Transcript Highlights:

• </c> funding streams for capital projects. funding streams for capital projects.
• He asked how that project turned out. The witness said the project is complete.
• Our projects are designed.
• </c> Disability in these projects. Disability in these projects.
• </c> local match for projects. local match for projects.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• They are not the only ones who partner with the federal government to address projects that are on federal
• They are not the only ones who partner with the federal government to address projects that are on federal
• The Department of Fish and Game partners with federal agencies and the federal government to operate
• We might have a big project one year, and then the next year not have as big of a project.
• We might have a big project one year, and then the next year not have as big of a project.

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations and questions for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Office of Species Conservation, and the Office of the Attorney General. Fish and Game’s budget was described as largely dedicated and federal funding with no general fund support, with discussion of ongoing and one-time enhancements for fisheries inflation, habitat projects, Good Neighbor Authority work, depredation claims, chronic wasting disease testing, and communications. Director Jim Fredericks also reviewed the new nonresident tag draw system, access challenges on private lands, and the department’s role in habitat work and species management. Members raised concerns about depredation claim shortfalls, survey and advisory committee processes, predator management, and the overlap between Fish and Game and the Office of Species Conservation on habitat and endangered species work. The Office of Species Conservation presentation focused on its role coordinating state actions for threatened, endangered, and candidate species, mostly through federal and miscellaneous revenue funds. Administrator Mike Edmondson explained that the office often serves as the policy and administrative lead while Fish and Game carries out much of the field work, and he described metrics for sage grouse, salmon and steelhead, and grizzly bear-related efforts. He also said the office has been working with the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources on a possible merger, with some staff reductions under consideration, and answered questions about grizzly bear delisting, wolf litigation, and tribal consultation. Attorney General Raul Labrador then argued that his office has produced significant results without asking for new money, but said the committee’s proposed reductions would force furloughs or position cuts and asked for $980,000 to be restored. He highlighted the ICAC unit’s elimination of a cyber-tip backlog, increased arrests, consumer protection recoveries, and expanded appellate and civil litigation work defending state laws. Members asked about the source of recovered funds, the office’s flexibility to absorb cuts, and whether the state could work on a framework to transfer incarcerated undocumented offenders to federal custody for deportation. The committee ended by noting upcoming budget-setting work and adjourned until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal government is supporting us at a 10-to-1 ratio cost share, and we have one project with UC
• the CPUC is setting are clean energy projects.
• In the DSGS account, we have projected funding—excuse me, projected expenditures this year.
• government, and then dispersing those federal funds.
• The transmission projects that are proposed are $1.5 billion: $600 million federal, $900 million ratepayer

Transcript Highlights:

• example, when projects are being held up and need to take advantage of federal incentives.
• , the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, and all the other water right holders, all
• We rely on our federal partners incredibly, and so I'll say that the reduction in federal workforce and
• of federal lands as well.
• of federal lands as well.

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss budget issues related to vacant positions across several natural resources and environmental departments, with no votes taken and all items held open for a future hearing. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance explained the administration’s proposal to eliminate about 6,000 vacant positions statewide, including roughly 293 positions in the departments before the committee, as a way to capture salary savings and reduce flexible funding tied up in vacancies. The LAO recommended retaining special-funded positions, while noting that eliminating General Fund positions would reduce savings. Finance argued that vacancy levels have remained steady statewide, that departments need flexibility to manage operations and hard-to-fill jobs, and that some vacant positions can be reclassified to higher-priority work. Members raised concerns that many of the proposed eliminations would affect core public-safety, permitting, and environmental-protection functions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said the cuts would affect permitting, environmental protection, and law enforcement, while State Parks said its proposed ranger reductions were chosen from historically vacant, hard-to-fill positions and would still leave many vacancies to fill through the academy. The Coastal Commission said its positions supported sea-level rise planning under SB 272. The Department of Pesticide Regulation and DTSC said the reductions would affect multiple program areas, though Finance said the special funds involved were not in structural deficit and the cuts could help avoid future fee increases. The State Water Resources Control Board said its proposed reductions were spread across programs, with public-health functions protected as much as possible. The committee then heard an overview from the State Water Resources Control Board on its responsibilities for water quality, water rights, drinking water, and funding for water infrastructure. Chair Joaquin Esquivel described ongoing work on the Bay-Delta Plan update, the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes voluntary agreements, and the need to actively administer water rights. Members also discussed the board’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, which narrowed federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. The board requested $2.6 million and 12 permanent positions to address resulting permitting and enforcement gaps; the LAO said the request met its high bar for new proposals and was supported by the board’s data and reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> for</c><00:01:14.400><c> the</c> also update our projections for the also update our projections
• </c> projected um in that bond sale. projected um in that bond sale.
• </c> above previous projections. above previous projections.
• </c> projected health care bills coming up. projected health care bills coming up.
• He's cancelling projects and funding in Minnesota, projects we've paid for with our federal income tax

