Transcript Highlights:

• It's attached to my written testimony.
• The proposed to my written testimony.
• You have a written testimony.
• You have a written testimony.
• </c><01:33:32.080><c> in</c> new section is actually not written in new section is actually not written

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation heard several vehicle and traffic safety measures. HB 2347, which would require the director of transportation to adopt rules allowing mobile vehicle safety inspections, drew support from DOT and individual testifiers who said it would add convenience and efficiency for passenger vehicle owners. Committee members questioned how home or driveway inspections would handle safety standards such as headlight checks and whether added convenience would come with higher costs; DOT also said it would follow up on inspection fees and audit procedures. HB 182, which would exempt motorcycles and passenger cars from safety inspections, received opposition from DOT, the Hawaii Police Department, and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services, with Grassroot Institute in support. HB 2022, which would equalize county and state annual vehicle registration fees, was opposed by the Hawaii Transportation Association because it would raise costs that would likely be passed on to consumers. The committee also took testimony on HB 1708, which would make operating a vehicle under the influence at a high intoxication level a class C felony and add probation requirements. Prosecutors, police, DOT, and the Honolulu customer services department supported the bill, while the Public Defender’s Office opposed it, arguing that it would increase court workload, require more defense resources, and create collateral consequences, including possible immigration impacts. Several witnesses and members discussed a proposed HD1 that would change the bill to a graduated penalty structure, making a first offense a misdemeanor and a second offense a felony, while also addressing deferred pleas and DUI deferrals. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the bill’s intent but warned that Oahu lacks a reliable electronic or telephonic warrant system, which could lead to more refusals and additional court impacts. HB 2086, which would amend negligent injury in the first degree to include injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers, received support from DOT, county prosecutors, police, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office. Honolulu’s prosecutor supported the bill but recommended against the attached HD1, saying the current drafting better preserves negligent injury as a lesser included offense and avoids blending it with a separate statutory scheme. HB 2154, which would create a framework for intelligent speed assist technology and require a report to the legislature, was supported by DOT, county police, Smart Start LLC, AAA Hawaii, and others, with the Alliance for Automobile Innovation offering comments and proposed amendments. A testifier described the bill as a way to prevent repeat speeding by limiting vehicles from accelerating beyond the speed limit. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the agreement that I spoke about earlier is our OHV PD grants.
• So the agreement that I spoke about earlier is our OHV PD grants.
• So the agreement that I spoke about earlier is our OHV PD grants.
• something written on to confirm that?
• to</c><03:31:03.000><c> confirm</c> written something written on to confirm written something written

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an orientation for the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee, led by Chair Bob Harb. He reviewed committee procedures, including pink cards for witnesses, blue sheets for counts, use of drawers in the committee room, scheduling practices, and how bills would be posted and distributed. Members briefly introduced themselves and explained why they wanted to serve on the committee, with several citing interests in conservation, water quality, outdoor recreation, land use, and related local issues. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 1113, relative to OHRV operation on certain highways within the town of Windsor. Representative Ré Colcombe, the sponsor, explained that the bill would allow local OHV/UTV access across a short section of state road in Windsor so residents on divided portions of town could travel legally between areas. He said the town selectmen were already allowing OHRV use on town roads, the route was paved, traffic impacts were expected to be minimal, and local police had no objections. He also said the town would hold public hearings and notify abutters as required, and that if the select board ultimately opposed the proposal he would recommend killing the bill. Members asked about the legal authority for the change, speed limits, traffic volume, winter maintenance, and whether the Department of Transportation or select board had to approve the route. Colcombe said the town must hold a public hearing and that the change would need to be incorporated into RSA 258:10, section 4. He said the road is maintained by the town in winter and by the state in summer. An opponent, Anne Davis, testified that she opposed the bill, saying ATV use should be treated as a tool for forest management rather than recreation, that law enforcement capacity in Windsor was a concern, and that she believed affected residents should be fully notified before any approval. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Written comments may be submitted to HouseCommitteeComment@delaware.gov, and any comments received within
• At least two, and it might even have been three, and we were never able to come to an agreement between
• And this, I really commend all the stakeholders that worked on this bill that we have come to agreement
• So the intent, I believe, is that we did identify—and I think it is written in there—that we would be
• in there that we would be identified like identifying wetlands I think it is written in there that we

