Video & Transcript Research : 'utility consumer'
Page 94 of 500
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Nov 18th, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- It's really difficult and very time-consuming for Them.
- Fully utilize technology in New Mexico.
- Those old labs up there, my father-in-law was a superintendent of utilities up there.
- So it's my understanding then that there is not a requirement that The utility be owned by the public
- water utility.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
October 7, 2025 - 12:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- , THE DIVISION RECEIVES INQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS WITH CONSUMERS.
- WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT CONSUMERS KNOW OR DO NOT KNOW ABOUT AI.
- TO THE INDUSTRY AND THE CONSUMER.
- FROM A CONSUMER SERVICES POINT OF VIEW, OUR GOAL IS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS, RIGHT?
- CONSUMER PROTECTION.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Business and Professions Committee Jun 23rd, 2026
Business and Professions
Transcript Highlights:
- Savings to the consumer.
- That, I'm afraid, is not only very poor consumer affairs treatment.
- That, I'm afraid, is not only very poor consumer affairs treatment.
- We want to thank Senator McGuire for his authorship of this consumer protection bill.
- Again, HAZWOPER training is utilized when there is a major disaster and toxic material.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- Amendment number two removes what constitutes clinical utility.
- And amendment number four removes the provisions of law that are relative to clinical utility.
- But when I'm fighting for the consumer and we're talking about auto and homeowners, When I'm fighting
- I haven't, you know, I hear a lot about the consumers, and we all as consumers complain about it.
- I am all for lowering drug costs for our consumers, so let's be clear about that.
Summary:
The House Insurance Committee met on April 29 with a quorum present and considered several insurance- and health care-related bills. SB 192, concerning dental reimbursement and payment methods, was amended to clarify opt-in for electronic acceptance and then reported as amended. SB 84, which expands prostate cancer screening coverage for men over 40 and bars cost-sharing, was also amended and reported as amended after testimony from the American Cancer Society supporting earlier detection and reduced out-of-pocket barriers. SB 275, dealing with reimbursement and network access for certified registered nurse anesthetists, was reported favorably with broad support from nurse anesthetists, hospitals, and related groups. SB 169, a biomarker testing cleanup bill, was amended to clarify legislative intent and reported as amended.
The committee spent substantial time on two major drug-pricing bills. SB 401 would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to study selected prescription drug prices, collect manufacturer and related pricing data, and report findings to the legislature; amendments narrowed the scope, addressed confidentiality, and delayed implementation. Supporters said it would provide transparency similar to Texas and help lawmakers understand drug pricing, while opponents warned about government overreach and confidentiality concerns. SB 387, the companion PBM reform bill, would restrict PBM compensation to flat fees and performance bonuses, require rebate pass-throughs, limit formulary practices, expand audit and reporting requirements, and create enforcement mechanisms; it was amended to delay implementation, refine definitions, and address ERISA-related concerns. Supporters argued it would curb PBM abuses and lower drug costs, while opponents from the Pelican Institute and PCMA said it would interfere with private contracts, reduce flexibility, and could raise premiums. After a roll call vote, SB 387 was reported with amendments.
The committee also took up SB 241, which requires certain insurance adjusters and appraisers to include license numbers in written communications. After amendments narrowing the requirement to individual claims and public adjusters, the bill was reported as amended. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly raised concerns about unintended consequences, especially for cities, school boards, and other non-ERISA plans, and sponsors said they would continue working on the drug-pricing bills before floor consideration.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Jun 3rd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill revises utility wildfire mitigation plans to consider cost efficiencies, to allow... ...utility
- Utilities can seek bankruptcy protection.
- And I just, obviously, the utilities or the consumers have already paid into the wildfire fund, and I
- are really utilizing.
- . cheaper for us or a public agency to borrow than a utility.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard two bills focused on electricity affordability and utility costs. AB 745, by Assembly Member Irwin, would restructure the California Climate Credit by shifting it from lump-sum payments to direct reductions in volumetric electricity rates and moving the credit to the summer months when bills are highest. The author and UC Santa Barbara economist Dr. Kyle Meng argued this could significantly lower summer rates and better help households during extreme heat. Supporters, including UCS, NRDC, and some labor representatives, favored the concept, with some urging that the gas climate credit also be redirected. No opposition testimony was presented, and the bill passed 18-0 to the floor.
