Video & Transcript Research : 'standards'
Page 95 of 500
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 4, 2026 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- These are educators who were previously certified in Florida and already met state standards.
- education requirements are newly completed and the teachers are still held to the Florida academic standard
- nbsp; 372 THESE ARE EDUCATORS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY CERTIFIED IN FLORIDA AND ALREADY MET STATE STANDARDS
- nbsp; ARE NEWLY COMPLETED AND THE TEACHERS ARE STILL 381 HELD TO THE FLORIDA ACADEMIC STANDARD
- THE THIRD, THE BILL CORRECTS A REFERENCE 382 HELD TO THE FLORIDA ACADEMIC STANDARD.
Summary:
The Pre-K-12 Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered three bills. HB 157, School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program, would create a Department of Education program allowing school districts and charter schools to place current or retired high-performing teachers in D- or F-rated schools as mentors, with a proposed $3,000 stipend per mentor per mentee. Members questioned the funding source and contract-time implications; the sponsor said the program would use previously decategorized education funds and that mentoring could be done within existing planning, before-school, after-school, or weekend time. An amendment clarifying that the bill would use a contract template rather than a DOE contract was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably.
The committee then heard CS/HB 859, Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools, which would require school boards to adopt policies for video cameras in self-contained ESE classrooms upon a parent request, with redaction of other students from footage. Public testimony strongly supported the bill, including emotional accounts from a parent of a nonverbal adult with autism who described past abuse in a classroom and from the Autism Society of Florida, which argued cameras are a necessary safety measure for vulnerable students and noted other states already allow or require them. Members emphasized student safety and the need to fund the policy, and the bill was reported favorably.
Finally, the committee considered HB 561, Educator Certification, which aims to reduce barriers for experienced educators returning to the classroom by expanding temporary certificate eligibility to those with expired Florida certificates, allowing prior subject-area exam results to count for reinstatement, and updating references related to educator professional learning support. The sponsor said the bill preserves standards while making reinstatement more efficient and less costly. There was broad support from members, who noted the value of retaining experienced teachers, and HB 561 was also reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
November 19, 2025 - 01:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- So for the purposes of this bill, meeting the standard of removing the strict liability, the Department
- That is a current standard in this state, and I'm just trying to bring parity to that.
- I very much look forward to the visa legislation you're going to file to upend the buyer-beware standard
- Further question... ...standard in the state. It will be a riveting debate. Further questions?
- haven't seen what the compelling state interest was initially that created the strict liability standard
Summary:
The State Affairs Committee opened with a tribute to the late Representative Joe Casello, with remarks from the chair and Ranking Member Eskamani honoring his service, especially his advocacy for first responders, veterans, and working people. The committee then turned to its only bill, HB 167, which would remove strict liability for certain previously mined phosphate lands if the landowner notifies the county and requests a Department of Health radiation survey. The sponsor said the bill is intended to create a voluntary process, add data about the land, and provide notice through the public record and title process.
Members asked extensive questions about who pays for the surveys, how notice would reach future buyers, whether the bill affects renters or construction workers, and whether it would impact pending lawsuits. The sponsor said the landowner would pay for the survey needed to remove strict liability, plaintiffs would pay for surveys in litigation, the bill does not address OSHA or rental disclosures, and it would not apply retroactively to current cases because the complaint must include a survey. Supporters argued the bill simply replaces automatic liability with recorded notice and due diligence, while opponents said it could leave families and renters without adequate warning and should include stronger disclosure protections.
Public testimony was in support from the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Associated Industries of Florida, and one individual. After debate, the committee voted 18-8 to report HB 167 favorably.
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-05-20 - 10:00AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I believe we have 45 standards that are general standards of policy.
- little bit more than just the standards. little bit more than just the standards.
- that are general standards of policy. that are general standards of policy.
- <00:48:41.200>
And comply with the PREA standards. And comply with the PREA standards. - There are a number of general standards. So, those are general standards.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 02/25/26
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- Um this means service quality standards.
- So we now categorize projects into standard review or major review.
- Standard review covers um wind, solar, Standard review covers um wind, solar, storage<00:23:42.400>
four of them are under standard review. four of them are under standard review. who<00:26:07.039- All applications under the new law are under standard review.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division I (09/18/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 219 proposes to make the following changes to the renewable portfolio standard.
- We think these changes will not impact the value of the renewable portfolio standard.
- <00:27:44.080>
just everybody up to a certain standard just everybody up to a certain standard - of the renewable portfolio standard of the renewable portfolio standard whenever<00:50:13.119>
- So the way the portfolio standard.
