Transcript Highlights:

• We can fix these issues by providing targeted technical resources and assistance to help utilities and
• Directing resources to underserved communities was a shared goal when we wrote the IIJA.
• So what we've seen in Northeast Ohio is that our under-resourced communities have actually been able
• It's been a wonderful resource for those communities. Very good.
• What types of resources or policy changes?

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Keywords: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, water infrastructure, lead service lines, federal reauthorization, sustainability, cybersecurity

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on discussions surrounding the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and its implications for local water systems. Various witnesses highlighted the transformative impact of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which has provided an unprecedented amount of funding to help address long-standing issues in drinking water infrastructure, particularly concerning lead service line replacements and sustainability in water management. The discussions emphasized the urgent need for federal reauthorization to continue supporting these initiatives, as many rural and disadvantaged communities still face substantial barriers in upgrading their water systems. Additionally, cybersecurity risks were noted, raising concerns over the vulnerability of water systems across the nation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Zach McCarty, on behalf of NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council, in support. Thank you.
• Zach McCarty, on behalf of NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council, in support. Thank you.
• Zach McCarty, on behalf of NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council, in support. Thank you.
• Saccharity, NRDC, Natural Resources Defense Council, supportive if amended.
• Resources on cleanup but lack effective enforcement tools to ensure compliance.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• simply remove the Political Reform Act and add the Legislative Open Records Act and the California Coastal
• AB 2674 requires the California Air Resources Board to make landfill temperature and monitoring data
• AB 2674 requires the California Air Resources Board to make landfill temperature and monitoring data

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Chair: THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
• Weinberger: HERE. >> THANK YOU A QUORUM BEING PRESENT WELCOME TO THE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
• KNOW AS WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN WATER QUALITY I KNOW IT IS IMPORTANT IN MY DISTRICT I HAVE AREA IN COASTAL

Transcript Highlights:

• We must empower consumers with the resources needed to undertake vital work.
• We bundled the program with mandated wind mitigation discounts and strong building codes in our coastal
• These are significant undertakings that demand resources.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to consider several bills focused on California’s insurance market, wildfire resilience, and consumer protections. AB 888, the California Safe Homes Act, was heard first. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Alabama Insurance Commissioner Mark Fowler testified in support, describing state grant programs that help homeowners harden roofs and create defensible space, with the goal of reducing losses and improving insurance affordability and availability. Supporters from the insurance industry, local government, and the Rebuild Paradise Foundation also backed the bill, and committee members emphasized the need for more incentives for mitigation. The bill passed the committee on a do pass motion and was sent to Appropriations. AB 290, by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, would require the FAIR Plan to offer automatic payments and address non-renewal grace-period issues. The author described her own experience being forced onto the FAIR Plan and facing a large premium increase, while Consumer Federation of California called the bill common-sense consumer protection. The FAIR Plan opposed unless amended, saying it was already handling major wildfire claims and other operational demands and requested more time and changes to the non-renewal grace-period language. Members across the committee supported the bill as a needed modernization measure, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 1339, by Assemblymember Gonzalez, would direct the Department of Insurance to study insurance availability and pricing for affordable housing providers and report policy recommendations. Supporters from affordable housing organizations said rising premiums were forcing providers to cut services, defer maintenance, and use reserves, threatening housing stability for low-income residents. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 646, by Assemblymember Wallace, also passed to Appropriations; it concerns disclosure related to motor vehicle protection products and catalytic converter theft deterrence, with support from auto dealers and industry groups. The committee also approved AB 1531 on consent. Members later added on to the record in support of the bills, and the hearing concluded without recorded opposition votes on the measures that advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like the Senator, we believe that every child deserves a safe, healthy environment and the resources
• It provides protections for tribal resources and for workers, including those who work in these advanced
• It provides protections for tribal resources and for workers, including those who work in these advanced
• Renewal Institute, Environmental Defense Fund, California Coastal Protection Network, Environmental
• Renewal Institute, Environmental Defense Fund, California Coastal Protection Network, Environmental

