Transcript Highlights:

• it for a good purpose and be able to utilize that.
• One of them is that we typically draw management districts on political lines, not aquifer lines.
• Me as a landowner, I want it as close to me as possible. lines, not aquifer lines.
• “I’m trying to go to the finish line and go, okay, what does the finish line actually look like?
• I mean, I'm trying to, uh, I'm going to go to the finish line and go, OK, what does the finish line actually

Bills: HB24, HB27

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management

Summary: The committee met to hear House Bills 27 and 24 on groundwater issues in East Texas, with members and witnesses focusing on a proposed large-volume groundwater export project and the need for more science before major permitting decisions are made. HB 27, which was within the special session call, would direct the Texas Water Development Board to conduct a hydrogeologic study of the aquifers in the affected area and temporarily pause new export permits while the study is underway. HB 24, a separate bill that would limit certain production and export permits to 5% of modeled available groundwater, was laid out but the chair said it would not be moved out of committee. Testimony on HB 27 was largely supportive, though some witnesses were neutral. Supporters, including representatives from a water supply corporation, the Trinity River Authority, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, said the region lacks enough hydrologic data, that the proposed pumping could affect private wells, surface water, and local economies, and that the state needs better information on sustainable yield and groundwater-surface water interaction. Several witnesses emphasized that groundwater conservation districts need clearer tools and better data, while also noting concerns about property rights and the rule of capture. Committee members discussed the scale of the proposed project, the absence of a groundwater conservation district in Houston County, and the possibility that the study should examine desired future conditions and maximum sustainable pumping rather than only modeled available groundwater. The committee adopted the committee substitute for HB 27 and voted it out favorably to the full House with a recommendation that it do pass, be printed, and be sent to the Committee on Calendars. The roll call was unanimous, 11 ayes and 0 nays. After the vote, members briefly reflected on the complexity of the issue and the need to continue working on broader groundwater policy in the interim and next session. HB 24 was discussed later in the meeting, but no final action on that bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the bottom line for this bill. And I'm here as a...
• Safe distance from six feet to 10 feet for work conducted near high voltage lines.
• Homeowners that may have called a utility company complaining about trees and the lines.
• The utility company might have said, "y'all need to handle that yourselves."
• Encore is the largest electric utility in the state.

Bills: HB 1239, HB1990, HB1748, HB1749, HB2578, HB2986, HB1970, HB3163, HB2733, HB1922, HB 113, HB 1088, HB1938, HB3004, HB2637, HB2960, HB113

Keywords: public health, access to healthcare, insurance reforms, medical expenses, healthcare providers, mental health, protective custody, preliminary examination, detention period, emergency circumstances, emergency detention, legal framework, detention, healthcare, liability, landowners, nonagricultural land, trespassing, public safety, interpreters

Transcript Highlights:

• We're just utilizing it for the first time now.
• “We need to lower utility bills in California.
• We need to lower utility bills in California.
• Overall, the electric distribution utilities and the electric utilities are getting 11% less than the
• Overall, the electric distribution utilities, the electric utilities, we are getting 11% less than the

