Transcript Highlights:

• Most oil and gas investment dollars today are going to horizontal shale markets.
• Operators have made several attempts at horizontals in Louisiana for oil, but no one has been able to
• The reason for that was there were advancements in technology and horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing
• So we saw the advent of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

Summary: The House Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum and first took up several property-transfer bills. House Bill 110, authorizing transfer of certain state property in St. Tammany Parish for a pocket park in Mandeville, was reported favorable without objection. House Bill 634, transferring state property in St. Martin Parish to Brownell Land Company LLC, was also reported favorable. House Bill 677, allowing the Tensaw Parish School Board greater flexibility to exchange school land for property of equal or greater value with certified appraisal requirements, was reported favorable after questions about the location and purpose of the exchange. House Bill 735, a cleanup bill transferring property from DOTD to LSU Health Shreveport to support expansion and parking near Mall St. Vincent, was likewise reported favorable. The committee then held an informational hearing on the effects of the Iran conflict on Louisiana’s energy sector. Secretary Dustin Davidson said the conflict has driven oil prices sharply higher, with consumers bearing the cost through higher gasoline and especially diesel prices, while producers and refiners may see short-term gains. He warned that diesel increases can signal broader economic slowdown and discussed global shipping disruptions, the Strait of Hormuz, and Saudi Arabia’s response. Members asked about Louisiana’s ability to benefit from higher prices, the timing of increased drilling, and the role of carbon capture and infrastructure investment. Davidson said higher prices could support more drilling and severance tax revenue if sustained long enough. Industry witnesses Tommy Fochay of LOGA, David Cresson of the Louisiana Chemical Association, Mike Moncla of LOGA, and LSU energy economists Greg Upton and Tyler Gray emphasized Louisiana’s role as a major LNG exporter, refiner, and petrochemical hub. They said geopolitical shocks create volatility, but Louisiana’s abundant natural gas, infrastructure, and export capacity position the state to help meet global demand. They urged stable policy, competitive taxes, pipeline and workforce investment, and caution on regulations. Upton and Gray presented data showing oil price spikes are likely temporary, futures markets expect prices to ease over time, rig counts respond with a lag, and Louisiana natural gas prices have remained relatively insulated so far. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most oil and gas investment dollars today are going to horizontal shale markets.
• Operators have made several attempts at horizontals in Louisiana for oil, but no one has been able to
• The reason for that was there were advancements in technology and horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing
• So we saw the advent of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, is when, now that we have the horizontal drilling, that's completely different than some of the
• will still be in the vertical part of the wellbore, with the idea that you want to be able to, the horizontal
• And I commend you because I do think with that horizontal... Thank you.
• And I commend you because I do think with that horizontal drilling now, we have a lot of rigs.

