Transcript Highlights:

• Charlotte Hall, our state's territorial historian, called this place home for a few years, and perhaps
• This one was to showcase the importance of our history at the First Territorial Governor's Mansion in
• But this first territorial governor's mansion is more than... ...of the Arizona Territory.
• But this first territorial governor's mansion is more than just a historic building.
• Fremont, during his time in office. ...home to Arizona's fifth territorial governor, John C.

Summary: The committee began with short video presentations highlighting historic sites in Prescott, including the Arizona Pioneer Home and the Charlotte Hall Museum/First Territorial Governor’s Mansion, with members discussing the value of showcasing district landmarks and rural history. The committee then took up HB 2804, a bill to create a state rural development and housing tax credit tied to the federal low-income housing tax credit for projects in counties under 800,000 population. Supporters, including the Flagstaff mayor and several affordable-housing developers, said the bill would help finance rural and workforce housing, especially for seniors, veterans, and low-income residents, while opponents from the Arizona Free Enterprise Club argued the program is inefficient, hard to police, and benefits intermediaries more than residents. Members debated the policy at length, but the bill was ultimately passed on a 7-0 vote with a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered HB 2388, which would appropriate unspecified funds to the Arizona Commerce Authority to study the economic benefits of small modular reactors and data centers for the state and local governments. The sponsor described it as a study bill to gather information on a topic already drawing significant attention, and a representative from the Libre Initiative supported it as a way to assess workforce and economic opportunities. Members discussed possible amendments, including adding data on utility-rate impacts and other costs, and the sponsor said she was open to that conversation. The bill passed on a 6-1 vote, with one member opposed and others expressing support contingent on possible amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• But my concern with this bill was, am I allowing a tax break for an upgrade within an existing territory
• An upgrade within an existing territory?
• Can you speak to upgraded equipment within an existing territory?
• Can you speak to upgraded equipment within an existing territory?
• Can you speak to upgraded equipment within an existing territory?

Summary: The House first established a quorum after a brief quorum call and a recognition of Doug Pitt and Crystal Simon of Care to Learn, an organization described as serving students statewide with clothing and other support products. The chamber then moved through a series of bills on perfection and printing, with members often explaining the purpose of each measure and offering supportive or critical questions. House Bill 2848 would create the offense of masked intimidation, making it a misdemeanor to conceal one’s face while intentionally harassing, intimidating, or threatening another person in a way that places them in reasonable fear for their safety. Members discussed historical examples such as hooded intimidation and modern examples involving doorbell cameras; concerns about law enforcement or ICE were raised and answered by the sponsor as outside the bill’s intent. The bill was ordered perfected and printed. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1791 would require building permits to be issued within 30 days, or 60 days for larger tracts, with an appeals process if applications are incomplete. Supporters said it would reduce red tape and help address housing affordability and disaster recovery, while opponents warned it could strain understaffed local governments. An amendment requiring code enforcement officials to be certified in any nationally or internationally recognized code they enforce was adopted, and the bill was then perfected and printed. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2465 was also perfected and printed; it would let sole proprietors and very small businesses buy group health coverage outside the ACA framework, expanding options for small employers. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2711 would reduce the assessment rate for broadband infrastructure and investment from 33% to 12% for seven years. Members debated whether the incentive should apply to upgrades within existing service areas or only to expansion into underserved areas; an amendment clarifying that the purpose is to promote expansion of fiber and broadband services was adopted, and the bill was perfected and printed. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3080 would restore historic preservation tax credit language previously enacted and later struck down by the courts; supporters from across the state cited recovery, tourism, and redevelopment projects, and the bill was perfected and printed. House Bill 1772 would raise state payments for adoption attorneys and separate guardian fees to help reduce barriers to adoption; it was described as a first step to help children move more quickly into permanent homes and was perfected and printed. House Bill 296 would increase state matching funds for regional planning commissions, update the list of commissions, and tie future maximum grants to the consumer price index; it was also perfected. Finally, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2913 and 3228 would protect teachers and other school employees from liability when they reasonably intervene to protect themselves or students from violence, while not requiring them to intervene; the measure was strongly supported by educators and was perfected and printed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seven named storms, four major hurricanes hit our service territory in that period of time.
• We had three named storms that impacted our service territory.
• compact, concise territory, and it's in the west coast, west central part of Florida.
• But fortunately for us, our service territory was not impacted by the majority of the hurricanes.
• Fortunately, for us, our service territory was not impacted by the majority of the hurricanes.

