Video & Transcript Research : 'border wall'

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CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Jan 17th, 2025

California Assembly Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Canas, who sadly passed away on December 16, 2024, in a helicopter crash as he was en route to a border
  • Customs and Border Protection Agency, where he served for 16 years protecting the U.S. homeland and serving
  • on the San Diego border.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Judiciary (04/15/2025)

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • getting it, a lot of the disagreements, whether they're in my side of the body, or your side of the wall
  • my side of the body, or my side<01:48:01.440> of<01:48:01.520> the<01:48:01.600> wall
  • your<01:48:02.000> side<01:48:02.159> of<01:48:02.239> the<01:48:02.320> wall
  • , side of the wall, your side of the wall, side of the wall, your side of the wall, are<01:48:02.719
  • have legalized it, and it's something where, whether we like it or not, people are coming over the border
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Culture, Recreation & Tourism May 12th, 2026

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • And at that hearing, you know, we talked about, I believe it was the larva found just south of the border
  • Texas Farm Bureau](member_123), as a producer in West Texas, we're about an hour north of the Mexico border
  • We're about an hour north of the Mexico border, and we're out west by Alpine, not where it's at currently
  • I just meant specifically border enforcement.
  • Yes, we're no longer staffing any border enforcement at this point. Members, any other questions?
Keywords: 1184, house, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Finance Jun 24th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Due to multiple jurisdictional, uh, we, we are bordered by Forest Service, we're bordered by BLM, we're
  • bordered by state forestry, so it creates a pretty Unique situation for the tribe.
  • Uh, I go up all the way to the border, uh, through Chama.
  • Just one example, ah, in Santa Teresa area, and there is a company, um, Border um.
  • Border lax digital. They want to build a digital campus.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • It's difficult for Kentucky providers to compete with seven bordering states paying significantly higher
  • It's difficult for Kentucky providers to compete with seven bordering states paying significantly higher
  • and neither of those states border and neither of those states border Kentucky.<01:32:18.639>
  • <01:32:22.560> states<01:32:23.280> paying<01:32:23.760> significantly bordering
  • states paying significantly bordering states paying significantly higher<01:32:24.719> rates<
Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on July 30, 2025, approved the June 25 minutes, and received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislatures on Medicaid provisions in H.R. 1. The presentation outlined more than 20 Medicaid-related provisions, emphasizing that the largest federal savings come from work/community engagement requirements, changes to provider taxes, limits on state-directed payments, more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion populations, and related eligibility/enrollment changes. She said the fiscal effects are backloaded, with most reductions occurring in the later years of the 10-year window, and noted potential significant impacts on hospital payments and state financing. She also described new funding opportunities, including a $50 billion rural health transformation fund and a new home and community-based services waiver with associated grants. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on Kentucky’s pending community engagement 1115 waiver and how it would interact with the new federal requirements. Board members asked whether the waiver had been approved, what the cabinet’s contingency plan would be if CMS does not approve it, and what the timeline is for compliance. Cabinet representatives said the waiver has not yet been approved by CMS, remains under public comment, and that the state will wait for CMS guidance before moving forward; if needed, the state would amend the waiver or submit a new one. They said the work requirement must be in place by January 1, 2027, with a possible extension to 2028. Castanza also explained that expansion adults with incomes between 100% and 138% of the federal poverty level would face new cost-sharing requirements beginning October 1, 2028, and that eligibility redeterminations would move from annual to every six months starting January 1, 2027. She then walked through provider tax changes, including a moratorium on new provider taxes beginning October 1, 2026, and a phased reduction in the hold-harmless threshold for existing taxes beginning January 1, 2028, with exemptions for nursing facilities and ICF/IID providers. Board members questioned the timing and likely impact on Kentucky, and Castanza responded that the effect would depend on each tax’s current rate and would phase in over time.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 3/26/25

Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • And fortunately, now our borders are getting a little bit more secure.
  • They're at 96% secure at the southern border, but 90% of illegal fentanyl that's been caught at the borders
  • So, I think it's just and I'll borders.
  • president today who secured the border president today who secured the border where<01:03:18.240
  • that stops the flow of secure border that stops the flow of fentanyl,<01:03:30.160> which<01:
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Taxes - 02/26/25

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so in this example, you can see that the qualified recipient who is on the border, or whose border
  • qualified recipient who is on the border qualified recipient who is on the border of<00:50:33.319
  • > or<00:50:33.640> whose<00:50:33.880> border<00:50:34.440> includes<00:50
  • :35.040> both<00:50:35.280> County of or whose border includes both County of or whose
  • border includes both County a<00:50:35.760> and<00:50:35.920> County<00:50:36.240> B
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Education Finance - 04/15/26

Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • <01:07:53.760> You concrete walls. There's no padding. You concrete walls.
  • You know, running against the wall, hitting his head against the wall.
  • He would try and rip the drywall wall.
  • , You know, running against the wall, You know, running against the wall, hitting<01:16:20.640>
  • And so I thank you for bringing this up. against the wall wouldn't hurt him and against the wall wouldn't
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (01/14/2026)

Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • We talked about maybe wallpapering our kids' walls with them, but we consistently got that information
  • We talked about maybe wallpapering our kids' walls with them, but we consistently got that information
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am

Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Transcript Highlights:
  • mobility issue, and I think that the compact, when I look at our state, 25% of our cities and towns border
  • I don't border anybody. But would I open a salon in Swansea or Methuen? No, I probably wouldn't.
  • compact to me makes total sense to any operator, any small business person who's going to operate on a border
  • there is not an interstate compact license for the New England states for any of the states that border
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on late-filed bills and home rule petitions, with both in-person and remote testimony. Committee chairs reviewed logistics for public testimony and then heard a series of bill presentations on topics including nitrous oxide sales, liquor license extensions and alcohol license density, cosmetology licensure compacts, electronic textbooks, HVAC supervisor licensing, and automotive warranty reimbursement rates. Several members asked questions about the public health, consumer protection, economic mobility, and regulatory impacts of the proposals. Representative John Barrett testified in support of H. 4907, which would regulate the sale of nitrous oxide, arguing it is a public health measure aimed at reducing recreational misuse by young people while preserving legitimate culinary, medical, dental, and industrial uses. Southbridge officials Peg Dean and David Adams supported a local liquor license extension bill, saying delayed revitalization and staffing disruptions from the pandemic-era “Great Resignation” had slowed development and postponed demand for the licenses. MassPack supported H. 4597 to limit new alcohol retail licenses near existing stores after 2026, citing oversaturation and public health concerns, while the committee also heard testimony on a cosmetology compact bill from industry and state-government representatives who said it would improve workforce mobility, especially for military spouses, though members questioned its fee structure and interaction with existing reciprocity rules. Representative Mindy Domb testified for H. 559, which would create a commission to study electronic textbooks and automatic textbook billing, arguing that digital course materials can limit consumer choice, raise costs, and reduce students’ ability to share or resell materials. Student testimony echoed those concerns. The committee also heard strong support for H. 4719, a bill to create HVAC construction supervisor licensing, from industry witnesses who said it would improve consumer protection, accountability, and clean-energy implementation; and opposition testimony on H. 4019, which would change how auto dealers are reimbursed for warranty work, with dealers supporting a fix to manufacturer reimbursement practices and manufacturers warning the bill would raise costs and allow overpayment. At the end of the hearing, the chairs read the agenda items and the committee adjourned by unanimous voice vote.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • many other places in town still use them, including the apartment where I live, which is actually bordered
  • Some towns and some properties, especially commercial properties, can sometimes border different towns
  • It's like I live very close to the Burlington border and to the Bedford border.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a hearing on several late-file bills and home rule petitions, with testimony focused mainly on coastal access and wildlife management, rodenticide restrictions, and a local land-use request. Rep. Scarsdale testified for H.5113, which would name an accessible trail in Groton’s J. Harry Rich State Forest the Marion Stoddard River Walk in honor of the activist who helped restore the Nashua River. Groton Trails Committee chair Paul Fung also supported the bill, describing the trail, educational signs, and DCR’s involvement. Rep. Sweezey presented a package of Duxbury Beach bills—H.5141, H.5140, and H.5139—intended to align state shorebird protections more closely with federal standards, create parity in beach management tools, and require periodic review of outdated recreational-use guidelines; he said the bills were developed with local and agency input and aimed to balance conservation with beach access. A large portion of the hearing concerned local petitions to restrict second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides and other pesticides. Supporters from Mass Audubon, Sierra Club, Animal Defenders International, wildlife rehabilitation groups, and residents from towns including Grafton, Billerica, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Eastham, and Truro argued that these poisons harm raptors and other non-target wildlife through secondary poisoning, persist in the environment, and are increasingly ineffective. Several speakers said local town meetings had approved the restrictions and urged favorable reports on the petitions. Opponents, including a representative of the New England Pest Management Association, argued that regulation should remain at the state level under MDAR to avoid a patchwork of local rules and noted that the agency was already reviewing rodenticide regulations. Committee members asked questions about agency consultation, the relationship between state and federal bird listings, and how local beach rules would work in practice. The committee also heard testimony on H.4700 and related local pesticide-reduction petitions for Eastham and Truro, with witnesses describing groundwater concerns, pesticide drift, and wildlife impacts. Finally, the committee took testimony on S.2961, a Dighton bill authorizing the use of a small portion of conservation land for public way purposes to replace the Pleasant Street Bridge and add pedestrian and bicycle accommodations; the witness said the affected area was limited and necessary for safety improvements. The hearing ended after testimony concluded, with the chair turning the gavel over and the committee adjourning.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

