Bills: HB45, HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042

Keywords: flooding, disaster response, emergency preparedness, state guidance, public safety, housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money

Transcript Highlights:

• have to pay the fee.
• It just said that if there's a fee, say there's a material fee or something like that.
• fee.
• fees.
• Yes ma'am, we call it a fee. There’s a response... Yes, we call it a fee.

Bills: HB61, HB327, HB253, HB297

Keywords: home school, career and technical education, public schools, K-12 education, enrollment policy, parental leave, state employees, adoption, employee benefits, aircraft tax, aviation tax, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption, lease tax, rental tax, commercial aircraft, air carrier, airline, aircraft parts, maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• Laws and allocations, appropriations from Congress, are not simply suggestions; they are the law.
• And in lieu of its fees, it took some shares. But minor, teeny.
• I was informed that it was just in lieu of fees. They took some shares.
• Hotels and the like, leveraged with visa fees that foreign visitors pay when they come.
• Those things, and you won't try to withhold the funds that have already been allocated?

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:20:36.320> and<00:20:36.559> then allocation to a 20% allocation and then allocation
• It's just a allocations below 50.
• I think um Sar teacher allocation.
• Um that's 5.75715% allocated.
• positions are allocated.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Communities have made it clear that they're ready to move from planning to action, and this allocation
• But the bottom line is we aren't asking for any new fees or surcharges or anything like that to pay for
• But the bottom line is we aren't asking for any new fees or surcharges or anything like that to pay for
• Lastly, he said he would like to see the allocation for trees match the $100 million needed.
• He said he would like to see the allocation for trees match the $100 million needed, as outlined in the

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on S.2542, the Mass Ready Act, a $3 billion environmental bond bill aimed at climate resilience, water infrastructure, conservation, and related permitting reforms. Secretary Rebecca Tepper and administration officials described the bill’s major investments in flood control, coastal resilience, DCR roads/bridges/dams and parks, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, PFAS remediation, land conservation, food security infrastructure, and expanded Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness funding. They also explained proposed streamlining measures for environmental permitting, flood risk disclosures, a Connecticut River Resilient Commission, and a new Resilience Revolving Fund to provide low-cost financing for municipal resilience projects. Committee members asked about affordability, useful life of projects, how the revolving fund would be capitalized, and how the bill would help communities such as Lawrence, Methuen, and coastal towns; officials said the fund would initially use existing trust resources, not new fees, and could later support special obligation bonds once it has a track record. Several witnesses supported the bill but urged larger authorizations or additional provisions. Boston Harbor Now asked for more funding for MVP and the state’s resilient coast plan, and supported permitting reforms for nature-based and hybrid solutions. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance urged inclusion of drought-management language from separate bills, plus a statewide flood buyout program and a water reuse commission. Green Roots called for dedicated funding for outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring and indoor air quality improvements, especially in environmental justice communities affected by traffic and airport pollution. Conservation and forestry advocates requested more funding for urban tree canopy, local nurseries, and workforce training, while also raising concerns about PFAS impacts and the need for clearer municipal reforestation language. Agriculture and water infrastructure groups focused on food security and drinking water needs. The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership and the Mass Food System Collaborative backed the food security infrastructure grant program and farmland protection funding, warning that the program needs continued support in fiscal 2027 and that farmland loss is accelerating. The Massachusetts Waterworks Association said the bill does not go far enough on drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, citing large statewide capital needs and PFAS compliance costs, and asked for recurring funding and broader eligibility for climate resilience grants. A Product Stewardship Council representative also urged funding for a waste reduction needs assessment, citing growing landfill constraints and rising disposal costs. No votes were taken during the hearing."}{

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, and the FIR just talks about losing license fees.
• Identify how funds are allocated and for what purpose so that investments can be targeted to where the
• Every single dollar allocated to these programs does not get reverted.
• And so the reduction in funding wouldn't be related to a fee-for-service model.
• Madam Chair, Senator, I provided funding for one of these organizations in my legislative allocations