Summary: The committee met to hear invited presentations on storm recovery and storm protection from the Florida Public Service Commission, Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric, Chesapeake Utilities, and the Office of Public Counsel. The PSC reviewed the history of storm restoration financing and utility hardening efforts after major storms such as Hurricane Andrew, the 2004-05 hurricane seasons, Irma, and Michael, explaining storm reserve funds, storm recovery bonds, and the current three-year storm protection plan process. The commission’s role in approving plans and later reviewing prudence of actual costs was emphasized, along with the types of work included in the plans such as vegetation management, pole replacement, undergrounding, feeder hardening, and substation flood protection. The utilities described their own storm-hardening investments and recent storm performance. FPL said it has spent about $4.9 billion on storm protection and recovery-related efforts, highlighted improved restoration times during Helene and Milton, and said it is expanding undergrounding, feeder hardening, and smart-grid technology. Duke Energy reported more than 40,000 hardened poles and structures since 2021, major gains from self-healing grid technology, and faster restoration during recent storms. Tampa Electric described a roughly $200 million annual storm protection effort, including vegetation management, undergrounding, substation hardening, and new storm surge protections, and Chesapeake Utilities discussed its smaller-scale hardening program, vegetation work, pole replacement, and rapid restoration after Helene in Nassau County. Committee members asked about how utilities prioritize neighborhoods for lateral hardening, whether maps of planned projects could be shared, how much each utility has spent on undergrounding and hardening, and how reliability comparisons are normalized against the national average. Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler argued that storm recovery and hardening costs fall too heavily on investor-owned utility customers, said the current framework lacks a meaningful cost-benefit or prudence check at the planning stage, and urged broader sharing of storm costs because the benefits extend to the whole state. Senators also discussed whether the commission can review the reasonableness of approved programs and whether future reports or recommendations from Public Counsel would be helpful. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:43.839><c> were</c> 1972 when the service territories were 1972 when the service territories
• </c><00:10:53.120><c> would</c> those monopoly service territories would those monopoly service territories
• Territory Act in Kentucky Certified Territory Act in 1972, 1972, 1972, and<00:11:10.200><c> it</c><00
• is a privilege and not service territory is a privilege and not a<00:14:11.520><c> right.
• Again, these utilities were granted monopolies within these service territories to service them.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:38 SB 213 Discussion 00:01:23 SB 213 Roll Call Vote 00:20:45 SB 8 Discussion 00:26:23 SB 8 Roll Call Vote 00:58:16, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so if a customer shows up in our service territory, we're legally... to serve our customers.
• If you put a new large user on... ...in our service territory, I live in Ameren service territory in
• So in your territory, of all the proposals that have been discussed at these county commissions and at
• So in your territory, of all the proposals that have been discussed at these county commissions and at
• So in some utility service territories, the data centers might turn out as expected, but there might