April 10, 2025 - 09:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • Wall Street and the Federal Reserve have operated with little accountability, printing money at will,
  • These are coming from Wall Street's words, not mine.
  • And we've watched this turn into a massive investment for every single... ...from Wall Street's words
  • clear message: the future of sound money doesn't belong to the few, it belongs to everyone, not just Wall
  • The future of sound money doesn't belong to the few; it belongs to everyone, not just Wall Street.
Summary: The Insurance and Banking Committee met with a quorum and heard three bills. HB 487 would authorize the CFO and State Board of Administration to invest up to 10% of certain state funds in Bitcoin, require specified custody methods, allow Bitcoin lending under rule, and create a process for accepting taxes and fees in Bitcoin. The sponsor and several proponents argued it would diversify state investments, hedge inflation, and position Florida as a leader in digital assets. Members raised concerns about volatility, security, valuation, and whether Bitcoin was being singled out over other cryptocurrencies, but the bill was reported favorably after debate and a roll call vote. The committee then considered HB 7011, an Open Government Sunset Review measure for records of insolvent insurers. The bill would continue some exemptions but make additional records public, including underwriting files, risk-solvency assessments, corporate governance annual disclosures, and the names, benefits, and compensation of insurance executive officers. There was no public testimony, and members discussed privacy and safety concerns, but the bill passed and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 1433 on hurricane mitigation grants and insurer regulation. The bill would tighten restrictions on former executives of failed insurers, raise capital requirements for new insurers, and require mitigation credits when homeowners receive Safe Florida Home funds. An amendment was adopted to require a licensed person to make final claim-denial decisions when AI or automation is used and to prioritize filings that lower rates. Consumer advocates supported the transparency and consumer protections, while industry representatives urged caution on the AI provisions. After debate, the amended bill was reported favorably. The meeting ended with closing remarks from the ranking member, vice chair, and chair reflecting on the committee’s work and likely final meeting of the term.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Conference Committee on SF3432 5/15/26

