Transcript Highlights:

• for all vehicles regardless of the fuel for all vehicles regardless of the fuel type.<00:18:26.400
• for the lack of fuel tax from these<00:36:27.040> vehicles.
• You know, the concern I'd have there with this new ethanol fuel, I would be a ... ... Okay.
• , I would be a little worried about leaving that fuel in there that long.
• So, these alternative fuel our state.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're in a situation where we're tied to fossil fuels, and fossil fuels are becoming more disruptive
• <00:11:13.000> and we're we're tied to fossil fuels and we're we're tied to fossil fuels and
• > um<00:11:16.360> more fossil fuels are becoming um more fossil fuels are becoming um
• advocate for eliminating fossil fuels advocate for eliminating fossil fuels and<00:26:19.080>
• wood, which is not a fossil fuel but is a carbon-based fuel.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the problem is, like, you could become terminal again at any moment.
• So, they're terminally ill as well.
• They're not terminally yet.
• They're not terminally yet.
• <02:40:55.000> ill uh to the focus uh from terminally ill uh to the focus uh from terminally

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those assumptions are the mortality rates, rates of termination and retirement, and then the service-based
• In terms of termination rates, we observed more members terminating than our prior assumption.
• Those assumptions are the mortality rates, rates of termination and retirement, and then the service-based
• In terms of termination rates, we observed more members terminating than our prior assumption.

Summary: The Pension Funding Council met on June 23, 2026, for a work session that began with an overview of the Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP) and a 2025 accounting valuation of that plan. Staff explained that the SRP is a closed defined benefit supplement for higher education employees hired before the 2011 closure, with employer contributions currently pre-funding benefits in institution-specific trusts while institutions still pay benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis. The State Actuary’s office reported that the plan’s accounting position has improved, with combined market assets of about $245 million against $377 million in accrued liability, and that strong market performance since 2022 has increased the asset-to-liability ratio. The office emphasized that this was an educational accounting valuation, not a funding valuation for rate-setting. The council then received the 2025 actuarial valuation report for the state retirement systems. Actuaries reviewed the recent demographic experience study, noting updated assumptions for mortality, retirement, termination, and salary growth, and said the net impact on most plans was small. They reported that most plans’ funded ratios improved, with all plans at least 94% funded and several at or above 100%, and that contribution rates for the 2027–2029 biennium are generally lower than current rates. They also noted that future rates could be affected by market volatility as deferred gains are recognized over the next few years. During public comment, a representative of the Association of Washington Cities urged the council to consider rate reductions to help local governments facing budget pressures. In executive session, the council first approved a motion directing the Office of the State Actuary to perform an actuarial evaluation and analysis of each institution’s Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan, including institution-specific contribution rates, asset sufficiency, and funding policy options, due by July 1, 2028. The council then adopted the 2027–2029 pension contribution rates based on the 2025 actuarial valuation report. Both motions passed 5-0, with one member excused. The meeting concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• legislative rule relating to the installation, operation, and sharing of customer bank communication terminals
• just to provide a framework for the installation, sharing, and use of customer bank communication terminals
• is to provide a framework for the installation, sharing, and use of customer bank communication terminals
• just to provide a framework for the installation, sharing, and use of customer bank communication terminals
• is to provide a framework for the installation, sharing, and use of customer bank communication terminals

