Transcript Highlights:

• It was created more for the builder, and they sort of hand it over and they kind of say, wink, wink,
• It was created more for the builder, and they sort of hand it over and they kind of say, wink, wink,
• They're all retired builders, and they will not relinquish the control they have over it.
• the city it tells the developer Builder the city it tells the developer Builder that<01:10:03.199
• to establish an HOA um the Builder to establish an HOA um the Builder basically<01:10:08.280>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I really appreciate working with the Builders Association, the Home Builders Association, on this to
• We have Lucas Parsons, Florida Home Builders Association, speaking for. Okay, good morning.
• I'm Lucas Parsons on behalf of the Florida Home Builders Association. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Just very briefly, I appreciate everybody's help on this bill, especially the home builders.
• And then obviously I appreciate the home builders kind of teaming up and joining forces to help make

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum and heard several bills, with SB 1742 on condos temporarily postponed. SB 1298 on building construction was reported favorably after sponsor testimony about continuing education for building professionals, rural sharing of building officials, residential inspector limits, a planning examiner internship, permitting modernization, and contractor transition liability. SB 638 on home inspectors was also reported favorably after discussion of increasing required education from 120 to 200 hours, adding subject-specific exam and course requirements, and requiring $300,000 in errors and omissions insurance. SB 960 on elevator accessibility requirements was reported favorably, allowing additional shorter support rails in elevators while keeping the existing 42-inch rail requirement. The committee also unanimously recommended confirmation of a block of board and commission appointees. The committee adopted amendments and reported favorably CS/SB 940 on third-party restaurant reservation platforms, aimed at stopping bots and unauthorized resale of restaurant reservations; the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Booking Holdings supported the bill, and members discussed how the measure would preserve direct restaurant-platform relationships like OpenTable and Resy while targeting third-party marketplaces that resell reservations. CS/SB 196 on foods containing vaccines or vaccine materials was reported favorably after amendments that defined mRNA vaccine use and added a cosmetics-related amendment addressing harmful chemicals such as PFAS, phthalates, formaldehyde-releasing agents, and mercury compounds; the Florida Retail Federation raised concerns but said it was working with the sponsor. CS/SB 1418 on heated tobacco products was reported favorably after an amendment clarifying the definition of heated tobacco products and excluding hookah, with support from the Florida Retail Federation and comments that the bill would distinguish these products from cigarettes for tax purposes. The committee also adopted a strike-all amendment and reported favorably CS/SB 1262 on construction contracting, which adds consumer protection and financial literacy topics to contractor continuing education, increases penalties for unlicensed contracting, creates a standardized disciplinary reporting system, and requires timely refunds and project completion standards; the Florida Home Builders Association supported the measure. Finally, CS/SB 1304 on solar facilities was reported favorably after extensive testimony from county commissioners and local officials supporting greater local oversight and decommissioning requirements for utility-scale solar on agricultural land; the bill would remove the current statewide by-right treatment for solar on agricultural land and authorize counties to adopt decommissioning ordinances. The meeting ended with members recording additional affirmative votes on selected bills and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like you said, you all are having multiple conversations, and, you know, the road builders, FDOT, on
• There are some concerns obviously coming from, you know, the road builders who want to continue moving
• That includes road builders, utilities, and the telecoms, because, again, the utilities and the telecoms
• Is this the road builders' bill? Whose bill are you presenting? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• I'm working with the road builders, working with utilities and telecoms.