Summary: The Committee on Utilities held an informational hearing on data centers in Missouri, with the chair explaining that the goal was to hear from three speakers with different perspectives and allow committee questions, but no public testimony. The first witness, Matt Edelow of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Columbia-Jefferson City Area Building Trades Council, spoke in support of data center development for its construction jobs, long-term employment, tax revenue, and local economic benefits. He said the Montgomery County projects had already put about 200 Missourians to work, described the facilities as using closed-loop water systems and generator noise levels that he said would be limited by setbacks and acoustics, and urged local hire and apprenticeship requirements. Committee members asked about water use, noise, cybersecurity, labor, and tax revenue, and he said one project could generate about $13.1 million annually at full buildout. The second witness, Rob Dixon of Ameren Missouri, testified that Senate Bill 4 and the Public Service Commission’s large-load tariff provide strong protections for existing customers. He said large data center customers must sign long-term contracts, pay 100% of interconnection costs, post collateral, pay at least 80% of contracted demand, and face exit and reduction fees, with load-shedding rules applying to them like other customers. Dixon said Ameren’s planning process includes engineering reviews and MISO review before projects proceed, and that the utility’s integrated resource plan calls for 5.3 gigawatts of new generation by 2030, with 2.2 gigawatts of signed large-load agreements already in place. He also said large customers can help spread fixed grid costs and put downward pressure on rates, and noted that the protections apply to investor-owned utilities, not co-ops or municipal utilities. The final witness, John Kaufman of the Consumers Council of Missouri, argued that the current protections are not strong enough and that data centers could raise rates through construction work in progress, stranded generation costs, and other risks if projects change or technology shifts. He urged greater consumer protections, including more upfront financial security from data centers, reconsideration of construction work in progress policies, and possibly requiring data centers to bring their own power in some cases. Committee members debated his claims about SB 4, QIP, and rate impacts, with some members saying the law already contains clawbacks and consumer-benefit requirements, while others echoed concerns about transparency and public understanding. The hearing ended without any votes or formal action, and the chair said the committee would continue the discussion in future meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that budget is in negative territory.
• It's projected to be in negative territory for about $2 billion.
• And that budget is in negative<00:02:10.720><c> territory.
• It's projected to be negative territory.
• negative territory for about$ two billion<00:02:14.400><c> dollars.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our service territory is not huge, 20 square miles.
• We do have some data centers within our service territory.
• And when I term out, I'm moving out of PG&E territory.
• PG&E is gung-ho for data centers in their service territory for the reason Mr.
• PG&E is gung-ho for data centers in their service territory for the reason Mr.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: A joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Utilities and Energy and Privacy and Consumer Protection focused on the energy impacts of AI and the rapid growth of data centers in California. Chairs and witnesses emphasized that the issue is not whether data centers should be served, but how to plan for them without harming grid reliability or shifting costs onto existing ratepayers. The hearing opened with testimony from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Dr. Nate Gleason, who described data centers as a major new load that creates planning uncertainty, reliability challenges, and affordability risks, and urged more integrated, uncertainty-based planning, flexible connection agreements, and co-located storage or demand response. The CEC, CPUC, CAISO, PG&E, Silicon Valley Power, and the Data Center Coalition all presented on forecasting, interconnection, transmission planning, and the need for clearer rules and better data. The California Energy Commission described its bottom-up forecasting approach using utility energization requests, project status, ramp assumptions, and interval meter data. It said data centers currently account for about 1,000 megawatts, with forecasted growth to roughly 4,900 megawatts under the planning forecast and 7,400 megawatts under the local reliability scenario by 2040, while noting major uncertainty in later years. The CPUC and CAISO discussed recent actions to speed energization, including implementation of AB 50 and SB 410, flexible service connection frameworks, PG&E’s Rule 30 tariff for large loads, annual integrated resource planning, and updated transmission permitting under SB 529. PG&E and Silicon Valley Power said they are already seeing substantial data center interest, are using cluster studies and flexible interconnection arrangements, and are investing in local and transmission upgrades to meet projected growth. Members pressed the panel on whether agencies have the authority and data needed to manage flexible load, curtailment, and rate impacts. Witnesses said they generally do have authority, but need to build the right framework and incentives, and the CPUC noted an upcoming advanced rate design rulemaking and additional study required by SB 57. Several witnesses distinguished between flexible service connections for getting connected sooner and operational flexibility once connected, including possible curtailment during peak periods. The Data Center Coalition argued that data centers also bring efficiency gains and support critical digital services, and suggested better forecasting practices such as using commercial readiness, standardized reporting, and backcasting. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and the second panel shifted to ratepayer impacts and cost allocation, including PG&E Rule 30 reimbursement issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• They must consist of contiguous territory.
• And it had territory on the east side. It had territory on the west side.
• But there was a point at which there was no territory on the north or south side.
• Each one is a single integrated whole and is not broken up by the territory of a different district.
• And it's not broken up by the territory of a different district. And that, Mr.