Bills: HB2, SB152

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Summary: The committee heard a series of capital, bond, environmental, economic development, juvenile justice, and health care bills. Senate Bill 240, the capital outlay package, was presented as a $1.3 billion statewide appropriation, including discretionary capital projects and agency projects; after questions about CYFD projects and House/Senate capital allocations, the committee voted do pass on the committee substitute. House Bill 248, the general obligation bond package totaling about $392.5 million for senior centers, libraries, higher education, and tribal projects, also received a do pass after questions about project vetting, bond timing, and school bus funding. House Bill 80, which increases the share of oil and gas conservation tax revenue going to the Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund to speed orphan well plugging and site cleanup, drew strong support from business, environmental, and industry groups; members discussed funding balances, procurement bottlenecks, and the distinction between abandoned and orphan wells before voting do pass. House Bill 184, making technical fixes to the Conservation Legacy Permanent Fund and related distribution rules, passed with little debate. The committee also heard Senate Bill 172, which expands the TRIGGER program allowing companies to access national laboratory expertise; supporters from the labs, the governor’s office, universities, and business groups cited job creation, follow-on investment, and commercialization gains, while one senator raised concerns about the long extension of the program. The bill passed do pass. House Bill 95, creating a judge for the First and Second Judicial Districts, was described as matching a previously heard Senate bill and passed do pass. Senate Bill 165, a major juvenile justice bill, generated the most extensive debate: the sponsor said it updates the juvenile code, raises the age for certain serious offenses, extends services for youth sentenced as adults, and expands community corrections; law enforcement supported it, while the Public Defender, youth advocates, the ACLU, and a Bernalillo County commissioner opposed it, arguing it expands adult sentencing and relies too heavily on incarceration. Despite those objections, the committee voted do pass. Finally, House Bill 4, which increases the Health Care Affordability Fund distribution to support premium assistance and related coverage programs, was amended so that a portion of the premium surtax would go to the Behavioral Health Program Fund and any unexpended balance would revert to the affordability fund. Supporters from BeWell, health advocacy groups, the insurance office, and homeless services said the bill would protect coverage gains and help offset federal changes; members asked about the amendment’s effect on the behavioral health fund and the bill’s flexibility if revenues decline. The amendment was adopted, and discussion on the bill continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• model of growth to consolidate markets.
• But in growth to consolidate markets.
• And I would say that consolidation is not necessarily bad.
• and I would say that consolidated and I would say that consolidation consolidation consolidation is<
• Health care consolidation leads to price increases up to 65% in one study.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I find that having a horizontal level of decision-making is really helpful.
• And I think that that horizontal structure really allows for a deeper communication and understanding
• ><00:36:59.320><c> that</c><00:36:59.720><c> having</c><00:37:00.160><c> a</c><00:37:00.440><c> horizontal
• </c> And I find that having a horizontal And I find that having a horizontal level<00:37:02.480><c> of
• </c><00:37:22.359><c> really</c> uh that horizontal structure really uh that horizontal structure really

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just basically identify whether they're vertical or horizontal scratchers. What's their preference?
• :08:23.000><c> or</c> identify whether they're vertical or identify whether they're vertical or horizontal
• </c><00:08:24.320><c> What's</c><00:08:24.560><c> their</c> horizontal scratchers.
• What's their horizontal scratchers. What's their preference?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Precipitation is on the horizontal axis.
• February precipitation on the vertical axis and December through February, the El Niño index on the horizontal
• So how much water is coming down the rivers in the Yakima Basin, and on the horizontal axis, it's each

Summary: The committee heard first from Deputy State Climatologist Karen Bumbacco, who reviewed the weather and snowpack conditions that contributed to Washington’s 2025 drought. She said the state had a very warm and dry water year, with April through September ranking among the warmest and driest periods on record, and that three straight years of below-normal snowpack and precipitation had compounded drought impacts, especially in the Yakima Basin. She also explained that a weak La Niña could bring a wetter-than-normal winter, though temperature forecasts were less certain, and noted that long-term climate projections point to continued snowpack decline and earlier runoff timing. Department of Ecology staff Rea Burns and Caroline Melor then described the state’s drought declaration process and response. They said Washington’s statutory drought threshold is less than 75% of normal water supply plus a hardship finding, and that Ecology extended the Yakima drought declaration in April and expanded it statewide in June. They discussed reliance on federal monitoring data and staffing at NRCS, USGS, Reclamation, and NOAA, and said federal staffing and funding instability has created concerns for snowpack and water data. They also reviewed drought response funding, noting that grants have supported projects in the Yakima and Dungeness basins and that the drought emergency account still has a balance available for current needs. Burns gave a detailed update on the Yakima Basin, saying it experienced unprecedented conditions this year, including nearly empty reservoirs, curtailment orders sent to about 1,500 water users, and the first time even the most senior 1855 surface water rights were turned off. She said widespread compliance occurred, though the process exposed areas for improvement, especially coordination with federal partners. Committee members asked about the long-term basis for climate projections, the 75% drought threshold, federal impacts, drought insurance, reservoir storage, and whether the state should consider more drought funding or new storage projects. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• TRD notes that this tax erodes the horizontal equity, ensuring the same statutes apply to all taxpayers
• install photovoltaic systems and sell electricity on properties they do not own further erodes the horizontal
• And sell electricity on properties they do not own, further erodes the horizontal equity.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Administrative Report Consolidation Act.
• We're trying to eliminate duplicative or outdated reporting requirements, consolidated Mr.
• It's gonna be Pretty tough to consolidate what we have now.
• They're not doing it, so it's not consolidating if that's the case.
• I've gotten some interesting questions about the board to consolidate, and yet we're creating more.