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, just like the other 90 flat fees Well, just like the other 90 flat fees that<03:23:53.920>
• fee as part of this budget.
• If I know this bill would establish a salt seller fee on bulk salt, and if I know this fee will be the
• Just a little more fee?
• just a little more fee? just a little more fee?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:02:31.359> In appropriations for the green fee. In appropriations for the green fee.
• allocating the funding for it. allocating the funding for it.
• But they go back to the general fund, or most of the brunt of the allocations go back to this island
• Report No. 179. where where fees are collected that you where where fees are collected that you know<
• as applicable for allocations. as applicable for allocations.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:38.000> dollars<00:14:38.279> to across the state allocating dollars to across
• the state allocating dollars to the<00:14:38.480> Statewide<00:14:38.880> Union<00:14:
• Representative Mueller, up to 5% of the total allocation for grant administration.
• This would be an allocation of $10,000 to go to each apprentice.
• of $10,000 to go would be an allocation of $10,000 to go to<00:41:33.839> each<00:41:34.079><

Bills: HF846, HF1538, HF1959

Keywords: education, special education, apprenticeship, funding, grants, intermediate school districts, teacher apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, teacher licensure, teacher shortage, workforce development, education finance, K-12 education, higher education, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, Tier 3 license, teacher preparation, mentor teacher, school district

Transcript Highlights:

• So $20 million is what is collected in fees that's being charged.
• So $20 million is what is collected in fees that's being charged.
• So $20 million is what is collected in fees that's being charged.
• down, we've talked previously as well about how some of that funding is allocated. oh<00:56:42.960><
• down I we've of how that allocates down I we've talked<00:56:56.599> previously<00:56:57.079>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 707 on the College Savings Program. Members discussed a suggested amendment from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities to include the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program. The chair said the Department of the Attorney General advised there was no title problem, so the bill could be broadened to cover both the College Savings Program and the ABLE program. The committee also noted technical, non-substantive changes and a defective date of July 1, 3000 for further discussion. HB 707 HD1 was then voted on and the recommendation to pass with amendments was adopted unanimously by the members present, with two members excused. The committee then heard House Bill 424, which would provide free breakfast and lunch beginning the next school year to students who currently qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The Department of Education supported the measure, and testimony in favor came from teachers, public health and food security advocates, and several organizations. Supporters described students being denied meals because of unpaid balances, said school meals should not depend on family debt, and argued that the bill would reduce stigma and help hungry students learn. Committee questions focused on meal pricing, the impact of raising prices on families who pay full price, and whether portion sizes could be increased; DOE said breakfast costs less than lunch, full-price students would bear any increase, and portion sizes must follow USDA rules. Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute and Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network said many families above the free/reduced thresholds still cannot afford meals, citing estimates that the DOE collects about $20 million a year in meal payments and that federal reimbursement totals are much larger. The committee then heard House Bill 757, the universal free school breakfast and lunch bill. DOE and the Department of Health supported it, and testimony was overwhelmingly in favor from county officials, teachers, students, food banks, advocacy groups, and community organizations. Witnesses argued that universal meals would eliminate stigma, reduce paperwork and debt collection, and ensure students do not fall through the cracks because of income cutoffs, language barriers, or administrative hurdles. Several students from Castle High School described classmates asking for food and families struggling to keep meal accounts funded, while teachers said they regularly see negative meal balance notices and hungry students. Advocates also said the bill is the better equity vehicle because it avoids means testing and reaches students who are not currently receiving meals despite needing them. The hearing on HB 757 was still ongoing at the end of the transcript, and no final vote on that bill was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:04.000> that<00:21:04.240> happened<00:21:05.039> at the extortion fees
• that happened at the extortion fees that happened at Donaldson<00:21:06.000> Correction<00:21
• It tightens the qualification standards by adding unpaid fees as a disqualifier along with forfeitures
• as a disqualifier adding unpaid fees as a disqualifier along<00:59:51.200> with<00:59:51.440>
• or fees trigger reporting or disqualification<00:59:58.400> and<00:59:58.720> gives<00

Bills: HB426, SB24, SB106, SB254, HB505, HB458, HB535, HB509, HB320, HB518, HB261, HB426, SB24, SB106, SB254, HB505, HB458, HB535, HB509, HB320, HB518, HB261, SB316, HB228, SB318, SB260, HB132, HB347, HB405, HB86, HB263, HB302, SB336

Keywords: Alabama Ad Valorem Advisory Committee, ad valorem taxes, property tax, real property, personal property, tax assessment, tax collection, county tax officials, Department of Revenue, Commissioner of Revenue, taxpayer representation, resident taxpayers, local government, property tax administration, Association of Alabama Tax Administrators, tax policy, advisory committee, public input, governance reform, body-worn camera