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Summary: The committee heard SB 921, which would create a tax credit to help agricultural employers offset overtime premium costs for farmworkers. Senator Grove and supporters, including farmworkers, the California Farm Bureau, and agricultural groups, argued the bill would restore lost hours and take-home pay after California’s agricultural overtime law reduced schedules. Opponents, including the California Federation of Labor Unions and CRLA Foundation, argued the proposal would subsidize employers with taxpayer dollars and undermine the principle that employers should pay overtime themselves. The bill was held in subcommittee until more members arrived. The committee then took up SB 1083, a cleanup bill to the prior year’s school employee misconduct database law. The author and supporters said it would add due process protections for classified school employees, require an administrative law judge review before placement in the database, and improve notice and vetting rules for contractors and non-permanent staff. School employer groups and other opponents warned the bill could slow investigations and weaken child-safety protections. The committee approved the bill 3-0 and sent it to Senate Appropriations. Members also considered SB 1089, which would require CalPERS health plans to cover GLP-1 medications and expand access through CalRX for chronic weight management and related health conditions. The author and supporters, including the American Diabetes Association and medical groups, said the drugs can prevent diabetes and improve health outcomes but remain unaffordable for many. Pharma representatives expressed concerns about the bill as drafted but said they were open to continued discussions. The bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar 4-0. Later, the committee heard SB 954, which would narrow and add guardrails to last year’s CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing, including environmental review near disadvantaged communities and labor standards such as prevailing wage and skilled-and-trained workforce requirements. Labor, environmental, and community groups supported the bill as a cleanup of an overly broad exemption, while business and manufacturing groups opposed it, warning it would discourage investment and worsen California’s competitiveness. The bill passed 3-1 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1299, a fire sprinkler fitter certification bill, was heard and passed 3-0 to Appropriations with support from the sprinkler fitters and building trades and no recorded opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our partnership with you is essential in providing the information and resources Minnesota taxpayers
• opinion, this was the biggest wealth transfer from rural communities like mine to urban, metro, and coastal
• opinion, this was the biggest wealth transfer from rural communities like mine to urban, metro, and coastal
• Thank you, Madam Chair. ...communities like mine to urban, metro, and coastal elite cities across our
• </c><01:31:09.440><c> and</c> private schools the resources and private schools the resources and opportunities

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• We are joined today by Leanne Randolph, the chair of the California Air Resources Board, Dr.
• We are joined today by Leanne Randolph, the chair of the California Air Resources Board, Dr.
• I want to affirm that the California Air Resources Board and the administration will continue to defend
• Yes, California Resources Board, yes.
• There are not enough resources to support existing AB 617 communities throughout the state.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies

Summary: The hearing focused on California’s cap-and-trade program, its role in meeting state climate targets, and how to balance emissions reductions with affordability. Committee members and CARB officials discussed the state’s 2030 and 2045 greenhouse gas goals, the need to defend California climate policy amid federal rollbacks, and the importance of making the program durable, cost-effective, and understandable to the public. CARB also outlined its broader climate portfolio, including updates to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, methane rules, landfill regulations, implementation of recent climate bills, and work on community air protection and other sector-specific strategies. CARB’s presentation emphasized that cap-and-trade covers about 80% of California emissions, has had near-full compliance, and has generated more than $31 billion for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, along with billions more in utility bill credits and free allowances intended to protect jobs and limit leakage. Officials described the program’s core design features—banking, trading, multi-year compliance periods, offsets, free allocation, and a price containment reserve—as essential to keeping costs down while still driving emissions reductions. Members pressed CARB on the cost impacts of proposed changes to align the program with the state’s stronger 2030 target, the treatment of offsets, leakage risks for industries like cement, and the need for more technical analysis and stakeholder input before legislative action. The second panel, including the Legislative Analyst’s Office, an IMAC chair, and a Stanford scholar, offered a more analytical discussion of affordability. They said cap-and-trade likely has limited direct impact on electricity and natural gas bills because of utility allocations and climate credits, but it does add roughly 25 to 26 cents per gallon of gasoline. They identified several policy levers for the Legislature: setting the cap, adjusting allowance allocation, using auction revenues for rebates or bill relief, and deciding how much authority to delegate to CARB. Witnesses also argued that carbon pricing remains one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce emissions, but that the program’s political sustainability will depend on making benefits more visible, targeting relief to households facing high bills, and using revenues to help lower the cost of electrification and grid investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Natural Resources will now come to order. Kim, please call the roll. Chair Rodriguez, here.
• working farms and ranches and wildlife habitats and scenic landscapes, Florida Forever safeguards the resources
• access to conservation lands, provide connectivity to other conservation lands, and improve natural resources
• Not only will it provide new resource-based recreational opportunities for the public, but it's also
• We spent $83 million, I believe, from this Florida Forever Fund, which is a tremendous amount of resources

