Video & Transcript Research : 'Chapter 372'
Page 90 of 325
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Local Government Committee Mar 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The general plan is made up of multiple chapters. These are called elements in California planning.
- Some jurisdictions go well beyond these requirements, so again Davis included 21 chapters, more than
- advisor for policy and legislation to the board of the American Planning Association's California Chapter
- The chapter maintains a robust legislative program and continues to offer our organization as a resource
- We'll provide implementation tools and strategies, best practices, and sample policies for every chapter
Summary:
The committee first heard AB 253, by Assembly Member Ward and presented by Assembly Member Quirk-Silva, which would allow licensed third-party professionals to review certain post-entitlement permits if a local building department would take more than 30 days. Supporters, including California YIMBY, the California Chamber of Commerce, the Housing Action Coalition, the Bay Area Council, SPUR, and Abundant Housing LA, said the bill would reduce permitting delays and help housing production. League of Cities and the California State Association of Counties expressed concerns but were not formally opposed. Members voiced strong support, and the bill passed the committee 10-0 to Appropriations.
The committee then held an informational hearing on California’s general plan. The first panel, led by UC Davis professor Catherine Brinkley, gave an overview of the general plan structure, required elements, update cycles, and the new PlanSearch database that makes adopted plans searchable statewide. She emphasized that general plans are long-term, locally tailored documents that integrate housing, transportation, safety, environmental justice, and other policy areas, and noted that many plans and elements are outdated. Members asked about update timelines, public participation, and whether AI tools could help with drafting and analysis.
A second panel of local government representatives described the practical challenges of preparing and updating general plans, especially in rural and small jurisdictions. Speakers from Calaveras County, Sacramento, San Joaquin County, and Fountain Valley cited staffing shortages, consultant availability, funding constraints, CEQA and outreach costs, changing state mandates, and the difficulty of keeping plans aligned with local conditions and board turnover. They asked for more funding, more time, clearer prioritization, and more flexibility. A third panel from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation explained its role in issuing general plan guidelines, technical advisories, and annual planning surveys, and said it is updating its guidance through 2027 to reflect recent housing, climate, safety, environmental justice, and open space laws. No public comment was offered, and the informational hearing was adjourned.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- And again, following the kind of like the glutathione swim lane, if that's okay, there's The chapter,
- you have to look through the chapter to see which various things apply.
- And within the chapter, one of the elements that they talk about is the use of components and component
- And then the chapter also talks about the fact that you have to evaluate the quality and suitability
- And then we put that on pause because of something that was happening with the compounding chapters.
Summary:
The joint Assembly and Senate business committees held a sunset review hearing on the California State Board of Pharmacy, with board leadership describing the board’s consumer-protection role and its priorities around access, enforcement, and updating pharmacy law. The board emphasized a proposed shift toward a standard-of-care model for pharmacists, arguing it would reduce rigid protocol requirements and improve access to services such as HIV PrEP/PEP, contraception, and naloxone. Board representatives also discussed pharmacy deserts, possible fee waivers for pharmacies in underserved areas, concerns about payer practices contributing to closures, continuing education audits, and a request to restore more flexibility in licensure decisions and probationary monitoring for applicants with certain criminal histories.
A major focus of the hearing was the board’s ongoing compounding regulations, especially the treatment of sterile versus nonsterile compounding and substances such as glutathione and methylcobalamin. The board said the proposal was not a ban on those substances and described the rulemaking as grounded in federal law, USP standards, and public comment, noting the process had gone through multiple modified texts and hearings. Testimony from stakeholders was sharply divided: pharmacists, veterinarians, firefighters, naturopathic doctors, and patient advocates warned the rules were restricting access to compounded medications and harming patients and first responders, while the California Medical Association, psychiatric physicians, and PhRMA raised concerns that the board’s proposals could expand pharmacist authority beyond training, affect physician practice, or create safety risks. Other public comments addressed pharmacy technician ratios, remote processing, flavoring medications, hospital-specific regulation, budget and enforcement transparency, and whether the board should add members with community compounding or pharmacy technician expertise.