Transcript Highlights:
  • Walls will be doing that. Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. John Walls, House Fiscal Staff.
  • Walls again or is it Mr. Turner? Okay, go ahead, Mr. Walls.
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The Conference Committee on Senate File 3432 met on May 15, 2026, and first approved a motion to continue meeting past midnight. Members then reviewed the public safety and judiciary budget agreement, including funding for non-fatal shooting clearance grants, a domestic violence task force, services for released adults and juveniles, trafficking prevention for youth, corrections bed impacts from assault and theft-related provisions, increased Philando Castile training reimbursements, and transfers into the Victims of Crime Account. The committee also noted that some items were removed because they had already passed as stand-alone bills, including impersonation of a peace officer and the grooming penalty, and that the first responder uniform ID task force would not be funded in this bill. Policy provisions discussed for the public safety side included a domestic violence response task force, trafficking and sexual exploitation prevention grants, juvenile re-entry services, the Minnesota clearance grant program, the Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund, confidentiality for victim statements to the Clemency Review Commission, the fourth-degree assault amendment for hospital or clinic security guards, the enhanced penalty for theft from a vulnerable adult, child sexual abuse material venue and evidence provisions, and revised language on prediction markets and the Attorney General’s administrative subpoena authority. The chair also said the committee had to make late fixes to some stakeholder-requested changes and expressed frustration about the timing. The committee then reviewed the safety and security budget agreement, which included funding for judicial security, a judicial security unit, security threat response, safe and secure courthouse grants, appeals court and district court security, state patrol deficiency funding, capital security screening and enhancements, legislative protective services, BCA threat assessment and investigation, a security services task force, legislative security reimbursements, and security for constitutional officers. The agreement also included technical court reallocation adjustments and DNR carry-forward authority for certain non-budgeted public safety costs incurred in 2026. After no public testimony was offered, the committee adopted both the public safety budget agreement and the safety and security budget agreement, directed non-partisan staff to prepare the conference committee report with technical and conforming changes, and then adjourned.
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE Apr 23rd, 2026

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill supports the Bella Vista Veterans Wall of Honor.
  • The wall is the largest veterans memorial in our four-state area. We have both...
  • The wall is the largest veterans memorial in our four-state area.
  • area, we foresee that there will be increased demand for space to add more veterans' names to the walls
Keywords: 1204, all
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

