Video & Transcript : 'Clean Energy Economy Minnesota' :
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 4/28/25 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, so, welcome uh Coach O'Connell to the Minnesota House floor and to the Minnesota Capitol.
- Uh, so, welcome uh Coach O'Connell to the Minnesota House floor and to the Minnesota Capitol.
- Immigrants link Minnesota to the world economy and make valuable and meaningful contributions to our
- Immigrants link Minnesota to the<02:43:01.120><c> world</c><02:43:01.359><c> economy</c><02:43:02.080
- </c> Minnesota. That's what this bill does. Minnesota.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:14:12.199><c> DOT</c> looking to charge the Minnesota DOT looking to charge the Minnesota DOT
- </c><00:32:19.799><c> Department</c> minkler from the uh Minnesota Department minkler from the uh Minnesota
- </c> we're required to put in how much Energy we're required to put in how much Energy savings<01:26:
- </c> 75% um were in the in Greater Minnesota 75% um were in the in Greater Minnesota and<01:31:34.800
- </c> uh greater Minnesota and 18 in Minnesota uh greater Minnesota and 18 in Minnesota and<01:31:40.520
Committee:
Senate Capital Investment
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- diesel or other clean technology counterparts.
- Numbers that are substantial to the economy.
- They are not good enough to clean the facility's apartment building, but they are trusted to clean other
- Contractors recently cleaned the whole floor of a dorm of suites, while our in-house members cleaned
- Like everyone else, our members want reliable, safe, clean, affordable energy.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight heard testimony on several bills. Senator Mike Moore supported S. 2185, which would delay implementation of the heavy-duty omnibus/advanced clean truck requirements while requiring the Commonwealth to purchase or lease electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles starting in 2025; he argued the delay is needed because infrastructure, grid capacity, vehicle availability, and costs are not yet ready. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2156/H. 3318, which would require free menstrual products in public buildings, with advocates and students describing period poverty and the need to treat menstrual products like other basic restroom supplies. Senator John Keenan testified for S. 2158, a bill to let municipal light plants protect proprietary and competitively sensitive information from public disclosure while keeping board meetings and minutes open, saying it would help level the playing field against larger competitors.
A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 2125/H. 3384, the language access and inclusion bill. Testimony from the AAPI Commission, Mass Speaks coalition members, Mass Appleseed, MLRI, ATASK, MAPC, the Boston Bar Association, Mass Advocates for Children, and others described barriers faced by limited-English-proficient residents in accessing MassHealth, DCF, courts, domestic violence services, schools, and other state services. Witnesses cited untranslated documents, inadequate interpretation, delays, and the burden placed on bilingual staff and children; several also pointed to recent federal moves toward English-only policy as making state action more urgent. Committee members asked questions about implementation, interpreter availability, and the role of technology and remote participation, and the chair noted the bill had been reported favorably in a prior session and intended to be again.
The committee also heard testimony on time-zone legislation. Dr. Karin Johnson, representing sleep medicine interests, supported H. 3405 for permanent standard time and opposed S. 2157 for permanent daylight saving time, arguing that standard time better aligns with circadian rhythms and health, while permanent daylight saving time would worsen morning darkness and sleep disruption. Members questioned the strength of the scientific evidence and discussed school start times, geography, and whether Massachusetts should align with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and testimony continued on additional bills as the session progressed.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, September 4, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> field with determination and energy. field with determination and energy.
- This isn't just about energy policies. This isn't just about energy policies.
- Money to deal with new energy sources, renewable energy sources, was removed.
- Money to deal with new energy sources, renewable energy sources, was removed.
- </c> cleaned up by the team's bench cleaning cleaned up by the team's bench cleaning robot<03:30:22.560
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/3/26
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:04:22.479><c> Across</c> The problem in Minnesota. Across The problem in Minnesota.
- economy.
- economy.
- Let's clean it up.
- </c> state of Minnesota. state of Minnesota.