Transcript Highlights:

• Our office has made it sure that its operations are 100% completed by the federal funds that the federal
• Well, federally, you can't. Let me explain that, Mr. Chairman.
• PeopleSoft Insights project.
• Projects for next year include PeopleSoft Insights.
• That is due to projects we were appropriated to complete, capital projects, as well as accumulating some

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, there is very little indication that this project, the train project, would receive federal government
• Initially, the federal government had also agreed to fund a portion of the project, and there's no current
• :16.600><c> had</c> Initially, the federal government had Initially, the federal government had also<
• that federal money is going indication that federal money is going to<00:04:22.000><c> be</c><00:04:
• That money is not really, this project.

Summary: The meeting focused on opposition to the proposed Blue Line light rail extension in the West Broadway/North Minneapolis corridor and support for alternatives, especially arterial bus rapid transit. Committee members and invited speakers argued that the rail project would cost about $3.2 billion to $3.5 billion to build, require roughly $57 million a year to operate and maintain, and could burden Hennepin County taxpayers if federal funding does not materialize. They promoted House File 3507, which would direct $30 million toward bus transit in the corridor, and House File 3441, which was described as highlighting the operating costs of light rail. Testimony from community leaders and residents emphasized concerns about displacement, business disruption, safety, and neighborhood impacts. Speakers said the project could require demolition of homes and businesses, reduce parking and traffic access on West Broadway, and harm a predominantly Black business district in North Minneapolis. Several compared the project to past rail impacts such as Rondo, and said bus rapid transit would be more flexible, less expensive, and better aligned with community needs. One speaker also raised concerns about the placement of stations and the effect on residents who rely on transit for work, shopping, and access to services. Representative Kristin Robbins and others framed the issue as a budget priority, saying Hennepin County should focus on transit options that cost less and on funding for HCMC, which they said faces a serious deficit. In response to questions, the bill supporters said the effort was bipartisan, that federal funding for the rail project was uncertain, and that the legislature should move money toward bus service now rather than wait for a future federal agreement. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the excerpt, but the members indicated they would continue making the case for the bills and follow up with the community.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some projects near these projects that are being funded in other projects, but we're not jeopardizing
• any projects by those transfers.
• near these projects that are being funded in other projects but we're not jeopardizing any projects
• Maybe they don't like the federal law, but it's federal law, and we don't care—you have to follow it.
• Maybe they don't like the federal law, but it's federal law, and we don't care, you have to follow it

Summary: The meeting covered a series of fiscal year 2027 budget and budget-related bills, beginning with the general appropriations and tax package. Staff and the chair highlighted a budget built around about $1.4 billion in tax cuts, a one-time 2.5% agency reduction, major funding for state employee health insurance, corrections, flood and wildfire relief, and other supplemental appropriations. The chair repeatedly urged support for the package, emphasizing the size of the tax cut and noting that the committee’s joint vote had only three no votes out of 28 members. Members then reviewed several smaller budget implementation bills affecting racing and gambling, capital outlay, commerce and defense innovation, corrections, environment and water policy, higher education, human services, K-12 education, county finance, tax administration, state data governance, and state office rent rates. Key provisions included extending or modifying funds and fee structures, transferring surplus or unneeded monies, creating or revising oversight boards and pilot programs, increasing K-12 funding by 2% for inflation, adjusting university retention limits, expanding SNAP and housing-related requirements, and changing tax conformity and credits. Several members asked clarifying questions about specific items such as electric vehicle charging funds, mobile home relocation payments, university funding, and the new health insurance oversight board. The chair also explained the tax bill’s major changes, including conformity to federal tax law, a larger dependent tax credit, changes to deductions, repeal of certain tax credits, veteran property tax relief, limits on data center tax incentives, and provisions affecting manufacturing infrastructure and unemployment insurance administration. The committee discussed the Budget Stabilization Fund, debt repayment, and education rollover balances, with the chair arguing for using surpluses to pay down debt. The final item discussed was a behavioral health bill creating a home and community-based services program for adults determined to be seriously mentally ill, with a stated FY 2027 total fund appropriation of $7.8 million contingent on federal approval and matching funds. The meeting ended with a reminder that floor action would begin the next day at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• are routinely penalized in the scoring process for affordable housing projects.
• As a result, these projects are... ...of the means to travel long distances to jobs.
• Currently, farm worker projects have a difficult time receiving even 10 points.
• So I would move the legislation and wish the best for these future projects, because we know any project
• We see firsthand that manufacturing projects are highly sensitive to upfront project economics.