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 219, which would revise the renewable portfolio standard by changing several class definitions, eliminating Class 2, lowering the utility obligation for Class 1 thermal renewable energy certificates from 2.2% to 1.7%, and adjusting alternative compliance payments. Representative Vose said the bill would save ratepayers an estimated $5.7 million annually, arguing that Class 2 is already saturated and that the changes would not materially affect renewable energy development. Members questioned the fiscal impact, with an amended fiscal note cited as showing a $1.2 million reduction in general fund revenue, and some members raised concerns that the bill could weaken one of the remaining incentives for renewable investment. The committee also reviewed the bill’s history, including that it had been added to HB 2 and then removed in conference committee. No vote was taken in the work session.
The committee then heard House Bill 164, concerning local records retention and the creation of a local records manager position. Secretary of State David Scanlan testified that the position has existed in statute for years but has never been funded, and said the need has grown as records management has become more digital and ADA accessibility has become more important. He described the bill as a way to help towns preserve and digitize records, especially for smaller communities with limited resources, while keeping records locally when possible. Members asked about the fiscal note, the potential cost of a public website and storage system, and whether the state could start by funding the position alone; the secretary said the staffing cost estimate remained accurate but that storage costs could rise over time. Several members expressed support and suggested further discussion with the Department of Information or other agencies. The work session was then closed without action.
Finally, the committee opened House Bill 365, which would provide proof of U.S. citizenship assistance for indigent voters. Secretary Scanlan said the bill is intended to help voters comply with the new voter registration documentation requirements by allowing the state to verify eligibility through federal, private, and other state databases, and by providing vouchers to cover the cost of obtaining documents such as birth certificates. He compared the proposal to the earlier voter ID law, which he said was successfully implemented with accommodations for voters lacking acceptable ID. Members asked how “indigent” would be defined and how the process would work for out-of-state-born applicants; the secretary said indigency would likely be based on a voter’s statement of inability to pay and that the state would help identify where to obtain records and, if necessary, verify them through outside databases. The discussion continued as the transcript ended, with no vote recorded.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 02/19/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- We do envision two expedited grant rounds per year and one standard round.
- grants up to $750,000. be allowed under the standard grant be allowed under the standard grant round
- grant rounds per year and one standard grant rounds per year and one standard round.<00:41:30.240
- <00:46:51.280>
grant know that your standard grant know that your standard grant applications - <00:47:50.000>
or not something that would be standard or not something that would be standard
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-11 (4:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The bottom line is we already have the standard.
- The bottom line is we already have the standard.
- We talked about community standards, and the question was: who defines community standards?
- This bill is not about closing a gap; it's about lowering a standard.
- It is a standard book.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, moments of silence for former member Terry Fields and the Parkland victims, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of guests and visitors. The chamber then adopted the Rules and Ethics Committee’s special order report setting the day’s calendar and debate times. The main measure taken up was HB 1119, relating to materials harmful to minors in public schools and charter schools, which the sponsor described as a clarification of existing law to keep pornographic or sexually explicit material away from minors and to give districts clearer standards for review and objection processes.
The bill drew extensive debate over constitutional concerns, local control, litigation risk, and the scope of the definition of “harmful to minors.” Members supporting the bill argued it was needed to close loopholes and protect children, while opponents warned it could lead to overbroad book removals, conflict with federal court rulings, and costly lawsuits. A series of amendments sought to narrow or redirect the bill: proposals by Gant, Aristide, Bartleman, Eskamani, Nixon, Rainer, Woodson, and Harris would have preserved literary value review, protected educational and abuse-prevention materials, exempted LGBTQ-inclusive books, limited objections, preserved funding for districts, or delayed enforcement during ongoing litigation. Supporters of the amendments framed them as protecting parental choice, academic value, student safety, and district finances; opponents said they would weaken the bill’s child-protection purpose. All of the amendments failed.
After the amendment process, the House waived rules, read HB 1119 a third time by title, and entered structured debate on final passage. Debate continued along the same lines, with opponents emphasizing book removals, First Amendment concerns, and the impact on students and schools, and supporters reiterating that the bill was intended to prevent minors from accessing obscene material. The transcript provided ends during structured debate and does not include the final vote on HB 1119.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- The standard for acute care hospital nurses is national certification, which is a much more rigorous
- And I ask a follow-up: I certainly appreciate wanting to have some minimum standards, especially some
- I guess my argument would be they are filling it with the current standards. just working exclusively
- <02:09:03.159>
I filling it with the current standards I filling it with the current standards - We want an RN with an associate degree, which is a minimum standard.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Mar 1st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- standards.
- If your house or your rental does not meet up to standards through HUD standards, then it doesn't meet
- the standard.
- It is not up to HUD standards.
