Transcript Highlights:

• This report by HNEI again that came out last month, Advancing Solar Development, points out about your
• 59:48.880><c> Advancing</c> that came out last month, Advancing that came out last month, Advancing Solar
• Development, points out about your Solar Development, points out about your circuits.<00:59:52.400><
• That's a misnomer that somehow those in opposition are floating around. This is not deregulation.
• </c> in opposition are are are floating in opposition are are are floating around.<01:00:49.920><c> This

Bills: SB3326 , SB2911

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committees heard SB 3001 on artificial intelligence in a joint Commerce and Consumer Protection/Labor and Technology hearing. Testimony included support from the Department of Education and Google, comments from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office, and late opposition from Agentic LLC. The Attorney General raised constitutional and vagueness concerns and suggested clarifying amendments, while Google said the bill’s risk-based approach and proposed amendments could help establish industry-wide safety standards for minors. The committees recessed and then voted to pass SB 3001 with amendments, adopting DCCA/OCP recommendations on data minimization for minors and UDAP clarity, the Attorney General’s proposed clarifications and deletions, and Google’s nonconflicting amendments; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. The vote passed unanimously among members present, with some members excused. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then took up several previously heard measures in decision-making. SB 2045 on combat sports passed with amendments reflecting DCCA and boxing commission recommendations, including clarifying the on-site medical professional requirement, reporting duties, promoter payment, removal of the combat sports registry and ambulance requirement, and other technical changes; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. SP 2347 on the residential landlord-tenant code passed with amendments striking landlord requirements so OCP could work on a multilingual tenant-rights notice, and SP 2495 on consumer protection passed with amendments requiring OCP to publish an annual report on potential code violations. SB 2777 on insurance was deferred to February 17, 2026 for further decision-making. At a later CPN decision-making agenda, SB 2471 and SB 2829, both relating to the powers of artificial persons, passed with amendments clarifying the preamble, removing language about foreign artificial persons, and making other consistency and non-substantive changes; both effective dates were moved to January 1, 2027. SP 2033 on renewable energy also passed with amendments clarifying the definition of grid-ready homes, cost-sharing provisions, applicability to interconnecting customers, and safety/certification compliance, with the effective date deferred to July 1, 2050. In each case, the committee voted to adopt the recommendations without objections from members present. The committees also heard SB 3000 on insurance, which would authorize the Attorney General to bring civil actions to recover costs and losses tied to climate-attributable harm and future climate risk, including costs incurred by state insurance-related entities. The Insurance Division and Attorney General’s office offered comments seeking clarification and warning about redundancy, implementation issues, possible representation of private insurers, and concurrent litigation concerns. Supporters, including the Center for Climate Integrity, a resident testifier, Sierra Club, and Green America, argued the bill would help shift insurance costs to fossil fuel companies responsible for climate harms and address rising premiums and nonrenewals in Hawaii. Opponents, including the American Petroleum Institute, argued the bill singled out one industry, raised constitutional concerns, and should be deferred because related climate litigation is already pending. The transcript ends with the committee continuing testimony and discussion on SB 3000 and then moving into SB 3326 on energy, where the consumer advocate and Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill’s proposed separation of generation from transmission and distribution, while the PUC stood on written testimony, Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported it, and Life of the Land raised concerns about assumptions and the need for more substance.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, you may have noticed if you read the news, there are a lot of numbers floating out there, and
• to enable us to reduce our dependence on gas and enable us to interconnect storage, batteries, and solar
• Karenson, on behalf of the Large Scale Solar Association, in support.
• Kim Stone of Stone Advocacy on behalf of the California Solar and Storage Association.
• Just as a really simple example, most folks who are renters don't have solar to charge their cars on