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee heard a series of bills focused on nonprofit tax status, housing, tribal land return, tax relief, economic development, journalism, reparations, manufacturing investment, and pawned property sales tax. The chair explained the committee’s suspense file process and noted that only AB 2270 and AB 2641 were eligible for immediate votes; other measures were referred to suspense after presentation. AB 2084 (Bauer-Kahan) would give the Franchise Tax Board discretion to delay or review revocation of state nonprofit tax-exempt status when federal status is revoked, and AB 2167 (Macedo) would clarify that tribally chartered corporations are eligible for existing tribal conservation land return tax exemptions. Both drew support from nonprofit and tribal representatives and were sent to suspense. AB 2270 (Arambula) sought to improve farmworker housing access to low-income housing tax credits by adjusting scoring criteria to reflect rural agricultural realities. Supporters said current amenity-based scoring disadvantages projects near farmland; the bill passed the committee 4-1 and was sent to Housing and Community Development. AB 2336 proposed excluding the first $25,000 of overtime pay and pension income from taxation; supporters framed it as affordability relief, while an opponent warned of major General Fund losses and a member raised the lack of an income cap. AB 2205 would reinstate the New Employment Credit to encourage hiring in high-unemployment areas, and AB 2222 would create refundable tax credits for local news organizations hiring journalists; both received strong support from business, labor, and media advocates and were referred to suspense. The committee also heard AB 2186, which would exclude future reparations payments from state income tax, with supporters arguing reparations should not be reduced by taxation; it was sent to suspense. AB 2377 would accelerate depreciation deductions for manufacturing equipment, with a larger benefit in high-need areas, and AB 2641 would extend the sales tax exemption for people repurchasing their own property from pawnbrokers, with the author agreeing to a five-year sunset amendment. AB 2641 passed 4-0 and was sent to Appropriations. After taking up the remaining roll calls for absent members, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The project is currently on time and on budget.
• And now we will move on to our federal funding update.
• That's about a $13.5 million loss in federal funds.
• Then there are federal statutory requirements.
• That was projected to be $342 million.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused first on juvenile rehabilitation system capacity. DCYF officials said the juvenile rehabilitation population is older, includes more adult-sentenced youth, and has longer lengths of stay, especially for “post-25” youth who must remain in secure facilities and cannot go to community beds. They described overcrowding at Green Hill School, placement limits at Echo Glen and Harbor Heights, staffing turnover, mental health acuity, and the need for more medium-security and specialized mental health beds. DCYF said it is pursuing a Parkland facility proposal, a staffing model decision package, and a broader feasibility study and master plan update. No votes were taken; members were asked to follow up with questions later. The committee then heard on behavioral health system capacity from the Behavioral Health Administration and the Health Care Authority. DSHS described growth in forensic and civil bed need, expansion at Olympic Heritage, Maple Lane, and Brockman, and construction of a new 350-bed forensic hospital at Western State expected to open in 2028. HCA reported progress on long-term civil commitment beds, intensive behavioral health treatment facilities, PACT teams, and intensive residential treatment teams, saying the community-based system is being expanded to support step-down care and reduce hospital reliance. Members asked about whether capacity is right-sized, the difference between facility types, and federal match eligibility for services. A federal funding update followed, covering the effects of H.R. 1 and H.R. 5371 on SNAP, Medicaid, marketplace coverage, long-term services and supports, K-12, higher education, and hemp regulation. OFM and agency staff said H.R. 1 adds work requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, increases state administrative and benefit costs, reduces Medicaid and marketplace subsidies for some groups, tightens redeterminations, and may significantly affect provider payments and state-directed payments. H.R. 5371 extended federal funding through January 30, 2026 and included some agency appropriations and other provisions, including changes affecting hemp producers. Members asked about SNAP error rates and special enrollment periods. Finally, budget coordinator Mary Monroe gave a 2026 supplemental budget preview. She reviewed the state’s near general fund outlook, noting revenue declines since the enacted budget, the effect of reversions, and a preliminary maintenance-level outlook showing a projected increase in NGFO spending over the four-year period. She said the supplemental will reflect updated caseload and cost forecasts and mandatory impacts from H.R. 1, but not policy proposals. No actions or votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• These two projects, one is already... Tell me how far a project is in terms of obligations.
• project.
• projects.
• For those projects, UC's state share was about one-third of the total project costs, while for this project
• When comparing this project to other UC student housing projects, those required a much smaller state