Summary: The Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting held its first meeting, established a quorum, and opened with remarks from the chair outlining the committee’s purpose and scope. The chair said the committee will focus only on congressional redistricting, will not take public comment at this introductory meeting, and may consider whether to propose a new congressional map ahead of the 2026 session. He emphasized that the work would rely on the 2020 census data, the current congressional map, and the House’s map-drawing software, and he stressed transparency, record retention, and compliance with constitutional prohibitions on drawing districts to favor or disfavor a party or incumbent. House outside counsel Andy Bartos then gave an educational presentation on redistricting basics and legal standards. He distinguished reapportionment from redistricting, explained that Florida was apportioned 28 congressional seats after the 2020 census, and reviewed the one-person, one-vote rule, noting that congressional districts must be drawn with near-exact population equality. He also described census geography and how counties, tracts, block groups, and blocks are used to build districts, and explained that congressional redistricting follows the ordinary legislative process rather than the special process used for state legislative districts. Bartos also covered contiguity, explaining that districts must be one connected piece and that mere point-touching is not enough, while bodies of water within a district do not necessarily break contiguity. No questions were asked after the presentation, no votes were taken, and no public testimony was heard. The meeting ended after the chair thanked attendees and said the committee would meet again the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Charlotte Hall, our state's territorial historian, called this place home for a few years, and perhaps
• This one was to showcase the importance of our history at the First Territorial Governor's Mansion in
• This one was to showcase the importance of our history at the First Territorial Governor's Mansion in
• But this first territorial governor's mansion is more than... Of the Arizona Territory.
• But this first territorial governor's mansion is more than just a historic building.

Bills: HB2388, HB2804, HB2926

Keywords: HB2388, Arizona Commerce Authority, ACA, small modular reactor, SMR, nuclear energy, advanced nuclear, data center, data centers, economic development, study, appropriation, general fund, jobs, wages, tax revenue, broadband, infrastructure, secondary businesses, tertiary businesses

Transcript Highlights:

• So you're saying this industry wants to move into the territory of that public water district.
• But you said that that's your water territory, even though they annexed the physical land.
• Every water district out there should be protecting their territory.
• We make it easier for them to lose territory.
• You say that this 1926(b) is a USDA territorial protection. Is that right?

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you're talking about the longer-duration outages, we can think about the lower Delaware territory
• They are allowed to operate without any competition in their territories.
• I have applications for over 6,500 new residential houses in that territory just now.
• I have applications for over 6,500 new residential houses in that territory just now.
• It has absolute control in its territory. Its customers have no choice.

Bills: SB287

Keywords: solid waste, recycling, universal recycling, single-stream recycling, multifamily housing, apartment recycling, commercial recycling, waste diversion, recycling grants, low-interest loans, Delaware Recycling Fund, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, DNREC, waste hauler, curbside recycling, yard waste, source-separated recycling, pay-as-you-throw, extended producer responsibility, waste bans

Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and considered three Senate bills. SB 287 with Senate Amendment 2, a DNREC cleanup bill on recycling, would tighten recycling collection rules for haulers and commercial generators, require multifamily recycling education, repurpose the Delaware Recycling Fund, and add annual reporting; after brief questions and no public comment, the committee motion to release did not initially receive enough votes, so the bill was circulated for signatures. SB 346, which would speed Environmental Appeals Board hearing and decision timelines so DNREC secretary decisions become final if deadlines are missed, drew support from the Nature Conservancy and also failed to get enough votes at the meeting, so it too was circulated for signatures. The committee then took up SB 326, a major utility-regulation bill sponsored by Senator Hanson and Representative Heffernan that would cap certain non-mandatory utility spending, limit interim rates, increase oversight and transparency, and streamline rate-setting. SB 326 generated extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the Public Advocate, Sierra Club, PSC staff, and some legislators, argued that Delmarva Power’s spending on non-mandatory infrastructure has risen far faster than inflation, that the company is a regulated monopoly, and that the bill would help restrain future delivery-rate increases without harming reliability because mandatory reliability, storm response, and vegetation management spending would remain allowed. Opponents, including Delmarva Power, business groups, contractors, labor representatives, and the Delaware Contractors Association, argued the cap would delay needed reliability and capacity projects, hurt economic development, reduce jobs, and interfere with utility planning; they also said supply costs, not distribution spending, are the main driver of recent bill increases. After public comment and additional questioning, the committee voted to release SB 326 on a split roll call, but because several members were absent the bill was also walked for additional signatures. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Indeed, much of the history of our nation was formed by acquiring territory.
• And, indeed, purchasing territory from Denmark is not unusual.
• One, we could make Greenland a territory, an insular area.
• China has no territory in the Arctic and the region is outside core PRC interests.
• Do you want to join the United States as a territory or some other legal structure?