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard a lengthy agenda, with AB 222 on data centers, AB 941 on CPUC permitting timelines for priority electrical infrastructure, AB 1191 on large hydroelectric resources and the RPS, AB 1280 on thermal energy storage for industrial decarbonization, and AB 1117 on dynamic electricity rate tariffs among the main items discussed. The committee also dispensed with a consent calendar of several other bills, which passed unanimously. Members repeatedly emphasized California’s clean energy goals, grid reliability, affordability, and the need to balance faster infrastructure buildout with environmental review and ratepayer protections. AB 222, by Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan, would require better reporting on data center energy use and aim to protect residential ratepayers from costs tied to data center growth. Supporters said the bill would improve grid planning and prevent blackouts, while environmental groups backed it. Opponents from the Data Center Coalition and business groups warned about privacy, security, trade-secret, and feasibility concerns, and argued the bill could discourage critical infrastructure. The committee approved the bill 11-3 and sent it to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 941, by Assembly Member Zbur, would impose a 270-day timeline for CPUC review of certain priority transmission and electrical infrastructure projects. Supporters said the bill would speed clean energy transmission without weakening CEQA, while opponents raised staffing and process concerns. The committee passed the bill 15-0 to Natural Resources. AB 1191, by Assembly Member Tangipa, would make large hydroelectric facilities RPS-eligible; supporters framed it as an affordability measure, but opponents said it would undermine the purpose of the RPS and raise costs. The committee rejected the bill 4-11, though the author requested reconsideration. AB 1280, by Assembly Member Garcia, would expand grant programs to include thermal energy storage for industrial decarbonization; it drew broad support and passed 15-0. AB 1117, by Assembly Member Schultz, would require utilities to offer optional dynamic rate tariffs to all ratepayers; supporters said it would lower bills and shift demand to cheaper, cleaner periods, while utilities said they supported the concept but wanted more flexibility in implementation. The hearing continued with discussion of that bill after the point shown in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 128, NMFA, Local Solar Access Fund. Materials on the bill are being passed out.
• We have supported community solar for a number of years now.
• My voice is a little gravelly from the stuff that's floating, Mr.
• Chair, representatives of the committee, the cost of solar systems has come down about 80%.
• Generally speaking, batteries would be roughly $50,000 to $100,000 on a $100,000 solar system.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• specialists who warned the New Orleans Levee Board made it clear that the question of a geomagnetic solar
• However, a strong solar flare hitting at the wrong time would have left those as the only lights available
• There's a hundred percent probability that there will be... ...enough solar storm, according to scientists
• one of the several nations that consider the U.S. their worst enemy, a Carrington-sized and overdue solar
• Consider the unknown balloons that floated over our nation a couple of years ago; we didn't know the

Bills: SB34 , SB75 , SB330 , SB1535 , SB18 , SB 18 , SB 34

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, volunteer fire department, Texas A&M Forest Service, West Texas A&M University, prescribed burning, fuel loading, fuel reduction, firefighting equipment database, emergency communications, disaster preparedness, rural fire protection, asset hardening, natural resource management, emergency management, large wildfire risk, fire grant funding, fire suppression, Texas Legislature

Transcript Highlights:

• interact with the federal Solar for All award program?
• And so the community solar program?
• I don't want to disincentivize rooftop solar.
• For the community solar site? For community solar side? Yeah, the $33 million. Right.
• It's massive. 1.15 gigawatts of solar and the same... It's 2.3 gigawatts.

Summary: The hearing was an informational budget session on energy agency proposals, with no votes taken. Early discussion focused on Proposition 4 climate bond implementation, including funding for demand-side grid support, offshore wind development, and transmission financing. The Department of Finance said the budget includes allocations for demand-side grid support and offshore wind, but not yet for the $325 million transmission financing piece pending a required study. The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged the Legislature to consider whether to wait on offshore wind funding, whether to keep shifting funds into demand-side grid support, and how to direct future transmission financing. Members also raised concerns about local technical assistance for offshore wind, Salton Sea priorities, and the need for more information before final decisions. The California Energy Commission and CPUC then reviewed the broader energy package. The CEC highlighted the demand-side grid support program’s growth, distributed energy backup assets, long-duration storage, hydrogen grants, and the SIRP clean energy reliability program. CPUC testimony emphasized affordability, wildfire mitigation costs, rooftop solar cost shifts, and efforts to reduce rates while maintaining reliability and clean energy goals. Members questioned CPUC staffing, delays in proceedings, coordination with the CEC and CAISO, and the impact of rate increases on customers. The agencies also discussed the AB 3264 transmission financing study, with CPUC saying work on the study had already begun and was on track for the July 1 deadline. Several trailer bill and implementation items were also discussed. The committee reviewed a proposal to extend the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program surcharge, with members split over whether it should be handled in budget trailer bill language or policy legislation; the administration said the surcharge supports a critical program serving about three-quarters of a million Californians. The committee also heard a CPUC data-sharing proposal to allow nondisclosure agreements for transmission and reliability data, which members generally supported as a technical fix. DWR explained a proposal to clarify language for the Electricity Supply Strategic Reliability Reserve so it can potentially sell three gas-fired units it owns, and the CEC presented a federal transmission grant proposal tied to grid-enhancing technologies and ratepayer cost recovery. Finally, the committee discussed California Lifeline and possible broadband pilot reforms in light of uncertainty around federal Universal Service Fund support, with CPUC saying it is exploring a statewide standalone broadband option for eligible customers.