- I'm not going to get it up to HUD standards, and I've got lead paint.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session-Day 12, February 23, 2026-AM
Wyoming House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- >
tells <00:27:31.520>courts evidentiary standard that tells courts evidentiary standard - immunity and that's the correct standard immunity and that's the correct standard for<00:31:10.880
- >
lawyers <00:32:59.679>and That's the standard Wyoming lawyers and That's the standard - >
reason <00:44:18.880>which viability standard is a reason which viability standard is - The viability standard makes sense. The viability standard makes sense.
TX
Texas 89th 1st C.S.
Joint Hearing: Senate and House Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Jul 23rd, 2025
Texas Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- After-action reviews are a standard; they're a gold standard.
- We should be able to develop a standard, and if those locals are following that standard, the repercussions
- Generally speaking, the NFIP program sets standards, building standards, and local regulations that must
- When you build a radio to that standard, it meets the standard.
- Let me set the baseline: there is no standard.
Keywords:
flooding, emergency response, communication systems, first responders, disaster management, Texas Water Development Board, regional planning, public safety
Summary:
The meeting primarily focused on discussions around the recent floods in Texas, specifically addressing emergency preparedness, response coordination, and recovery efforts. Officials from various agencies provided testimonies on the challenges faced during the emergency, including issues with communication systems among first responders. Notably, the need for improved inter-agency communication and technology integration was emphasized, with recommendations for establishing regional communications units for better coordination during disasters. The audience included local government representatives and emergency management partners, who shared insights and experiences from the recent flooding events.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/20/25
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:38:17.359>
workg minimal impact design standards workg minimal impact design standards - <00:46:08.880>
must establish water quality standards must establish water quality standards - to conform to cultural beauty standards to conform to cultural beauty standards that<01:11:01.280
- <01:47:43.920>
and subject to the same high standards and subject to the same high standards - <02:04:04.880>
Thanks, double standard. Thanks, double standard.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Business meeting to consider pending calendar business. Apr 30th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- at a hearing earlier this month, a shift to either permanent daylight savings time or permanent standard
- While I know there are strong opinions on this issue, whether daylight saving time or standard time,
- My amendment Young 1 proposes making standard time permanent.
- start their day in darkness supported by the American Academy of Sleep medicine moving to permanent standard
- Actually, the voters of Texas decide whether Texas will be under Standard Time or Daylight Savings Time
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- establishes requirements and standards establishes requirements and standards for<00:01:53.280><
- So I understand your testimony that there is no standard.
- Do you know of any state that has determined a disability accessible standard? Standard? Yes.
- The report from the Act 172 group adopts a similar type of standard.
- actual standards in the ETS statute so actual standards in the ETS statute so they're<00:56:28.319>
Summary:
The committee met on February 4, 2025, for decision making on previously heard measures, then later held hearings on additional bills. Early action focused on several measures that were amended and advanced, including SB 161 on state project exemptions from county permitting, which was heavily revised to allow programmatic or project-specific agreements with counties, require public reporting of exempted projects, and create a working group to study broader permitting and construction coordination issues. The committee also advanced SB 635 on energy efficiency with changes shifting survey leadership to the Hawaii State Energy Office, SB 700 on resilience hubs after narrowing it to focus on emergency-service-capable hubs and removing distributed energy language, SB 869 on community outreach boards with a technical amendment, SB 1081 on a legislative budget office by converting it to a feasibility study, SB 711 on gubernatorial appointments with a salary threshold change, SB 405 on neighborhood board agendas with a committee-report note about OIP concerns, SB 381 with privacy issues deferred to Judiciary, SB 2 as a two-year pilot for fruit tree planting in selected districts, SB 239 on disaster preparedness with sheltering revisions, and SB 998 as introduced with a cost estimate for site selection work. Several measures were deferred or not advanced, including SB 615, which was deferred indefinitely, SB 1132, which the chair said would be set aside in favor of another childcare bill, and SB 111, which was not taken up further because of confusion during an earlier hearing.
During the later hearing portion, SB 1175 on procurement drew testimony from the State Procurement Office, which supported the bill but corrected its estimated database revision cost from $7,500 to $30,000; the Department of Transportation also appeared, while the General Contractors Association submitted opposition. Committee members questioned whether the past-performance database should include more detailed quality information and whether a one-year post-completion review would be useful, but no amendment was adopted at that time. SB 1587 on retainage received written support from the Subcontractors Association of Hawaii and no opposition in the room. SB 1543 on government accountability, which would require justification for outside consultants and cap consultant spending, drew opposition from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii, which argued it could slow procurement, reduce flexibility, and worsen delays given existing vacancies and limited in-house expertise. The Public First Law Center supported the related transparency bill discussed in the hearing, arguing it would close a loophole by making contractor-created records used in government functions subject to disclosure under UIPA, while the Attorney General’s office opposed it. The transcript ends with that testimony still underway, and no final vote is shown for the later hearing bills.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- In fact, a in workplace standards.