Keywords:
unemployment insurance, judicial officials, paid leave, economic development, worker protections, workforce development, unemployment benefits, youth training, grants, job creation, grant funding, revolving loan, underserved communities, disadvantaged groups, electrical licensing, installation, Class A installer, regulations, labor and industry, 1183
Summary:
The committee first adopted the minutes from February 26 and then heard House File 2581, authored by Representative Frazier, which sought $1 million for Fortis Capital, a nonprofit economic development lender. Frazier and Fortis CEO Brian Smith described Fortis as a gap-financing lender that helps underserved entrepreneurs who cannot meet traditional bank underwriting standards. They said the organization has made 37 loans totaling more than $4 million since 2021, leveraged another $29.5 million, and created 314 jobs. Smith said Fortis typically charges around 6.5% interest, has had two defaults, and uses a revolving loan fund model that recycles repayments; members discussed how the proposal fits with other state economic development programs and whether Fortis should instead be part of a competitive grant process. The chair laid HF 2581 over for possible inclusion in a budget bill.
The committee then heard House File 3707, brought by Representative Berg, which would extend confidentiality protections to unemployment insurance and paid leave judges and related staff by adding them to the definition of judges for purposes of protecting personal information. Berg and testifiers from the Department of Economic Development and MAPE said the bill responds to harassment and safety concerns, including threats, doxxing, and an attack near an office, and is intended to protect people making sensitive determinations. MAPE supported the bill as an update to existing protections for similar workers.
Members raised concerns that the bill’s language was too broad, especially the reference to the paid leave division, and questioned whether it should cover only judges or also call-center and other staff. Department and committee members agreed the language likely needed narrowing and discussed possible amendments and whether to move the bill to Judiciary and then revisit it. No final vote was taken on HF 3707 during the discussion, and the bill remained under consideration for further language work.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Mar 18th, 2026
Ways and Means General Fund
Bills:
HB589 , HB591 , HB609 , HB614 , SB57 , SB280 , SB332 , HB589 , HB591 , HB609 , HB614 , SB57 , SB280 , SB332 , HB627
Committee:
House Ways and Means General Fund
Keywords:
Jefferson County, building regulations, zoning, public health, building commissioner, permits, construction, land use, county tax, lodging tax, Henry County, transient accommodations, hospitality industry, local act, sheriff, sheriff's office, task force, abandoned property, stolen property, unclaimed property
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Violations and bad actors to get their stuff cleaned up before we burn up again.
- These big power companies, energy companies, are such a good investment.
- ご視聴ありがとうございました Thank you. representing Xcel Energy and you are testifying for House Bill 144.
- My name is Stephanie Houle and I'm Assistant General Counsel for Xcel Energy.
- My name is Stephanie Houle, and I am Assistant General Counsel. for Xcel Energy.
Committee:
House State Affairs
Keywords:
emergency communication, infrastructure, first responders, grant program, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, local governments, HB 143, Texas Railroad Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas, well site, surface facility, electrical power line, National Electrical Code, NEC, electrical safety, utility disconnect, service disconnection
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So I do represent TechNet, we represent. 96 different member companies across the innovation economy
- But we can't be stuck in a statute written in 2011. when distributed energy, the landscape is changing
- , and energy diversity in this state is what we should be looking at, right?
- You have a lot of sunshine you also don't have a lot of water right so solar is is a good energy source
- that does doesn't rely on it doesn't require as much water as other energy sources to deploy correct
Committee:
House State Affairs
Keywords:
emergency communication, infrastructure, first responders, grant program, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, local governments, HB 143, Texas Railroad Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas, well site, surface facility, electrical power line, National Electrical Code, NEC, electrical safety, utility disconnect, service disconnection
MN
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Energy Development and Transmission Committee Jun 2nd, 2026
Energy Development and Transmission Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- air, clean water, and clean land.
- air, clean water, and clean land.
- And then that last tranche is this clean, sustainable energy authority.
- That clean, sustainable energy authority has a grant pool, and it also has a loan pool to help move technologies
- And then on the far right on the bottom, you see the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority.