Transcript Highlights:

• By Representatives Zipanski and Roy Balcaviero, an act providing grants for solar energy systems, requiring
• Howard as he floats around and mentioned his contribution to advancing civil rights in New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• Such as solar, or has that been discussed within the Club C?
• Have you guys discussed doing micro-grids or grid-tied solar, Madam Chair?
• I don't believe we have any installation of solar panels yet.
• Yeah, if we go solar, then It's called electric.
• If we were to go solar, then we wouldn't have any money coming to Alamo through Tri-State.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, should it float with property value? Should it be a set amount?
• </c><00:59:48.480><c> with</c> it you know should it float with it you know should it float with property
• So if you start to see a few hundred-acre tract now covered with solar panels, number one is how are
• So if you start to see a few hundred-acre tract now covered with solar panels, number one is how are
• installation. hundred acre tract now covered with hundred acre tract now covered with solar solar solar

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• But putting a fee onto a $50 floating raft, a $50 fee per year onto a $50 floating raft is just nuts
• But putting a fee onto a $50 floating raft, a $50 fee per year onto a $50 floating raft is just nuts
• And that's not the floating rafts.
• And that's not the floating rafts.
• And that's not the floating rafts.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Our intent in sunsetting these credits, particularly the credit for solar energy, is to stabilize our
• The solar industry will survive this.
• They will limp back to life because solar is still a good deal and the solar is still a good deal and
• But I do echo the concerns on our solar I do echo the concerns on our solar energy, and I would just
• In 2016, Hawaii lawmakers even floated a proposal to support a limited national... ...constitutional

Transcript Highlights:

• I was going to ask is, in reference to equipment, is any of this powered by solar? Mr.
• We typically do not install any kind of solar systems.
• So generally, we do not go with any kind of solar power for permanent installations.
• It’s powered by solar. That’s probably the most effective and the most reliable light I’ve seen.
• We had, early on, solar ones.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's not going to replace smaller sources of energy or solar at some scale and things like that.
• So it's not going to replace smaller sources of energy or solar at some scale and things like that.
• And our PII is floating around there in La La Land.

Committee: House House Science & Technology Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Science and Technology met with a full audience and began with brief introductions, including an intern from Arizona State University. The committee heard two presentations before taking up its only bill. The University of Arizona’s Thomas Diaz de la Rubia spoke about fusion energy, describing it as a potential clean, safe, baseload power source and arguing Arizona should build the talent, supply chains, and research infrastructure to commercialize fusion. Members asked about timelines, regulation, competition with China, and the relationship to small modular reactors; he said fusion could be commercially relevant in roughly 12 to 15 years if public and private investment continues, and that the U.S. should avoid losing manufacturing and supply chains as it did in other technologies. He also discussed the university’s broader space and national security work. XRDNA CEO Charles Ableman then presented a spatial addressing and coordination system called EVA, describing it as a way to align data about where and when physical objects exist across systems, with a security layer called a sphere of influence. He said the company is testing with space and logistics partners, uses AI provenance tools, and sees its near-term use case in space operations and interoperability. The committee then considered HB 2809, which would require state agencies handling sensitive or protected data to implement post-quantum encryption meeting or exceeding CMMC 2.0 standards, using a U.S.-based vendor and U.S.-developed or maintained components. The bill would place the master encryption key with the Auditor General and set procedures involving the Auditor General and Attorney General. Sponsor Rep. Gillette explained that the bill was simplified from a prior version after concerns that agencies would have to connect offline systems to the internet; the amendment clarified that encryption can be installed without internet connectivity and without requiring other systems to be online. He argued the measure is needed to modernize weak legacy systems and protect data after prior breaches and failed IT projects. Members generally supported the concept but raised questions about implementation, costs, vendor neutrality, and the Auditor General’s role; the Secretary of State’s office was described as neutral and still evaluating implementation. The committee adopted the Pingarelli amendment and then passed HB 2809 as amended on a 9-0 vote, with several members explaining that they supported the bill but wanted continued stakeholder input and careful attention to execution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wind, solar, and battery storage, I'll say it all day long, is costing all of our ratepayers trillions
• WIND, SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE.
• AGAIN, RATES ARE GOING UP OVER Wind, solar, and battery storage, I'll say it all day long, is costing
• You will get a solar device on your house that allows you to net meter it.
• YOU WILL GET A SOLAR DEVICE OR YOUR HOUSE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO NET METER IT.