Committee members also asked about the board’s oversight priorities and the rationale for its standard-of-care proposal. Board staff explained that consumer protection includes education, licensing, policy, and enforcement, with the highest-priority enforcement cases being those posing imminent public harm. After public testimony concluded, the chairs thanked participants and adjourned the sunset review hearing, announcing an immediate transition to the joint informational hearing on the Department of Cannabis Control.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee. (2-9-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- The staff-suggested amendment amends various sections to comply with KRS Chapter 13A. amendments. 9073320
- sections to comply with KRS chapter 13A. sections to comply with KRS chapter 13A. 402520 402520
- KRS Chapter 13A. >> If you would please state your name for the record. >> I'm Carol Cotalo.
- make changes to comply with KRS chapter make changes to comply with KRS chapter 13A. 13A. 13A.
- chapter 13A. chapter 13A.
Keywords:
0:00 – Meeting start/roll call
0:10 - Roll call/approval of minutes
1:43 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), Department for Medicaid Services
27:40 - Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
55:54 - Board of Veterinary Examiners
1:33:15 - Testimony in support of 804 KAR 13:010E, 020E, 030E and 040E.
1:49:04 - Education Professional Standards Board
1:49:58 - Attorney General, Office of Regulatory Relief
1:52:18 - Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA)
1:54:28 - Board of Nursing
1:56:44 - Board of Occupational Therapy
1:57:37 - Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy
1:58:58 - Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
1:59:50 - Economic Development Finance Authority
2:01:34 - Department of Corrections
2:02:37 - Department of Juvenile Justice
2:04:02 - Department for Employment Services, Unemployment Insurance
2:04:57 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), Department for Public Health, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes and then took up Department for Medicaid Services regulations 907 KAR 23:010 and related rules. DMS explained that one regulation would establish a beneficiary advisory council and another would remove language barring coverage of GLP-1 drugs for obesity-related use. The department said coverage would still be limited by prior authorization and clinical criteria, with use tied to underlying chronic conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, and that the pharmacy and therapeutics committee would help set the detailed standards. Members discussed the potential health benefits, but several raised concerns about cost, timing, and whether the legislature and the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board should review the policy first. DMS said the drugs are already on the formulary, that current Medicaid users with diabetes are already covered, and that the fiscal impact was estimated using current utilization, rebates, and expected savings; the department also said it would only cover the drugs if subject to rebates. The committee then voted 5-1 to find 907 KAR 23:010 deficient.
The committee next considered several emergency regulations from the Public Protection Cabinet’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control implementing SB 100. The rules covered tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product licensing, including the application form, denial standards, and transitional licensing. ABC counsel said the department had received about 5,500 applications and issued nearly 5,000 licenses, with additional provisional licenses issued to avoid interruption in sales after the law’s effective date. He said some applications remained pending because inspections and photographs revealed possible unauthorized nicotine vapor products, and the department was seeking documentation before approval. A staff amendment was adopted without objection before the ABC presentation continued.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Person Ash, AE Hawaii Chapter, in opposition. BIA Hawaii, in support. On Zoom, no—morning.
- 107 in my opinion know the the chapter 107 in my opinion is<00:43:08.640>
written <00:43:09.119 - in HRS and uh evidently uh the chapters in HRS and uh evidently uh the Building<00:44:44.520>
Code - 107 is EST is is is written way chapter 107 is EST is is is written it<00:45:00.000>
automatically - ...that goes to OHA under the statute, but we would still oppose taking away the guardrails of Chapter
Summary:
The Committee on Housing held a public hearing on January 31 and heard testimony on a series of housing and building-code bills. The first major item, HB 1 relating to building codes, drew sharply divided testimony. Supporters, including BIA Hawaii, Grassroot Institute, Dr. Horton, and several builders and trade groups, argued the current code-adoption process is slow, fragmented, and costly, and that reform would help housing production. Opponents, including Sierra Club Hawaii, AIA Hawaii, ICC, and labor representative Kiko Bosi, said the bill would weaken public safety, reduce statewide consistency, and could leave tenants and first responders at greater risk. No vote was taken during the hearing, and members asked questions about the effect of a governor’s emergency proclamation suspending the Building Code Council and about county authority over code amendments.