Summary:
The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of the Mincota Power Cooperative headquarters before returning for presentations on large energy consumers, especially data centers. The first presentations focused on how North Dakota should respond to rapid growth in energy-intensive projects, with speakers emphasizing the need for reliable transmission, local decision-making tools, and factual information for county and township officials who are being asked to weigh major projects with limited staff and technical support.
The North Dakota Transmission Authority director said local governments are being asked to make high-impact decisions on pipelines, transmission lines, large agriculture, wind, solar, carbon dioxide pipelines, direct-air capture, and data centers, and urged development of simple statewide decision tools and support from the League of Cities and Association of Counties. The Department of Environmental Quality’s air division director said North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the nation, but large data centers can create air-quality concerns because of diesel backup generation; he said the department is requiring air monitors at some facilities and expects grid power and, potentially, cleaner natural gas backup to reduce emissions. Members asked about emissions standards, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession at DEQ.
The Department of Water Resources director said North Dakota’s water law is based on common ownership and prior appropriation, and that data centers generally use relatively small amounts of water, often in closed-loop systems. He said the Missouri River and groundwater supplies are ample for projected needs, that the department’s permitting process protects senior water rights, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use a very small share of Missouri River flow. Members asked about downstream impacts and compared data center water use with fracking. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd Erickson urged the committee to study how other states regulate data centers, warned against litigation-driven delays and overly broad local ordinances, argued reclamation bonding should be handled at the state level if at all, and said data centers can bring jobs and tax base but should remain subject to local zoning. The committee ended the morning session for lunch and later heard an EERC update from CEO Charles Gorecki on the center’s 75 years of work in energy and environmental technologies, especially oil and gas development and related research.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EIG-AEN, AEN, AEN DEFER Public Hearings 01-29-2025
Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Mark Glick from the Energy Office, State Energy Office, stands on his testimony in support.
- </c><00:11:03.639><c> decarbonization</c> the state's economy-wide decarbonization the state's economy-wide
- It's not going to Minnesota.
- :24:41.320><c> only</c> make its way to Minnesota it's only make its way to Minnesota it's only going
- </c><00:58:17.319><c> how</c> compare to a city like Minnesota how compare to a city like Minnesota how
Committee:
Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
Summary:
The joint committees heard testimony on Senate Bill 103, relating to electric vehicle batteries, and then moved to Senate Bill 995, relating to renewable fuel. On SB 103, the Department of Health and the State Energy Office supported the measure, and Redwood Materials said it supported the bill’s intent but requested an amendment to add a battery recycler to the commission. Other testimony on SB 103 included support from several individuals and organizations, with one opponent noted. A committee member also raised a possible deadline change requested by the Alliance of Automobile Innovation for future work on the measure.
The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 995, which would create tax incentives for sustainable aviation fuel and related renewable fuel production. Supporters included the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, Pono Pacific, Hawaiian Airlines/Alaska Airlines, the Tax Foundation, PAR Hawaii, Pacific Biodiesel, and others. Supporters said the bill would help build a local SAF industry, encourage camelina and other feedstocks, and advance decarbonization goals. Several supporters also said they had proposed amendments or technical comments and stood on their written testimony.
Opposition testimony argued the bill could allow toxic waste feedstocks, such as construction and demolition waste, into fuel production, and questioned whether the incentives would truly benefit Hawaii farmers or consumers. One opponent said the bill’s benefits could flow to the producer and to imported feedstocks rather than to local agriculture, and another questioned the scale of local land and water available for camelina production. Committee members pressed witnesses on acreage, water use, expected yields, the role of PAR Hawaii’s refinery investment, and whether the state would be subsidizing a business decision that might not produce significant local fuel. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Water Topics Overview Committee Mar 26th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So with the winners of Minnesota, Iowa, The winners are Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas, [who]
- And I, um, uh, and that, Statutes in Minnesota statutes.
- And this program is made possible by our Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment in Minnesota.
- And this program is made possible by our Clean Waterland and Legacy amendment in Minnesota.
- In the state of Minnesota in terms of local governments.