Bills: SB9

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Keywords: wetlands protection, nontidal wetlands, Delaware, environmental sustainability, climate change, carbon sink, permitting process

Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and first considered SB 321 with Senate Amendment 1, the community solar utility billing bill. The sponsor explained that it would consolidate the two-bill system for community solar subscribers into one utility bill, with the utility forwarding the subscriber fee to the solar facility through an escrow mechanism so costs are not shifted to other ratepayers. Testimony from the solar industry, the Public Advocate, and environmental advocates supported the measure, emphasizing easier enrollment, fewer barriers for low-income customers, and guaranteed savings. The committee initially lacked enough members present to release the bill, but after a roll call vote it was released from committee. The committee then heard SB 9 with Senate Amendment 1, a wetlands protection bill creating a state non-tidal freshwater wetlands permitting program. The sponsor and DNREC described a framework of exemptions, general permits, and individual permits based on wetland type and value, with an advisory committee to develop regulations. Witnesses explained that “exceptional value” wetlands would include unique wetland communities and high-functioning wetlands, and that the bill was intended to preserve important habitat while allowing farming, drainage, and other exempt activities to continue. Some members raised concerns about flooding, land classification, and the balance of the advisory committee, while supporters said the bill was the product of broad stakeholder consensus and would protect wetlands without unduly harming agriculture or development. Public comment on SB 9 was strongly supportive from environmental groups, the Delaware Native Species Commission, the Home Builders Association, the Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, and affordable housing advocates, who said the bill balanced conservation with practical land use concerns. After remote testimony, the committee took a roll call vote and SB 9 was released from committee. The meeting concluded with remarks thanking the chair for her service and instructions for members to sign the backers before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Written comments may be submitted to HouseCommitteeComment@delaware.gov, and any comments received within
• , settlement agreement, when PEPCO merged with Exelon.
• He has submitted written testimony, along with the letter signed by Chamber President Yvonne DeWallo,
• We oppose Senate Bill 326 as written, particularly the cost cap provision.
• In our last rate case in 2022, we reached an agreement to come to $190 million over two years, where

Bills: SB287

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Keywords: solid waste, recycling, universal recycling, single-stream recycling, multifamily housing, apartment recycling, commercial recycling, waste diversion, recycling grants, low-interest loans, Delaware Recycling Fund, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, DNREC, waste hauler, curbside recycling, yard waste, source-separated recycling, pay-as-you-throw, extended producer responsibility, waste bans

Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and considered three Senate bills. SB 287 with Senate Amendment 2, a DNREC cleanup bill on recycling, would tighten recycling collection rules for haulers and commercial generators, require multifamily recycling education, repurpose the Delaware Recycling Fund, and add annual reporting; after brief questions and no public comment, the committee motion to release did not initially receive enough votes, so the bill was circulated for signatures. SB 346, which would speed Environmental Appeals Board hearing and decision timelines so DNREC secretary decisions become final if deadlines are missed, drew support from the Nature Conservancy and also failed to get enough votes at the meeting, so it too was circulated for signatures. The committee then took up SB 326, a major utility-regulation bill sponsored by Senator Hanson and Representative Heffernan that would cap certain non-mandatory utility spending, limit interim rates, increase oversight and transparency, and streamline rate-setting. SB 326 generated extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the Public Advocate, Sierra Club, PSC staff, and some legislators, argued that Delmarva Power’s spending on non-mandatory infrastructure has risen far faster than inflation, that the company is a regulated monopoly, and that the bill would help restrain future delivery-rate increases without harming reliability because mandatory reliability, storm response, and vegetation management spending would remain allowed. Opponents, including Delmarva Power, business groups, contractors, labor representatives, and the Delaware Contractors Association, argued the cap would delay needed reliability and capacity projects, hurt economic development, reduce jobs, and interfere with utility planning; they also said supply costs, not distribution spending, are the main driver of recent bill increases. After public comment and additional questioning, the committee voted to release SB 326 on a split roll call, but because several members were absent the bill was also walked for additional signatures. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All agreements between the commission and the participating state are binding.
• Nothing is written in stone yet. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Compacts are licensing agreements. That's all they are.
• ... and it reached agreement on it. One of the decisions that we made. ...on it.
• We all have gotten written summaries. Anyone have any... We all have gotten written summaries.