Bills: SB1726, SB1236, SB1633, SB1413, SB1317, SB1360, SB1342, SB1477, SB1189, SB1546, SB1524, SB1338, SB1193, SB1812, SB1617

Keywords: higher education, graduate instructors, training program, academic integrity, First Amendment rights, administrative reporting, education, consolidation, board, public schools, resident tuition, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, state scholarships, financial aid, immigration status, undocumented students, noncitizen students, lawfully present, postsecondary education benefits, college tuition

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Administrative Report Consolidation Act.
• This is the Administrative Report Consolidation Act.
• It's going to be pretty tough to consolidate what we have now.
• So it's not consolidating if that's the case.
• I've gotten some interesting questions about a board to consolidate, and yet we're creating more.

Bills: SB1726, SB1236, SB1633, SB1413, SB1317, SB1360, SB1342, SB1477, SB1189, SB1546, SB1524, SB1338, SB1193, SB1812, SB1617

Keywords: higher education, graduate instructors, training program, academic integrity, First Amendment rights, administrative reporting, education, consolidation, board, public schools, resident tuition, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, state scholarships, financial aid, immigration status, undocumented students, noncitizen students, lawfully present, postsecondary education benefits, college tuition

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard and advanced a large slate of education bills. Early measures included SB 1726, requiring formal training for university teaching assistants before they teach classes and evaluate students, with emphasis on First Amendment rights; SB 1236, creating an Administrative Report Consolidation Act to reduce duplicative reporting by schools and agencies; SB 1633, codifying existing higher education residency tuition practices; SB 1413, requiring notice to parents when a teacher is emergency certified and limiting adjunct teachers to 270 clock hours per semester; SB 1317, allowing career teacher status to be portable across districts with local board approval; and SB 1360, expanding the state’s math initiative by restoring instructional coaches and creating a math office at the State Department of Education. Most of these bills passed on favorable votes, with SB 1413 drawing some concern over teacher shortages and the adjunct-hour cap, but still passing.

Transcript Highlights:

• the carpenters in order to ensure that job training and the work that is done on the base, both horizontal
• and vertical, is set to high standards. ...both horizontal and vertical is set to high standards.
• The state is in the process of consolidating the three Altadena mutuals.