Keywords: Greenland, acquisition, national security, Arctic, geopolitical, China, Russia, icebreakers, trade routes

Summary: The meeting convened by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation focused on the potential acquisition of Greenland by the United States. This issue, first raised by President Trump in 2019, has gained renewed significance amidst shifting global dynamics and the strategic importance of Greenland in relation to transatlantic trade routes and national security. The members discussed the geopolitical implications of Greenland's position, especially given the increasing influence of China and Russia in the Arctic region. Notably, the urgency to address military presence and icebreaker capabilities in the Arctic was a major point of contention, with a call for a new fleet to counter foreign dominance in the area.

Transcript Highlights:

• , but the new territory votes to be annexed, what happens?
• There may be one house right in that whole territory.
• if 20% of the people in that territory ask for an election, then they have to have an election.
• </c> to annex a territory to annex a territory and<00:26:18.240><c> then</c><00:26:19.679><c> if</c><
• </c> if 20% of the people in that territory if 20% of the people in that territory ask<00:26:25.360><

Keywords: MS House Floor - 22 January, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our service territory is not huge, 20 square miles.
• And I'll close just talking a little bit about what we're doing in our service territory.
• We do have some data centers within our service territory.
• And when I term out, I'm moving out of PG&E territory.
• PG&E is gung-ho for data centers in their service territory for the reason Mr.

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Utilities and Energy and Privacy and Consumer Protection focused on the energy impacts of AI and the rapid growth of data centers in California. Chairs and members emphasized that the state wants to support innovation and data center development, but only under terms that protect ratepayers, preserve reliability, and avoid stranded grid costs. Testimony from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the California Energy Commission, the CPUC, CAISO, PG&E, Silicon Valley Power, and the Data Center Coalition described the scale of projected load growth, the uncertainty in forecasting, and the need for coordinated planning across agencies. Dr. Nate Gleason of Lawrence Livermore said data centers are a major and fast-growing share of electricity demand, with planning challenges driven by short construction timelines for data centers versus long lead times for transmission and generation. He urged stochastic planning, co-optimization of generation, storage, and transmission, and greater use of flexible load and demand response. CEC Director Alicia Gutierrez described the CEC’s bottom-up forecasting approach, based on utility energization requests and load profiles, and said California has over 23,000 megawatts of data center capacity requests in the CAISO footprint. CPUC Deputy Executive Director Luan Tesfai outlined recent actions on energization timelines, flexible service connections, PG&E’s Rule 30 tariff, and the commission’s resource planning and transmission permitting work. CAISO’s Neil Miller stressed that large loads affect transmission planning, interconnection, and reliability standards, and said the agency is preparing additional stakeholder work on technical issues. Utility and industry witnesses said California is already seeing substantial data center interest and is building out infrastructure accordingly. PG&E’s Mike Medeiros said the utility has more than 10 gigawatts of data center interest in its territory, has shifted to cluster studies, and is using flexible interconnection tools such as FlexConnect to speed service while protecting reliability. Silicon Valley Power’s Nico Prokos said data centers account for about 55% of its power use and that the city is investing heavily in transmission and local system upgrades to support projected load growth. He also warned that AI loads may be more variable than traditional cloud loads and that backup generation and air quality constraints complicate curtailment strategies. The Data Center Coalition’s Karabonder argued that data centers are also driving efficiency gains and support critical digital services, while urging better forecasting methods, more transparency, and regular backcasting. Members asked about statutory authority, data availability, flexible load, and whether current forecasts are sufficient for long-lead infrastructure planning. Witnesses said California already has authority to pursue flexible service and rate design, and that the CEC and CPUC have access to utility data, though out-year demand remains highly uncertain. CPUC representatives noted an advanced rate design rulemaking and said the commission is opening additional work on ratepayer impacts. No votes were taken during the informational hearing, and the discussion ended with continued questions about how California should structure planning, pricing, and reliability rules as AI-related load grows.