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then considered a series of House bills and committee substitutes. House Bill 5438, dealing with changes to Step 7 of the school aid formula and allowable uses of certain education allocations, was amended to adopt the Education Committee’s changes and then reported to the full Senate. House Bill 4087 creating the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance was also reported, as was House Bill 4191, which expands child care tax credit eligibility for employer-sponsored facilities and changes subsidy payments from attendance-based to enrollment-based reimbursement; senators emphasized its workforce and economic development benefits. House Bill 5074, which reallocates medical cannabis fund balances and future revenues, was amended to increase the Child Protective Commission pilot funding from $3 million to $5 million and remove proposed ibogaine research funding for Marshall and WVU before being reported. House Bill 5353, regulating virtual currency kiosks and money transmission licensure, and House Bill 5527, creating licensure and oversight for wellness reimbursement program administrators, both received strike-and-insert amendments and were reported. House Bill 5687, which phases down the metallurgical coal severance tax and adds a temporary oil and gas tax reduction with county/municipal revenue adjustments, was amended and reported. House Bill 4418, creating an electronic system for municipal business and occupation tax filing and collection with a 1% administrative fee and a participation threshold, was also reported. The committee then took up House Bill 4245, the Revenue Rules Bundle, which bundles 26 legislative rules from the Department of Revenue and related agencies. The bundle included alcohol, banking, insurance, racing, and tax rules, with several sunset extensions and repeals of outdated rules; the committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment affecting a lottery consumer protection rule and a pre-need cemetery company rule, then reported the bill. House Bill 5168, providing a $12 million lottery-funded stream for emergency medical services, was amended to clarify the uses of the funds, rename one fund, require a 30% county match for mental health treatment spending, and create two additional county-based EMS funds; senators described it as a needed permanent funding source for EMS, and it was reported. Throughout the meeting, members generally supported the measures, with some discussion on technical details, funding allocations, and the impact of the bills on local services and workforce needs. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that Senate House Bills 4004, 4006, and 4009 would not be taken up that day, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then for cruise ship terminals, we in Honolulu, we have two terminals, we have two facilities that
• there's a lot of work that needs to be done both on the waterside improvements as well as the landside terminal
• And then for cruise ship terminals,<00:24:10.240> we<00:24:10.480> in<00:24:10.720>
• Honolulu,<00:24:11.279> we<00:24:11.440> have<00:24:11.520> two terminals, we
• in Honolulu, we have two terminals, we in Honolulu, we have two facilities<00:24:12.159> that

Bills: SB2816

Keywords: enterprise zones, economic development, innovation enterprise, job creation, Hawaii, 910, house, all

Summary: The committees heard House Bill 2195, HD1, which would replace the existing transit accommodations tax on cruise ships with a per-passenger infrastructure fee collected by the Department of Transportation and deposited into a new cruise ship special fund. Testimony included support from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and comments from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii warning that the bill should remain narrowly tied to harbor-related uses to avoid potential Tonnage Clause issues. The Department of Transportation testified that cruise-related harbor work includes pier repairs, dredging, terminal upgrades, and shore power, and said a dedicated revenue stream would help prioritize cruise infrastructure needs. The Attorney General’s office said it had submitted written comments but did not address questions about the litigation or constitutional background. Members questioned whether the new special fund was necessary when the existing harbor special fund already finances similar improvements. DOT said the funds overlap and suggested the bill could be amended to use the harbor special fund with a separate cruise subaccount, while still preserving a dedicated revenue stream and separate accounting. DOT also said it currently collects port entry, dockage, and per-head passenger fees from cruise ships and that existing cruise-related expenditures from the harbor special fund have not been challenged. The chair ultimately recommended moving HB 2195 forward as introduced, while continuing discussions about the fund structure and awaiting further clarity from the Attorney General and DOT. In decision-making, the committees voted to pass HB 2195, HD1, as is. They also voted to pass House Bill 916, HD1, relating to the low-income housing tax credit, which would allow certain state low-income housing tax credits to offset state transient accommodations taxes in the same county and make Act 129 of 2016 permanent. Both the Committee on Tourism and the Committee on Economic Development and Technology adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass HB 916, HD1, unamended. The hearing was then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the needed renewable power to Hawaii with the aging and pending retirement of the utility's fossil fuel
• fossil fuel generators not enough<00:13:07.079> energy<00:13:07.519> poses<00:13:07.839
• The PUC also has us file a fossil fuel retirement report to track our progress.
• the PC also has us file a uh fossil fuel the PC also has us file a uh fossil fuel retirement<00:28:53.039
• <00:29:48.399> unit of energy from a fossil fuel unit of energy from a fossil fuel unit because