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• importantly, the recommendation of the state attorney and the victim, as well as the defendant's agreement
• The agreement and approval of the state attorney is essential. This amendment? Thank you, Mr.
• importantly, the recommendation of the state attorney and the victim, as well as the defendant's agreement
• The agreement and approval of the state attorney is essential, and that's the amendment. Thank you.
• So yes, it is; that's how it is written right now. It's just felony battery.

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A written description of how such performance measures are calculated prior to their implementation with
• The bill clarifies that a manufacturer cannot terminate or fail to renew a dealer's franchise agreement
• unless the dealer has substantially breached a material provision of the franchise agreement members
• agreement requirements.
• There are a few where people do, but they're still allowed to the way this is written to have their our

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, I believe they have possibly reached an agreement. I don't know that for 100% sure.
• But if the company may not need it for 18 months, they would have to work under some type of agreement
• Even though they can't provide the water, but the language, the way it's written, I mean, this would
• Written notice would determine whether the customer could satisfy the requirements, yes or no.
• When the city annexes property, the law says they are supposed to reach an agreement within about six

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The Utilities Committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 2807, with a substitute ending in .03C. Representative Herbert explained that the substitute was intended to match the Senate version, add battery energy storage to the renewable standard, clarify that the nuclear provision applies to new, not existing, nuclear generation, and create nuclear energy credits to help track generation for the PSC. Members asked about how the credits would work, whether they could involve out-of-state generation, and how the bill would affect Missouri jobs and in-state generation. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 2807 do pass by a roll call vote of 18 ayes and 1 no. The committee then heard House Bills 3351 and 3371, sponsored by Representatives Koslow and Taylor, which would expand a prior, narrower water-district detachment proposal statewide. The bill would create a “specific demand customer” category for large water users whose quantity or quality needs may exceed a district’s capabilities, require a water district to respond within 60 days, and allow the customer to seek service elsewhere and pursue detachment if the district cannot or will not serve them. It also would prevent districts from taking on new encumbering federal debt to block detachment and would require gifts offered specifically to pay off such debt to be accepted and applied to that purpose. Sponsors said the measure was meant to stop “debt hoarding” and remove barriers to economic development while still allowing courts to review reasonableness and protect both districts and customers. Members questioned the scope of the bill, including the use of “may exceed” in the definition, whether the restriction on new loans could create problems in emergency or repair situations, how reasonableness would be judged, and whether the proposal could affect existing ratepayers or apply to municipal systems. The sponsors said the intent was to address net-new customers and to leave ordinary financing available except for loans used to prevent detachment. In informational testimony, Missouri American Water described a separate but related problem involving USDA red tape delaying a partial sale of the city of DeKalb’s water system, saying the delay was preventing lower rates and needed capital investment for a small community. No votes were taken on HB 3351 or HB 3371 before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not taking an amendment, a written amendment, like we used to.
• </c><00:28:36.240><c> amendment</c> an amendment hand a written amendment an amendment hand a written
• </c> can still come to an agreement can still come to an agreement &gt;&gt; and<00:29:03.440><c> change
• Please do not pass this bill as written.
• </c><00:41:46.079><c> your</c><00:41:46.319><c> discussion</c> written and based on your discussion written