Summary: The hearing focused on the governor’s May Revision proposals for transportation, natural resources, climate, and related programs, with the Department of Finance and the LAO presenting competing views on the state’s fiscal condition. Finance said the budget remains balanced over two years, with major climate-bond, water, parks, transportation, DMV, and agriculture proposals, while the LAO argued the state still has a structural deficit and should reject or defer many new discretionary spending items, preserve reserves, and be cautious about ongoing commitments. The LAO specifically questioned the timing and scale of new spending for programs such as Clean California, Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, and the Golden Gate Fields acquisition, and urged more clarity on future obligations and revenue scenarios, including for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal for Bay-Delta water quality implementation. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Finance described it as an enforceable, science-based alternative to a more traditional regulatory approach, with the state’s $25 million request intended to support early implementation, monitoring, habitat restoration, and environmental flows. The LAO countered that the Water Board has not yet adopted the updated Bay-Delta plan, that the proposal may be premature, and that the Legislature should wait for more information on the state’s total funding commitment and the program’s long-term costs. Several members expressed support for the program as a way to reduce conflict and protect water reliability, while others echoed concerns about timing and fiscal exposure. The committee also examined the proposed $125 million Proposition 4 contribution toward acquiring the Golden Gate Fields property for a shoreline park and habitat project. State officials said the acquisition is a time-sensitive, once-in-a-generation opportunity, with an appraised value of $175 million and additional philanthropic and local funding expected to close the gap. Members questioned whether the project had gone through the usual competitive process, whether the site is the best use of scarce park bond dollars, and how public access, habitat, and disadvantaged-community priorities would be protected. The discussion ended without a vote, and the committee moved on to transportation items including Clean California litter abatement, the Games Route Network, homeless encampment coordinators, and DMV modernization and field office proposals, with LAO recommending rejection or delay on several of those requests as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Everyday pharmacists stand on the front lines.
• But the bottom line, it doesn't go to you.
• I sit on utilization review committees for hospitals and other things.
• The exact same regulatory system applies to rates in both of those two lines.
• This on page 2, line 20, says this is a 90-day review, uh, which is a lot shorter than what Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so once someone's out of that line of work for over two years, they kind of lose interest and decide
• Do you know how many public water utilities there are in the state of Missouri? I do not.
• And then, secondly, I believe that these are utilities.
• This is our bottom line. This is what we need to spend to improve our system.
• utilities throughout the state of Missouri.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Conservation and Natural Resources Committee first took up Senate Bill 953, as amended by a House committee substitute combining provisions from House Bill 1885 and Senate Bill 1397. Members discussed changes to the Missouri Clean Water Commission’s conflict-of-interest rules and a provision giving a person who contracts for storage rights in a Corps of Engineers reservoir exclusive rights to return flows. The committee also added House Bill 1376 language to exempt certain non-point source agricultural activities from permitting. Some members raised concerns about conflicts of interest and potential impacts on neighbors and water quality, while supporters said the changes were cleanup language and would not change pollution levels. The substitute was adopted and the bill was voted do pass by a 6-5 roll call, with one present. The committee then heard House Bill 3193, a plastic waste reduction bill for Missouri state parks and historic sites. Sponsor Representative Wellenkamp said the bill would reduce plastic bottles, bags, and Styrofoam/styrene containers in parks and encourage alternatives, while allowing exceptions where needed. Supporters from conservation groups, a bird observatory, and private citizens said plastic waste harms water quality, wildlife, tourism, and cleanup efforts, and several noted the need to consider accessibility and disability-related needs such as straws and packaging. One opponent from the beverage industry argued that plastics are highly recyclable and that education and recycling are better solutions than bans. No vote was taken on HB 3193. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3320, the Drinking Water Transparency and Accountability Act. The bill would direct DNR to assign A-F grades to community water systems based on violations, finances, operations, and infrastructure, post the grades publicly, and impose stronger oversight on systems graded D or F. Supporters, including Missouri American Water, the Missouri Chamber, and some public witnesses, said the bill would improve transparency and help communities understand and address aging infrastructure and financial problems. Opponents from municipal utilities, water associations, and the Missouri Municipal League said the information is already available, that a single letter grade would oversimplify a complex system, and that the bill could create confusion, alarm, and unnecessary costs. The hearing on HB 3320 ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, to me, it's a tool that should be utilized.
• If you look at the top line, that is your absolute, your Y felonies.
• are the bottom two lines here.
• And then the middle line in that bottom group is just the average overall.
• misdemeanors are the bottom two lines here.