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard and acted on a series of transportation, licensing, and memorial bills. The first major item was CS/SB 462, the Department of Transportation agency package, which included provisions on transportation trust fund revenue for electric vehicles, county project reporting, speed limits, workforce grants, procurement and utility relocation procedures, airport participation, metropolitan planning, and related DOT administration. The committee adopted a substitute amendment after extensive discussion, especially over utility relocation reimbursement, penalties, and whether the bill was too rigid while stakeholders continued negotiating. Testimony came from industry and utility representatives both supporting the need to address delays and opposing the bill’s prescriptive approach. The bill passed 8-3. The committee then approved several specialty license plate and memorial measures. CS/SB 1024 added a United States Military Academy plate alongside the Naval Academy plate. CS/SB 824 created a Florida Highway Patrol specialty plate. CS/SB 666 created a Miami Northwestern Senior High School alumni plate, with supporters emphasizing the school’s history and scholarship uses for the revenue. CS/SB 916 authorized indemnification and insurance arrangements for commuter rail operations on the Brightline corridor, modeled on SunRail law, and was reported favorably after technical amendments. CS/SB 1290 updated DHSMV rules to conform to IFTA and federal motor carrier standards, raised the crash-damage reporting threshold, and made other registration and email-notification changes; CS/SB 1292 created a public-records exemption for certain email addresses used in motor vehicle and vessel notifications. CS/SB 1408 designated memorial highways for fallen officers Jesse Madsen and Elio Diaz, and CS/SB 1502 authorized FDOT blanket permits for mobile cranes to travel at night under specified conditions. All of these bills were reported favorably. The committee also received a lengthy informational presentation from FDOT on aggregates and the state’s construction-material supply chain. The witness described aggregate sources, transportation methods, recycling efforts, the importance of the Lake Belt and out-of-state imports, and the department’s supply-chain grant program. Senators asked about long-term reserves, stranded reserves, pricing, and the impact of regulation on future supply, and requested the study and a summary of regulatory impacts for members. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico Home Builders Association—totally out of breath.
• I'm Miles Conway, the CEO of the New Mexico Home Builders Association, in support of this bill and the
• Let's say a home builder has a customer or a market that is interested in using lower carbon materials
• Because if you have a builder like Meta, Google, or Amazon...
• What it's saying is that if you are a builder who...

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Texas Association of Builders and appearing neutral this morning.
• that comes from our association as well as our national affiliate, the National Association of Home Builders
• And then obviously as a builder if inspectors aren't showing up, you can't go to the next stage till
• And so I know there's numerous examples over the years of our builders going to city governments and
• I know our Dallas builders have been so knee-deep in this for so long.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said Senate Bill 89 is supported by the Home Builders Association of Kentucky, the Kentucky County
• <00:02:52.519> by<00:02:53.120> the<00:02:53.239> Home<00:02:53.480> Builders
• is supported by the Home Builders is supported by the Home Builders Association<00:02:54.440>
• contractors of general contractors of Kentucky<00:03:10.400> Associated<00:03:11.000> builders
• <00:03:11.360> and Kentucky Associated builders and Kentucky Associated builders and contractors

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:04 SB 89 Discussion 00:59 SB 89 Roll Call Vote 24:49, 958, all

Summary: The committee met in a special called session, confirmed a quorum, and took up Senate Bill 89. The sponsor, Scott Maiden, said the bill was intended to address permitting issues affecting coal and other industries, and he described it as supported by a broad coalition of business, agriculture, and industry groups. He said the bill would align Kentucky’s definition of “waters of the Commonwealth” with federal definitions and would codify the existing definition and calculation method for long-term treatment bond requirements at mine sites. He also emphasized that the bill would not eliminate groundwater protections, drinking water protections, or prohibitions on hazardous substance dumping. A committee amendment was discussed and adopted to add and clarify definitions, including navigable waters, sinkholes with open drains, certain springs, and wellhead protection areas. The sponsor said the amendment was intended to address concerns that the bill was too broad and noted that it was worked on with Louisville Water and other stakeholders. Testimony in opposition came from Rebecca Shelton of Appalachian Citizens Law Center, who argued the bill would leave private wells and groundwater vulnerable and cited groundwater contamination data. Nick Hart of Kentucky Waterways Alliance urged the committee to preserve the current definition and requested a statutory review and economic impact analysis. Audrey Ernsberger of Kentucky Resources Council said the bill would strip protections from most groundwater, ephemeral streams, karst aquifers, and many private wells, and warned of higher water-treatment costs and pollution risks. Members asked questions about the meaning of “carcinogenic” and the difficulty of cleaning up contamination in private wells. During roll call, several members explained their votes, with supporters saying the amendment protected water while preserving needed flexibility for industry, and opponents saying they could not risk weakening water protections or harming private wells and agriculture. The committee voted to pass SB 89 as amended with a favorable recommendation to the Senate, and then moved to roll the committee amendment into a committee substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have a panel of home builders coming up next. Yes, we do.
• It's not just really a builder issue or a coastal issue, but it's a cost-of-living issue.
• You know, us as builders, like I mentioned, we've built close to 7,000 homes in South Texas.
• So I kind of leave you with, you know, builders and buyers, we're doing our part.
• So I kind of leave you with, you know, builders and buyers, we're doing our part.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill cleans that up and will make it easier for builders to access the program.
• <00:07:19.400> to<00:07:19.800> access<00:07:20.319> the it easier for Builders
• to access the it easier for Builders to access the program<00:07:21.280> so<00:07:21.520>
• I just have a quick one: what were the biggest impediments for builders accessing this money previously
• I just have a quick one: what were the biggest impediments for builders accessing this money previously