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The committee first received a Department of Environmental Protection presentation on Florida Forever and the sale or exchange of conservation lands. DEP described Florida Forever as the state’s main conservation land acquisition program, funded in recent years at high levels, and said most acquisitions since 2019 have been within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The presentation also explained the legal process for disposing of conservation lands: requests are reviewed by the Acquisitions and Restoration Council, then the governor and cabinet decide whether land is no longer needed for conservation or whether an exchange provides a net conservation benefit. Senator Smith asked several questions about recent land-swap proposals, public notice, political influence, and whether any transactions had bypassed the usual sequence; DEP said applications can be withdrawn before ARC review, notice is posted seven days in advance, and the council and cabinet are the decision-makers. Senator Harrington asked about the difference between Florida Forever land sales and water management district surplus lands, and DEP said the reported 2.3 acres sold referred only to Florida Forever-funded projects. The committee then heard presentations from the Department of Health and DEP on PFAS and PFOA. DOH outlined what PFAS are, their common uses, possible health impacts, and ways Floridians can reduce exposure, including water filtration and avoiding certain products. DOH said it conducts well investigations, health consultations, fish consumption advisories, and monitoring in coordination with DEP and FWC. DEP followed with a more technical overview of PFAS regulation and cleanup, explaining federal testing and drinking-water standards, Florida’s provisional cleanup levels, and the state’s response at contaminated sites, including bottled water and filtration for affected residents. Senators asked about testing requirements for public systems and private wells, disposal of used filters, and how federal rulemaking and litigation could affect Florida’s standards; DEP said public systems are required to test under EPA monitoring rules, private wells are not directly required to test, and Florida may adopt its own standards if federal action does not occur by the statutory deadline. Finally, the committee took up SB 150, which would designate the flamingo as the state bird and the scrub jay as the state songbird. The sponsor argued the bill better reflects Florida’s identity and conservation values, noting the flamingo’s iconic status and the scrub jay’s status as a Florida-only species. Members asked lighthearted questions about mockingbirds, flamingo color, and feeding costs, and an appearance card was filed in support by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The committee debated the bill briefly and then passed SB 150 favorably by roll call vote, with all members present voting yes except Senator DiCeglie, who was excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• John was a fifth-generation gal of Estonia, whose legacy was woven into the very fabric of our coastal
• It's going to provide a long resource for them in the future.
• Refer to the committee on land and resource.
• And the committee on land and resource management.
• of a municipal building permit or for the committee on public Refer to the committee on land and resource

Bills: HCR21 , HCR22 , HCR23 , HCR24 , HCR25 , HCR26 , HCR27 , HCR31 , HCR41 , HCR42 , HCR43 , HCR44 , HCR45 , HCR52 , HCR53 , HCR66 , HCR67 , HCR73 , HR8 , HR10 , HR13 , HR20 , HR21 , HR50 , HR59 , HR61 , HR71 , HR74 , HR79 , HR84 , HR86 , HR90 , HR91 , HR102 , HR103 , HR107 , HR113 , HR125 , HR126 , HR132 , HR142 , HR145 , HR149 , HR150 , HR152 , HR167 , HR179 , HR181 , HR183 , HR186 , HR192 , HR196 , HR199 , HR207 , HR211 , HR212 , HR213 , HR216 , HR249 , HR256 , HR259 , HR261 , HR263 , HR272 , HR281 , HR285 , HR294 , HR295 , HR300 , HR305 , HR311 , HR313 , HR315 , HR316 , HR323 , HR331 , HR339 , HR340 , HR346 , HR349 , HR352 , HR357 , HR358 , HR360 , HR363 , HR374 , HR377 , HCR20 , HCR28 , HCR30 , HCR32 , HCR49 , HR14 , HR15 , HR19 , HR23 , HR24 , HR25 , HR26 , HR27 , HR29 , HR47 , HR48 , HR55 , HR56 , HR66 , HR85 , HR92 , HR93 , HR95 , HR96 , HR140 , HR155 , HR164 , HR204 , HR241 , HR242 , HR250 , HR253 , HR260 , HR262 , HR265 , HR279 , HR310 , HR312 , HR328 , HR332 , HR359 , HR362 , HR367