Summary: The Senate and House Joint Committee on Children and Youth approved the December 10 minutes and confirmed Representative Mary Bentley to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee. The committee then heard the annual Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review report, which said the state reviewed 148 of 170 non-natural child deaths in 2023; the reviewed deaths included 69 accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 undetermined causes. Members asked about how the report’s recommendations could be used, grant opportunities tied to prevention work, and whether the data could be broken down by age; presenters said the report is intended as a prevention tool for agencies and nonprofits and that some age detail is available in later pages of the report. The committee next took up HCR 1010 and then a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Senator Missy Irvin, judges, and Administrative Office of the Courts staff described Arkansas’s use of validated risk assessments, including SAVRY, the Ohio Youth Assessment Tool, MAYSI, and substance-abuse screening, as part of a long-running effort to reduce juvenile incarceration and tailor services to individual youth and families. They said the reforms have contributed to fewer delinquency filings, fewer DYS commitments, and more diversions, while also emphasizing that mental health, substance abuse, school issues, and trauma often drive juvenile court involvement. Several members raised concerns about data gaps, school collaboration, and whether community-based services are sufficient, and presenters said more shared data and stronger school use of safety dashboards could help intervene earlier. Division of Youth Services Director Michael Crump then presented custody, education, recidivism, and cost data. He said DYS commitments rose after the pandemic, secure residential populations remain high, and detention-center use increased when intake beds filled; he also noted that DYS pays about $320 per day for secure custody and that detention beds cost roughly $90 to $100 per day. Crump said most youth in custody are older teens, about 80 percent are male, and many have behavioral-health needs or educational deficits; he reported 222 GEDs and 102 high school diplomas over six years. He also said about 15 to 19 percent of youth return to DYS within three years and that a larger share later enter the Department of Corrections, while members pressed him on how assessments relate to commitments, how low-risk cases are handled, and how to improve mental health and substance-abuse services statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is mainly utilized during drills, so all school districts utilize the same drills.
• That we can utilize, but they're all expensive.
• s line.
• Okay, so in line with...
• line.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh on line 56, the tax court, adum.
• cannabis expungement board on line cannabis expungement board on line 107.<00:09:26.399> Um
• Um on line 114 107.
• <00:15:51.759> On<00:15:52.000> line Radio uh grants. On line Radio uh grants.
• <00:20:37.280> on<00:20:37.520> line Senate bill on the Senate floor. on line Senate

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• How many competitors, how many lines does the existing company have?
• You just can't add a new line.
• So I am trying to catch up. the cell phone lines have improved, the landline.
• It can't be a spotty cell phone service that substitutes for a wire line.
• It's going to be removed from the copper line.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What the legislation does is utilize the funding sources; money is collected by the New Mexico Racing
• Senate Bill 170 does is it's the utility portion of this, making sure that sites are ready.
• For the reasons Rico mentioned, we are a multi-state utility serving New Mexico and Texas, and we serve
• This is innovative legislation that helps maintain utility infrastructure and further develop economic
• It doesn't even affect other generation builds by the same utilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's better to put it and bank it somewhere and utilize it later as good projects... ...and utilize it
• ...language on lines 1064 and 1069 in its entirety.
• Amend further on line 1277 by inserting police, before water.
• And amend further by inserting after line 1552 the following to assist ...line 1552 the following to
• He was killed in the line of duty just last night. And, Mr.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 2 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That means we need everyone lined up from those responsible for allowing permits to..." "...lined up
• So as soon as a residential plan comes in for review, whatever the next plan reviewer has in line, they
• In the past, the legislature has funded higher education planners in college so they could be utilized
• So it's not just a one size fit all approach to connecting to our utility.
• I believe those are publicly available to be utilized.