The committee then heard HB 745 and HB 1321, both also relating to building codes. Grassroot Institute supported both measures, saying the system is broken and needs streamlining, while BIA Hawaii and others emphasized the cost burden of repeated code updates. Opponents, especially Bosi and ICC, argued that the bills would undermine the State Building Code Council’s role, create confusion, and prioritize cost over safety; Bosi also said labor should be included in any code discussions. Members questioned whether counties can remove state code provisions and whether the state code already supersedes county codes, and one member noted the need for clarity and consistent enforcement rather than a wholesale overhaul.
Later, the committee heard HB 284 on housing, HB 761 on county permitting and inspection, and HB 738 on historic preservation. HB 284 drew support from several housing and real estate groups, while DLNR opposed it. On HB 761, HHFDC supported the bill, DLNR warned that the proposed changes could jeopardize Hawaii’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, DAGS said it would likely need to duplicate county permitting staff, and the Department of Planning and Permitting opposed it; Grassroot Institute and NAIOP supported it. For HB 738, HHFDC, DLNR, Grassroot Institute, Hawaii YIMBY, NAIOP, and others supported the measure, with Grassroot and NAIOP suggesting clarifications so expedited review would also cover mixed-use projects and better define the scope of work. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on these bills during the hearing.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh and that's mindful of the fact that many planning boards do chapter by chapter, that's occurring over
- Uh and that's mindful of the fact that many planning boards do chapter by chapter, that's occurring over
- Uh and that's mindful of the fact that many planning boards do chapter by chapter, that's occurring over
- Uh and that's mindful of the fact that many planning boards do chapter by chapter, that's occurring over
- Uh and that's mindful of the fact that many planning boards do chapter by chapter, that's occurring over
Summary:
The subcommittee first took up House Bill 1598 and an amendment, 2026-0463H. Elliott Barry and Nick Norman testified that the amendment reflected a hard-fought compromise balancing concerns from all sides, and they urged no further changes. With no questions from members, the subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend the bill with the amendment to the full committee, 3-0, and closed the subcommittee.
The housing committee then moved through several executive session bills. HB 1010 was amended with 2026-0274H, described as clarifying and implementing prior housing law (HB 631) governing residential units above office and retail space; the amendment was adopted unanimously and the bill was reported ought to pass as amended on a 17-0 vote and placed on consent. HB 65 was then voted ought to pass and also placed on consent, with members saying it was duplicative of the compromise reached on HB 1010. HB 1349 was reconsidered for a clarifying vote and again received unanimous support for its prior disposition, 17-0, and was placed on consent.
The committee next took up HB 1523, which concerned homeowners associations. An amendment, 2026-0380H, removed Section 5’s Attorney General enforcement mechanism, added HOA conflict-of-interest approval language, and delayed the effective date to give stakeholders more time; it was adopted unanimously. The bill then passed 18-0 as amended and was put on consent. The committee also voted ITL on CACR 16, a constitutional amendment related to sleeping or homelessness issues, after debate over unintended consequences and whether it protected a basic right; the vote was 10-8, with a majority report assigned and a minority report to be written.
Later, HB 108, dealing with inclusionary zoning, was voted ITL 10-8 after members argued the bill imposed unrealistic burdens and could halt development; a minority report was noted with amendment 0149H. HB 7, concerning ADUs and restrictive covenants, was also voted ITL 10-8 after discussion of unintended consequences and a proposed amendment to encourage second ADUs; it was sent to the regular calendar with a minority report and amendment 0289H. HB 1120, on water-related subdivision requirements, was ITL’d 17-1 and placed on consent, with one member noting a study amendment had been offered. HB 1143, addressing housing-provider obligations and municipal enforcement powers, was ITL’d 17-1 and placed on consent. Finally, HB 1145, a fee/tax proposal tied to housing development, was ITL’d 11-7; members debated whether it would discourage development, and a minority report was assigned.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 2 - 04/04/25
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- There may be particular chapter of law.