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and then took up a series of utility and public service bills and resolutions. A resolution sponsored by Senator Scarcella-Spanton designating April 9, 2026, as Yellow Ribbon Day was adopted after remarks honoring veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. The chamber then moved through several Public Service Law measures focused on utility affordability, consumer protections, and PSC procedures, with some bills laid aside and others advanced. Among the bills passed were measures by Senators Mayer, Cleare, Hinchey, Comrie, and Parker. Debate on the Mayer bill centered on limiting utility expenses and fees recoverable in rate cases; supporters said it was part of a broader package to reform PSC practices, while opponents argued it would not lower current bills and had been softened from earlier versions. The Webb bill creating a residential utility usage monitoring program drew extended debate over whether it would meaningfully reduce costs, who would pay for the program, and whether it could lead to government monitoring of household usage; supporters said it would give consumers more control and transparency, while critics said it would not lower rates. The Gonzalez bill, which would add consumer protections during PSC investigations and delay shutoffs in certain circumstances, also passed after questions about whether it applied to rate cases, with the sponsor saying rate cases were explicitly excluded. Several members explained their votes, with supporters emphasizing affordability, transparency, and consumer protection, and opponents arguing the package would not address immediate rate relief and could burden ratepayers or encourage nonpayment. Senator Tedisco and others criticized PSC appointments and state energy policy, while Democratic sponsors argued the bills were part of a longer-term effort to reform utility regulation and address climate and affordability concerns. The chamber restored multiple bills to the non-controversial calendar before final votes, and the recorded results showed passage of the major utility bills by substantial margins, along with one amendment appeal being ruled nongermane and rejected.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when I say DER, I mean residential solar facilities. We wanted to fix that.
• </c> mean um residential um solar facilities. mean um residential um solar facilities.
• If you're wealthy, you own your own house, you get solar, you're not paying your bills anymore.
• But this nebulous kind of floating around, I don't think we can actually step forward.
• Floating area of, well, we're kind of waiting to see.

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational briefing on the Public Utilities Commission’s performance-based regulation (PBR) framework and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ whistleblower complaint process. Chair Jared Kohole opened the meeting, noted it was informational only with no public testimony, and explained that members would hear presentations and then have an opportunity for questions. The committee heard first from Ulupono Initiative, which provided background on why utilities are regulated, how Hawaii’s cost-of-service model and rate cases work, and why PBR was adopted to shift utility incentives away from a capital-investment bias and toward performance, efficiency, cost control, and policy goals such as renewable energy and reliability. Ulupono described Hawaii’s PBR structure as a five-year multi-year rate plan with annual revenue adjustments, a customer dividend, a Z factor for extraordinary exogenous events, and an exceptional project recovery mechanism for large projects. It also outlined performance incentive mechanisms tied to renewable portfolio standard progress, interconnection speed, reliability, and shared savings. The presentation said the current docket is evaluating a possible hybrid approach that would combine forward-looking forecasting with historical results, and Ulupono advocated for stronger incentives, arguing the current rewards are too small relative to utility revenues and should be more meaningful to better align utility behavior with legislative intent. The PUC then presented its own overview, emphasizing that the PBR docket is open and active and that the briefing was limited to the record to avoid ex parte concerns. The commission described the development of PBR in Hawaii through multiple phases beginning in 2018: an initial collaborative phase to set goals, a formal contested-case phase that produced the initial framework, later phases adding scorecards, reported metrics, and additional performance incentive mechanisms, and subsequent refinements including sunset of some mechanisms and adjustments after the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The PUC said the framework is intended to be customer-centric, administratively efficient, and protective of utility financial integrity, and that current work includes evaluating how to balance forward-looking and historical test-year approaches within the rebasing process. No votes or formal actions were taken at the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:24:42.840><c> projects</c> transitionary period for solar projects transitionary period for solar
• ><c> that</c><00:25:22.520><c> allows</c> as balcony solar, that allows as balcony solar, that allows
• It transitions plug-in solar panels.
• </c> solar both battery storage, etc. solar both battery storage, etc.
• Solar is is going to be of state.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I don't think we would be supportive of the idea that you kind of floated to remedy that because I
• So I don't think we would be supportive of the idea that you kind of floated to remedy that because I
• So I don't think we would be supportive of the idea that you kind of floated to remedy that because I
• Thank you. windmills we have solar Gardens windmills we have solar Gardens everywhere<02:01:17.480><c
• </c> testimony that that have opposed solar testimony that that have opposed solar uh<02:03:34.880><c