Summary: The committee heard presentations on several energy, environmental, and consumer protection bills while operating at times without a quorum. Senator McNerney presented SB 925, which would direct the California Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy, and SB 1350, which would expand the use of green hydrogen in the power sector by allowing renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using hydrogen. Supporters said both bills would help California maintain leadership in emerging clean-energy industries, attract investment, and create jobs. Opponents of SB 1350 raised concerns about greenwashing, resource shuffling, and increased NOx emissions from hydrogen combustion, while supporters said committee amendments added guardrails against those outcomes. Senator Ashby presented SB 1010, a manufacturer-funded extended producer responsibility program for refrigerants in appliances; supporters said it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve recovery, while opponents argued existing laws already regulate refrigerants and that the bill could raise costs and disrupt recycling markets. Senator Grayson presented SB 1145 to streamline CEQA and federal reuse procedures for qualifying projects in the Concord Reuse Project Area, which supporters said would help deliver long-planned housing, jobs, and open space, while one housing group sought stronger affordable-housing guarantees. Senator Cabaldon presented SB 1341, which would give CalRecycle authority to reduce processing fees for wine and spirits bag-in-a-box containers when fee collections exceed program needs; supporters said the current fee increase was abrupt and excessive, while opponents warned against giving the agency too much discretion. Senator Padilla presented SGR 13, urging the U.S. to secure enforceable commitments to eliminate transboundary sewage pollution in the Tijuana and New River watersheds during the 2026 USMCA review, and SB 1033, which would require testing and disclosure of heavy metals in protein products; SGR 13 drew strong support from border and environmental justice advocates, while SB 1033 drew support from consumer and health groups and opposition from industry groups concerned about labeling burdens and scope. Senator Caballero presented SB 1183, requiring a state study of the environmental, land-use, and economic impacts of industrial solar in the Central Valley; farm and land-use advocates supported the bill, while solar industry groups opposed unless amended, saying it should better reflect solar’s benefits and existing state analysis. After testimony, the committee took roll and adopted several measures on a 4-0 or 3-0 basis, with bills including SJR 13, SB 925, SB 1350, SB 1145, SB 1341, SB 1033, and SB 1010 advanced on call to Appropriations or, in the case of SB 1010, already voted with a 3-1 result before being held on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, now you got to come into the DMV and you got to pay the extra and you got to get the horizontal
• Well, now you got to come into the DMV and you got to pay the extra and you got to get the horizontal
• license um so thanks to uh horizontal license um so thanks to uh representative<00:58:10.599><c> V's
• </c><00:58:21.760><c> format</c><00:58:22.400><c> so</c> will be uh in the horizontal format so will
• <01:06:03.200><c> license</c> horizontal license horizontal license um<01:06:05.720><c> but</c><01:06

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee met for an opening/orientation session in which members introduced themselves and explained their interest in the committee. Several members noted backgrounds in trucking, piloting, boating, motorcycles, road safety, or constituent concerns about transportation issues. The chair also noted several absent members and said the committee would first hear agency presentations before covering committee procedures. The Department of Safety gave the main presentation, outlining its seven divisions and how they relate to transportation policy and the Highway Fund. The assistant commissioner emphasized that Highway Fund revenue supports both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Safety, with collections coming largely from the road toll/gas tax, DMV fees, and the new electric vehicle surcharge. He also noted that 12% of Highway Fund revenues go to local road repair through the DOT Betterment Fund, and warned that the fund has had a structural deficit for several biennia, requiring General Fund transfers that may be uncertain this session. He said the department aims to provide data and fiscal context on legislation and fiscal notes. State Police then provided a detailed overview of its structure and operations, including the Operations Bureau, Investigative Services Bureau, and Justice Information Bureau. Testimony highlighted Troop G’s role in vehicle inspections, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, fraud investigations, and consumer complaint handling, as well as statewide staffing shortages. The division reported rising calls for service, motor vehicle stops, DWI arrests, and other arrests despite a vacancy rate of about 17%. It also described aviation, K-9, bomb squad, special events response, SWAT, narcotics, major crime, forensic laboratory, and other specialized units, with statistics on drug seizures, investigations, and lab workload. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, is now that we have the horizontal drilling, that's completely different.
• Of the well bore, with the idea that you want to be able to, the horizontal portion of the well bore
• And I commend you because I do think with that horizontal. drilling now we have a lot of rigs.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you'll look on the right side, those red bars that are horizontal represent our summer reading...
• Those horizontal bars represent our summer reading camp growth for 2024. Now, the math camp...
• These horizontal bars are important.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• MOST OF THOSE WOULD BE HORIZONTAL, NOT VERTICAL.
• LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE SOME VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL SETBACKS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the carpenters in order to ensure that job training and the work that is done on the base, both horizontal
• and vertical, is set to high standards. ...both horizontal and vertical, is set to high standards.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The projected balance at the end of fiscal years 26 and 27 appears under the lowest horizontal line.
• years 26 and 27 appears under the fiscal years 26 and 27 appears under the lowest<00:05:12.680><c> horizontal
• 14.240><c> As</c><00:05:14.360><c> you</c><00:05:14.480><c> can</c><00:05:14.640><c> see,</c> lowest horizontal
• As you can see, lowest horizontal line.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If I can just add to that, we also have this consolidated website that we're hoping to utilize.
• </c><02:33:12.880><c> all</c><02:33:13.080><c> our</c> in in addition to consolidating all our in in
• addition to consolidating all our staff<02:33:13.840><c> in</c><02:33:14.080><c> one</c><02:33:14.319
• But for lease consolidation, it's about over $120,000 of lease that we pay right now because we have
• </c> theaters if you go to Consolidated theaters if you go to Consolidated theaters<03:16:23.760><c>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• unusual during that period of two or three days that the visuals that I saw made it very clear with horizontal
• I saw made it very clear with horizontal movement of fire that almost no water was going to stop this