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:29:01.040> and because builders need consistency and because builders need consistency
• I'm sorry, I didn't—does farming this out from a builder to a builder to a... No.
• <02:36:40.640> to<02:36:40.880> a builder to a builder to a No.<02:36:43.120> Um,
• Builders don't have to do that.
• Builders don't have to do that. that. Builders don't have to do that.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also provided that if cities are unable to meet these deadlines, then applicant builders and
• Builders and developers often have the option of building on a lot that is 1,400 square feet or more;
• There are certain fixed vertical construction costs that a home builder has.
• And you're telling me you think there are cities who will prohibit a builder or a city from allowing
• We're not builders; we're just advocates for housing.

Bills: HB602, HB1322, HB1930, HB2225, HB2304, HB2494, HB3275, HB3810, HB3919

Keywords: affordable housing, land use, zoning, urban planning, community development, housing crisis, mixed-use development, sustainability, municipal utility district, board of directors, qualifications, land ownership, Texas, taxation, residency, municipal approval, subdivision plans, local governance, plats, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:49:52.440> and buyers is not working for Builders and buyers is not working for Builders
• The current version of 672E gives the builders the unilateral right to demand mediation.
• <01:52:19.920> are underlying the bill is that Builders are underlying the bill is that Builders
• <01:52:59.199> do summarize please sir yes uh Builders do summarize please sir yes uh Builders
• <02:00:48.119> to action cases uh uh allowing a builder to action cases uh uh allowing a builder

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several housing, land use, and preservation bills. HB 1008 HD2 would require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to complete historic preservation determinations for state affordable housing projects within 90 days and create sensitivity-based review pathways. HHFDC, DLNR’s State Historic Preservation Division, and written testimony from DBEDT supported the bill as an expedited process for projects unlikely to affect significant historic resources. Members asked how the bill would define significant versus non-significant historic properties, how it would interact with Kapakai analysis, and whether burial councils had been consulted; SHPD said the bill would not replace Kapakai review and that burial councils had not been included. Written support also came from OHA, Hawaii Realtors, and the Maui Chamber of Commerce. HB 1093 would clarify the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s powers relating to housing projects. HPHA supported the measure, saying it would align definitions with prior law and help deconcentrate poverty by allowing mixed-income rebuilding. The director also said the bill was increasingly urgent because of reported federal HUD priorities that could affect public housing and Section 8 funding. HB 1096 HD1 would repeal state low-income housing preferences for disabled veterans and spouses of deceased veterans, with HPHA saying federal veteran programs such as VASH are a better mechanism and that the state preference has not been used in years. HB 1411 would allow HHFDC projects to give sale or lease preferences to applicants who live or work within five miles of a project; HHFDC and the Hawaii Chapter of NAIOP supported it as a way to keep residents connected to their communities, while members raised constitutional concerns about broader local-preference policies. The committee also heard HB 367 HD1, which would create county permit exemptions for certain agricultural and maintenance activities. Written testimony included opposition from the Department of Planning and Permitting and support from the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Grassroot Institute, and others. A public testifier opposed the bill, arguing that permit exemptions could worsen safety and compliance problems. Finally, HB 826 HD1 would allow county planning commissions, by special permit, to authorize residential housing in agricultural districts for agricultural workforce housing, long-term rental, or fee simple ownership under certain conditions. HHFDC supported it as a faster alternative to lengthy state land-use redistricting, but the Department of Agriculture, Land Use Commission, and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development raised concerns about food production impacts, due process, service provision, jurisdictional conflicts, and the use of special permits for what could amount to district boundary changes. Public testimony was mixed, with some support and some opposition. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lake General Council on behalf of the Texas Association of Builders, representing nearly 10,000 members
• . across the state, builders, remodelers.
• I am a technical consultant for Texans for reasonable solutions, a home builder, a developer, and a land
• Secondly, our builders have been very concerned about building under newly passed regulations.
• We had an issue in Austin. where a change was passed in 2022 and what ended up happening is builders

Bills: SB434, SB844, SB898, SB1177, SB1214, SB1454, SB1920, SB1927, SB1935, SB1965, SB2010, SB2046, SB2068, SB2073, SB2183, SB2260, SB3034, SB907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Hale, Texas Association of Builders. to testify on the bill.
• of the state of Texas, the codes that are adopted, that every builder is supposed to build to.
• Up sites and citing those builders and developers.
• Scott Norman, Jr., on behalf of the Texas Association of Builders. fighting against the bill.
• Input from developers, input from builders groups, from county residents.