Summary:
The Water Topics Overview Committee met with a quorum and received updates from the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Commission, followed by presentations from Deloitte on two legislative studies required by House Bill 1020. Director Reese Haas reviewed major project and budget updates, including the Northwest Area Water Supply and Southwest Pipeline projects, Resources Trust Fund balances, carryover spending, project prioritization, bid conditions, regional water system coverage, and department process improvements. Members also discussed how the commission prioritizes projects, maintenance expectations, and the impact of limited municipal water supply funding. No formal committee action was taken during the DWR update; the commission’s municipal funding decisions were described as pending its April 8 meeting.
Deloitte then presented the cost-share policy study, which found that under current policy and forecasted revenues, North Dakota faces an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall over 14 years, with a near-term gap of about $1.8 billion through 2031. The firm outlined seven recommended options, including tighter definitions and a 25% cost share for eligible replacement projects, caps and financing strategies for the Mouse River and Red River Valley projects, aligning cost share with commission priority guidance, delaying lower-priority projects, using available lines of credit, and adjusting reimbursement timing for revolving loan funds. Committee members questioned inflation assumptions, affordability, user fees, and the use of legacy fund earnings for bonding, but no decisions were made.
In the governance and finance study, Deloitte said final recommendations are still being refined, with a final report due May 29. The study examined the Southwest Pipeline, NAWS, and Red River Valley systems using governance and finance criteria such as decision authority, transparency, affordability, risk, and access to funding. For Southwest, Deloitte outlined options ranging from improved state-authority coordination to transferring ownership to the Southwest Water Authority; for NAWS, options focused on strengthening the authority’s role and potentially transitioning operations and maintenance; and for Red River, options ranged from enhanced facilitation to formal state oversight or state ownership. Members asked follow-up questions about ownership transfer, capital repayment streams, and why NAWS was not considered for transfer, and Deloitte said NAWS’s limited organizational maturity made that option less viable in the near term.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment & Energy May 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- energy coordination.
- Just a reminder, of course, the Clean Energy Transformation Act, CETA, is the law that requires Washington
- and fossil energy.
- It's also, frankly, not necessary because... ...clean and fossil energy.
- economy.
Summary:
The committee held an interim work session focused first on carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS), then on hazardous waste and extended producer responsibility (EPR). On the CCUS topic, industry and nonprofit presenters described point-source capture, direct air capture, mineralization, and geologic sequestration, emphasizing Washington’s basalt formations and state trust lands as strong candidates for storage. They argued that CCUS can help hard-to-abate industrial sectors, support jobs and investment, and provide a pathway for compliance, while also noting the need for clearer permitting, subsurface rights, pipeline authority, and storage infrastructure. Ecology and Commerce staff explained current state policy touchpoints, including Cap-and-Invest offsets and exemptions for permanently stored CO2, the public comment process underway to define “thousand-year” permanence, and how CCUS might fit within the Clean Energy Transformation Act without counting emitting generation as non-emitting. Some presenters supported more state action and primacy over federal permitting, while others warned about costs, energy use, uncertain capture performance, and the need to ensure real net greenhouse gas reductions and long-term liability protections.
Members asked about public meetings, whether mineralized carbon would qualify as exempt under the Climate Commitment Act, the timeline for Ecology guidance, aquifer and water-quality concerns, energy intensity of capture systems, and liability if storage later proves problematic. Responses said Ecology’s guidance process is already underway, public meetings will be virtual, mineralized carbon would likely qualify if it meets the permanence standard, and EPA rules require storage in deep saline formations below drinking water aquifers. Industry speakers said capture energy use varies by source and concentration, and one presenter noted that some states use trust funds funded by injectors to address long-term liability.