Committee: House County and Municipal Government

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:57:40.319><c> that</c> currently written, we understand that currently written, we understand
• </c> few clarifying questions in our written few clarifying questions in our written testimony<00:58:
• Uh, stands for written meeting.
• I believe we submitted written testimony before the deadline, but we stand on written testimony.
• We're here for written testimony.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1783, which would expand public-private partnership options for charter school facilities. The Department of Education offered comments, the Charter School Commission and SFA supported the bill, and Hawaii Technology Academy, Hawaii Kids, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, HGA, Aloha Project, and several individuals testified in support, while UPW opposed it. Supporters said charter schools need faster and more flexible ways to address severe facility shortages and high costs, and SFA described the bill as a pilot model that could leverage developer partnerships and state contributions, citing Maryland as an example. Members asked whether the bill was limited to charter schools; DOE said the language could be read to include other public school facilities, but if focused only on charter schools, DOE was less concerned. The Charter School Commission also described an existing public-private preschool model through Parkway Village Preschool and PACTED. The committee then took up HB 1778, which would establish a CIP database for school facilities. SFA supported the bill, saying it would create a more disciplined, transparent basis for funding decisions by documenting facility condition, needed repairs, classification, and timing. DOE initially said it rested on its comments, then responded to questions by saying it already maintains deferred maintenance lists, uses systems such as Maximo, CPT, GIS, and finance software, and sends legislators project-status letters twice a year. DOE said it is working on improving its outward-facing dashboard and integrating its systems, but questioned whether the bill would add value beyond existing tools. Members emphasized the need for a publicly accessible, real-time transparency tool, while DOE said it was still evaluating its current systems and was not yet seeking funding for a new IT program. For HB 2344, creating an Independent Public School Realignment and Closure Commission, DOE said it wants to remain part of any consolidation process to keep students and education central, while SFA said the bill is timely and framed it as a restructuring response to changing conditions and possible federal funding cuts. SFA compared the proposal to the federal BRAC process for military base closures and said Hawaii has the same enrollment as in 1961 but many more schools, arguing that the state needs a more deliberate approach to school closures and land reuse. The Attorney General’s office raised technical concerns about several sections, including unclear references to administrative support, a governor-approval sequence, a possible conflict with existing statutes governing closed-school disposition, and a missing section number. Testimony on HB 2345, which would establish a geographic CIP district, began with DOE in opposition; DOE said the bill would duplicate existing work, add confusion by creating two agencies doing the same thing, and spend money inefficiently because district project coordinators and project lists already exist.

Transcript Highlights:

• Code, to revise provisions regarding school districts, professional employees, and negotiation agreements
• I'd love to take credit for all the way it was written.
• I had a little influence on that, but I thought it was written very well.
• , 'In the event that the owner does not possess a Social Security number, the owner shall present written
• So for that reason... ...I can support it as currently written. Thank you.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that they were not going to be able to continue doing what they're doing now with the way this was written
• Now with the way this was written.
• I have to be honest, that was written in by the lawyer. Oh, okay. I understand. Okay. The lawyer.
• The amendment, as you've written it, doesn't require any education.
• The amendment, as you've written it, doesn't require any education. And that's the...

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The conference committee on House/Senate Bill 2129 met to resolve the House amendment to the Senate-passed bill, which concerns exemptions related to veterinary practice. The main dispute centered on the House language adding terms such as “specialized or holistic trade” and expanding exemptions to include acupuncture/acupressure and non-veterinary dentistry, while the Senate preferred a narrower, more definitive list of exempt activities. Senators and House members discussed whether the word “includes” made the exemption open-ended, and whether equine dentistry should be treated as veterinary medicine or allowed as a separate practice. Testimony from Dr. Sarah Lyons of the North Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and veterinarian Troy Dutton emphasized that dentistry, including equine dentistry, is generally considered the practice of veterinary medicine and can involve invasive procedures and animal safety risks. They argued the House amendment lacked educational or licensing requirements and could allow untrained individuals to perform procedures such as dentistry or acupuncture. House members raised concerns about rural access, shortages of veterinarians, and the practical reality that some horse owners and equine practitioners currently perform float work and similar services. After extended discussion, the committee did not reach agreement. Members noted that the House amendment language differed from the Senate version on the key exemption provisions, and that further review of proposed alternative language would be needed. A motion was made and approved by roll call that the committee was unable to agree at this time and would schedule another meeting. The meeting was then adjourned pending rescheduling.

Transcript Highlights:

• Proposition 4 are most effective when these funds are deployed quickly and strategically, as was written
• As written, AB 643 would allow procurement credit to be generated from co-processed materials without
• So while I think there is an agreement to be made, I think, you know, biosolids for a reason were not
• So while I think there is an agreement to be made, I think, you know, biosolids for a reason were not
• But we are waiting on that, and wanting to progress the bill with where we've gotten to agreement so