Keywords: recognition, award, petroleum industry, leadership, community service, HCR 22, House Concurrent Resolution, Texas Legislature, commendation, honorary resolution, Dr. James Olson, James Olson, University of Texas Permian Basin, UT Permian Basin, psychology professor, 50 years of service, faculty recognition, academic award, Piper Professor Award, Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award

Transcript Highlights:

• Zach McCarty, on behalf of NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council, in support. Thank you.
• So the fire department, the city council, the traffic engineers, the Coastal Commission in this case
• too, because it's a coastal community—I mean, all levels apply to this project, those types of projects
• SACTA, NRDC, Natural Resources Defense Council, were supportive if amended.
• These are significant dumping incidents that create environmental hazards, burden city resources, and

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on active transportation, transit, road safety, and local enforcement. SB 569 would restrict removal or downgrading of bikeways built with state General Fund dollars for at least 20 years, require public hearings before major changes, and was supported by bicycle advocates and some local and environmental groups. The City of Encinitas opposed the bill, arguing it could limit needed safety fixes and should apply only to future projects; committee members discussed whether the bill still allowed safety-based modifications. The bill passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations. SB 741 would streamline the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program by reducing administrative burden and giving transit agencies more flexibility to use funds for service improvements, fare programs, and other transit needs while maintaining oversight and disadvantaged community requirements. Transit agencies and advocacy groups supported the measure, saying it would help agencies respond to post-pandemic ridership and financial challenges. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 1167, which would tighten consumer protections by clarifying that high-powered e-motos and similar motor vehicles are not e-bikes, requiring clearer disclosures and labels, and improving crash reporting. Supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and improve safety for riders, pedestrians, and parents; the Motorcycle Industry Council opposed unless amended, arguing the term “e-bike” is used broadly and the bill could affect existing businesses. The bill passed to Appropriations. Later, SB 953, dealing with vehicular manslaughter cases dismissed through misdemeanor diversion, would add DMV points so fatal conduct remains reflected on driving records; the bill was supported by the victim’s family and safety advocates and passed to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1218, which would let local agencies boot vehicles tied to repeated unpaid illegal dumping citations instead of using DMV enforcement. Oakland officials and community groups supported the bill as a needed deterrent, while the ACLU opposed it as punitive debt collection without a sufficient nexus to the vehicle. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 739 would revise the Clean Miles Standard for rideshare companies by allowing CARB and CPUC to adjust electric vehicle mileage targets in light of current market conditions; Uber and Lyft supported the flexibility, while clean air advocates began raising concerns about weakening climate goals as the transcript cut off.

Transcript Highlights:

• MAY IMPOSE UNDUE BURDENS IN ESPECIALLY SMALLER PRACTICES IN RURAL PROVIDERS POTENTIALLY DIVERTING RESOURCES
• THIS AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO PROCURE COASTAL RESILIENCY PROJECTS THROUGH
• THIS PROVIDES CLARITY TO MIDSIZE COASTAL COMMUNITIES REGARDING THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN SOVEREIGN SUBMERGED
• MADAM CHAIR, THIS SEEMS LIKE A COASTAL AREA FOR A FIX FOR FORT WALTON.
• I'M VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THAT CAUSE AND SOME OF THESE PARENTS HAVE THE RESOURCES, IT'S NOT EASY TO PAY

Transcript Highlights:

• prime purposes: shaping policy, guiding the issues of the town, and addressing affordable housing, coastal