The second half of the session shifted to hazardous waste and EPR. Ecology staff reviewed existing product stewardship programs for electronics, paint, batteries, and mercury lights, and described moderate risk waste and household hazardous waste management in Washington. They highlighted that E-Cycle and PaintCare are producer-funded, that the battery stewardship program will begin in 2027, and that the mercury lamp program is in transition after its prior stewardship organization exited, prompting enforcement notices and a pending replacement plan. Ecology recommended best practices for future EPR programs, including clear producer and product definitions, full producer funding, convenience standards, annual reporting, and strong agency enforcement and plan approval authority. Local government speakers from King County and Douglas County described rising collection costs, equity and access barriers, rural travel distances, and the need for stable funding and flexible local implementation. King County said it collected over 3 million pounds of hazardous products in 2025 and supports EPR as a way to shift costs from ratepayers to producers, while Douglas County emphasized that rural residents will participate when services are accessible and that future systems should account for geography and local infrastructure.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets Jul 2nd, 2026
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
Transcript Highlights:
- At the same time, the needs of our economy are evolving.
- a grant around the climate economy.
- Our partners are building AI companies across the economy.
- Our partners are building AI companies across the economy, from health care and clean energy to financial
- Let's build a better, safer Massachusetts economy.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of Brooke Rollins, of Texas, to be Secretary of Agriculture. Jan 23rd, 2025 at 09:00 am
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- and energy dominance narrative.
- Yes, I know; don't leave out Senator Smith, my Minnesota Senators.
- And I also appreciate your Minnesota roots and connection in Clear Lake, Minnesota.
- It is a major economic driver in Minnesota, contributing $7 billion to our economy.
- It has used opportunities to strengthen the economy for farmers.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- ,</c> to all the people of Minnesota, to all the people of Minnesota, may<00:06:32.000><c> they</c><00
- </c> position be held by a Minnesota veteran. position be held by a Minnesota veteran.
- , Minnesota Credit Union Network, Independent Bankers, the Minnesota Land Title Association, and Minnesota
- Minnesota Minnesota Bankers Association, Minnesota Credit<00:29:32.200><c> Union</c><00:29:32.440><c>
- </c> in the state of Minnesota and we will. in the state of Minnesota and we will.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Technology and Telecommunications REVISED Feb 19th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Technology and Telecommunications
Transcript Highlights:
- We want to grow the economy. There, we want to bring jobs.
- that are Generated in our research process through research and development that it ends up into the economy
Committee:
Senate Technology and Telecommunications
Keywords:
higher education, state regents, university research, technology transfer, intellectual property, patent ownership, royalty income, commercialization, startup companies, research partnerships, public universities, faculty inventions, student inventions, innovation policy, economic development, medical technology, biotechnology, energy technology, telecommunications, aerospace and defense
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Technology and Telecommunications REVISED Feb 19th, 2026
Technology and Telecommunications
Transcript Highlights:
- We want to grow the economy there. We want to bring jobs.
- are generated in our research process through research and development, that it ends up into the economy
Committee:
Senate Technology and Telecommunications
Keywords:
higher education, state regents, university research, technology transfer, intellectual property, patent ownership, royalty income, commercialization, startup companies, research partnerships, public universities, faculty inventions, student inventions, innovation policy, economic development, medical technology, biotechnology, energy technology, telecommunications, aerospace and defense
Summary:
The Senate Technology and Telecommunications Committee considered three Senate bills. SB 1670, by Senator Reinhart, would require the State Regents to update Oklahoma university technology transfer guidance, create a tiered ownership framework, and revisit the guidance every seven years. Members questioned the seven-year review period, the scope of terms like aerospace and autonomous technologies, and how broadly the new tiered system would apply. The bill was presented as a way to modernize an outdated 1989 framework and help turn university research into companies, jobs, and economic impact. It passed 8-0.
SB 1716, by Senator Howard, amended the Security Breach Notification Act to replace references to a “cybersecurity event” with “breach of the security of a system” and to clarify that there is no private right of action for ordinary negligence when a business reports breaches to the Attorney General. Howard explained that the Attorney General would retain exclusive enforcement authority for reasonable-standards violations, while private lawsuits would remain available only for more egregious conduct such as willful, wanton conduct or gross negligence. Members asked about the negligence standard, HIPAA-related breaches, and staffing needs for the Attorney General’s office. The amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 8-0.