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• So uh we suggest that you add those and and also I think u you know really to float the idea of limiting
• the idea of limiting really to float the idea of limiting physician<00:27:38.799><c> dispensing</c><
• And then also we are going to accept the testimony from Solar IMS, but slightly adjusted.
• And then also we are going to accept the testimony from Solar IMS, but slightly adjusted.
• And then also we are going to accept the testimony from Solar IMS, but slightly adjusted.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The joint HHS and LBT meeting opened with accessibility concerns, as several blind attendees arrived after the general public had already been seated. The chair apologized and said future hearings would try to seat blind members earlier. The committee also announced the hearing was being streamed on YouTube, testimony would be limited to one minute, and written testimony was available online. The first bill heard was SB 2281, relating to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The Department of Health supported transparency for patients but preferred disclosure through provider websites and office signage rather than a new regulatory program. The Hawaii Medical Association and Healthcare Association of Hawaii generally supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about administrative burden and suggested a working group or model policies. Hawaii Pacific Health said it already uses AI for note-taking and patient portal functions and worried that written notice requirements could create too much consumer information. In response, the chair emphasized that patients should be informed when AI is used, especially if it affects diagnosis or consequential decisions, and said AI should not be making medical decisions. The committee later voted to recommend SB 2281 pass with amendments, including narrowing the definition of consequential decisions, removing certain language requested by DOH, adding a two-year implementation period, and setting a far-future defective date for further discussion; both committees adopted the recommendation, with the chair voting aye and the vice chair voting with reservations. The second major bill was SB 2852, a civil rights measure focused on digital access for people with disabilities. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii all supported the bill, arguing that existing law clearly protects physical access but should also make digital access explicit. Blind testifiers described how accessible technology, such as VoiceOver on iPhones, allows them to participate independently in public processes and warned that inaccessible digital systems can create barriers for thousands of blind residents. One testifier, an attorney with disability-law experience, supported the bill’s intent but said the draft had flaws, including no exceptions for archived materials, no distinction between small and large businesses, and concerns about the timing and choice of accessibility standards; he suggested delegating regulatory authority to the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. The bill’s sponsor said he supported DAB’s proposed amendments, and the committee indicated those amendments would address many of the concerns raised. No final vote on SB 2852 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up SB 2751, which defines compounded prescription drugs for workers’ compensation purposes. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the bill but requested clarifying amendments to keep pharmacists as the primary professionals authorized to compound in licensed pharmacies and to limit any physician compounding authority to the physician’s own patient. Supporters included the Work Injury Medical Association of Hawaii, while Solera Integrated Medical Solutions opposed the measure, arguing the current definition was already broad enough and warning about cost inflation, especially with 503B bulk compounding facilities and physician dispensing. In questioning, members asked about rural access, reimbursement for 503B products, and late testimony suggesting definitions for 503A and 503B facilities, limits on physician dispensing to 30 days post-injury, and pre-approval for non-FDA-approved drugs. DLIR said not every rural community has licensed pharmacists available, that products with a national drug code are reimbursed at 140%, and that 503B facilities raise concerns because they are bulk manufacturers rather than patient-specific compounding operations. The meeting then moved into decision-making on SB 2281; the chair’s pass-with-amendments recommendation was adopted by both committees, with the vice chair voting with reservations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm trying to be kind about it, but there was a little duck that was floating in its own stuff, you know
• I'm trying to be kind about it, but there was a little duck that was floating in its own stuff, you know
• ><00:08:27.759><c> in</c><00:08:27.919><c> its</c><00:08:28.160><c> own</c> little duck that was floating
• in its own little duck that was floating in its own little<00:08:28.639><c> stuff,</c><00:08:29.120>
• Please vote green. including renewables like solar, wind, including renewables like solar, wind, geothermal