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a brief public hearing with testimony limited to three minutes. The committee heard support for House 5388, filed for the town of Marion, which would allow transfer of a 2,900-square-foot parcel from the Open Space Acquisition Commission to the Select Board for a shared-use pathway, while permanently protecting about 13.38 acres of town land for passive recreation and conservation under Article 97. The witness said the proposal complies with Article 97 and the Public Lands Preservation Act and noted it had already passed Marion town meeting unanimously, 102-0. The committee also heard support for House 5365, a Falmouth home rule charter amendment to create a Falmouth Licensing Commission. The town councilor explained that two charter review committees found that the Select Board was spending too much time administering and disciplining alcohol, entertainment, and common victualer licenses, and that Falmouth’s licensing workload is more like a larger city’s. She argued that a separate licensing commission would let the Select Board focus more on broader town policy and priorities. No committee questions were raised after either witness, no opposition testimony was offered, and no votes on the bills were taken during the hearing. After confirming there was no further testimony, the chair accepted a motion to adjourn and the committee voted to adjourn by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, as it's been discussed in this committee and others, we have now focused those efforts on the coastal
• The coastal parish is trying to make sure and focus and get the roofs where they do the best, and that
• is in the coastal communities.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• primary purposes: shaping policy, guiding the issues of the town, and addressing affordable housing, coastal

Bills: H5332 , H5333 , H5358 , H5364 , H5365 , H5379 , H5387 , H5388 , H5416 , S3055

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Keywords: mayor vacancy, Holyoke, city council, election procedures, municipal governance, residency requirement, elected officials, local government, citizenship, charter amendment, municipal lien, local charges, property tax, nonpayment, Newton, residency requirements, municipal regulation, elected office, Falmouth, Licensing Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• part of the Republic of Texas, Liberty County has a rich history and diverse landscape. including coastal
• This resolution honors the county's historic significance, natural resources, and the hard work of its
• across the state to advance smart environmental policy that protects our state's critical natural resources
• Medical City Dallas has been an invaluable resource for over 50 years and was recently named on the health

Transcript Highlights:

• received federal funding for training future psychologists and mental health providers with health resources

Bills: HB2059 , HB3920 , HB2992 , HB3267 , HB4457 , HB3800 , HB3818 , HB4425 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4333 , HB4340 , HB4343 , HB4344 , HB4363 , HB4229 , HB4230 , HB4236 , HB4246 , HB1979 , HB3431 , HB3052 , HB3047 , HB3048 , HB4092 , HB4302 , HB3261 , HB3704 , HB3312 , HB3546 , HB3849 , HCR1021 , HB4105 , HB4159 , HB4304 , HB3835 , HB3619 , HB4490 , HB3710 , HB4201 , HB3907 , HB3748

Keywords: health care, medication, inmates, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, reimbursement, county jails, medical expenses, sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, procurement, transplant research, Oklahoma Tax Code, HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers

Bills: HB4274 , HB3076 , HB4358 , HB3312 , HB3288 , HB3885 , HB3147 , HB4299 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB3011 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3881 , HB3519 , HB3522 , HB3530 , HB2976 , HB4459 , HB3142 , HB4316 , HB4338 , HB4230 , HB3985 , HB3883 , HB4335 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3418 , HB3619 , HB3624 , HB3463 , HB4423 , HB3342 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3887 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB2964 , HB3834 , HB4193 , HB4272 , HB3277 , HB3148 , HB3651 , HB3323 , HB4287 , HB4105 , HB3304 , HB3345

Keywords: HB4274, Oklahoma schools, interdistrict transfer, open transfer, school enrollment, military families, active duty, National Guard, Reserve orders, military installation, residency requirements, district of choice, public school transfer, student transfer, special education, IEP, Section 504, military housing, base housing, electronic enrollment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:58.560><c> climate</c> rescend Noah funding for coastal climate rescend Noah funding for coastal
• </c><00:50:31.599><c> and</c> and Crutcher are so resourceful and and Crutcher are so resourceful and
• You know, there's been some great resources put out there.
• </c><01:22:27.679><c> And</c><01:22:27.920><c> it's</c> resources and put into them.
• And it's resources and put into them.