Transcript Highlights:

• There's protect and fee without PILT.
• One thing to mention is that for protect and fee with PILT, there's 2,485 acres, and looking back at
• with pilt there's for protectant fee with pilt there's 2,485<00:23:12.240> acres<00:23:12.559
• On the other extreme side of protect and fee with PILT, it would cost $9,600.
• Other Extreme side of the protectant fee Other Extreme side of the protectant fee with<00:25:08.120

Bills: HF1250

Keywords: outdoor heritage, land acquisition, wildlife management, conservation easements, environmental restoration, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But on the second bill that was passed, HB 2582, the fee charged was $3.26.
• Why are we why are we imposing a fee and giving a grant?
• And then the actual producer would also be paid a fee.
• The fees in the bill are what their recommendations were. Alright, I got you.
• Again, I mean, you said we allocated the $150 million? Versus $3.8 billion.

Bills: HB294, HB405, HB519, HB294

Keywords: food production, property owners' association, home gardening, cottage food, urban agriculture, livestock, community standards, renewable energy, ethanol, biodiesel, incentives, agriculture, grants, honey production, beekeeping, food safety, local regulation, energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties

Transcript Highlights:

• There's language in the bill that modifies our examination fees.
• modifies our examination fees. modifies our examination fees.
• <00:46:08.480> um Uh the change changes to the fees um Uh the change changes to the fees um
• barber registration fee barber registration fee has<00:46:42.600> a<00:46:42.640> revenue
• the elimination of the retake fee the elimination of the retake fee that<00:47:28.560> impacts

Bills: HF1234, HF3528, HF3672, HF3679, HF3680, HF1944

Keywords: payment transparency, public contracts, contractor rights, government accountability, construction payments, barbering, licensing, examinations, barber schools, public safety, certifications, Barber Examiners Board, data transparency, Legislative Budget Office, state agencies, fiscal notes, public data, standard time, federal law, time zone

Transcript Highlights:

• agency has spent approximately $21.9 million of the fund to pay for their contract costs to Deloitte and fee
• case, it's not unusual to hire four or more experts: a revenue requirement expert, a class cost allocation
• The additional $600,000 per year would allow OPUC to properly allocate funds, keep budget lines separate
• And I just want to, if we lose that lawsuit, let's say you get a six-figure attorney fee judgment, that's