- <01:09:00.080>
that different portion of our chapter that different portion of our chapter - ,<01:29:24.320>
chapter DHS background studies chapter, chapter DHS background studies chapter - HOA boards have vast power under Chapter 515B.
- HOA boards have vast power under Chapter 515B.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (03/05/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Just to clarify, the trigger law is a chapter law, section 342:12 of 2018, correct?
- <00:21:03.840>
law <00:21:04.400>I <00:21:04.559>cited chapter law I cited chapter - in a different part of that 342 chapter in a different part of that 342 chapter we<00:21:25.120>
- This is a chapter law section, 342:12, Laws of 2018. Thank you, ma'am.
- Yes, this is a chapter law section, 342:12, Laws of 2018. Thank you, ma'am.
Summary:
The House Finance Division 3 work session continued its review of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Medicaid budget and related policy issues, with CFO Nathan White and Medicaid Director Henry Litman presenting updated materials. The discussion focused on a crosswalk between the adjusted FY 2025 Medicaid budget and the governor’s FY 2026 recommendation, plus handouts showing service additions, eligibility changes, dental rates, and other Medicaid changes since 2019. The department also said it would provide a clearer breakdown of the pharmacy cost-sharing item by general, federal, and other funds.
Members asked detailed questions about the Medicaid enhancement tax, the 80% plan, and how funds are allocated between hospital payments, directed payments, and DSH uncompensated care. The department explained that the MET is being used more toward rates and directed payments to better align with federal matching rules, while DSH remains important for uncompensated care. They also noted that a pending Senate Bill 249 would keep the 80% structure and move to Senate Finance. On the trigger law, the department identified the governing provision as Chapter 342:12, Laws of 2018, and explained that if the federal match for Medicaid expansion falls below 90%, the state must notify legislative leaders and participants and the program would sunset after 180 days unless the legislature acts.
The committee also reviewed current Medicaid expansion enrollment and program trends. Officials said enrollment was just under 59,000 as of March 3, with about 87,000 people enrolled over the past year and more than a quarter-million residents having used the program over its lifetime. They said enrollment has fallen from a post-pandemic high of nearly 97,000 and may eventually settle in the low 50,000s. Finally, the department discussed federal DSH funding risk, saying New Hampshire could face a significant reduction if Congress does not extend current protections, which is part of why the state has shifted more funding toward payment rates and directed payments.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee (5-12-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- The staff amendment amends various sections to comply with KRS Chapter 13A. >> Would you please identify
- The staff amends various sections to comply with KRS Chapter 13A. opinion of the Attorney General.
- amends various sections to comply<00:02:08.000>
with <00:02:08.200>KRS <00:02:08.600>chapter - comply with KRS chapter 13A. comply with KRS chapter 13A.
- comply with KRS chapter 13A. comply with KRS chapter 13A.
Summary:
The subcommittee considered an emergency regulation from the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, 201 KAR 5021E, along with a staff amendment to conform the text to KRS Chapter 13A. The regulation was described as implementing an Attorney General opinion and a review of optometrists licensed during the 2020–2023 period when alternative testing and waivers were used during the COVID-19 era. The board explained that the rule requires affected licensees to complete specified examinations or an alternative certification before renewing in 2027, and that it now removes the OEBC Canadian exam as a future pathway while preserving recognition of OEBC results submitted during the period when that option was in effect. The staff amendment was approved without objection.
Testimony was sharply divided. Board representatives and the Attorney General’s office said the regulation is needed to protect public health and to bring the licensure review into the formal administrative process. They said the NBEO Part 3 exam is the nationally recognized hands-on clinical licensure test, while the American Board of Optometry certification is a post-licensure credential for already licensed practitioners and is not a substitute for initial licensure testing. They also said no other state uses the ABOC certification for licensure, and that the board’s approach balances fairness, due process, and public protection.