The committee then considered AB 825, also presented as an affordability package aimed at reducing electric bills by addressing wildfire mitigation costs, transmission financing, permitting delays, and a review of ratepayer-funded programs. The bill would authorize securitization for undergrounding expenses, remove the first $15 billion in undergrounding capital investments from the rate base for return purposes, create a public transmission financing program using Proposition 4 funds and IBank support, revive the California Power Authority as a public sponsor, and establish a task force to review energy efficiency and demand response programs. The author and witness Matt Friedman of The Utility Reform Network said the bill could save ratepayers billions over time through lower-cost public financing and securitization.
Testimony on AB 825 was mixed. Support came from several consumer and clean-energy groups, while utilities and labor raised concerns about the bill’s impact on utility financial stability, wildfire fund participation, liability, and whether the $15 billion securitization cap could discourage undergrounding. Some witnesses also objected to the task force’s potential effect on energy efficiency and demand response programs. Committee members discussed the need to balance affordability with utility creditworthiness and wildfire safety, and several asked for more analysis of market impacts and liability issues. Despite those concerns, AB 825 passed the committee 13-0 and was sent to the floor.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Transcript Highlights:
- Welcome to the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
- The email is on our website, which is a long word of joint committee on consumer protection and professional
- In short, the bill strengthens consumer protections, modernizes our regulatory framework, and brings
- In Texas, the new law will establish a registry for solar salespersons, require a consumer disclosure
- The consumer education brochure is a really important piece and is an emerging best practice.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard testimony on several real estate, housing, and consumer protection bills. A major portion of the hearing focused on bills to create licensure for commercial interior designers (H.324/S.254), with supporters from the architecture and interior design fields arguing the measure would recognize a distinct profession, expand permitting authority for qualified designers, improve public safety, and remove barriers to firm ownership and public contracting. Witnesses said the proposal had been redrafted through collaboration among interior designers, architects, engineers, and building officials, and Senator Gomez said the Senate had passed the bill previously and hoped to advance it again. The committee also heard support for H.450 on solar customer protections, with solar companies backing standardized disclosures, a consumer brochure, a longer rescission period, and sales registration requirements as consumer safeguards that would not materially disrupt business operations.
The committee then took testimony on H.431/S.245, a bill to end housing discrimination in the Commonwealth. Senator Gomez, fair housing advocates, and several renters described alleged discrimination against Black renters and voucher holders, citing testing data and personal experiences. They said the bill would strengthen enforcement by linking court findings to temporary license suspensions, require fair housing training, increase public reporting, and add board representation with fair housing or voucher-holder experience. A real estate appraisers representative also supported S.196, which would make appraisal licensure mandatory in Massachusetts, arguing that home valuation should be done by licensed professionals.
A substantial part of the hearing addressed broker-fee and rental-timing bills, including H.335, H.336, H.374, H.224, and H.449. Supporters of the broker-fee changes argued that tenants should not be charged fees when the landlord hired the broker, while opponents warned the language could restrict tenant representation and harm small landlords, students, and the rental market. Several witnesses opposed the 90-day lease-signing window in H.336, saying it would compress the September rental cycle, worsen competition, and make it harder for students and out-of-state renters to secure housing. The chairs noted that broker fees had already been addressed in the state budget, and the hearing concluded with no votes on the bills, only the close of testimony and an announcement that the committee would not hold another hearing until later in the year.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board (10-7-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- health care needs leads to utilizing health care needs leads to utilizing services<00:17:27.199>
- you utilizing a great deal. you utilizing a great deal.
- <00:50:00.760>
with you're balancing the utilization with you're balancing the utilization - >> utilization or MLR? >> utilization or MLR? >> No, I'm<00:50:46.240>
sorry. - <00:51:07.600>
your <00:51:07.880>portion utilizing your portion utilizing your portion
Summary:
The Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board first approved the September 24 minutes and then heard a presentation from four certified community behavioral health clinic providers: Pathways, NorthKey, Seven Counties Services, and NewVista. The presenters explained the difference between traditional community mental health centers and CCBHCs, describing CCBHCs as an enhanced model that integrates behavioral health, primary care, wraparound services, and crisis response. They reviewed the federal history of the model, Kentucky’s entry into the Medicaid demonstration in 2022, and the scheduled end of the enhanced federal match on December 31, 2027. They also emphasized required services such as 24-hour mobile crisis, care coordination, and services for veterans, and described care coordination as a key feature that helps patients follow up after hospital or emergency discharge, manage medications, and connect to transportation and other supports.