EDT-HRE, HRE Public Hearings 03-13-2025

Economic Development and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • "Part of the challenge with the university, with the border regions monitoring too, is we don't know.
  • "Part of the challenge with the university, with the border regions monitoring too, is we don't know.
  • "Part of the challenge with the university, with the border regions monitoring too, is we don't know.
  • "Part of the challenge with the university, with the border regions monitoring too, is we don't know.
  • with the university with the Border with the university with the Border regions<01:19:56.560>
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism and Higher Education heard HB 1494, relating to sports facilities. Testimony was largely in opposition to the bill as drafted from the Stadium Authority, the Department of Accounting and General Services, and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, with several other written comments also opposing; each asked that if the measure advances, Senate language from related stadium bills be incorporated instead. The University of Hawaiʻi testified in support of the Nāʻid project and said it wants the project delivered at Halawa so the university can have a football facility, though members pressed the university on whether it was effectively supporting both the project and the bill’s current approach. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on the stadium project’s financing, schedule, and oversight. DAGS and Public Works discussed a consultant contract that had grown to about $28 million and an audit that recovered $441,000 after improper travel and expense reimbursements, including first-class airfare and other personal expenses; officials said the audit exposed weak internal controls and led to revised reimbursement policies. Members questioned whether the problems would have been found without media reporting and whether stronger oversight should have been in place earlier. The committee also discussed the current Ching Field setup for UH football, with witnesses describing it as less than ideal and temporary until the new stadium is built. Stadium Authority representatives said the current preferred offeror is Aloha Halawa Development Partners, negotiations have recently accelerated, and the goal remains a contract this summer and a fall 2028 opening. They said the state is committed to $350 million in general obligation bonds, with the overall project expected to cost more, and that the developer is exploring other financing sources such as TIF or CFD while the state and city work to expedite permits and demolition. No vote or final action on the bill was taken in the portion provided.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:48:00.800> of<00:48:00.960> regions thear yeah so your border of regions thear
  • yeah so your border of regions could<00:48:01.599> change<00:48:01.839> a<00:48:02.200>
  • creation or the authority by border creation or the authority by border regions<00:53:52.720>
  • Okay, we are moving on to C 1624, relating to the University of Hawaii border regions to expend funds
  • of regions when recognized by the border of regions when you<01:28:05.440> come<01:28:05.600>
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The hearing covered Senate Bill 426, which would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the City and County of Honolulu, the Department of Human Services, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education, the Attorney General’s office, the Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, the University of Hawaiʻi’s early childhood educator project, and a Zoom testifier who described the importance of investing in high-quality early childhood education. Committee discussion focused on the program’s estimated cost, with figures of about $14.5 million in 2025-26 and $15 million in 2026-27, and on whether the program would require ongoing base-budget funding. The committee recommended technical, non-substantive amendments, including a statewide-concern amendment and a deferred effective date, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1622, which would appropriate funds to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute within the University of Hawaiʻi to support statewide artificial intelligence initiatives. University representatives described the proposal as the product of campus-wide input and outlined five pillars: governance and policy, outreach and engagement, research and development, workforce development, and AI tools for key sectors such as health care, creative industries, manufacturing, data science, astronomy, and climate change. Members questioned staffing distribution, tuition, enrollment timing, housing, campus placement, and whether positions would be permanent or temporary; the university said it planned about 10 positions across campuses, would start with internal resources, and would house the effort under the Vice President for Research and Innovation initially. The committees recommended an SD1 with the appropriation amounts blanked out, a July 31, 2050 effective date, and committee-report language on housing and West Oʻahu, and the higher education and labor/technology committees adopted the amended recommendation. Finally, the Higher Education Committee took up Senate Bill 1488, a housekeeping measure to consolidate existing University of Hawaiʻi conference center statutes into a single revolving fund structure, and Senate Bill 636, which would fund retention and internship coordinator positions and broader enrollment management efforts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. SB 1488 drew university support and no opposition. SB 636 prompted substantial questioning about Hilo’s declining enrollment, current retention rate of 72.8 percent, and the scope of the request, which includes not only two named positions but also about $432,000 for enrollment management initiatives such as data analysis, IT support, and other student services. Hilo said it is targeting 3 to 5 percent annual enrollment growth and that the positions would support recruitment, retention, internships, and data-driven enrollment strategy. The committee pressed for a clearer broader plan, but the discussion in the transcript ended before a final vote on SB 636 was shown.
MA
Transcript Highlights:
  • officers stepping up, and no one in the Commonwealth is aware of what our officers deal with behind the walls
  • Within our ranks, we have almost 700 veterans continuing to serve behind the walls.
  • Nobody cared what happened behind the fortress of the fences or the walls. They just didn't care.
  • Twenty-four hours a day and 365 days a year, our staff uphold their duty behind the walls and in our
  • Unlike most, Staff uphold their duty behind the walls and in our communities.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The special commission on consolidation and cooperation among public safety agencies held a hearing focused on union and correctional staff testimony. Chair Dan Hunt and Senator Brownsberger opened by noting the commission’s extensive site visits and prior testimony, and they recognized Correctional Officers Week. Union representatives from KOUF, NCEU, AFSCME, and local county correctional unions described the daily realities of correctional work, emphasizing staff safety, staffing shortages, retention problems, mental health impacts, and the need to preserve local sheriff’s offices and collective bargaining agreements. Testimony centered on several recurring concerns: violence inside facilities, the spread of synthetic drugs such as K2, inmate suicides and suicide attempts, and the strain these issues place on officers, EMS, and local resources. Speakers also raised concerns about gender-identity housing policies, arguing they can create safety and workplace issues for staff, and urged more support for officer wellness, debriefing, and programs like OnSide Academy. Several witnesses argued that county facilities should remain locally controlled and that consolidation with the Department of Correction would weaken programming, staffing, and community-based reentry work. One witness described the Norwegian correctional model as a possible source of ideas for more rehabilitative approaches. Commission members responded with support for correctional staff and asked questions about K2 detection, paperless systems, EMS transports, and possible metrics to quantify incidents and facility needs. Members also discussed the importance of individualized assessments of each facility rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The commission voted to seek an extension of its reporting deadline from September 30 to November 30, and agreed to continue site visits, including the upcoming Barnstable visit and a June 15 hearing. The meeting adjourned after the motion passed.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House/Senate Republican Media Availability 4/23/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • /c><00:10:39.519> of<00:10:40.240> um<00:10:41.279> Governor<00:10:41.680> Walls
  • what do you make of um Governor Walls what do you make of um Governor Walls when<00:10:42.240>
  • Is that something you see as walls<00:15:07.120> kind<00:15:07.279> of<00:15:07.360>
  • just<00:15:07.839> inventing walls kind of just inventing walls kind of just inventing exaggerating
Keywords: 1183, house
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAL Public Hearing - Thu Feb 19, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Water & Land

Transcript Highlights:
  • That's has a seaw wall<01:13:48.239> non-conforming, wall non-conforming, wall non-conforming,
  • remove the wall, which the illegal wall remove the wall, which the illegal wall um<01:15:11.199>
  • We're seeing to look for seaw walls.
  • So if you have a seaw wall be included.
  • , the circumstances around a a wall, the circumstances around a a wall, whether<01:19:53.920>
Summary: The committee on Water and Land met on February 19, 2026, and the chair opened by emphasizing strict time limits and that all bills would be deferred if the agenda was not completed before the noon session. The first major measure discussed was HB 1739 HD1, which would preempt county land-use authority in transit-oriented development areas. The Department of Planning supported the bill, saying it could promote state-funded TOD and infrastructure, while the city and county’s position was raised in questioning. Unite Here Local 5 opposed the bill, arguing it would strip counties of self-determination, disrupt state-county policy collaboration, and remove a check on unrestrained development. Committee members pressed the supporters on whether the bill was really about higher density and whether it would override local zoning and sustainability concerns. The committee then heard testimony on HB 1741 HD1, a housing bill described by supporters as reducing inclusionary housing mandates and increasing supply. Grassroots Institute of Hawaii argued affordability mandates reduce overall housing production and raise market-rate prices, while a Zoom testifier said the bill would improve housing stability, health, and community outcomes for working families, kupuna, and young residents. Members asked about the bill’s needs assessment and who would conduct it, with a witness saying the counties would likely contract it out but that the bill did not clearly specify the reviewer. HB 2668 HD1, dealing with water heating systems, drew testimony from the Hawaii State Energy Office and industry representatives. Supporters generally backed adding heat pumps to the law, but one solar-water-heater industry witness asked for amendments to remove or extend the current 15-year statutory life limit for solar water heaters and to update outdated standards and variance rules. A Kauaʻi Climate Action Coalition witness opposed the existing solar-only structure, arguing heat pump water heaters are cheaper, align with climate goals, and should be allowed without a variance. The Energy Office said the current law already allows variances in some cases, suggested adding high-efficiency heat pump water heaters to the exemption, and said the 15-year figure may be too short, with 18 years mentioned as a possible alternative. The committee also briefly moved through several other bills, including HB 2606 HD1 on off-site construction and HB 2362 HD1 on housing, with no notable testimony or action recorded in the excerpt.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Revised Apr 22nd, 2026 at 03:30 pm

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • about someone who lives across the Line that isn't working in Oklahoma but they live right on the border
  • He's wanting this, and this is a business owner in a border town in rural Oklahoma.
  • basically drying up, this brings people in to our state, spending money in the small towns along these border