Opponents argued the regulation would allow individuals who were improperly licensed to continue practicing without meeting the same standards as other Kentucky optometrists. A representative from the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation described cases of alleged inadequate care and urged the committee to require full national board passage before independent practice. Representatives from ARBO and NBEO said the emergency regulation is not justified as an emergency, does not adequately address public safety or fiscal impacts, and exceeds the board’s authority by creating a renewal path for licensees whose initial licensure was challenged. They emphasized that NBEO Part 3 is a practical, hands-on exam and that the ABOC certification is not designed or validated for initial licensure. The committee asked several questions about the differences between the exams, and no final vote on the regulation itself was described in the transcript beyond approval of the staff amendment.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 2 - 04/24/26
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- is informational only, but it is a very big body of work that was started last year when we wrote chapter
- two ago, with the indulgence of Senator Kreun, we delayed yet another year the effective date for chapter
- 308C, uh, to effective date for chapter 308C, uh, to give<00:07:06.160>
us <00:07:06.280>some - heavily on cross-references to chapter heavily on cross-references to chapter 515B, 515B, 515B,
- Our involvement in chapter 308C is directly informed by this work on the ground.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Budget Office Oversight Commission 12/17/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It's called the Tennessee Public Chapter Review, and that's required by statute.
- The Tennessee Public Chapter Review is in statute that requires at least five Tennessee laws per report
- called the Tennessee public chapter called the Tennessee public chapter review<00:20:19.440>
- Uh the Tennessee<00:20:30.880>
chapter <00:20:31.520>public <00:20:31.840>chapter - ><00:20:32.159>
review Tennessee chapter public chapter review Tennessee chapter public chapter - ><00:20:32.159>
Summary:
The Legislative Budget Caucus Public Commission met with a quorum present, approved the September 3, 2025 minutes, and then heard a presentation from Legislative Budget Office Director Christian Larson on proposed updates to the fiscal note uniform standards and procedures. The main changes clarified that agencies must still complete a fiscal note when a bill or section cannot be implemented because of federal law, with the note explaining the implementation issue and costing only the portions that can be implemented. A second change said technical comments about possible future litigation may be included in the narrative but not in the cost tables. Members discussed how these rules would apply when only part of a bill is unimplementable versus when an entire bill is, and whether requiring a note in those cases is the best use of agency time. The commission also approved a new procedure on funding-source assumptions for expanded programs, including assuming the current funding source unless the bill says otherwise and defaulting to the general fund if no source is identified. The updated standards and procedures were adopted by a 7-0 roll call vote, with Senator Wickland excused.
The commission then received a second presentation from Director Larson on a possible analysis of the accuracy of fiscal estimates and budget items after enactment. He described this as a variance analysis comparing fiscal note estimates to actual fiscal impacts, intended to improve future estimates, inform the legislature, and increase accountability. He summarized practices in other states, noting that most variance reviews are ad hoc, while Utah and Tennessee have more formalized legislative reports; he also referenced an LBO pilot review done in 2022 based largely on Tennessee’s model. The presentation outlined possible report formats, including a single annual report, standalone briefs, or topic-specific reviews, and raised implementation questions such as who would select items for review, whether the analysis should be limited to fiscal notes, what statutory authority or data access would be needed, and what resources would be required from both agencies and the LBO.
Members did not take action on the second presentation. Representative Anderson and Vice Chair Pratt commented that the proposal is complicated but potentially useful for improving future fiscal notes and transparency, and the chair indicated the discussion was for future consideration rather than an immediate decision.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Committee of Conference on SB 96, SB 87, SB 210, SB 206 (06/17/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- shall be deemed to have violated chapter shall be deemed to have violated the<02:53:17.120>
code< - We have chapter 193-F public safety and violence prevention.
- We<03:43:51.680>
have We have We have chapter<03:43:55.120>193F <03:43:56.000>public - <03:43:56.319>
safety <03:43:56.720>and <03:43:57.040>violence chapter 193F - public safety and violence chapter 193F public safety and violence prevention.<03:43:58.720>
There's
Summary:
The committee of conference spent most of its time on Senate Bill 96, which deals with educator conduct and when information may be withheld from parents. The main dispute was over the House-amended language on violations and the “compelling state interest” standard. The Senate sponsor objected to extending penalties to third-party medical or mental health contractors and to language suggesting psychological or emotional injury to a child would not constitute a compelling state interest. The House side argued its draft was intended to keep the bill focused on credentialed educators and administrators, to include parents or guardians, and to avoid creating competing standards by relying on existing abuse definitions in statute. The House also added a requirement that any withholding of information be documented and reported to the school board in nonpublic session, and both sides discussed whether educators, administrators, nurses, and guidance counselors would be covered under the statutory definition of educator.