The presenters gave examples of improved outcomes, including a patient who was able to remain living independently because of coordinated home-based and telehealth support, and they argued that CCBHCs are helping Kentucky build a more responsive crisis system through 988, mobile crisis teams, and crisis stabilization units. They said the model is data-driven, uses performance metrics, and has led to stronger collaboration among community partners. One speaker said more than 100 agencies participated in a Jefferson County community health needs assessment and continued meeting afterward to reduce redundancies and barriers to care. They also said crisis call hub compliance and mobile crisis outreach compliance improved significantly over the past year.
Members asked about how navigators and connectors fit into the model, how CCBHCs work with managed care organizations, and how the program could expand statewide. The presenters said navigators are not built into the CCBHC model but may be used through referrals, while the CCBHCs continue to bill MCOs the same way and receive a Medicaid wrap payment for the enhanced rate. They said the goal would be for all community mental health centers to become CCBHCs, but that a state plan amendment would be needed and could not be limited only to CMHCs if submitted to CMS. They estimated about $28 million would be needed statewide to continue the program in the next biennium, combining the loss of enhanced federal match and the state share of enhanced service costs. The board also discussed transportation, with one presenter explaining that their program arranges Medicaid transportation for eligible appointments, and members raised concerns about mental inquest warrant transport and whether sheriffs should remain involved. No votes were taken on the CCBHC or transportation items during the discussion.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Community Affairs Mar 31st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Leek: UTILITY OR MUNICIPALITY. >> IN MY MIXING THE SAME. >> Chair McClain: YOU ARE. >> THE UTILITY IS
- WE OWN THE UTILITY. THE UTILITY IS OUTSIDE OUR CITY. >> Sen. Leek: LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION.
- IF YOU GO BACK TO ALL OF YOUR COUNTIES AND CITIES, EVERY CITY HAS A UTILITY TAX ON THE UTILITY TAX IS
- NOT ONLY THE WATER UTILITY BUT ALL THE UTILITIES.
- AS SOME OF YOU INDICATED, THIS IS A UTILITY. ALL THE COSTS OF THE UTILITY ARE BUILT INTO THE RATE.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Commerce and Tourism Mar 3rd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- MAINTAINS THE INTENTION OF THE STATUTE I PASSED IN 2021 BY REJECTING COMPANIES SEEKING TO INFORM CONSUMERS
- WOULD ONLY ALLOW EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE OFF-HOURS PROTECTING THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE CONSUMER
- MY THING IS THE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS WE PUT IN PLACE I THINK SHOULD STAY. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN.
- I AM A CONSUMER PROTECTION ATTORNEY DOWN IN TAMPA FLORIDA.
- I AM NOT THAT CONSUMER PROTECTION ATTORNEY BUT I DO SEE SOMETHING IN MY CLIENTS ALL THE TIME AND I'D
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 4/2/25
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- seek to address some of the encumbrances that PUDs bring to light as they seem to be the de facto utilization
- seek to address some of the encumbrances that PUDs bring to light as they seem to be the de facto utilization
- I am a deputy attorney general over the consumer protection section in the AG's office.
- <00:41:34.880>
and us to help protect those consumers and us to help protect those consumers - 40.640>
often <00:41:40.960>mention talk to consumers, they often mention talk to consumers
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We were doing pipeline lines, electric utilities, and water lines.
- Members, this bill creates a Sayers Ranch Municipal Utility District.
- Municipal Utility District number 405.
- So it's going to cost the consumer a total of $315,000, right?
- by the Public Utility Commission.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Jan 27th, 2026 at 08:32 am
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- They don't consume or combust any fossil fuels. There is no fuel use.
- They don't consume or combust any fossil fuels. There is no fuel use.
- A new tax on renewables will be passed on to consumers.
- So when we talk about suffering, we also need to understand, Who consumes energy.
- The taxes that we could levy on the consumer, it is just, it's not apples to apples.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- We're a nonprofit law firm that helps consumers in Massachusetts access health care coverage and, in
- House Bill 1136 includes a number of really important consumer rights that help consumers do just that
- : access care or avoid important consumer rights that help consumers do just that: access care or avoid
- And that's really important for helping consumers avoid medical debt.