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee work session focused first on Civic Commons’ “starter home production plan,” a statewide strategy intended to increase production of homes affordable to households roughly between 60% and 120% of area median income. Presenters said the Covenant Home Ownership program will not succeed without more starter homes, and outlined recommendations including a temporary cross-sector crisis task force, a developer network, new financing tools, public seed funding, and a multi-site demonstration program to test off-site construction and standardized designs. Committee members asked about silos in the current system, the role of off-site and modular construction, target income ranges, and where the plan would be most useful. Civic Commons said the plan is meant to be statewide, community-informed, and respectful of local context, with pre-approved plans and standardized approaches for both single-family and multi-unit housing. The Department of Labor and Industries then gave an update on factory-built housing oversight. Officials said residential factory-built structures are a small but important part of their work and described progress in prioritizing residential plan reviews, which they said has reduced review time from months to about two days. They also reported creating a plans examiner supervisor position, moving forward with rules for third-party plan review and inspection, and beginning analysis of national standards from the Modular Building Institute to see whether they align with state code. Committee members and L&I discussed the value of standardized plans, real-time tracking for applicants, and the role of state inspection in reducing local jurisdictional variation. The Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council testified that it supports efforts to reduce permitting delays and increase housing production, but warned against weakening safety standards or labor protections. The labor representatives said prefabrication and modular construction can help if the workforce is protected, wages and apprenticeship opportunities are preserved, and projects use tools such as community workforce agreements. They also raised concerns about wage theft, misclassification, and unlicensed contractors in residential construction, and suggested stronger front-end contractor education or licensing. Committee members responded that the goal is to expand production without sacrificing safety or good jobs. The committee also heard city perspectives on local housing reforms. Olympia described its affordable housing emergency ordinance, which gives qualifying projects priority in the permitting queue, and said success depends on communication among housing staff, planners, engineers, and developers. Walla Walla, an early adopter of middle housing, reported increased ADUs, duplexes, and smaller-lot development after eliminating single-family zoning and expanding tools such as MFTE and ADU flexibility. Des Moines described adopting middle housing and ADU ordinances in June 2025 after a lengthy public process, while Poulsbo described proactive code changes including duplexes on corner lots, unit lot subdivisions, manufactured home protections, expanded ADU allowances, and pre-approved ADU plans shared with neighboring jurisdictions. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Delete lines 5 through 33 and insert amendment.
• Delete lines 114 through 183 and insert amendment.
• Delete lines 5 through 107 and insert amendment.
• Delete lines 5 through 107 and insert amendment.
• Delete line 462 and insert amendment.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of recognitions for interns, staff, and guests. Members also honored retiring Senate staffer Susan Miller and recognized a veteran injured in combat. After routine announcements, the chamber moved to returning messages from the House and began taking up bills and amendments. The Senate concurred in House amendments and passed SB 118 on RV park assessments and SB 572 on ethics for public officers and employees, both by 38-0 votes. It then took up the elections bill, CS/CS/HB 991, which drew extensive debate. Supporters said it would strengthen election integrity by tightening citizenship verification and ID rules; opponents argued it would burden eligible voters, especially students, seniors, disabled voters, and others without the newly required documents. The bill passed 27-12. The chamber also passed the education package SB 182 after adopting a Senate amendment to the House amendment, and approved SB 474 on military affairs, SB 425 on historic cemeteries, HB 929 on local regulation of chickees, and HB 35/SB 1370 on habitual traffic offender designation, all with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The Senate then considered SB 902/ HB 733, the Department of Health package. Members adopted an amendment and amendment-to-amendment that preserved most Senate provisions while modifying or removing several House additions, including some early steps and medical marijuana-related changes, and the bill passed 37-0. The chamber also began work on HB 905, the foreign influence bill, with a strike-all amendment offered to expand restrictions on foreign influence, sister-city agreements, linkage institutes, and related activities, but the debate on that measure was still underway when the transcript ended. Several other returning messages and bills were temporarily postponed, and the Senate recessed briefly before resuming business.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:56.159> which done with uh what the hawaa line which done with uh what the hawaa line
• projects when you look at the blue line projects when you look at the blue line extension<01:12:
• <01:14:28.760> project their way on to the Blue Line project their way on to the Blue Line
• so my question is along these same lines so my question is along these same lines not<01:15:13.480>
• The Blue Line comes in next, followed by the D Line, and the D Line is an example of a successful arterial

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• requirements for securing of moing lines requirements for securing of moing lines in<00:21:18.120
• authorizes the Public Utilities authorizes the Public Utilities Commission<00:38:34.640> to
• Public Utilities Commission with...
• I am a utility analyst for the Public Utilities Commission. I am here on behalf of the commission.
• <01:25:45.280> n<01:25:45.880> in line 18 to page three and line n in line 18 to page