Transcript Highlights:

• What that growth trend line is projected at.
• , clean water projects from DEQ.
• Governor's projection is at $155 million.
• impact, changes the federal impact on the upper payment limit from federal funds to dedicated funds.
• ... ...had a bit of a typo on the federal column, federal and dedicated column on a couple of those lines

Summary: The committee received a broad budget overview from Legislative Services staff on the state’s fiscal position, focusing on the general fund, structural balance, cash reconciliation, and the governor’s budget recommendations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Staff explained that projected revenues are below the current budgeted level, creating a need for either budget reductions or the use of cash balances and reserve funds to maintain balance. They reviewed major drivers of spending growth over recent years, including Medicaid expansion, public schools, the State Public Defender, IT services, and water resources, and noted that these statutory and ongoing obligations are crowding out other spending. Members also discussed the governor’s proposed use of interest earnings and reserve balances from several funds, the Budget Stabilization Fund cap, and the policy question of whether changes to fund interest allocations would require legislation or could be handled through appropriation language. The committee also reviewed current-year adjustments, including supplementals, rescissions, deficiency warrants, and the governor’s proposed holdbacks. Specific items discussed included public school enrollment adjustments, the proposed rescission of Empowering Parents funding, Medicaid growth and provider rate changes, Department of Corrections costs tied to inmate placement and medical services, invasive species treatment funding, and a possible tax conformity impact tied to federal law changes. Members asked about fire suppression deficiency funding, the use of reserve balances, and the difference between current-law and governor-recommended spending levels. Staff emphasized that the governor’s budget relies on short-term money and reserve transfers to smooth the current deficit, while the legislature must decide whether to follow that approach or make deeper structural changes. Later, staff provided an overview of the budget hearing process and the Legislative Budget Book, explaining the standard reports, agency organization charts, fund analyses, performance measures, and five-year snapshots that committees will use during hearings. Another presentation clarified the difference between deficiency warrants and supplemental appropriations, noting that deficiency warrants cover certain last-year expenses authorized by statute, while supplementals adjust the current-year appropriation and can apply to general, dedicated, or federal funds. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on state health insurance costs, including rising medical claims, reserve balances, the 80/20 employee-employer cost split, and projected FY 2027 premium increases. Members asked about school district participation in the state plan, the role of the insurance carrier contract, and whether broader participation could lower costs. No votes were taken during the meeting, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I wonder if any of you can speak to the federal funding issue.
• also completing a similar project at the moment.
• leverages federal opportunities.
• WSDOT may use complete streets project funds to participate in local or tribal system projects and construct
• Complete streets projects provide similar value.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• So that number gets a little bit higher because of the carry forward we have of ongoing projects or projects
• Federal agencies.
• I'll highlight a couple of projects.
• So here, 76 projects that are active.
• The federal government, when they finance highways and give us federal funds for the highways, there