The discussion also covered enforcement and penalties. The House draft proposed that an educator found to have willfully violated the law could have a credential suspended for a first offense and would face a minimum one-year suspension for multiple offenses, while the Senate raised concerns that this was too rigid and did not allow enough discretion or address revocation. The House later explained that the department would still have discretion on first offenses and that the one-year rule applied only to multiple offenses. Another point of disagreement was a three-year statute of limitations for investigations, which the House said was meant to prevent “witch hunts,” while the Senate noted New Hampshire’s constitutional prohibition on retroactive laws. After caucusing, the Senate rejected the House amendment, and the House then voted non-concur; the committee of conference adjourned without agreement.
The transcript then moved to Senate Bill 87, concerning one-day liquor license requirements and allowing salons and barber shops to obtain on-premise licenses. The members discussed a House amendment that would allow two drinks instead of one, with supporters saying the change reflected the longer time customers may spend in salons and that alcohol service would still be covered by existing training requirements, including the EDGE course. Opponents worried that allowing multiple drinks would create over-serving and enforcement problems and could complicate business practices. After discussion, the Senate member agreed to go along with the House position, and the bill was reported ready for final sign-off.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 1/21/25
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- construction and monitoring of the operating nuclear power plants that was the laws of Minnesota 1994 chapter
- construction and monitoring of the operating nuclear power plants that was the laws of Minnesota 1994 chapter
- construction and monitoring of the operating nuclear power plants that was the laws of Minnesota 1994 chapter
- construction and monitoring of the operating nuclear power plants that was the laws of Minnesota 1994 chapter
- construction and monitoring of the operating nuclear power plants that was the laws of Minnesota 1994 chapter
Summary:
The House Energy Finance and Policy Committee met to approve the January 16 minutes and then heard House File 9, which was referred to the Committee on Taxes after the committee’s action. The bill was presented as an energy policy measure aimed at reliability and affordability. It would expand hydroelectric power’s eligibility under the state’s energy standard, delay certain carbon-free compliance requirements for utilities that do not meet a retail rate benchmark, prohibit local permits to demolish fossil fuel plants under certain conditions, state support for carbon capture and sequestration without creating a state funding obligation, end the nuclear moratorium, and expand the sales tax exemption for residential natural gas and electricity used as primary heat year-round starting after June 30, 2026. The committee also took up and adopted the A1 author’s amendment, which clarified that the carbon capture language does not obligate state spending.
The bill’s sponsor argued that Minnesota’s current energy policy is driving up costs and threatening reliability, especially during extreme cold, and said the bill would create “off-ramps” from existing mandates to protect ratepayers and businesses. He cited reliability concerns, MISO/NERC risk assessments, rising utility rates, and the need for an all-of-the-above energy approach, including hydro and nuclear. He also said the bill would reduce taxes by broadening the sales tax exemption for residential heating.
Testimony was mixed but generally focused on reliability, affordability, and the role of nuclear power. The Minnesota Rural Electric Association and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce supported the bill’s emphasis on keeping power reliable and affordable, with both saying Minnesota needs dispatchable, carbon-free resources and noting concerns about high electricity costs and future demand from data centers and AI. The Prairie Island Indian Community opposed lifting the nuclear moratorium without a viable waste solution, describing the long-term burden of spent nuclear fuel on its community and asking for more consultation. Xcel Energy said its nuclear plants have operated safely and reliably for decades, support low-cost and low-carbon power, and could be part of the state’s energy transition, but it emphasized the need for tribal participation and said decisions about retiring fossil plants should remain within the existing Public Utilities Commission resource planning process.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- 47, Section 5, repealing Section 8-8-11, 8,000, Section 5, Chapter 1227, Section 5, relating to the
- Senate Bill 1713, amending Title 32, Chapter 18, Article 3, and sections 32-17904, 32-197905, and 32-
- House Bill 2320, an act amending Title 15, Chapter 4, Article 5, relating to school bond elections.