SB 1521, by Senator Hamilton, would prohibit minors from accessing artificial intelligence companions and set age-verification and re-verification requirements, including use of government-issued identification and periodic re-verification. Hamilton said the bill was aimed at protecting children from harmful interactions with AI companions and was narrowly drafted to avoid sweeping in other AI tools like customer-service bots. Members raised concerns about the reasonableness and consistency of age verification, account creation requirements, and how the bill would interact with existing statutes on sexually explicit conduct. The chair spoke in support of the measure, and the bill passed 8-0. The committee then adjourned.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee Feb 10th, 2026
Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure
Transcript Highlights:
- Energy<00:52:08.240><c> Alabama.</c> Energy Alabama. Energy Alabama.
- We're advocates for clean energy. We're advocates for affordable energy.
- We are advocates for clean and affordable energy. That's it.
- </c> we just now hearing of Energy Alabama? we just now hearing of Energy Alabama?
- </c> affordable energy. affordable energy.
Keywords:
criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, data privacy, criminal justice, Lamar County, property auction, county commission, online auction, public notice, HB392, Lauderdale County, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, district attorney, chief assistant district attorney, assistant district attorney, assistant district attorneys, prosecutor, prosecutorial compensation, salary supplement
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EEP Public Hearing - Thu Jan 29, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST
Energy & Environmental Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- Um um clean up the environment.
- No, Hawaii State Energy Office. Chris Shunker from the Hawaii State Energy Office.
- Energy Office. Uh we stand on our Energy Office.
- And then House Bill 1620 relating to energy.
- This is the bill relating to energy.
Committee:
House Energy & Environmental Protection
Keywords:
PFAS, single-use plastics, environmental health, food ware, pollution reduction, HB1802, conservation banking, conservation bank, mitigation banking, compensatory mitigation, incidental take permit, incidental take license, habitat conservation plan, HCP, DLNR, BLNR, Board of Land and Natural Resources, endangered species recovery committee, threatened species, endangered species
Summary:
The committee heard several environmental and energy bills, beginning with HB 644 on single-use plastics. DLNR and DOH supported the measure, and environmental advocates said it would reduce plastic waste in oceans and landfills. Testifiers urged the bill to avoid weakening existing county ordinances, and some supported delaying implementation to use up inventory, while Upstream opposed compostable-plastic exemptions and urged prompt passage. Committee members asked whether reusable and refillable foodware could be added to the PFAS prohibition, and Upstream said that would be consistent with the bill’s goals.
The committee then took up HB 1802 on conservation mitigation banks, HB 1569 on microfiber filters for newly manufactured washing machines, and HB 1619 on electric vehicle infrastructure. HB 1802 drew mostly agency testimony from DLNR, with opposition testimony noted from environmental groups, and members discussed whether suggested amendments would address concerns. HB 1569 received limited testimony, with support from the Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and opposition from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. HB 1619 was supported by the PUC, Hawaiian Electric, the Department of Transportation, and several advocacy groups; Earthjustice said the bill was needed to address a widening EV charging shortfall and described the funding increase as relatively small compared with the benefits.
The committee also heard HB 1620, which would increase the barrel tax to fund the EV charging rebate program. The State Energy Office and PUC offered comments, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed the special-fund approach and said the bill should also address the non-petroleum fossil-fuel portion of the barrel tax. Earthjustice and youth transportation advocates supported the measure, and the chair asked for information on unused hydrogen fueling subaccount funds; PUC said no hydrogen program funds had been deployed and estimated the balance was likely around $2 million, with exact figures to be provided later.
Finally, the committee heard HB 1730 on wastewater systems, which would create a wastewater technical advisory group and fund positions at DOH. DLNR, DOH, OPSD, UH, and several environmental groups supported the bill, emphasizing cesspool pollution, affordability, and the need for more staffing and technical assistance. Testifiers suggested amendments to create a separate cesspool conversion implementation working group and debated the size and composition of the advisory group, including whether to include outside engineers and whether SHIP should be on the panel. No votes were taken during the hearing segment provided.