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several energy and environmental bills. On HB 974, which would authorize state step-in agreements for certain power purchase agreements and create a trust fund/reserve mechanism, the Attorney General’s office raised concern that the state should not incur liability beyond the trust fund. The Division of Consumer Advocacy said it had comments but did not take a position, while the Public Utilities Commission, Ameresco, Hawaiian Electric, and other industry groups supported the measure, saying it would help developers secure financing for renewable projects and improve reliability. Hawaiian Electric said the bill would not use state funds and that its proposed reserve account would be held in trust and returned to customers if unused. Committee members questioned whether the reserve would raise customer costs; Hawaiian Electric said the amount would be small and would be offset by avoiding higher financing costs, while Consumer Advocacy suggested the language should be strengthened to ensure unused funds are fully returned. The committee then heard HB 338, which would clarify that premium interest-rate adjustments for non-fossil fuel generation are just and reasonable and allow the PUC to include them in rates. DCCA and the State Energy Office supported the bill, and the PUC also supported it. Hawaiian Electric opposed unless amended, arguing the PUC already has discretion and warning the bill could weaken competitive procurement by encouraging higher bids tied to the utility’s credit rating. DCCA said the concern was that developers might not seek the best financing if premium rates are recoverable, but said Hawaiian Electric’s suggested amendment requiring clear and convincing evidence of unavoidable financing-cost increases would help. Members also asked about refinancing and whether developers could later lower debt costs after locking in a premium rate; DCCA said that ability exists and suggested a time limit or review mechanism. For HB 337, which would direct the PUC to establish standards requiring utilities to remove certain fossil-fuel costs from the rate base when adding renewable resources, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, and the State Energy Office supported the measure. Hawaiian Electric opposed it, saying it misunderstood utility cost recovery and could threaten grid reliability because fossil plants provide ancillary services such as voltage regulation and balancing, not just energy. Hawaiian Electric pointed to its integrated grid plan and recent fossil-unit retirements as evidence of ongoing transition, and asked the committee to defer the bill and leave oversight to the PUC. The committee also heard HB 879 on cesspool conversions, which would raise the maximum grant from $20,000 to $30,000 and add DOH positions; DHHL, DOH, environmental groups, Hawaii Realtors, and others supported it, while DOH discussed staffing needs and the practical effect of the higher grant cap. The committee also began HB 379 on requiring denitrification capacity for certain wastewater systems near shorelines or groundwater, with DLNR testifying in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would also ban petitions in cases where parental rights were terminated for the most serious safety
• This bill establishes that parental incarceration would not be the sole basis for involuntary termination
• This bill establishes that parental incarceration would not be the sole basis for involuntary termination
• years, demanding ratepayers pay for the utility’s error or face consequences up to and including termination
• Including termination of service.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest recognitions, and a quorum call before moving into committee reports and floor action. Committees reported a number of bills and resolutions, including measures from Local Government, Energy, Health, Judiciary, Appropriations, Rules, and Finance. The chamber also announced caucus and committee meetings, then recessed and later reconvened for final consideration of legislation. Several bills passed the House finally, including House Bill 2299 on body cameras for county probation officers, House Bill 167 designating a scenic byway along Allegheny River Boulevard, House Bill 95 requiring disclosure when content or advertising is generated or substantially modified by artificial intelligence, House Bill 1944 expanding medical amnesty and Good Samaritan protections on campuses, House Bill 2443 creating a child victim recovery fund, House Bill 246 updating references from the Public Welfare Code to the Human Services Code, and House Bill 2586 establishing title protection for music therapists. The House also adopted House Resolution 463 recognizing Korean-American Citizenship Day, House Resolution 499 recognizing Juneteenth Independence Day, and House Resolution 547 directing a study of electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration. The House spent significant time on amendments to House Bill 133, which concerns reinstatement of parental rights, and House Bill 138, which addresses parental incarceration and termination of parental rights. Both bills received bipartisan amendments adding guardrails and exceptions, and the amendments were adopted unanimously. The chamber also debated House Bill 2224, the Fair Act, with multiple amendments on utility rates, return on equity, and scope; some amendments were adopted, several tied votes failed, and the bill was left amended for reprinting. House Bill 2544, dealing with school administrators’ rights and negotiations, saw an amendment to allow individual bargaining, but that amendment failed and the bill was agreed to. The session ended with a correction to the record on House Bill 1944, a motion to recommit several bills to Appropriations, and adjournment until June 22, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 16 again relates to the termination of the partnership with CARI on June 30th and it requires
• Section 24 modifies the 23 session law with the funding for carry since that is terminating on June 30th
• Line 22 shows the Termination of the partnership with the Center of Applied Research and Educational
• Page 2, line 23, is the READ Act implementation after the Cary Partnership termination.
• I'm testifying today to urge you to oppose this bill, which would terminate unemployment insurance for