Summary: The committee heard several natural resources bills focused on wildfire resilience, recycling, forest management, and organic waste diversion. AB 442 would remove a requirement that a harvest area be limited to a single watershed for working forest management plans; the author and supporters from the California Forestry Association and Pacific Forest Trust said it would reduce barriers to forest resiliency work, and there was no opposition. AB 623 would require state agencies to report on the use of CEQA and Coastal Act suspensions for wildfire and fuel-management projects after the governor’s emergency proclamation; the author said the bill would provide data on how well the suspensions are working, and it drew support with no opposition. AB 35 would exempt Proposition 4-funded programs from the Administrative Procedures Act to speed implementation of climate, water, wildfire, and environmental projects; the author and a large coalition of local governments, water agencies, conservation groups, and fire organizations argued the exemption would help get funds out faster, while no opposition was present. The committee also discussed AB 3333, which would create a market-development payment to support end users of non-container glass, such as ground glass pozzolan used in cement, in order to divert glass from landfills and reduce carbon emissions. Supporters said the bill would create a productive use for hard-to-recover glass, while opponents from the Glass Packaging Institute, Californians Against Waste, and waste management interests argued it would divert beverage container recycling funds away from the bottle-to-bottle system and could undermine existing recycling investments and recycled-content goals. Members raised questions about the fund’s revenue sources, the purpose of the beverage container recycling program, and whether the bill would amount to “downcycling”; despite those concerns, the bill advanced on a due-pass-as-amended recommendation, with members noting fiscal and policy issues for further work. AB 643 would allow certain diverted organic material used as a beneficial agricultural amendment, including CDFA-licensed fertilizer products made from biosolids, to count toward SB 1383 recovered organic waste procurement targets. Supporters from wastewater agencies and Clean Water SoCal said the change would expand options for meeting procurement requirements and help move biosolids out of landfills, while Californians Against Waste and other opponents argued the bill could expand procurement credit beyond SB 1383’s original intent and weaken investments in composting infrastructure. Committee members questioned what kinds of biosolids would qualify, how the procurement credit would work, and whether the bill could be narrowed to historically landfilled materials; the author said she would continue working with opponents and wait for CalRecycle technical assistance. The committee adopted the bills’ amendments and passed AB 35 with urgency, AB 3333, AB 442, AB 623, and AB 643 to Appropriations, and also approved consent-calendar AB 946. After roll calls, all of the measures were reported out of committee, and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4577 directs the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to enter into reciprocal agreements with the
• Well, to answer your question, legally the way the bill is written, it can't cost us more.
• The circuit court, based on the way the bill is currently written, would be the only judge that would
• This bill requires that, prior to assessing a filing penalty, the Secretary of State provide written
• It also requires written paper receipts of transactions.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills on third reading, with several title amendments and a few effective-date motions adopted. Early in the session, members passed HB 4452 removing acreage limits on land owned by church or religious trustees, HB 4577 creating reciprocal driver’s license recognition agreements with Ireland and Japan, HB 4588 authorizing West Virginia participation in a federal tax credit scholarship program, and HB 4592 requiring higher education institutions to create coordinated campus safety maps. HB 4602 was amended to align with a prior Senate child welfare pilot program, and members discussed its projected cost and implementation timeline before passing it. HB 4603 created a pre-adjudicatory alternative disposition process in abuse and neglect cases, and HB 4606 narrowed bail rules by requiring consideration of residency and community ties while prohibiting personal recognizance bonds for violent felony offenses after an adopted amendment. The Senate also passed HB 4710 changing the party-registration deadline for candidates from 60 to 180 days before an election, with debate over its impact on independents, and made it effective January 1, 2027. HB 4712, known as Bailey’s Law, increased penalties for DUI causing death and related conduct, with emotional testimony from members about the victim and similar tragedies. HB 4765 established a pay raise for teachers, school personnel, and state police and added a market-pay enhancement system based on county cost-of-living differences; an amendment to the amendment capped county differentials and guaranteed at least a 1% increase in every county. HB 4865 created an optional program for high school and homeschool students to serve as election official trainees, and HB 4869 established narrow guaranteed-issue rights for Medicare supplement policies. Later bills included HB 4995, which strengthened video/audio recording rules in special education classrooms and was passed, then reconsidered and passed again; HB 4996 creating a new crime for making threats of violence against schools or children; HB 5048 guaranteeing virtual instruction for foster children in temporary placement; HB 5065 adding recordkeeping and geolocation requirements for hotel marketplace facilitators to ensure proper hotel tax remittance; and HB 5074 reallocating medical cannabis fund revenues to child protection, homeless services, research, law enforcement, and other purposes. The Senate also passed HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which increased penalties for domestic violence offenses and adjusted bail provisions, after amending it to conform with the earlier bail bill. Additional measures passed included HB 5166 requiring notice before political committees are fined for filing violations and allowing limited extensions, HB 5168 directing $12 million in lottery funds to EMS first responders and county EMS support, HB 5182 authorizing certain state treasurer security personnel to carry concealed firearms, HB 5212 streamlining higher-education financial aid rules, HB 5214 allowing court-ordered drug testing of parents before reunification in abuse and neglect cases, HB 5353 regulating virtual currency kiosks with licensing, disclosures, and transaction limits, and HB 5366 exempting J-LAP records from FOIA to protect confidentiality for lawyers and judges seeking assistance. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 5074 and HB 5353 drew some dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• able to send in written comments.
• I've read the executable agreements. There's money left on the table.
• There's separate financial agreements with those data centers for that interim capacity.
• There's separate financial agreements with those data centers for that interim capacity.
• There's separate financial agreements with those data centers for that interim capacity.

