to federal funding uncertainty, especially around permanent supportive housing and Continuum of Care dollars. Testifiers also asked for additional flexibility for rental assistance and for certain local uses, but no committee action was taken during the public hearing. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6028, which would create a revolving loan fund administered by the Housing Finance Commission to support mixed-income affordable homeownership projects. The sponsor and supporters said the fund would help stalled for-sale projects move forward, recycle dollars through repayment, and create permanently affordable homes; one supporter suggested increasing the project cap and clarifying eligible capital sources. The committee did take executive action on SB 5937 and SB 5938 earlier in the meeting, adopting amendments and advancing both bills with due-pass recommendations to the Rules Committee.

Bills: HB123, HB5606, HB549, HB2757, HB4359, HB5381, HB1939, HB123

Keywords: HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention, math intervention, teacher academy, literacy academy, mathematics academy, interventionist academy, K-3 assessments, school readiness, prekindergarten, tutoring grant, parent-directed tutoring

Bills: HB104, HB2434, HB2529, HB2688, HB3161, HB3486, HB3487, HB3745, HB4044, HB4226, HB4945, HB104

Keywords: Texas Future Fund, investment review board, economic stabilization, innovative technology, national defense, retirement, service credit, Employees Retirement System of Texas, employee benefits, pension reform, salary supplement, county judges, judicial functions, state law, government compensation, public retirement systems, municipality pensions, firefighters, police officers, retirement age

Transcript Highlights:

• making sure our families, especially those in rural communities with private wells, get timely direct notice
• making sure our families, especially those in rural communities with private wells, get timely direct notice

Bills: HB3115, HB5671, HB5693, SB790, SB1055, SB1302, SB1504, SB1625, SB1663, SB2692

Keywords: Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater, water wells, domestic well, livestock well, exempt well, metering device, well meter, groundwater conservation district, Special District Local Laws Code, Water Code, Section 36.117, groundwater regulation, water rights, aquifer management, municipal utility, retail public utility, groundwater export, water supply contract, election

Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources heard testimony on a series of water, utility, and groundwater-related bills. Early items included HB 5693, which would let Drainage District 7 hold board elections in November of odd-numbered years when a countywide election is occurring, and HB 5671, which would update the Johnson County Special Utility District by clarifying board eligibility, allowing bond issuance, and removing redundant TCEQ approval language to reduce costs and delays. Both bills were left pending after brief testimony from bill sponsors and local witnesses. The committee also heard SB 1504, which would update the Gulf Coast Authority to allow video-conference participation in meetings, and SB 1302, aimed at closing a TCEQ permitting loophole that allowed dischargers with prior denials or suspensions to reapply through an automated process without meaningful review. SB 2692 drew substantial discussion: it would change the signature threshold for outside-city-limits customers appealing municipal utility rates to the PUC by customer class. Valero supported the bill as a way to avoid requiring large-volume users to gather signatures from unrelated residential customers, while the City of Corpus Christi opposed it, arguing that lowering the threshold to one customer could trigger expensive appeals costing $500,000 to $1 million. A PUC witness said such cases are increasing and that the agency would need additional staff under the fiscal note. SB 790, creating a simplified PUC complaint process for small water and wastewater billing disputes, and SB 1663, expanding TCEQ notice requirements for nearby residents when groundwater contamination is discovered, were also heard and left pending. Additional bills included HB 3115, clarifying that the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District cannot require meters on exempt domestic or livestock wells; SB 1055, raising the Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District’s production fee cap from 1 cent to 7 cents per 1,000 gallons; and SB 1625, requiring private water and wastewater utilities to report cybersecurity incidents to TCEQ and DIR. The committee then took up pending business and adopted a substitute for SB 7, which made several changes to water fund use, eminent domain coordination, and EDAP-related provisions, and voted 10-0 to report it favorably. The committee also adopted a substitute for HB 2347, a county water conservation program bill, and reported it favorably 9-1. HB 5675 and SB 2476 were each reported favorably 10-0. The meeting concluded with adjournment.