Bills: HB1520, HB1525, HB1530, HB1535, HB2068, HB2091, HB2347, HB2372, HB2805, HB2815, HB2867, HB3154, HB3482, HB3483, HB3663, HB3781, HB3901, HB3915, HB4135, HB4153, HB4158, HB4329, HB4331

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a moment on what we are not: we are not a builder, we are not a developer, and we don't own any
• we are not a we are not a builder we are not a developer<00:09:58.200> um<00:09:58.519> we
• I'm not a builder, so don't ask me to. Dan can answer that.
• What I was being told by builders over and over again, and Realtors, is that renters were taking the
• it and what I was being told by Builders it and what I was being told by Builders over<00:46:46.839

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an agency overview from Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho. After member and staff introductions, Ho described Minnesota Housing’s mission, structure, and role as a mission-driven financial institution that issues bonds, uses earnings to support operations, and works across the housing continuum from homelessness prevention to homeownership and preservation. She emphasized that the agency is not a builder or regulator, but funds and partners with developers, local governments, nonprofits, and lenders. She also noted the agency’s four divisions, including a new local government housing programs division created after the 2023 legislative session expanded the agency’s responsibilities. Ho reviewed funding and program activity, saying Minnesota Housing spent $1.96 billion in fiscal year 2024 and helped more than 73,000 households. She highlighted that the agency’s work is heavily competitive and often oversubscribed, with many projects selected through RFPs and grants but more applications than available resources. She discussed 2023 and 2024 investments, including homeownership, rental, and manufactured housing projects, and said roughly half of competitive dollars have gone to Greater Minnesota over the last several years. She also explained the difference between funds committed and funds actually disbursed, noting that construction and rehabilitation projects can take many months to close and draw down funds. The commissioner also updated members on new programs created in 2023 and 2024, including first-generation down payment assistance, the Greater Minnesota Workforce Housing Development Program, public housing rehabilitation, state housing tax credits, and other local and regional initiatives. She said some programs are already closed out, while others remain in early implementation or are still accepting applications. Ho mentioned a forthcoming technical amendment to adjust a high-rise sprinkler program after eligibility issues limited participation. She closed with examples of projects preserved or funded, including a St. Louis Park preservation deal, public housing preservation in Greater Minnesota, a St. Cloud challenge project, and the first-generation down payment assistance program, which distributed $50 million to about 1,450 first-time buyers, most of whom were Black, Indigenous, or people of color. No votes or formal committee actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am actually a co-owner of a single-family home builder in Cape Coral.
• Builders, homeowners can choose a private provider. It's not mandatory.
• Builders, homeowners can choose a private provider. It's not mandatory.
• It is a choice, again, for builders to use them. ...they were designed to do by statute.
• It is a choice, again, for builders to use them or homeowners to use them, not a requirement, and they

Summary: The Legislative Auditing Committee heard several local-government audit requests and unanimously approved each one. The first item was Baker County, where county commissioners asked for an operational and financial audit because of repeated late audits, concerns about the finance office, and lack of confidence in county financial reporting. The county clerk supported an audit but argued it should be countywide and include all constitutional officers; she also described a dispute over access to the county finance system and pending litigation. After brief questions, the committee adopted a 9-0 motion directing the Auditor General to perform an operational audit of Baker County’s financial operations and records, with scope to be finalized during the audit. The committee then approved an audit request for the Concord Estates Community Development District in Osceola County. Senator Arrington said residents alleged excessive board compensation, large unexplained spending, missing financial reports, and refusal to provide records or hold open meetings. Residents and a board member testified about rising assessments, deteriorating amenities, and lack of transparency. The committee voted 10-0 to direct an operational audit of the CDD. It also approved, by 10-0 votes, operational audits of the town of Melbourne Beach, based on allegations of fiscal and operational improprieties and lawsuits that had cost the town more than $150,000, and the city of Apalachicola, where Senator Simon said longstanding water utility failures, grant issues, and consent-order problems warranted review. The final request was for a financial and operational audit of Cape Coral’s Building Department. Representative G. Lombardo said building-fee revenues appeared to be transferred for non-building purposes, permit processing was inconsistent, and the department relied heavily on a private firm while the building official had prior ties to that firm. Industry representatives testified that building funds were being diverted, service levels were suffering, and private-provider inspections were not always reflected in fee reductions. The committee adopted the motion 10-0. After completing all agenda items, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I still believe that the work of cities and the partnerships that we have with builders is important
• I still believe that the work of cities and the partnerships that we have with builders is important
• for this uh, area so that the builders for this uh, area so that the builders and<00:34:49.879><
• would leave it up to private builders would leave it up to private builders and<00:53:15.040>
• <00:57:29.400> agenda,<00:57:30.560> it's national builders and their agenda, it's