- So, you know, I don't think the CPT codes are helpful for the consumer side.
Summary:
The committee held a hearing on several health care access and insurance-related bills, with most testimony focused on H.1136 to improve the prior authorization process. The Massachusetts Medical Society, Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Health Care for All, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, physicians, and hospital representatives all supported the bill, arguing that prior authorization delays care, increases administrative burden, contributes to clinician burnout, and can worsen patient outcomes. Witnesses described examples involving delayed cancer treatment, diabetes care, COPD medication, shingles pain treatment, and hospital discharge delays. They said the bill would preserve prior authorization but add guardrails such as longer validity periods, continuity-of-care protections, faster responses for urgent care, clearer lists of services requiring authorization, and more transparency and standardization.
The committee also heard testimony on H.1142/S.783 regarding equitable reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), with Senator Lovely and CRNA advocates supporting parity with physician anesthesiologists. They said CRNAs provide the same services at the same standard of care, but private insurers sometimes reimburse them at lower rates than physicians, which they argued is inconsistent with federal and state policy and harms access. Senator Keenan testified in support of a bill addressing claim denials and appeals, saying insurers should provide clearer explanations, time to resubmit claims, and timely appeal responses. Dr. Lorraine Schratz supported H.1126 to align state patient disclosure requirements with federal No Surprises Act rules, and Dr. Michael Trimbley supported H.1120 to recognize direct primary care as not being insurance and to encourage primary care participation.
The committee also heard testimony on H.1140/S.801 to remove barriers to patient care by updating insurance statutes to reflect nurse practitioners’ full practice authority, and on H.1168/S.A.18 to eliminate the PCP referral requirement for specialty gynecological care. Witnesses on those bills described delays and denials affecting autism diagnosis, nutrition coverage, and endometriosis care, and said the proposals would reduce unnecessary barriers and improve timely access. After testimony and a few member questions, the chair closed the hearing; no votes were taken during the session.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- These limits are set in statute and increase with every general election based on the Consumer Price
- The checkoff, what feeds into the subsidy, not just the base but the utilization.
- I think those are kind of for us to figure out how do we get them to encourage them to utilize it as
- people don't participate in utilization people don't participate in those<00:16:06.000>
things - it as well so so we utilize it as well so so we can<00:16:15.279>
have <00:16:15.480>more< - it as well so so we utilize it as well so so we can<00:16:15.279>
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, February 25, 2026
Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions
Transcript Highlights:
- I am mindful of whether that impacts the average consumers, industrial consumers, residential consumers
- , industrial consumers, residential consumers, and I keep that in mind as we look at these proposals
- I am mindful of whether that impacts the average consumers, industrial consumers, residential consumers
- I am mindful of whether that impacts the average consumers, industrial consumers, residential consumers
- consumers,<01:34:11.679>
residential industrial consumers, residential industrial consumers
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- Data centers consume significant amounts Data centers consume significant amounts of power, and they
- They can also consume significant amounts of water for cooling, and they can damage the environment in
- H. 727 also requires that any data center sign a contract with the utility.
- This large load contract, which must be approved and reviewed by the Public Utility Commission, Utility
- It sets out guardrails that the Public It sets out guardrails that the Public Utility Commission will
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Health committee considers HF1534 4/7/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, when we utilize this program, we get a federal match, which actually means that we leverage other
- <00:04:20.000>
The <00:04:20.160>Fresh local retailers and consumers. - The Fresh local retailers and consumers.
- So, this is a unique way for us to utilize the resources we have to support our local grocers, our local
- the resources we way for us to utilize the resources we have<00:07:03.759>
to <00:07:04.000>
Summary:
House File 1534, authored by Representative Keeler, was heard and amended with the A1 amendment, which was adopted without objection. The bill would move the Healthy Eating Here at Home/Market Bucks program from the Department of Humanities to the Department of Health and expand the nutrition incentive program from farmers markets to grocery stores, with the goal of helping SNAP recipients afford fresh fruits and vegetables year-round and leveraging federal matching funds.