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The Missouri House Committee on Utilities held an informational hearing on data centers, with the chair saying the goal was to hear different perspectives and better understand the issue before future legislation. No public testimony was taken, but three invited speakers presented: a labor representative, an Ameren Missouri executive, and a consumer advocate. The discussion focused on the economic benefits of data centers, including construction jobs, local hiring, apprenticeship opportunities, tax revenue for schools and local governments, and related spending by Missouri businesses. The labor witness described current Montgomery County projects, said hundreds of Missourians were already working there, and argued that closed-loop cooling and generator noise were manageable. Committee members also raised questions about water use, noise, cybersecurity, local hiring, and how much tax revenue a project could generate annually. Ameren’s Rob Dixon said Senate Bill 4 and the PSC’s large-load tariff provide key protections for ratepayers by requiring large customers to pay their own interconnection costs, sign long-term contracts, post collateral, and pay for most of their requested load even if they use less. He said those rules help prevent costs from shifting to other customers and that large loads can put downward pressure on rates by contributing to fixed system costs. Dixon also said Ameren is planning for significant new generation, including gas, nuclear, hydro, coal, and renewables, and that data centers are subject to the same load-shedding and emergency restoration rules as other customers. He noted that the protections apply to investor-owned utilities, not co-ops or municipal utilities. John Kaufman of the Consumers Council of Missouri argued the PSC protections are still too weak and warned that data centers could raise rates through construction work in progress, stranded generation costs, and other risks if projects are delayed, shrink, or fail. He urged stronger consumer protections, more upfront financial commitments from data centers, and greater transparency for ratepayers, while also suggesting community benefit agreements and cautioning against over-reliance on utility projections. Several members pushed back on his characterization of Senate Bill 4 and QIP/CWIP provisions, and the hearing ended with the chair thanking the witnesses and adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the president have come to an agreement the president have come to an agreement on<00:18:31.919>
• And I believe he has submitted written testimony. I checked this morning.
• The sign sits just off Exit 12 here in Concord, and Steve Dupri has submitted written testimony.
• Uh in that agreement, the Administrator.
• and all the accessory 1971 agreement and all the accessory federal<01:58:54.400><c> regulations.