- House Bill 2755, amending Title 37, Chapter 2, relating to state lands.
- House Bill 405, amending Title 15, Chapter 7, Article 1, relating to school curricula.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Jan 30th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
New Mexico House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Speaker, she is our SkillsUSA-Hobbs High School C-Tec chapter president. Welcome to the House.
- Speaker, last from Hobbs High School, I have Amelia Villalobos, who is our C-Tec Chapter Reporter.
- 292, Section 7, and Laws 2007, Chapter 293, Section 7, and declaring an emergency.
- Section 182, section 5 in Chapter 160. So, Mr.
- 292, Section 7, and Laws 2007, Chapter 293, Section 7, declaring an emergency.
Keywords:
nurses, health care workers, healthcare workers, frontline workers, hospital staff, clinicians, allied health professionals, support staff, public health, workforce shortage, nursing shortage, safe staffing, patient safety, rural health care, frontier communities, behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder, substance abuse, health care memorial
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- on one distribution channel distracts from the core question: Has DOH, through IMS, complied with chapter
- 183D and chapter 386, and are their practices harming access to care?
- Has DOH, through IMS, complied with chapter 183D and chapter 386, and are their practices harming access
- Has DOH, through IMS, complied with chapter 183D and chapter 386, and are their practices harming access
- The speaker continued that the exemption reads as follows: “This chapter shall not apply to contracts
Keywords:
automated external defibrillator, AED, cardiac arrest, state buildings, health education, public health, lifeguards, first responders, public safety, ocean safety, emergency response, Hawaii, workers' compensation, auditor, procurement audit, compliance, Department of Human Resources Development, transparency, accountability, medical care
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- We want to just amend just a little bit of the language in section 6, chapter 1, 278 HRS, Hawaii Revised
- So the first question is: what is your understanding of the objectives of Chapter 127A?
- This does not fix the core danger in Chapter 127A HRS.
- Chapter 127A gives the governor unilateral, sweeping powers with almost no checks.
- I’m asking you for an answer as to what your understanding is as to Chapter 127A. Okay, thank you.
Keywords:
emergency preparedness, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, multilingual resources, American Sign Language, public education, community resilience, disaster response, emergency management, governor powers, legislative oversight, public safety, 910, house, all
Summary:
The committee on Public Safety met on March 20, 2026, and the chair opened by noting severe rain and flooding conditions in Hawaii and said the committee would proceed with the hearing but defer decision-making until the next meeting on March 25. The first measure discussed was SB 2109, an omnibus bill on emergency preparedness communications. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, including from state agencies and advocacy groups such as the Disability and Communications Access Board, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Legal Clinic, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and others. Supporters emphasized the need for funding and planning for multilingual emergency materials and language access, citing current evacuation notices that were not available in languages such as Ilokano or Tongan. The chair stated that action on SB 2109 would be deferred until March 25.
The committee then heard SB 2151, relating to emergency management and changes to the governor’s emergency authority. Testimony was mixed but heavily focused on concerns about executive power. Earthjustice supported the bill with amendments, saying it should narrow extraordinary emergency powers, add definitions for emergency and disaster, preserve transparency under the Uniform Information Practices Act, and lower the legislative threshold to terminate an emergency proclamation from two-thirds to a simple majority. Other supporters, including the League of Women Voters of Hawaii and some individuals, also backed reform. Opponents, including Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and numerous individuals, argued the bill still gave the governor too much power, used overly broad disaster definitions, and did not sufficiently protect constitutional rights; several urged major amendments or repeal of portions of Chapter 127A. Some opponents specifically objected to the two-thirds termination standard and to provisions they said could enable compulsory immunizations or other mandates.