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation heard several bills on March 11, including measures on harbor vessel requirements, transportation funding, clean fuels, water carriers, parking enforcement, and electric mobility. For SB 1402 SD1 on vessels in state commercial harbors, testimony was split: the General Contractors Association of Hawaii and the Longline Association supported it, while Hol Holo Charters and one individual opposed it, saying the bill should be more specific about tourboat operators. For SB 1473 on central services assessments, SB 321 on privately owned roads, and SB 419 on insurance coverage for child passenger restraint systems, the committee heard brief testimony with no noted objections or actions beyond moving through the agenda. For SB 1009 SD2 on parking, the bill would create fines for misuse of disability and EV parking spaces and direct the revenue to the Safe Routes to School special fund. Support came from Ulupono Initiative, Climate Protectors Hawaii, the Disability Communication Access Board, and others, while the Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported the bill’s intent but questioned using the fines for Safe Routes to School, and Hawaiian Electric suggested directing EV-related fines to the EV charging system subaccount instead. Hawaii Appleseed supported the measure but raised concerns about the size of the fines and possible impacts on low-income residents. The committee asked questions about enforcement when EV chargers are inoperable; DAGS indicated the stalls could be used and would not be enforced in that situation. For SB 1120 on a clean fuel standard, the Department of Transportation supported the measure but asked for the implementation date to be delayed by one year and requested an independent Hawaii-specific economic impact study due before the next session. Support also came from several transportation, airline, and industry groups, while Tim Rhymer and Frank Schultz opposed it. The committee then heard SB 21 on water carriers, which would authorize a PUC inflationary cost index adjustment mechanism and exemptions; DOT, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Young Brothers, and the Hawaii Harbors Users Group supported it, while Frank Schultz opposed. Finally, the committee heard SB 117 on electric mobility, which would expand and rename the rebate program, set age limits and operating rules for e-bikes and electric motorcycles, require insurance for electric motorcycle operators, and make conforming changes. Testimony was largely supportive, including from DOT, the Hawaii Bicycling League, the Queen’s pediatric trauma center, and Ulupono Initiative, though one testifier warned that the bill’s wattage definition could unintentionally capture some pedal-assist e-bikes. No votes were taken on the individual bills in the portions shown, and the transcript ended with the committee continuing its hearing agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, as well as cooperatives.
• are investorowned utilities, municipal are investorowned utilities, municipal utilities<01:02:38.640
• Commissioner Jay Lutz Austin utilities. Commissioner Jay Lutz Austin utilities.
• <01:07:37.760> I for Austin Public Utilities. I for Austin Public Utilities.
• utilities can partner with other<01:08:54.159> municipal<01:08:54.799> utilities<01:08

Bills: HF1669, HF4709, HF3531, HF4048

Keywords: tax credits, sustainable aviation fuel, environmental policy, corporate franchise, Minnesota taxation, electricity generation, property tax exemption, renewable energy, incentives, economic development, fuel delivery, tax exemption, retail transactions, diesel exhaust fluid, fuel lubricants, healthcare tax, gross receipts tax, hospitals, chiropractors, healthcare providers

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to say that my real job at Southwestern Power Group is developing transmission lines, and
• And yesterday on transmission lines, I went out and we had a colloquy with some of the commissioners
• So generation can get onto the transmission line.
• The utilities can pull the energy off the transmission line at different points.
• It's not a national program, but it utilizes national monies to do it.

Transcript Highlights:

• Actually, I want to tell you about a conversation I had last Friday along these lines. Mr.
• You're first in line, first priority for our overt surplus funds.
• They tell me, 'No, we only deliver to utilities.' I think that's what you told me.
• Yeah, so it's a utility. You deliver wholesale to a utility type situation. You don't deliver.
• I'm not going to go down through that line by line. I didn't have that intention to begin with.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, did not bring the breakdown, but we do have a line by line breakdown of, of what that's for.
• People like building houses right up next to the tree line. They don't put a dispensable space.
• At one point in time, they were utilizing a facility in West Texas.
• Because I'd, I'd like to know where there are municipal utility districts that are.
• And then there's, there's always the lines.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lines nine and 10 state of the bill.
• 17.760> ensures The Public Utilities Commission ensures The Public Utilities Commission ensures
• In order to protect our local utilities, they added a provision that said that any distribution line
• that said that any distribution line that said that any distribution line that<02:26:05.760>
• , Eversource, Unatil, Liberty Utilities, Eversource, Unatil, Liberty Utilities, as<02:33:52.399><

Keywords: 1189, house, all