Committee: House Public Works and Highways

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 497, a technical correction to last year’s capital budget. Shannon Reid of the Community College System of New Hampshire explained that the bill removes leftover state-agency boilerplate from a repurposed capital appropriation and replaces it with community college language, without changing any dollar amounts. She also described a requested amendment to rename a respiratory therapy renovation appropriation at Nashua Community College as an allied health instructional center, so the space can be used more flexibly for programs such as phlebotomy, radiologic technology, and LNA training. Terry Poff of the General Court then testified on the second part of the bill, which changes legislative space references to support the move of General Court offices from the second floor to the fourth floor of the annex as part of the legislative office building reconfiguration. Members asked whether the community college changes affected funding, and Reid confirmed the amounts do not change and that the bill simply speeds up a correction that otherwise would have been handled later in the lapse process. Poff said the annex space change is part of a permanent transition, though the work cannot proceed until the General Court has legal control of the space. The committee then entered executive session, adopted Amendment 1031H on a 12-0 vote, and voted ought to pass as amended on SB 497 by a 12-0 vote, with several members absent. The bill was placed on the consent calendar. The committee next opened a hearing on Senate Bill 529FN, which would give preference to lumber sourced in the United States on state-funded building projects. Representative Davis, introducing the bill for Senator Roachford, argued that New Hampshire timber is disadvantaged by grading rules that treat U.S. lumber differently from Canadian SPF lumber, even when the wood is from similar species and climates. He said the bill is intended to support New Hampshire’s timber industry and that architects and engineers would still be able to specify stronger materials when needed. Committee members questioned whether the bill should instead refer specifically to New Hampshire lumber, how it would be enforced, and what the cost impact would be. Davis and later witness Mike Olette said the issue is tied to industry grading standards rather than a government code, that the bill is meant to create a preference rather than a mandate, and that price differences are hard to pin down because lumber is a commodity. Olette, who lives near the border, testified that New Hampshire logs are often sent to Canada for milling and then return under a different grade, which he said puts New Hampshire loggers and mills at an economic disadvantage.

Transcript Highlights:

• After the passage of this bill, as written, they would pay $4.
• After the passage of this bill, as written, they would pay $4.
• </c> this bill is written, they would pay $4. this bill is written, they would pay $4.
• </c> would have a reimbursement agreement would have a reimbursement agreement with<01:50:40.320><c>
• </c> agreement and our our access permits. agreement and our our access permits.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• IDWR received a number of oral and written comments, which were considered and largely incorporated in
• The groundwater district's 2024 settlement agreement commits IGWA and its members to conserve 205,000
• Even though we had the settlement agreement in place in 2024, which was adopted as a mitigation plan
• I recognize that there will be no incentive for participation in the 2024 settlement agreement or any
• supported the surface water and groundwater district settlement agreement from 2024.

Summary: The committee first considered RS 33154, introduced by Senator Tammy Nichols, which would update Idaho’s cloud seeding statute with clearer definitions, authorizations, and reporting requirements. Nichols said the proposal was a refinement of a bill from the prior session, did not create or expand a program, and had no fiscal impact, but would improve transparency and public accountability for existing cloud seeding operations. The committee moved to send the RS to print. The Idaho Department of Water Resources then presented zero-based rulemaking for Water District 34 in the Big Lost River Basin (docket 37-0312-2-250). Matt Anders explained that the changes were largely clarifying and reducing unnecessary language, with substantive edits in definitions, river reach descriptions, allocation of natural flow, and timing/administration provisions. He said the rule text was reduced by 484 words and that the committee approved the docket after a brief question about winter stock water use. Director Matt Weaver gave an agency update covering budget holdbacks, the new Water Administration Bureau, groundwater and delivery-call administration on the Eastern Snake Plain, Treasure Valley groundwater conditions, the Bear River Compact, and the proposed merger of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission into IDWR. He described ongoing curtailment and mitigation efforts, new groundwater district work in tributary basins, and concerns about staffing experience and workload. Committee members asked about groundwater district participation, Bear River water rights, and the effects of canal efficiency projects and Bear Lake storage; no votes were taken on the update. Jeff Raybould of the Idaho Water Resource Board reported on revisions to the state water plan, major water project funding, recharge and cloud seeding programs, aging infrastructure grants, and regional sustainability projects. He said the board had submitted state water plan changes tied to the ESPA settlement and a higher recharge target, and discussed projects such as the Anderson Ranch Dam raise, Priest Lake work, and the Twin Falls Canal Company lining project. Members questioned Bear Lake storage and how canal efficiency savings would affect groundwater demand, but no formal action was taken on the board presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It authorizes FDOT to fund certain projects at airports operating under lease or agreement.
• It's very well written.
• That's my understanding as reading the language as written, is that it really puts the department in
• This bill was filed in anticipation of Miami-Dade County and Broward County finalizing agreements to
• Finalizing agreements to operate commuter passenger rail on the Florida East Coast Railway Brightline

Committee: Senate Transportation

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:

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• We do have some good universal agreement on it.
• We do have some good universal agreement on it.
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Keywords: 1183, house