Members questioned Earthjustice about whether the bill would suspend constitutional rights. Earthjustice responded that the bill would not authorize constitutional violations, but would allow suspension of laws enacted by the legislature, and pointed to existing statutory procedures for individuals to challenge emergency proclamations. The witness described a Mauna Kea case in which a three-judge panel granted relief to an individual under the current statute, and explained that the process could potentially affect a broader proclamation if allowed to run to completion. The hearing continued with additional testimony and questions, but no final vote or committee action on SB 2151 was taken during this portion of the meeting.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, July 22, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Madam Speaker, I yield next chapter. Madam Speaker, I yield back. back. back.
- Sison for his service to our country and wish him well on his next chapter.
- chapter. I yield back. chapter. I yield back.
- And he was also very active in the Fort Worth chapter of Kappa Alphasai.
- Uh Coach chapter of Kappa Alphasai.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Under chapter 36, an affected person can. request an inquiry into a GCD for specific reasons outlined
- Senate Bill 1 was a huge bill that basically revamped all of Chapter 36, which is the primary statute
- That's what the legislature in Chapter 36 said it was intended to be.
- Are there problems with Chapter 36 we need to fix?
- following what you put in chapter 36? Do we have a problem with groundwater districts?
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention - 03/13/25
Housing and Homelessness Prevention
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm legislative director of the Northstar chapter of the Sierra Club, the nation's oldest and largest
- Section 2, which begins on page 7, provides that this chapter prevails over conflicting provisions in
- modifies the applicability of chapter modifies the applicability of chapter 515b<01:15:32.320>
- on page seven provides that this chapter on page seven provides that this chapter prevails<01:15
- to chapter to chapter 515b<01:20:09.520>
um <01:20:09.639>if <01:20:09.760>there
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation - 05/05/2026
Environmental Conservation
Transcript Highlights:
- Act amending Chapter 306 of the Laws of 2011, authorizing owners of residential real property in high-risk
- An act to amend Chapter 378 of the Laws of 2014, amending the Environmental Conservation Law relating
- Act to amend Chapter 378, the laws of 2014, amending the environmental conservation law relating to taking
- sharks in relation to Act amend in Chapter 378, the laws of 2014, amending the Environmental Conservation
Summary:
The Senate Environmental Conservation Committee met with a quorum and a very full agenda, moving quickly through a series of environmental and natural resources bills. Early action included approving S.1343B, the clean fuel standard bill, which was referred to Finance with one nay. The committee then took up S.1464A, the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, where supporters said it had been heavily amended to address industry concerns and protect public health by reducing packaging waste and toxic chemicals. Opponents, including Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Stec, raised concerns about costs, unintended consequences for business, agriculture, dairy, food safety, and consumer prices. Supporters argued the bill would reduce waste, protect people from toxins, and that many farms and dairy operations were exempted. The bill was advanced to Finance with two nays and one without recommendation.
The committee also considered several bills tied to climate and energy policy. S.2712, sponsored by Senator Stec, would delay CLCPA implementation for 10 years and require a cost-benefit analysis; Stec argued New York has not adequately studied the law’s costs and cited rising utility bills, while Chair Harckham and others defended the state’s clean energy direction and said the bill would not move forward. S.3652, which would prohibit certain restrictions on motor vehicle sales, and S.5611, which would create a Climate Action Cost Council and limit annual climate-related rulemaking, were both voted down and not referred onward. By contrast, S.797A, the Mohawk River Basin Management Act, advanced to Finance with support from its sponsor, Senator Fahy.
The committee then took up S.8933, Senator Helming’s bill to prohibit PFAS in photovoltaic modules. Helming said the bill was a common-sense measure to keep forever chemicals out of solar panels and protect water and soil; Harckham responded that the bill’s timeline would effectively halt the solar industry and said there was no evidence of PFAS leaching from solar panels. The bill was not advanced. The committee also advanced S.9206 on brush-fire area reed removal for Staten Island, S.9280 on open water data, S.9462 on deer management permits, S.963 on Atlantic bonito and false albacore management, and S.9479A on tidal wetlands definitions. In the final portion of the meeting, the committee rapidly approved a long slate of routine end-of-session fisheries and marine resource extender bills, including measures on sharks, lingcod, black sea bass, blueback herring, fluke, scup, commercial food fish licenses, special management areas, American eel, Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, squid, and winter flounder.