Representative Keeler said the proposal would better align food insecurity work with health outcomes and support both local consumers and local grocers. The Minnesota Grocers Association testified in support, describing the bill as an expansion of a successful program that would help low-income shoppers and provide added support to retailers, especially small businesses facing rising costs. A testifier, Tamara Walter, also supported the bill as a SNAP recipient and Market Bucks user, saying the program helps her family afford healthier food and that winter access to fresh produce is especially important because of diabetes and celiac disease in her household.
There was no public testimony in opposition and no member discussion. The committee then laid the bill over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPC Public Hearing - Wed Apr 2, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Consumer Protection & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- It's up to the patient where they go. consumer protection um we cannot be you consumer protection um
- know putting finances over consumer know putting finances over consumer protection<01:08:42.359>
- <01:10:24.920>
states consumer consumers and of the states consumer consumers and of the states - much y thank you next up consumer much y thank you next up consumer technology<01:16:21.679>
- lot of extra effort for not much utility lot of extra effort for not much utility that's<01:23:38.199
Summary:
The committee heard several measures, beginning with SB 1046 SD1 on condominiums. Testimony on that bill focused on reserve funding and enforcement of reserve study requirements. The Community Associations Institute opposed the bill, saying it would create hardship, confusion, and be difficult to administer, while also urging stronger penalties for boards that fail to comply with reserve study rules. The Real Estate Commission offered comments, and one testifier spoke in support. No vote was taken during the portion provided.
The committee then heard SB 532 SD2 HD1 relating to the Department of Education, which would improve access to pre-approved medications for students with health conditions at school and during off-campus activities. The Department of Health, University of Hawaiʻi nursing and medical programs, and the Department of Education all supported the measure, with DOH suggesting amendments to better identify the correct student and improve medication safety. Members had no questions, and the bill moved on.
Next was SB 1245 SD2 HD1 relating to pharmacists, a bill to allow reimbursement for clinical services pharmacists are already trained and licensed to provide. The University of Hawaiʻi, Board of Pharmacy, Walgreens, Mikai Drugs, and the Hawaiʻi Pharmacists Association supported the bill, emphasizing improved access to care, recruitment and retention of pharmacists, and better chronic disease management. The Hawaiʻi Pharmacists Association also discussed proposed amendments to prevent plans from denying coverage or network participation when pharmacists meet credentialing requirements. Members questioned whether insurers would actually use pharmacists and how the bill would affect pay and contracting; no vote was taken in the excerpt.
The committee also heard SB 1279 SD2 HD1, another pharmacists bill focused on telepharmacy and 340B-related issues. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation supported it, saying telehealth could reduce costs and avoid travel for audits, while the Board of Pharmacy opposed it. Lānaʻi representatives opposed the bill and asked for an exemption, arguing the island already has close in-person access to a resident pharmacist and clinics. The Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association supported the measure, citing large patient savings from 340B pricing, while Mikai Drugs opposed it, arguing that mail-order and telepharmacy are not necessary on some islands and can create delivery and medication-safety problems. Members asked questions about insurer participation, scope of practice, and whether the bill would meaningfully change reimbursement; the transcript ends before any final action or vote.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Emergency Management Committee Jul 14th, 2025
Emergency Management
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay Thank you I see on the top of the consumer watchdog in support, thank you.
- concerns that the bill's proposed commission with a focus on fire insurance and with the lack of utility
- Shira Spector for Stone Advocacy on behalf of Consumer Watchdog in support. Thank you.
- It also mandates utilities to collaborate with regional emergency centers and enhances PSPS notifications
- the undergrounding of electrical distribution lines and ways that limit the financial burdens on consumers
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- limitations prevent me from utilizing limitations prevent me from utilizing that<00:04:56.960>
- And if we consume all of our spending in And if we consume all of our spending in one<01:17:45.520>
- given the important need for consumer given the important need for consumer protections<01:23:31.280
- 52.680>
are Again, the consumer protections are Again, the consumer protections are already<01- <01:26:15.880>
is the piece of this where the consumer is the piece of this where the consumer - And if we consume all of our spending in And if we consume all of our spending in one<01:17:45.520>
Keywords:
opioid use disorder, OUD, medication-assisted treatment, MAT, pharmacist prescribing, pharmacy practice, controlled substances, Schedule III, Schedule IV, Schedule V, DEA registration, Board of Pharmacy, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, buprenorphine, naltrexone, harm reduction, prescription authority, pharmacist intern, Minnesota pharmacy law