Summary: The committee met on March 30 and first took up House Resolution 1, which approves the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s annual State Integrated Coastal Protection Plan for fiscal years 2026-2027. CPRA leaders described the plan as a roughly $1.54 billion coastal investment, with most funds directed to construction and project implementation. They outlined funding sources including GOMESA, BP settlement dollars, state surplus, and new coastal sediment revenues, and reviewed major work across the coast such as marsh creation, barrier island restoration, levees, pump stations, shoreline protection, and nonstructural flood mitigation. Members asked about specific regional concerns, including the Sabine River area, the Chafalaya Basin, Bayou Sorrel, and tidal flooding in inland parishes. The committee heard public support cards and then reported H.R. 1 favorably without objection. The committee then considered House Bill 838, as substituted, dealing with vehicle inspection stickers and related inspection requirements. The bill would repeal inspection requirements for assembled vehicles, adjust inspection rules for commercial and student transportation vehicles, allow out-of-state inspections in some cases, and move toward a QR-code-based system tied to the vehicle identification number. OMV officials said the QR code would contain only the VIN and would be used by law enforcement through existing or upgraded ticketing systems, with the change taking effect January 1, 2027. Members asked about privacy, local law enforcement compatibility, unsafe vehicles, and the annual fee structure. The committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably via substitute. Next, the committee heard House Bill 888, also with amendments, on temporary dealer plates and temporary registration plates. Supporters said the bill cleans up last session’s temporary tag law, increases security features for print-on-demand plates, clarifies placement rules for dealer tags, extends certain temporary tag periods from five to ten days, and delays fee changes until the electronic issuance system is implemented. A question was raised about whether the new plates would be readable by license plate recognition cameras, and the sponsor said that would be checked with State Police. The committee adopted the amendment set and reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also advanced House Bill 885, which authorizes electronic titles, electronic lien recordation, and electronic signatures for motor vehicle transactions. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill is intended to modernize vehicle sales, reduce duplicate paper signatures, and make the process more secure and efficient, while preserving anti-fraud protections and allowing the OMV to set rules. Members asked whether the process would be mandatory, how fraud would be handled, and how identity would be verified; the sponsor said the system would become mandatory for participating commercial entities once implemented, with security standards and good-faith protections. The committee reported the bill favorably via substitute. Finally, the committee approved House Bill 723, as amended, allowing certain two- and three-wheeled motorcycles and mopeds to proceed through a red light when sensors fail to detect them. The sponsor framed it as a safety measure to avoid riders being stranded at malfunctioning signals and to reduce rear-end collision risk. The committee also took up House Bill 882 on outdoor advertising, which would increase spacing between billboards on state highways from 150 feet to 1,000 feet, with an amendment preserving certain nonconforming signs rebuilt after acts of God. Supporters said the change would reduce billboard clutter and improve aesthetics, while opponents argued it would hurt smaller billboard owners, shift power to larger companies, and override local control. The committee adopted the amendments and continued debate on the bill, with testimony focused on its economic and local-government impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• So HIF comes in and makes a federal project... Gap filler to help with their financing.
• So HIF comes in and makes a federal project be able to come to fruition.
• And when you look at the federal rental assistance programs, the Section 8 voucher, the project-based
• one of them is project management of Project North Star.
• project.