Bills: HF1388

Keywords: BARR Center, Building Assets, Reducing Risks, education finance, school funding, grant appropriation, evidence-based program, student achievement, social and emotional learning, school climate, teacher effectiveness, high school graduation, students in poverty, students of color, BIPOC, equity in education, Minnesota Department of Education, urban schools, suburban schools, rural schools, school coaching

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the last five years, we've funded about 2.5 billion in fuel reduction projects.
• And he has done incredible work to protect my home and my entire community with fuel breaks.
• Because I will say that we had the fuel break done, we've gotten part of the money.
• We got enough to do part of the fuel break. He did the work, it got done.
• And then we did an entire fuel break around my community and we need. To maintain it.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They just launched another one recently around clean fuels.
• We are They just launched another one recently around clean fuels.
• High winds and climate change-fueled drought fueled a massive, unstoppable fire that burned almost a
• High winds and climate change-fueled drought, fueled a massive, unstoppable fire that burned almost a
• The fossil fuel industries are unsustainable. We need a just transition now.

Bills: SB12, SB36, SB92, SB120, SB133, SB151, SB18, SB96

Keywords: tax credit, physician, healthcare, income tax, rural health, quantum technology, infrastructure, economic development, New Mexico, corporate tax, research and development, innovation, affordable housing, gross receipts tax, tax deduction, construction materials, multifamily housing, low income, journalism, local news

Transcript Highlights:

• non-terminal and the importance of non-terminal disease.
• of terminal versus non- terminal<02:36:57.520> and<02:36:57.680> the<02:36:57.760>
• importance<02:36:58.080> of terminal and the importance of terminal and the importance of
• non-terminal disease. non-terminal disease.
• They're terminal diseases, right? you. They're terminal diseases, right?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House, House Bill 2874 amends for a candidate committee or political action committee to file a termination
• that owe penalties for late filing reports, adds a requirement for certain committees to file a termination
• , House Bill 2874, amendments for a candidate committee or political action committee to file a termination
• that owe penalties for late filing reports adds a requirement for certain committees to file a termination