Bills: SB1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to review Article 8, regulatory agencies, and began Article 9, general provisions, before recessing for floor action. The committee first heard budget presentations from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC). The PUC budget recommendation was about $5.07 billion in all funds, including an additional $5 billion for the Texas Energy Fund, plus funding for staffing and technology needs tied to contested cases, infrastructure resiliency, and outage mapping. PUC witnesses emphasized the agency’s growing workload, the need for more staff and modern systems, and oversight of the Texas Energy Fund. OPUC’s recommendation was about $6.9 million, with a reduction in authorized FTEs to better match actual staffing; the agency requested additional funding for salaries, expert witnesses, and budget flexibility, and members highlighted OPUC’s role representing residential and small commercial consumers in utility proceedings. The committee then heard from the Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), whose recommendation was just over $11.2 million. BHEC’s main requests included funding to fill vacant positions, money for continuous National Practitioner Data Bank queries, and a proposed Texas-owned psychology licensing exam in response to concerns about changes to the national exam. Agency leaders also discussed a rider request that would shift responsibility for certain judgments or settlements to the comptroller. Members asked about prior complaint backlogs, and BHEC said those backlogs had been cleared. The Board of Chiropractic Examiners followed, with a recommendation of just under $2.4 million; the board sought support for staffing, training, broadband, and salary retention, and described its work regulating chiropractors and workers’ compensation-related doctors. The Board of Dental Examiners was the last agency heard before the committee recessed. Its recommendation was just under $10 million, and it requested a 10% salary increase for eligible staff, three additional licensing staff, one staff member to handle required background checks, an additional attorney, and an executive director salary adjustment. Dental board witnesses said licensure growth, increased complaints, and low salaries were straining licensing and enforcement operations, even though the agency reported strong performance and high case completion rates. The chair ended the hearing early because the Senate had to return to the floor, and the committee remained in recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• , needed because in its first year it had demand for almost twice the amount it was originally allocated
• , needed because in its first year it had demand for almost twice the amount it was originally allocated
• , needed because in its first year it had demand for almost twice the amount it was originally allocated
• , needed because in its first year it had demand for almost twice the amount it was originally allocated
• You said it's a cost issue of tipping fees that's presenting some of this as well.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There's currently a fee that the Secretary of State's office receives for their IT, and that fee funds
• Our kids on the private school vouchers are allocated $7,145.
• We better hope that people go out and get on those boats and gamble because we need that fee to come
• You have to pay an additional lunch fee that’s several thousand dollars more.
• , athletic fees, and lunchroom fees.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the previous day’s journal, and a series of special guest introductions recognizing family members, interns, students, public servants, and community advocates. Committee reports and Senate messages followed, including Senate refusals to concur on a large number of amendments to Senate Bill 1421 and the appointment of a conference committee on House Bill 2818. The main floor action centered on the state budget, especially House Bill 2 (public education). The budget chair explained the conference report’s funding mix for K-12 schools, including $8.4 billion for public education, changes to the foundation formula, use of blind pension funds, and possible ARPA dollars later in the process. Members debated whether the report underfunded schools by $45 million or more, with opponents arguing the state was not fully funding the formula and supporters saying total school funding remained at record levels and that the issue was the source of funds rather than the total amount. A substitute motion to send HB 2 back to conference failed 62-89, and the conference report was then adopted 83-68; the bill was third read and passed 83-68. The House then took up House Bill 2003 on higher education, where the conference report largely restored the governor’s recommendation and directed the department to develop a new funding formula by the end of the year. Members discussed performance-based funding, scholarships, apprenticeships, and the need for a slower transition to any new model. The conference report passed 119-28, and the bill was third read and passed 109-32. House Bill 2004, covering Revenue and Transportation, included about $20 million for rural roads and other transportation funding; members discussed constitutional concerns, MoDOT projects, and a small local safety fix. The conference report passed 128-21, and the bill was third read and passed 127-27.

Transcript Highlights:

• That water—3,000 or so acre-feet of that—is allocated to the city of Page.
• They said our allocations are to the main stem of the river; the tributaries do not count.
• That water, 3,000 or so acre feet of that is allocated to the city of Page.
• So acre feet of that is allocated to the city of Page.
• We're allocated 2.8; where our allocation would fall on that.

Bills: HB2042, HB2052, HB2055, HB2056, HB2094, HB2098, HB2185, HB2328, HB2758, HB2798

Keywords: solar radiation management, environment, prohibition, Arizona Revised Statutes, public health, complaint process, Attorney General, groundwater management, water conservation, irrigation, water supply, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, brackish water, groundwater, water resources

Summary: The committee first received an update from Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzky on Colorado River negotiations and post-2026 operating rules. He described the legal framework governing Arizona’s allocation, argued that Arizona and the lower basin have already made substantial conservation cuts, and said the upper basin is pressing positions Arizona views as inconsistent with prior Supreme Court rulings. He emphasized the need to move water from upstream reservoirs to Lake Mead, warned of continued shortage risk, and said the state is seeking an equitable deal through ongoing federal and interstate negotiations. Members asked about outside water use, tourism and recreation impacts, and tribal water rights, including the Navajo-Hopi-San Juan Southern Paiute settlement. Buschatzky said the state’s delegation and bipartisan support have been helpful and urged continued public and legislative backing. The committee then heard House Bill 2758, which would expand McMullen Valley groundwater transportation authority and add related requirements and guardrails, including an amendment increasing the La Paz County transportation cap from 10% to 50% of the annual volume and adding conditions for sales or leases from historically irrigated acres. Supporters, including bill sponsor advocates, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, and the Home Builders Association, said the bill would create a lawful, regulated transfer option similar to the Harquahala model, support housing growth, and include oversight through hydrologic studies, pumping limits, and monthly reporting to ADWR. Opponents, including La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin’s statement, local residents, Sierra Club, and rural advocates, argued the bill would accelerate aquifer depletion, harm private wells and subsidence conditions, and benefit a New York hedge fund at the expense of rural communities. After debate, the committee adopted the Griffin amendment and then passed HB 2758 as amended on a 6-4 due-pass vote. The committee next took up House Bill 2098, which would modify bonding authority and public hearing notice requirements for county water augmentation authorities and allow local repayment agreements with WIFA. Pinal County Supervisor Stephen Miller and other supporters said the bill would clean up statutory language so the Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority can finance future water augmentation and infrastructure projects, including potential Bartlett Dam-related work, and better prepare for future Colorado River uncertainty. The Home Builders Association also supported the bill, saying it included proportionality protections for private utility water charges. The bill was moved for a due-pass recommendation and the committee proceeded to a roll call vote, with the transcript ending before the final vote result was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• with Senator Lang after our hearing last week about possibilities of having some kind of designated fee
• possibilities of having some kind of possibilities of having some kind of designated<00:09:06.959> fee
• structure<00:09:08.640> uh<00:09:08.760> to<00:09:08.959> support designated fee
• structure uh to support designated fee structure uh to support the<00:09:09.519> work<00:09:09.760
• , or they're going to have to restructure their fees because they're supposed to be self-funded.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• retroactivity date so the residential subcommittee may stagger renewal and collection of licensing fees
• Amendments 12 and 13 provide that fees for the inspections on behalf of the subcommittee shall be set
• would come from the Manufactured Housing Commission currently for their licensing and enforcement fees
• Those fees would go up. Those fees would go up.
• And you would have, to the commissioner's point, some allocation.