Transcript Highlights:

• the red is, that's KU service territory.
• </c> the map, the the service territory the map, the the service territory boundaries,<00:03:40.879><
• ,</c><00:05:19.600><c> which</c> were in our service territories, which were in our service territories
• A lot of that in our service territory.
• That doesn't include anything territory.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Artificial Intelligence Task Force held its third meeting and adopted the prior minutes after a motion and second. The main presentation came from John Bevington of LG&E and KU, who described the utility’s Kentucky service territory, its vertically integrated operations, and its role in economic development. He said the company supported 76 projects in 2024, representing about $3 billion in announced investment and roughly 3,000 jobs, and noted that about 45% of statewide investment announcements were in its service area. He also outlined a large project pipeline of about 8.5 gigawatts, with data centers making up roughly two-thirds of that interest. Bevington explained that data center siting differs from traditional manufacturing site selection because it is driven primarily by transmission access and grid capacity rather than a process of eliminating locations. He said large data centers must locate near transmission lines, that utilities must conduct formal studies to ensure existing customers are not harmed, and that the buildout timeline for utility infrastructure is much longer than for data centers. He cited a Deloitte study and other industry data to argue that power constraints and timeline mismatches are the biggest challenges, while also emphasizing that data centers can generate significant construction activity, indirect jobs, and tax revenue. He said Kentucky’s sales tax exemption for data centers was a key enabler that increased interest in the state. Members asked about the number and size of potential data center projects, how Kentucky compares with other states, and whether regulatory reform is needed. Bevington said the 20 projects in Kentucky reflect current interest, that other states such as Ohio have had similar incentives for years, and that Kentucky is still early in the market. He also said data centers can vary in size, from 200 to 600 megawatts or more, and that they can be located anywhere with sufficient transmission capacity and, in some cases, access to workforce and roads. In response to concerns about energy supply, he said LG&E and KU are pursuing an “all of the above” strategy, including solar, batteries, and new natural gas combined-cycle units, and noted ongoing and proposed projects totaling additional capacity if approved by the Public Service Commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• The section is 14-10.1, Territorial Monuments; reservation of land; relinquishment of private claims.
• , which the State of Hawaiʻi is still controlling, to be territorial monuments, and may reserve as a
• The section is 14-10.1, Territorial Monuments; reservation of land; relinquishment of private claims.
• , which the State of Hawaiʻi is still controlling, to be territorial monuments, and may reserve as a
• The section is 14-10.1, Territorial Monuments; reservation of land; relinquishment of private claims.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 707, which would create a state income tax deduction for contributions to Hawaii 529 college savings accounts and conform state law to federal changes allowing 529 funds to be used for K-12 expenses. The Department of Taxation said it could administer the bill as written. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the measure but asked that ABLE accounts be included and that the program title be changed; the Department of Taxation indicated the title issue could be a problem because the bill’s expanded purpose may not fit the current program name. No vote was taken. The committee then heard House Bill 617, which would fund a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges. UH Community Colleges supported the bill, and Maui nursing staff testified that faculty recruitment is challenging but manageable, clinical placements are available, and the campus already has a statewide RN-to-BSN pathway; they said the new program would create two tracks, including a four-year BSN option. Members also heard support from several organizations, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, nursing groups, and health care associations. No action was taken. Next were several UH-related measures. HB 718 would fund faculty and staff positions at the John A. Burns School of Medicine; the dean and other supporters testified in favor. HB 1279 would create a medical education liaison position tied to Project ECHO; the Attorney General raised constitutional concerns about statewide concern and grant standards, while an individual witness supported the concept but suggested the bill should focus on liaison/support functions rather than program administration. HB 1169 would consolidate conference center revolving funds, and HB 1168 would authorize up to $800 million in UH revenue bonds; UH’s CFO said both were procedural/housekeeping measures and supported them. On HB 1168, members questioned debt service, possible uses, and whether deferred maintenance would be included; the CFO estimated annual debt service could be about $33 million to $41 million at current rates, said likely uses could include student housing and research facilities, and said deferred maintenance was not the current strategy. The CFO also explained that revenue bonds require both legislative authorization and a Board of Regents resolution approving the project and amount. Finally, the committee heard HB 548, which would authorize revenue bonds and appropriations to acquire the St. Francis School campus for UH Mānoa. UH supported the bill but noted the property is privately owned and not known to be for sale. A supporter described the site as a unique 11-acre parcel contiguous to the main campus and urged the committee to seize the opportunity for future generations. No vote or final action was taken on the bills in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• But they, like all the other states and territories, have now shifted to a gubernatorial appointment.
• But they, like all the other states and territories, have now shifted to a gubernatorial appointment.
• have now shifted to a territories have now shifted to a ginatorial<00:01:21.520><c> appointment.
• Each state and U.S. territory has an Adjutant General that leads its National Guard.
• US territory has an agitant<00:05:16.639><c> general</c><00:05:16.960><c> that</c><00:05:17.280><c>