Transcript Highlights:

• Could the author explain if this also shields all energy sectors—wind, solar, nuclear, hydrogen, hydropower
• Just to clarify, we heard earlier in the meeting about several water bills floating around out there
• Just to clarify, we heard earlier in the meeting about several water bills floating around out there

Bills: SB1191 , SB1314 , SB1319 , SB1333 , SB1346 , SB1439 , SB1509 , SB1510 , SB1613

Committee: Senate Energy

Summary: The Senate Energy Committee met and first laid over a couple of items before taking up a series of energy and water-related bills. Senate Bill 1333, presented by Sen. Hall, was framed as a symbolic reflection of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s budget request and the state’s estimated $24 billion water infrastructure need through 2030. Members asked about project prioritization, emergency needs, long-term funding, federal matching dollars, and whether some proposed spending would go to outreach or new programs rather than direct infrastructure. Supporters emphasized the statewide water crisis, rural and municipal needs, and the goal of building a comprehensive water package; the bill passed 11-0. Senate Bill 1191, presented by Sen. Daniels, would eliminate an unused board tied to the Low Carbon Energy Initiative; the deputy secretary testified the board was never actually founded and collected no research, and the bill passed 11-0. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1439, the Energy Security and Independence Act, also by Sen. Daniels, which would shield fossil fuel companies operating lawfully and within permits from certain climate-change and emissions-based lawsuits. Questions focused on why the bill applied only to fossil fuels, whether it could affect landowners’ rights or environmental standards, and whether it would create a lower regulatory bar in Oklahoma. The author said it was aimed at a specific category of litigation seen in other states and would not protect unlawful conduct; the bill passed 10-1. Senate Bill 1314, by Sen. Yek, would raise the cap on the well drillers and pump installers indemnity fund from $50,000 to $100,000 and increase the per-well cap from $10,000 to $25,000; members discussed how the fund works and its limited size, and it passed 10-0. Senate Bill 1509, also by Sen. Yek, would update groundwater well spacing rules so the Water Resources Board could apply spacing requirements across all groundwater basins, not just those with maximum annual yield studies. The board said the bill is meant to protect existing commercial wells from encroachment, with exceptions if water cannot be found elsewhere on the property; it passed 10-0. Senate Bill 1319, presented by Sen. Hall, would allow the Corporation Commission to use plugging funds in rare cases where homes are affected by historic oil and gas activity or orphan wells; members raised concerns about caps, proof of contamination, remediation versus plugging, and whether landowners could present expert evidence. The author said the language was still being refined with the Commission, and the bill passed 10-0. Senate Bill 1346, by Vice Chair Woods, would direct the Water Resources Board to establish a water and wastewater infrastructure program with competitive loans for eligible entities; it was described as part of a broader effort to consolidate water measures into a comprehensive package and passed 9-0. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1613, which would let the LP Gas Administration buy, lease, and own its own vehicles instead of using the OMES fleet and would rename a miscellaneous permit as a food truck permit; it passed without debate. The meeting ended with adjournment and notice that there would be no committee meeting the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• When wind and solar energy are produced, that will require new grid transmission.
• transmit the energy from clean energy production, then what I know is that California generates excessive solar
• Max Perry, speaking on behalf of Q Cells solar energy, just echoing the comment.
• Max Perry, speaking on behalf of Q Cells solar energy, just echoing the comments of our colleagues in
• go towards dealing with respiratory toxins, carcinogens, all sorts of harmful materials that are floating