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division budget section and first reviewed the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s budget and program update. Legislative Council outlined the agency’s base budget and historical funding, and Housing Finance staff reported on homeownership lending, housing incentive fund (HIF) awards, and homeless grant spending. Agency officials said the five new FTEs approved last session are mostly filled, with one homeless program manager still open. They described strong demand for HIF, noting that September 2025 multifamily requests exceeded $73 million while only $25 million was available, and that single-family and homeless programs are also heavily subscribed. Members discussed the agency’s local loan servicing workload, interest-rate benefits, down payment assistance, and the need to coordinate housing discussions with Commerce and site-preparation efforts. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased, and committee members emphasized accountability and statewide access for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing funds. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and agency initiatives. Staff reported that the department is on track financially, that most of the five new reclamation-related FTEs are hired, and that litigation costs tied to oil and gas matters are expected to continue appearing late in the biennium. The director reviewed ongoing modernization and organizational efforts, including the North Star IT project, succession planning, training, and rulemaking for oil and gas and critical minerals. Members asked about longer laterals, spacing, and production trends; the department said operators are increasingly drilling three-, four-, and even an initial five-mile lateral, which is helping keep North Dakota oil production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. The director also discussed oil price volatility tied to Middle East conflict, hedging practices among producers, gas capture remaining around 95%, and the likelihood that current production levels will stay near flat unless prices or geopolitical conditions change significantly. An update on the enhanced oil recovery grant program followed. The Industrial Commission’s grant administrator said the full $25 million appropriation was allocated in the fall to six projects, and because the oil and gas research fund also had carryover and biennial tax revenue, total awards reached about $45.1 million. The projects are expected to run two to four years, with meaningful results not likely until mid-2026 or later. Members questioned whether the public would have access to the research findings and how accountability would be maintained; staff said the grants are reimbursement-based, require regular status reports, and will culminate in public final reports. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, which updated members on natural gas transmission projects, especially WBI Energy’s proposed Bakken East pipeline. The authority said the project has advanced through a nonbinding and then binding open season, with WBI now securing survey permissions and moving through regulatory and landowner processes, while other related gas transmission projects near Minot and Epping are also in development.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal government has approved extending to 2045, but the state government has not.
• It captures more forms of compensation than both state law and federal law currently cover.
• We have a sub-division map of one of our new construction projects last year.
• Federal immigration officers are operating under different legal authority.
• You would still be paying half the impact fees of a normal project.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• projects.
• projects.
• And they could make us through the project? Absolutely. It's federally legal.
• the federal government.
• probably deny projects.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• are, these are projects that are not one-and-done projects.
• are, these are projects that, they're not one and done projects. these projects are, these are projects
• We also have another 95 projects under review by FEMA for $577 million in federal funds.
• We've also leveraged our understanding of the overall EHP process to advise federally funded projects
• But when you group those projects, it allows you to measure how they... ...projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you'll notice that there was one notice that there was one project or two projects on the list that
• And so, there are a few projects.
• We simply look at the project.
• Workforce housing projects and community land trust projects.
• Sewer and water projects is left. Roads... Sewer and water projects is left.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• These projects are the competition-eligible projects from CAISO's 20-year outlook.
• So the way that works is we submit a portfolio of projects that meet the federal criteria, they verify
• federal GRIP program.
• And there are future projects from future cluster studies that will bring more projects our way.
• TPP projects.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee first heard AB 13, which would restructure the Public Utilities Commission by adding legislative liaisons, requiring more frequent and detailed reporting on rate decisions, and changing commissioner representation to increase geographic diversity and accountability. The author and supporters argued the CPUC is too insulated from public pressure and that Californians need more transparency and oversight on utility rate hikes. Support came from former CPUC Commissioner Loretta Lynch, Jeff Shields, wildfire survivor Will Abrams, TURN, and San Diego Gas & Electric in a support-if-amended position; there was no opposition testimony. Members generally praised the transparency goals, and the bill passed 10-0 to Appropriations, with the roll left open for absent members. The committee then adopted the 2025-2026 committee rules and approved three consent items: AB 61, AB 365, and AB 406. Those measures were moved on consent without substantive debate and passed unanimously. The committee also held AB 99, which would limit investor-owned utility rate increases above inflation except for specified costs such as safety, modernization, and fuel or commodity expenses. The author and supporters, including the California Senior Legislature, said the bill was needed to protect seniors and other ratepayers from repeated utility hikes, while opponents argued it was overly simplistic, could harm labor and reliability, and failed to account for major cost drivers like wildfire mitigation and mandated programs. Despite broad concerns from utilities, labor, business, and environmental groups, the bill advanced 11-0 to Appropriations, with several members noting they supported continued work on the measure. After the bill votes, the committee opened an informational hearing on strategies to reduce California transmission costs, the second part of its energy affordability series. Public Advocates Office staff presented data showing a large and growing backlog of approved-but-unbuilt transmission projects, rising transmission access charges, and long project timelines driven mostly by utility pre-application and construction phases. Panelists from D.H. Infrastructure, Net Zero California, IBank, and PG&E discussed alternative financing models, including public-private partnerships, public ownership, tax-exempt debt, loan guarantees, and grants, arguing these tools could lower capital costs and speed development. Members focused on whether the CPUC is the right venue, how to shorten permitting and pre-application delays, and how public financing could be structured to reduce costs without shifting burdens elsewhere.