Summary: The Judiciary and Agriculture and Environment committees held an informational briefing on how recent federal policy changes, funding delays, cancellations, and layoffs are affecting Hawaii’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, and on the legality of some of those federal actions. Chair Carl Rhodes and Chair Mike Gabbard opened the meeting by framing it as part of an interim series on the rule of law and Hawaii’s response to federal actions. They noted there would be no public testimony, only invited presenters, and that questions would be held until the end. No votes or formal committee actions were taken. State climate change coordinator Leah Laramie described broad impacts from federal actions, including grant cancellations, litigation over terminated funding, staff cuts at NOAA and EPA, and the effect of the federal tax and spending law she said would raise energy costs, reduce grid reliability, and threaten renewable energy and transportation projects. She highlighted the loss or expiration of incentives for EVs and other clean-energy technologies, the termination of the Solar for All program and other rescissions, and the risk to major Hawaii projects such as Carbon Smart Commodities and other energy and land conservation programs. She also said the state’s attorneys general had taken numerous climate-related legal actions, including suits challenging federal cuts and the oil companies’ role in the climate crisis. Retired Justice Michael Wilson focused on the rule of law and climate justice, arguing that Hawaii is on the front line of climate change and that fossil fuel companies pose the greatest long-term threat. He said the state lacks a comprehensive climate protection plan despite the urgency of the crisis, cited UN and scientific warnings about a limited time horizon and severe warming, and pointed to projected local harms such as sea-level rise, beach loss, infrastructure damage, and major economic losses in Waikiki. His remarks emphasized the need for stronger planning and legal accountability, especially in light of federal rollbacks and the influence of fossil fuel interests.

Transcript Highlights:

• referring members to page three after line 28 and explaining that the amendment was brought to him on the coastal
• technology to address the public challenges we all know: flooding, subsidence, water management, coastal
• , city, and parish has its own problems, whether it's flooding, infrastructure that needs repair, coastal
• community, city, parish has its own problems, whether it's flooding, infrastructure that needs repair, coastal

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present and the chair noting it was the committee’s last meeting of the session. The committee first considered Senate Bill 254, which would prohibit certain excess debit card surcharges and authorize enforcement by the Attorney General. After adopting technical amendments and a committee amendment requiring written notice before a private right of action, the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then took up Senate Bill 80 on broadband administration fees and GUMBO program closeout. Members questioned the proposed increase in administrative and contractor fees, the timing of project completion, and how withheld reimbursements would work for utility damage. After adopting several amendments, including cleanup language and a provision to restore the reimbursement process, the bill was reported favorably as amended, though the Louisiana Telecommunications Association voiced concerns about the withholding language and lack of a clearer fault-determination process. The committee next considered Senate Bill 469, updating the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law. Technical amendments were adopted, along with amendments clarifying that the bill’s 30-day notice to utility owner-operators is separate from existing GUMBO notice requirements and creating a rapid dispute-resolution process involving the Office of Broadband, the utility operator, and the local governing authority. Testimony from broadband and municipal stakeholders emphasized the need for quicker responses to excavation damage and better enforcement, while some witnesses raised concerns about the late amendment and the need for clearer recourse and standards. The bill was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 468, dealing with fuel rewards programs and fuel discount limits, was also amended to allow such discounts while capping them at $1 below the advertised price; it was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 131, concerning attorney’s fees and costs in professional licensing disciplinary proceedings, drew testimony from a cosmetology board representative and the Pelican Institute. Supporters argued the bill would curb incentives for boards to generate revenue through enforcement and give licensees a fairer opportunity to resolve cases; board testimony noted that some boards already have fee caps and that enforcement actions are relatively limited. After adopting an amendment clarifying when a licensee is the prevailing party, the bill was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 251 on critical infrastructure protection also received technical amendments and several substantive changes, including adding ports and airports to the definition of critical infrastructure, clarifying “significant access,” adding a knowledge requirement, and adjusting exemptions and enforcement timing; it was reported favorably as amended after testimony from State Armor representatives about foreign adversary threats. Finally, House Resolution 253 was introduced to create a task force to study how post-2005 building code additions and inspection requirements affect residential construction costs, with the sponsor explaining the goal was to gather industry input and return recommendations next session.