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Shamey Gatty with Lighthouse Public Affairs, on behalf of the Council of Infill Builders, Habitat for
• affordable housing builders who need a lot more money to build the low-income housing that our state
• And unfortunately, that's not the case for many multifamily builders across the state of California.
• And for builders, housing is, at the end of the day, a math problem.
• Alifermini de Jesus, the lighthouse public fairs on behalf of the council of infill builders, also in

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard a long agenda of housing, water, and local finance bills, with the chair repeatedly reminding attendees about hearing rules and noting that several measures were being heard without a quorum at first. Early items included AB 407, which would broaden eligibility for state-run loan and financing programs to help small businesses fund environmental, seismic, and ADA upgrades, and AB 93, which would require data centers to estimate and report water use and follow state best practices. AB 93 drew support from water advocates and local government groups, while the Data Center Coalition opposed it, arguing the bill could be overly restrictive, difficult to retrofit, and raise trade secret or security concerns. The committee also heard AB 650 on housing element review, AB 1044 on creating a new Tulare County groundwater sustainability agency, and AB 523 on allowing proxy voting for single-representative member agencies on the Metropolitan Water District board; all drew broad support from local agencies and related stakeholders and no recorded opposition in the room. Several housing bills were presented as part of a broader fast-track housing package. AB 507 would streamline adaptive reuse of office buildings into housing, especially in downtowns with high vacancy; supporters said it would revive urban cores and help meet housing and climate goals, while the League of California Cities and a few cities opposed it unless amended, citing concerns about one-size-fits-all by-right approval and fee limitations. AB 1294 would create a universal housing application and limit early application requirements; it drew strong support from housing and business groups, with the American Planning Association and League of California Cities seeking more flexibility and input. AB 610 would require local governments to disclose housing constraints in their housing elements and limit new constraints after certification for three years unless disclosed; supporters said it would improve transparency and certainty, while opponents warned it could chill legitimate local policy choices and inclusionary housing requirements. Both AB 610 and AB 698, which would require analysis of the housing and property tax impacts of proposed transfer taxes, were moved out of committee on 7-0 votes after discussion and amendments. The committee also heard AB 1112, which would repeal an outdated Riverside County property tax provision affecting Rancho Mirage; the city argued it was the only qualifying no-low property tax city not receiving the standard minimum and sought equal treatment. After quorum was established, the bill was passed 6-0 with amendments and sent to Appropriations. AB 1021, heard later, would make it easier for school districts and other local education agencies to build employee housing, with the author citing teacher recruitment and retention problems and support from education stakeholders. Throughout the hearing, members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized the need to balance housing production, local fiscal tools, and infrastructure needs, and several authors accepted committee amendments and committed to continued negotiations with opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I’ve heard from several of my home builders back home who said they have concerns with this.
• So I have two home builders from Beauregard Parish who have come here today.
• And I've heard from several of my home builders back home who said they have concerns with this.
• So I have two home builders from Boregard Parish who have come here today.
• Brad Harris with BNG Builders. I'm pretty much in agreement with Biscuit.

Bills: HB1163, HB1168, HR252, HR253, HCR103, HCR108, SB80, SB131, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB384, SB414, SB468, SB469, SB496

Keywords: fireworks, retail sales, fire safety, legislation, holiday celebrations, construction standards, precast concrete, DOTD, building regulations, minimum requirements, public projects, private projects, consumer protection, credit card fees, cash transactions, rounding practices, transparency, low-income, economic impact, residential construction

Transcript Highlights:

• We believe the infrastructure grant was critical in attracting these builders.
• attract builders to the community. attract builders to the community.
• Cloud<00:17:10.920> where<00:17:11.040> builders<00:17:11.439> have<00:17:11.640
• > numerous Cloud where builders have numerous Cloud where builders have numerous housing<00:17
• This type of return on builders.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Scott Norman Jr. on behalf of the Texas Association of Builders, and that you will be testifying against
• Chairman Gates: House Bill 3919 seeks to alleviate these problems by allowing builders and developers
• Is there a prohibition from doing that now if a developer or builder wants to build a house on a smaller
• Wes Benedict: We're Wes Benedict: not builders. We're just advocates for housing.
• I just want to start out with saying, a study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders,