Video & Transcript Research : 'utility fees'
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TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, this bill adds protections for linemen and utility workers in the Penal Code.
- for regional proceedings affecting certain electric utilities and consumers.
- It's only a fee now?
- This amendment gets rid of a fee. How's that sound? I move adoption. Mr.
- Currently, Texas pays the fees when a person is arrested on a warrant.
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation and pledges, received Senate messages, and adopted several procedural motions allowing committees to meet during the session and postponing or scheduling certain committee hearings. Members also observed a memorial recognition for Wood County Deputy Sheriff Melissa Pollard, who died in the line of duty, and adopted a resolution honoring her service. The chamber then adopted House Resolution 897 recognizing May 6, 2025 as Golf Day in Texas and House Resolution 1063 recognizing Dallas Housing Coalition Advocacy Day; additional recognitions highlighted Mental Health Awareness Month and tardive dyskinesia awareness, The Woodlands’ 50th anniversary, Alzheimer’s advocacy, student athlete Gator Young, an intern in Rep. Leo-Wilson’s office, and educator Jessica Lopez.
The House spent much of the day on third-reading consideration of a long calendar of bills. Among the measures passed were HB 24 on zoning protest procedures, HB 3800 creating a health care workforce advisory board, HB 42 on higher education appropriations, HB 129 restricting contracts with foreign adversary companies, HB 677 on county elections administrator political activity, HB 668 on license-to-carry renewal procedures, HB 2128 directing a rural firefighting study, HB 2038 expanding physician licensing options, HB 2316 on election result reporting, HB 3686 on retired peace officer ID cards, HB 2563 creating a prescribed burn manager self-insurance pool, HB 1160 increasing penalties for assaults on utility workers, HB 3883 on major events funding, HB 2788 protecting fraud-detection information, HB 2663 on inactive well plugging extensions, HB 3305 extending a county health provider participation program, HB 3474 on pension reporting, HB 1105 expanding tuition exemptions for certain paramedics, HB 3490 on closed meetings with internal auditors, HB 3597 on child care facility notice thresholds, HB 1295 on health literacy planning, HB 3512 on AI training for government employees, HB 3783 on court-ordered counseling, HB 2017 on intoxication manslaughter penalties, HB 3010 on rural disaster recovery, HB 3112 on cybersecurity-related public information and meetings, HB 4215 on delivery network companies, HB 3223 on construction claims limitation periods, HB 3464 on controlled substances in correctional facilities, HB 3120 on residential child detention facilities, HB 4214 on public information, HB 481 on trade secret sealing, HB 4783 on opioid antagonist program reporting, HB 4063 on unilateral memoranda of contract, HB 2783 on county employee deferred compensation, HB 5085 on seed banks, HB 2510 on assisted living facility operations, HB 3426 on digital driver’s licenses, HB 4361 on emergency notifications at higher education institutions, HB 1169 on oil and gas infrastructure protection, HB 2516 on Medicare supplement eligibility for Texans under 65, HB 3560 on hospital staff background checks, HB 3860 on occupational licenses for inmates, HB 3146 on SOAH hearings, HB 184 on loan repayment for border prosecution attorneys, HB 198 on firefighter cancer screenings, HB 247 on border security infrastructure taxation, HB 367 on excused absences for students with severe illnesses, HB 449 on deepfake sexually explicit images, HB 1778 on human trafficking and related offenses, HB 514 on maternal health workforce outreach, HB 632 on pharmacy regulation, HB 2582 on victim parole information, HB 766 on precinct chair ballot applications, HB 2715 on suspension/removal of officials, HB 2712 on water and sewer utility test years, HB 3069 on transmission projects, HB 3505 on health provider participation districts, HB 1269 on plant disease and pest prevention grants, HB 4224 on access to health care records, HB 5032 on historical documents in the Capitol complex, HB 2240 on void marriages, HB 5180 on diploma designation, HB 3348 on health provider participation programs, HB 4668 on PUC authority to retain assistance, HB 4665 on child care training providers, HB 3395 on beneficiary designation for manufactured homes, HB 3157 on interim electric utility rates, HB 4395 on electronic submission of public securities records, HB 4325 on bribery civil penalties, HB 4386 on annuity replacement transactions, HB 4273 on Medicaid fraud-related unlawful acts, HB 2760 on judicial review of unemployment decisions, HB 2820 on charitable bingo operating capital, HB 1828 on legislative leave for correctional officers, and a series of Senate bills including SB 2349, SB 1268, SB 610, SB 1577, SB 1369, SB 2032, SB 1057, SB 1044, SB 922, SB 1759, SB 1143, SB 1506, SB 1403, SB 2361, SB 870, SB 372, and SB 72. Several bills drew debate or amendments, including HB 24, where a germane point of order was sustained against an amendment, and HB 198, HB 3348, and SB 2361, which were amended before passage.
Most measures passed by wide margins, though some drew notable opposition, including HB 3883, HB 514, HB 1295, HB 184, SB 1143, and others. The House also postponed further consideration of HB 4700 until the end of the day and HB 24 until 1 p.m., and it granted permission for committees to meet during the House session and for the Calendars Committee to meet that morning.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Feb 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- WE INCREASED FEES TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY.
- OUR BUDGET IS APPROXIMATELY $8 MILLION A YEAR UTILITIES.
- IT'S A LOT, EVERY UTILITY IS UNIQUE IN THE BILL IS BROAD BRUSH FROM KEY WEST TO PENSACOLA.
- WE WORK WITH UTILITIES IN THE SUWANNEE RIVER AND ST.
- WE ARE REALLY A PATCHWORK QUILT OF UTILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN AGGRAVATED OVER THE LAST 145 YEARS.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Apr 29th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So our utility audits, risk and compliance division provides an additional independent check on utilities
- So our utility audits risk and compliance division provides an additional independent check on utilities
- spending by the utilities.
- The fee was previously $1.11 in mid-2025.
- fees.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- It might say, you know, infrastructure fees, upgrades to infrastructure fees.
- A lot of utilities are doing validation right now.
- So, um, tell you a little bit about Dallas Water Utilities. We are a municipal-owned utility.
- Utility run by a city in the United States.
- So, uh, especially for the smaller utilities, uh, evaporation ponds can be an option for large utilities
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I raised the same question when I was looking at the amount of the fee.
- The fee has not changed since 1980, number one.
- It will no longer be one of the lower-cost schools in terms of the fee, yes.
- They would see the same increase because it would be a mandatory fee.
- So what I'm trying to get at is how much more in tuition and fees, total tuition and fees, would an out-of-state
Keywords:
special prosecutor, state law, criminal justice, accountability, law enforcement, stormwater management, counties, regulation, environment, water quality
Summary:
The Committee on Higher Education met to hear several bills and first corrected the minutes from its April 1, 2025 meeting to reflect that a committee substitute for HB 271 had been adopted before the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 3326, which would help Texas higher education employees, especially adjunct faculty, qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness by counting classroom hours toward full-time status, requiring institutions to verify employment within 60 days, and requiring annual notice to eligible employees. No witnesses testified against the bill, and it was left pending.
Members then heard HB 2853, authorizing UTEP to phase in a student union fee increase to fund demolition and reconstruction of its aging student union. Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income students. UTEP representatives said most students receive aid, the fee would be phased in over time, and the project was student-approved; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4066, a one-line bill to abolish the Texas Research Incentive Program after the state cleared its backlog of matching obligations, with the author saying the program was no longer needed in light of newer research funding approaches. The bill was left pending.
The committee spent substantial time on HB 125, which would create the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Supporters, including Tarleton leadership, the founding dean, a rural hospital CEO, and a feasibility consultant, argued the school would address severe rural physician shortages by recruiting Texas and rural students, training them in rural settings, and developing new residency slots rather than competing for existing ones. Members asked about affordability, residency placement, and whether the school would draw students from rural Texas; Tarleton said it would seek to keep tuition and debt low, had already raised private donations, and would request $25 million in state support over the biennium. The bill was left pending.
Finally, the committee heard HB 42, which would increase the annual Higher Education Fund appropriation and adjust its allocation methodology. The chair and university witnesses described rising deferred maintenance, inflation, cybersecurity needs, and enrollment growth at HEAF-eligible institutions, with witnesses from Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and UNT saying the additional funding would help address aging facilities and technology needs. After testimony, the committee left HB 42 pending and recessed.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environmental Quality Committee Apr 22nd, 2026
Environmental Quality
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 1350 will help California utilize clean hydrogen to decarbonize the power system.
- To be clear, nothing about SB 1350 mandates or requires its utilization.
- Andrea Abracel with the California Municipal Utilities Association, in support. Good morning.
- Matt Friedman here on behalf of the Utility Reform Network.
- Look, SB 1341 provides CalRecycle with the statutory authority to reduce the processing fees for wine
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 3/23/26
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So with uh via fee assessed on farmers.
- how people utilize the program as well. how people utilize the program as well.
- grantees who weren't able to utilize grantees who weren't able to utilize funding<01:01:33.200><
- >
rotational that would util um set up rotational that would util um set up rotational grazing - program and really trying to uh utilize program and really trying to uh utilize resources<01:28:
Keywords:
eggs, donation, quality assurance, food assistance, charitable programs, agriculture, grain indemnity, financial security, crop insurance, Minnesota agriculture, farm assistance, down payment, state funding, loan modification, rotational grazing, grazing management, livestock, pasture management, soil health, erosion control
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- We see the symptoms all over—complaints about impact fees and other things—but those impact fees, an
- One of Habitat's biggest costs are development fees.
- One of Habitat's biggest costs are development fees.
- Uncertainty is far more expensive than the price tag of unplanned development fees.
- In addition to that, there are financing costs, commitment fees, etc.
Summary:
The committee heard AB 736, a proposed $10 billion Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, with Assembly Member Buffy Wicks and numerous housing, local government, labor, and advocacy groups testifying in strong support. Supporters said the bond would fund multifamily housing, permanent supportive housing, homeownership, preservation, farmworker, tribal, and other programs, and argued that the state needs new capital because prior bond funds are exhausted and many shovel-ready projects are waiting. Habitat for Humanity California opposed the bill unless it was amended to dedicate 10% of bond proceeds to Cal Home for affordable homeownership, and several senators said they supported the bond but wanted Cal Home strengthened. The committee voted do pass to Senate Appropriations, with the measure placed on call for absent members.
The committee also heard SB 1361 by Senator Durazo, which would limit local governments from using SB 79 transit-oriented housing requirements as a reason to stall or condition planned transit projects. Los Angeles Metro, the Building Trades, and several cities and advocacy groups supported the bill, saying it would protect transit investments, jobs, and federal funding from opposition tied to future density around transit stops. Several groups that had initially opposed or been concerned about the bill, including West Hollywood, Streets for All, Greenbelt Alliance, California YIMBY, and the Bay Area Council, withdrew opposition or moved to neutral after amendments. The committee approved the bill as amended to Senate Local Government, with the measure also placed on call.
Senator Grayson presented SB 1003, creating an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local governments and developers fund infrastructure needed for infill housing, and SB 1014, which would require local agencies to provide early, good-faith estimates and itemized lists of required on-site and off-site improvements for housing projects. Both bills were supported by housing advocates, Habitat for Humanity, SPUR, and industry groups, who said the measures would reduce uncertainty, late fees, and project delays. The committee advanced both bills as amended to Senate Appropriations, placing them on call. The committee also took up SB 908, which streamlines energy-code-compliant window replacement and limits aesthetic review, especially for residential replacements; it passed as amended to Appropriations after support from affordable housing and green building groups and no opposition.
Later, Senator Allen presented SB 1092 and SB 1093 on mobile home park preservation and post-disaster protections. SB 1092 would give residents notice and an opportunity to make a competing bid when a park owner intends to sell, with supporters arguing it would help preserve unsubsidized affordable housing and protect displaced residents, while park owner representatives argued it would devalue properties, create litigation risk, and interfere with market transactions. SB 1093 would require more communication, access, and consideration of rebuilding or closure after disasters, and would restore certain resident reimbursement rights; supporters cited the Palisades fire and survey data showing residents lacked information and access, while opponents said the bill imposed onerous timelines, liability issues, and penalties and could force owners into rebuilding or compensation assumptions they disputed. Both bills were discussed at length, but the transcript ends before final recorded votes on them.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee (06/30/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- It being 9:30, I'm going to call to order the Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee meeting
- <00:15:32.160>
of also assess an administrative fee of also assess an administrative fee of - easement across stateowned land utility easement across stateowned land in<00:16:36.959>
the < - <00:16:51.519>
This <00:16:51.680>easement $1,100 administrative fee. - This easement $1,100 administrative fee.
Summary:
The Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee approved the April 14, 2025 minutes and then considered several capital items, mostly Department of Transportation property dispositions and one Department of Business and Economic Affairs lease amendment. BEA requested approval to amend its Granite Center LLC lease to absorb space used by Gopher, explaining that the arrangement would keep both agencies in the same building, allow flexible space allocation, and produce a modest net savings while using federal funds reimbursed through an interagency arrangement. The committee asked about Gopher’s role, the floor layout, and whether federal money was indirectly subsidizing the lease; the item was approved.
DOT items approved included sale of a former maintenance parcel in Raymond, vacant land in Dover, a permanent utility easement in Conway for the Conway Water Precinct, and a direct sale of limited access right-of-way in Seabrook to C&J Seabrook LLC for parking expansion. Members asked about environmental liability on the Raymond parcel, the size and location of the Conway easement, and whether C&J would charge for parking; C&J said the expansion would support a successful facility and that parking revenues help fund improvements such as paving, lighting, and security cameras. The committee also approved a small Salem parcel sale to Brooks Property LLC.
The Department of Environmental Services received approval to transfer 37 acres near a New Ipswich flood control site to the town as part of a long-running settlement involving cemetery encroachment onto state land. DES said the agreement, reached with the town in 2023, reflects prior legislation and includes payment to the state; members asked whether there was any current dam damage, and DES said there was none. In miscellaneous business, the New Hampshire Liquor Commission said the governor had directed cancellation of the planned RFP sale and that the matter would instead proceed as a ground lease through a new RFP process. The committee also noted informational items on Council on Resources and Development minutes and surplus land reviews, set the next meeting for September 29 at 9:30, and adjourned by motion.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Health and Select Committee on Native American Affairs May 12th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- it was possible, because why would we pass a fee bill when we had this huge budget?
- The fee has not been reduced. So it was a proposal. It has been. Oh, it has been reduced. Okay.
- Okay, let's get to the fee question.
- And then that would be where the fee would step in and pay for what is left, to your point, Ms.
- A specialized of Native people utilizing the 988 service in California.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/23/2026 - Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Study Committee
Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Study Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I believe right now if it's under 2,500 pounds it's just a fee of $3.
- And so you take that fee that we reduced it.
- becomes a $10 fee or $11 fee or $5 — whatever that number is.
- Right now we have 115,084 that are primarily off-highway — that's the $3 fee.
- And the fee increase—how do we utilize all that as one group of off-road users as we transition?
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Transportation (3-12-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- or county attorney-operated traffic school to relieve them of the $500 penalty, but not the court fees
- leaving continued issues across utilize leaving continued issues across the<00:15:07.120>
state - other fees that that could be added onto other fees that that could be added onto to<00:16:53.240>
- it, so therefore we had to raise the fee.
- The fee is increased by $23.25. Officer Horton, do you have anything to add? Nothing to add.
Keywords:
Roll Call 00:23 Roll Call
Approval of Minutes 00:57
HB 664 Discussion 01:26
HB 664 Vote 08:25
HB 682 Discussion 10:46
HB 682 Vote 12:12
HB 493 Discussion 13:00
HB 493 Vote 20:20
HJR 5 Discussion 21:14
HJR 5 Vote 25:08
Kavis and Sherriff’s Inspection Discussion 27:40
Admin. Reg Consideration 35:40, 958, all
Summary:
The Senate Transportation Committee met with a quorum, approved prior meeting minutes, and then took up several transportation-related measures. House Bill 664, concerning work zone safety, was amended by the committee to clarify that a peace officer may issue a citation based on images from an automated speed enforcement device. Representative John Blanton said the bill was prompted by the 2019 death of Jared Lee Helton in a work zone and is intended to slow drivers, protect workers, and improve safety. The bill would allow automated devices to transmit speed and rear license plate images to an officer, require active worker presence and warning signage with flashing lights, keep the $500 fine, and direct fines to the work zone safety fund. After questions about whether citations would be mailed and whether a worker must be present, the committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 664 favorably with expressions of opinion that it should pass.
House Bill 682, sponsored by Representative Ken Upchurch, was also amended by a committee substitute and reported favorably. The bill gives cable operators and broadband providers the same reimbursement treatment as other public utilities when their facilities must be relocated for construction projects. House Bill 493, sponsored by Representative Steve Pollock, was taken up next and, after a committee substitute was adopted, was reported favorably. Pollock described the bill as a transparency measure for towing and storage, creating a certification process through the Transportation Cabinet, requiring public rate sheets, and setting rates to be reasonable and customary in Kentucky. The substitute removed an initial $1,500 cap, extended notice timing to up to five days in some cases, and clarified fees related to investigations and fatalities. Senators asked about regional differences in towing rates, and Pollock said the cabinet would consider different situations and that posted rates would govern.
House Joint Resolution 5, designating honorary road and bridge names, was amended by both a committee substitute and committee amendment and then reported favorably. Representative Josh Branscum said the resolution honors various Kentuckians and is especially in memory of Russell County Deputy Joshua Fipps, who was killed in the line of duty in September 2024. The committee approved the resolution and a title amendment. Later in the meeting, Senator Armstrong asked to be recorded as voting aye on HB 664, HB 682, and HB 493. The committee also received an update from Transportation Cabinet IT Director Heather Stout on the CAVIS system, including improved performance, upcoming integration with KY ELT, centralized lien management, online boat renewals, permanent fleet plates, rolling replating changes, temporary tag printing, insurance modernization, and an electronic sheriff’s inspection system expected to reduce fraud and streamline transfers. No vote was taken on the CAVIS update, and the committee also began consideration of a referred administrative regulation on hazardous materials endorsement requirements.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- , it requires marketplace facilitators to remit this fee to the Department of Tax and Fee Administration
- This allows the department to sustain existing enforcement activities without imposing fee increases
- People are not utilizing? This program? Is that the reason why?
- Provisions as well as apprenticeship utilization and enforcement.
- to maximize utilization of Sunbucks to prevent child hunger.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Hb 456, to rectify the situation by clarifying when and how no damages for delay causes may be utilized
- It requires the local jurisdiction to clarify what the administrative fees and collected supports.
- It clarifies that permits fee permit fees must be limited to the actual reasonable cost and must be proportional
- We do disk on our base fee.
- You pay a transaction fee to the operator, new purchase, bitcoin.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-05-02 (11:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- utilizing them to their full capacity.
- If they decide not to utilize them, then they have to pay for it themselves.
- If they decide not to utilize them, then they have to pay for it themselves.
- that facility up to $600 per student for utilizing that facility.
- Charge any fees. Representative Andrade: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum established, and several recognitions, including a legislative intern, a guest in the gallery, and Representative Bruce Antone’s upcoming induction into the Tuskegee Athletic Hall of Fame. The Speaker also gave brief remarks about the end of session and the freshman class. The chamber then took up a series of Senate-returned messages and concurred or insisted on several amendments while moving bills toward final passage.
The House unanimously approved CS/CS/HB 1299 on Department of Health matters, CS/HB 1549 on financial institutions after adopting a House amendment to remove the IOTA-related provision, and CS/CS/SB 768 on foreign ties and business interests after a House concurrence motion. It also insisted on its amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 184 on housing. CS/CS/HB 875 on educator preparation was amended to restore House provisions on teacher-prep courses, the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence at Miami-Dade College, and related testing and mentor-qualification changes; it passed 91-22 after debate over teacher certification, testing, and “identity politics” language. HB 1101 on out-of-network providers was amended to keep the House’s original notice and referral framework with a good-cause exemption; it passed 87-27 despite objections that it placed too much responsibility on doctors.
After recess, the House took up CS/CS/SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response. Members described changes including removal of some homestead-assessment and debris-removal provisions, a study requirement for a post-hurricane county restriction concept, and a Florida Keys evacuation-time change paired with a 10-year cap of 900 permit allocations; the bill passed 116-0. The House also refused to concur in a Senate amendment to HB 1609 on waste incineration and requested the Senate recede. Later, the House returned to HB 1101 and insisted on its amendment after the Senate refused to concur.
The longest debate came on CS/CS/HB 1115 on education, where the House amendment replaced the Senate version with the substance of HB 1267, including Schools of Hope, higher education governance, and course transparency. Members questioned provisions expanding Schools of Hope co-location and sponsorship authority beyond traditional opportunity zones, the role of the Department of Education versus school districts, transportation and facility-cost issues, and performance-based agreements. Supporters said the changes would expand options for students and use vacant or underutilized facilities; opponents argued the language was added late, lacked transportation funding, and could allow charter operators to enter high-performing schools. The bill remained under debate at the end of the transcript, with no final vote shown.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/10/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- A modest $10 fee product-based solution.
- That fee box spring sold in Minnesota.
- That provision was producer fee.
- government-mandated fee. government-mandated fee.
- In fact, under SF 1980, all consumers would be paying a fee, but it wouldn't be a statewide fee, and
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee Jun 29th, 2026
Business, Professions and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- And to me, that's, you know, I'm paying a fee, I don't get the service, I get my money back.
- Once it's offline, their likeness and so forth is still being utilized; do they still get compensated
- Like, and so forth is still being utilized. Do they still get compensated for that?
- In addition to education and examination requirements, many licensees must pay recurring renewal fees
- Martin Vindiola, on behalf of the Coalition of California Utility Employees and IBEW Local 1245.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Budgets has this been utilized, do you know? Mr.
- Chair, it sounds like we're increasing registration or these fees.
- Now we're adding an extra fee for just electric and plug-in vehicles on top of those fees, right?
- The 25% increase on registration fees will materialize entirely to the state road fund.
- We don't think that this is a fair fee.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Fish and Game and Marine Resources (01/28/2026)
Fish and Game and Marine Resources
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, next measure is SB 500 SD2 HD1, relating to electric utilities. this room later today. Okay.
- On behalf of the Senate, utilities.
- Next bill is Senate Bill 1500, relating to electric utilities.
- Next bill is Senate Bill 1500, relating to electric utilities.
- We're convening on Senate Bill 1500, relating to electric utilities.
Summary:
The committee considered several conference measures on April 25, 2025, mostly waiting on FIN or Ways and Means releases before taking action. SB 25 on eviction mediation was agreed to and passed with amendments, with members voting aye except for one no vote recorded from Representative Pirk and several excused members. SB 1367 on installment loans was also taken up later in the meeting; a revised conference draft was noted to include a five-year timeframe, a $1 convenience fee, and a corrected effective date, and it passed unanimously among those voting.
Other measures were repeatedly rolled to later times in Room 224 or 225 because releases were still pending, including SB 1044 on property insurance stabilization, SB 1220 on a renewable gas tariff, SB 500 on electric utilities, HB 1370 on liquor tax/draft beer definitions, HB 939 on alcohol/liquor tax changes, HB 1052 on the universal service program, and SB 1500 on electric utilities. When SB 1220 and SB 500 were eventually heard, both were described as creating or adjusting utility-related processes and both passed with amendments. HB 1370 also passed with amendments after the committee noted it would redefine draft beer for liquor tax purposes.
SB 1044 drew the most detailed discussion: the conferees described major funding provisions, including a $30 million reimbursable general obligation bond appropriation for the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, a $20 million reimbursable GO bond appropriation to the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority for a condominium loan program, and a $5 million appropriation for GAP reserves, along with 36-month assessment periods and a temporary recording fee up to $44. The bill passed with amendments. HB 1052 on the universal service program was described as allowing the Public Utilities Commission to use program funds to provide free telecommunications access for individuals with print disabilities, with a $150,000 cap, and it also passed with a conference draft.