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee held its first meeting and adopted committee rules for the 2025-26 session. The committee heard SB 1001, which would require the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to issue identification cards for essential utility workers so they can more easily access evacuation zones during emergencies. The author and supporters, including Rowland Water District and the Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority, said the bill was prompted by delays during the Eaton Fire, when utility crews in marked vehicles were denied access despite having authorization. Members generally supported the bill as a practical way to improve coordination between utilities, law enforcement, and incident command during disasters. The bill was voted out on a do-pass motion to the Senate Public Safety Committee. The committee also heard SB 1153, which would require urban retail water suppliers in high-risk areas to include wildfire-specific procedures in emergency response plans and make findings clarifying the role and limits of public water systems during wildfires. The author and witnesses from water agencies argued that public water systems are not designed to function as wildfire suppression systems and that the bill would improve planning while addressing growing liability exposure after major fires. Senator Perez raised concerns about balancing liability reform with accountability and the need for future infrastructure hardening, and the Vice Chair emphasized that the bill should not create a hollow safe harbor. The author accepted committee amendments clarifying that negligence liability remains intact, and the bill was moved out as amended to the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. A consent item, SB 870, was also approved. After roll calls were completed and absent members later voted, all three measures passed the committee 8-0. SB 1020 was pulled from the hearing for a future date.

Transcript Highlights:

• unusual during that period of two or three days that the visuals that I saw made it very clear with horizontal
• I saw made it very clear with horizontal movement of fire that almost no water was going to stop this

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee held its first meeting and adopted committee rules for the 2025-26 session. SB 1020 was pulled from the agenda for a future hearing. The committee heard SB 1001, which would direct the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to issue standardized identification cards for essential utility workers so they can more easily access evacuation zones during emergencies. The author and supporters, including Rowland Water District and the Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority, described a breakdown during the 2025 Eaton Fire when utility crews were denied access despite having credentials, causing delays in shutting off water at damaged homes. No opposition was present, and members broadly supported the bill as a practical emergency response measure. The committee voted 8-0 to pass SB 1001 to the Senate Public Safety Committee, with the measure held on call until all members voted. The committee also heard SB 1153, a wildfire preparedness bill from Senator Caballero. The bill would require urban retail water suppliers in high-risk areas to include wildfire-specific response procedures in their emergency response plans, and it includes findings clarifying that public water systems are not designed to function as wildfire suppression systems. The author accepted committee amendments clarifying that the bill does not limit liability for negligence, and witnesses from water agencies and industry groups supported the measure, citing the need for better planning and the financial strain of post-fire claims. Members discussed the balance between improving preparedness and avoiding language that could create a liability safe harbor or shift responsibility away from needed infrastructure investments. The committee voted 8-0 to pass SB 1153 as amended to the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, also held on call until all members voted. A consent item, SB 870, was also approved. After the committee reconvened and all members present voted, SB 870, SB 1001, and SB 1153 each received unanimous 8-0 votes and were reported out of committee. The meeting then adjourned.