Bills: HB744, HR197, SB54, SB79, SB163, SB287, SB375, SB386, SB398, SB469, SCR5

Keywords: public utility, common carrier, regulation, Public Service Commission, New Orleans, constitutional amendment, distributed energy, energy storage, electricity demand, virtual power plants, reliability, hurricane resilience, esthetics, cosmetology, hair services, beauty industry, Louisiana regulation, Louisiana Economic Development, sunset law, legislative authority

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 11, 2026, and first advanced several Senate measures with little or no opposition. It reported favorably Senate Bill 79 recreating Louisiana Economic Development, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 establishing the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, and Senate Bill 375 on Class B firefighting foam, after adopting a technical amendment clarifying use in declared emergency firefighting operations. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 398, which moves manufactured and modular housing regulation under the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board and expands inspection and enforcement provisions, after adopting two sets of mostly technical amendments and hearing testimony that the change would improve consumer safety and increase inspection coverage without adding net cost to locals. It then reported favorably Senate Bill 163 on virtual currency business licensing, after adopting an amendment providing that any future federal licensing law would preempt the state act, and Senate Bill 287 on virtual currency kiosks, which adds refund timelines, disclosure requirements, customer support, and reporting duties; witnesses from the banking and law enforcement community said the bill responds to common fraud complaints and improves consumer protection. The committee also reported favorably Senate Bill 54, which allows estheticians to blow-dry hair after certain services, despite strong opposition from cosmetology board representatives and industry witnesses who argued the service is outside esthetics training, could create scope-of-practice and facility issues, and should instead be addressed by lowering or revising separate blow-dry licensing requirements. The committee then considered House Resolution 197, which urges the Louisiana Public Service Commission to study the feasibility and value of distributed energy generation and storage resources. After adopting technical amendments and a second amendment changing mandatory language to requests and urging the PSC to coordinate with the LSU Energy Institute, the resolution was reported favorably. Testimony from solar and energy industry representatives, the PSC, and LSU focused on how distributed resources, batteries, rooftop solar, and virtual power plants could improve reliability, reduce costs, and help meet rising demand; members also discussed how the study would evaluate market value, avoided costs, and capacity benefits. Questions centered on methodology, grid impacts, and comparisons to Texas’s ERCOT system and Winter Storm Uri, with PSC officials emphasizing that the study would help determine whether such resources benefit ratepayers. Representative Wright presented House Bill 744, a proposed constitutional amendment to transfer regulation of certain New Orleans utilities from the city council to the Public Service Commission. He argued the change could reduce rates through consolidation and eliminate duplicative regulatory costs, while PSC officials explained the city’s authority is a constitutional exception dating back to 1921 and that Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana operate as separate companies with different regulatory environments. After discussion of rate impacts, utility structure, and whether the proposal should instead become a study, the bill was deferred. The committee then began Senate Bill 386, the Louisiana Data Privacy Act, which would give consumers rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of certain uses of personal data; the sponsor introduced the bill and the committee started considering technical and substantive amendments, but the transcript ends before final action on that measure.