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So sustainable aviation fuel, think of it as the jet equivalent of biodiesel, right?
• It's sustainable aviation fuel that has at least cuts carbon emissions by 50%.
• So sustainable aviation fuel, for this.
• And we've been a leader in sustainable aviation fuel.
• <00:17:56.000> Um aviation fuel plants in Morehead. Um aviation fuel plants in Morehead.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Use off-road diesel fuel fleet regulations.
• pathways in our Low Carbon Fuel Standard program.
• Because I think it has the potential to actually help reduce the cost of fuel.
• Again, highlighting the cost to consumers at the pump decreasing from the E15 fuel specification.
• We're a business-labor coalition working to deploy CCDF fuel in California.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and Members, Senate Bill No. 436 by Senator Cloud provides relative to annual aviation fuel
• state money dedicated to airports and aviation projects, primarily funded through taxes on aviation fuel
• Since 1990, here in Louisiana, state sales tax on aviation fuel has been dedicated to this purpose.
• And if there's a tax being collected on aviation fuel sales, you should see that fluctuation from year
• Procedures for calculating estimated aviation fuel tax revenue as required by proposed law.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on May 5, 2026, and first considered Senate Bill 436 by Senator Cloud, which revises how annual aviation fuel estimates are calculated for the Aviation Trust Fund. Senator Cloud explained that the fund supports airport and aviation projects and is used to draw down federal matching dollars, but its credited amount has remained flat for years despite changing fuel sales. The committee adopted a set of amendments allowing DOTD’s Office of Multimodal Commerce to use federal and other public data sources, requiring annual sales tax collection reports from the Department of Revenue, and making a technical change. The bill was then reported favorably as amended, with several supporters’ cards entered into the record. The committee next took up House Bill 1039 by Representative Desotel, dealing with local sales and use tax audit procedures. Desotel said the bill was intended to improve fairness, transparency, and consistency in local audits, especially where businesses face multiple simultaneous audits by different parishes. A nine-amendment set was offered; after discussion, the committee adopted all amendments except Amendment 4, which would have required private auditing firms to be domiciled in Louisiana, and authorized staff to make technical changes. Members raised concerns about whether the bill could unintentionally encourage delays in audits and about whether audits in one parish could trigger audits in others. Desotel said the goal was to add guardrails without harming parish taxing authority, and the bill was reported as amended. Several witnesses and committee members spoke in support of stronger limits on repeated parish audits, describing the burden on businesses and the need for a more uniform process. Support cards were read into the record from multiple individuals and organizations, including the Louisiana Retailers Association and NFIB. Senate Bill 423 was then voluntarily deferred, and the committee adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The grid we depend on spans the entire West, and our fuel supply is tied to forces beyond our borders
• cost in California and where we are as far as the transition to alternative fuels.
• And with only importing fuel, California will see severe strains and reliable, clean-burning ...only
• importing fuel, California will see severe strains and reliable clean-burning fuels refined by considerably
• And you're more than welcome to explain which countries we're importing the fuels from.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee first handled several governor’s appointments not required to appear, approving Anthony Surich to lead the California Housing Finance Agency, Craig Snelling to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, Nicholas Mueller to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, and the referral of bills to committees, each by 4-0 votes. It then heard testimony on the appointment of Jereen DiDamo to the State Water Resources Control Board. DiDamo highlighted priorities including water-use efficiency, SGMA implementation, groundwater recharge, ecosystem restoration, and expanding safe drinking water access, noting the number of Californians without safe drinking water had fallen from 1.6 million to 800,000 since 2019. Senators focused heavily on the safe drinking water program, consolidation of failing systems, funding, domestic wells, SGMA, and the Bay-Delta plan. Supporters praised her practical, collaborative approach and work on drinking water; opponents from environmental and tribal groups argued the board had favored agricultural and urban interests and had not acted quickly enough to protect the Delta and fisheries. The committee ultimately voted 4-0 to advance the appointment to the full Senate. After a brief recess, the committee took up the appointment of Siva Gunda to the California Energy Commission. Gunda said California is managing three major transitions at once—decarbonizing the grid, electrifying transportation and buildings, and winding down petroleum and natural gas—and emphasized planning, transparency, and coordination across agencies and the West. Senators questioned him about Kern Energy and the impact of refinery compliance burdens, the state’s transportation fuels plan, Diablo Canyon, fuel imports, and affordability. Gunda said the Energy Commission has supported exemptions or potential exemptions for small refineries, that current planning assumes Diablo Canyon retires in 2030 without creating reliability problems if new resources continue to come online, and that most new capacity has been storage and solar. He also said California still imports a significant share of crude and refined products, with costs affected by global markets and shipping. The committee approved his appointment 4-0 to move to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• used to say renewable energy and fuel used to say renewable energy and fuel diversity<00:09:59.120
• in clean energy and fuel diversity. in clean energy and fuel diversity.
• So um I would assume then fuels.
• Again, I cannot speak to the fuel?
• billion a year goes to fossil fuel billion a year goes to fossil fuel subsidies<00:35:40.480>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Special fuel tax or diesel fuel tax 25. Weight distance taxes is a big there.
• That's through our International Fuel Tax Agreement or IFTA.
• But you'll see, of course, that our reliance on fuel tax.
• This is primarily due in the short run to more fuel-efficient vehicles and not alternative Fuel vehicles
• So the idea of raising taxes on fuel costs is not attractive to me.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:41:21.680> especially costs tied to fossil fuels, especially costs tied to fossil fuels
• <00:41:26.880> Unfortunately, around foreign fuels. Unfortunately, around foreign fuels.
• Also by defining biodiesel fuel B act.
• Because we can see the fuel clause it?
• represent about 29% of the fuel clause. represent about 29% of the fuel clause.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all