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, when a municipality acts to disannex territory from an ESD, notification of intent
• to remove the territory from the district is required.
• When the, uh, ESD, uh, receives that notice, the ESD is required to disannex the territory and cease
• Rather than requiring ESDs to automatically disannex territory upon receiving municipal notice, this
• If the municipality cannot meet that standard, the territory remains in the ESD and services continue

Transcript Highlights:

• And so if a customer shows up in our service territory, we're legally To serve our customers.
• If you put a new large user on in our service territory, I live in Ameren service territory in central
• To follow up on Representative Myers, in your service territory, there's obviously projects that are
• So in your territory, of all the proposals that have been discussed at these county commissions and at
• So in some utility service territories, the data centers might turn out as expected, but there might

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill looks at the aggregate of the utility service territory, and so all it directs the Public
• So it would be territory-wide.
• Theoretically, but it's not, when you say area, it's saying territory, and that territory is a lot bigger
• It's saying territory, and that territory is a lot bigger than a neighborhood, right?
• We're talking about a service territory, which you're going to have mixed incomes in that service territory

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, chaired by Senator Kevin Parker, considered several Public Service Law bills and advanced each one to the Rules Committee after brief discussion and recorded no votes or without-recommendation votes on some measures. The bills included proposals to prohibit utilities from using ratepayer funds for certain activities (1012A), establish minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers (1327), adjust residential fixed charges (1329), require the Public Service Commission to consider economic impacts when setting rates (1847), require utilities to adopt PSC-authorized equity ratios and returns on equity (1896), create the Rate-Hike Notice Act (5553C), suspend certain utility rate changes while allowing retroactive revenue recovery (5593), allow consideration of non-economic losses in penalty determinations (7165A), change the composition of the Public Service Commission (7328A), and let utilities retain revenues above authorized returns on equity (7693). Members asked questions about who would be affected by the bills, including whether fixed-charge reductions would apply to vacant units or vacation homes and whether economic-impact considerations could affect customers differently depending on where they live; the chair and sponsors generally explained the measures as territory-wide or applicable to all residential customers, with no occupancy or income-based circuit breaker in the text. The committee then heard testimony from Alexandra Fasulo, introduced as an entrepreneur and farmer in Schuylerville, about her concerns regarding the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) and utility-scale solar development on farmland and grasslands. She argued that solar developers were pressuring landowners, including older and lower-income property owners, into long-term leases, that ORES approves most projects despite local opposition, and that the process lacks transparency, with redacted documents and limited public access to information. She also criticized the siting of solar projects on productive farmland and said decommissioning rules could leave equipment buried in the soil. Committee members responded that the Legislature has already taken steps to protect high-quality soils, that ORES was created by statute and operates within the Public Service Department, and that DEC and ORES are supposed to work together rather than ORES superseding DEC. Several senators said they were sympathetic to concerns about farmland and community engagement, but also emphasized the need to expand renewable energy and balance that with land preservation. Members suggested that specific complaints about ORES transparency or solar siting could be addressed through future legislation or by inviting ORES and PSC officials back for further discussion.