- of Labor Standards um to enforce it. of Labor Standards um to enforce it.
- <00:42:54.400>
under to established federal standards under to established federal standards - position within the labor standards position within the labor standards division.<01:46:07.600><
- benefit from labor standards laws. benefit from labor standards laws.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EEP-TRN-AEN-TCA Informational Briefing 06-25-2025
Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Um so making sure we can move standard.
- <00:52:17.680>
includes Um, so clean fuel standards includes Um, so clean fuel standards includes - Putting some standards? Okay, what do we expect out of the clean fuel standard?
- Okay, what do we putting some standards?
- expect out of the clean fuel standard? expect out of the clean fuel standard?
Summary:
The joint informational briefing focused on the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s work under the Navah settlement, which was described as a first-of-its-kind climate agreement tied to the state’s constitutional public trust and clean-environment obligations. Speakers said the settlement was intended to accelerate progress toward Hawaii’s 2030 and 2045 clean energy goals, especially by addressing transportation, the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. They emphasized that the agreement formalizes milestones, reduces dependence on changing administrations, and includes a role for the legislature alongside the courts and executive branch.
DOT and Earthjustice representatives outlined the main settlement deliverables: creation of a new Office of Energy Security and Community Outreach, formation of a youth council, and development of an emissions reduction plan that will be updated over time. They also highlighted a new project-level greenhouse gas/VMT scoring tool, described as the first of its kind in the nation for DOT-wide use, to evaluate the climate impact of transportation projects. The presentation tied these efforts to prior legislative actions, including the state’s climate emergency declaration, net-zero/net-negative targets, and Act 131’s requirements for multimodal network planning and emissions reporting.
A substantial portion of the briefing was devoted to the youth council, which reported 20 members selected from 83 applicants, representation from across the islands, and work on bylaws, committees, and outreach. Youth members described feedback they gave on the energy security plan, a student leadership summit presentation, and future plans to meet with legislators and participate in the Climate Future Forum. DOT also said the settlement’s transportation strategies include clean fuels, electrification, aviation sustainable aviation fuel, marine shore power, and carbon sequestration, including expanded native tree planting and fire mitigation work.
No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the briefing. Members discussed implementation challenges, including cost and supply constraints for aviation and marine decarbonization, but DOT said industry stakeholders were not rejecting the goals, only raising affordability and timing concerns. Officials also noted that a GIS map for network gaps was in development and that the settlement’s pedestrian, bike, and transit connectivity requirement would compress roughly 15 years of work into five years, with an estimated annual commitment of $40 million to $50 million.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Wed Mar 19, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- of Correction standards and in Institute of Correction standards and in some<00:12:22.079>
areas< - <00:15:06.240>
of upheld to scrupulous standards of upheld to scrupulous standards of conduct - is there any best practice and standards is there any best practice and standards and<00:31:16.799
- c> that standards multitude of standards that standards multitude of standards that are<00:35:56.839
- agreements and enforcing labor standards agreements and enforcing labor standards um<01:37:33.199
Summary:
The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard SB 104, which would restrict the use of restrictive housing or solitary confinement in state-operated and state-contracted correctional facilities, with specified exceptions. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation strongly opposed the bill, saying its existing policy already meets or exceeds ACA and National Institute of Corrections standards, and objecting to language they said would give the oversight commission operational decision-making authority. The Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission supported the bill, but also said it was not intended to run operations and described concerns about restrictive housing practices, including CoreCivic’s SHIP program at Saguaro.
Supporters included the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Office of the Public Defender, the Disability Rights Center, ACLU Hawaii, Easter Seals Hawaii, and individual testifiers. They argued that Native Hawaiians are disproportionately impacted by incarceration, that solitary confinement is harmful and linked to depression, anxiety, suicidality, and poor reentry outcomes, and that confinement beyond 15 days is widely condemned under international standards. Several testifiers cited suicides and deaths in custody as reasons to codify limits in statute rather than rely on policy alone. The department responded that it already has 24/7 medical care, though not 24/7 mental health coverage at one facility, and explained that it uses four custody categories: disciplinary segregation, administrative segregation, protective custody, and placements for inmates seeking separation for safety reasons.
Members questioned the department and commission about the SHIP program, whether the bill was based on other states’ laws, and how current policies compare with national standards. The director said the bill was too ambiguous in places and that the department was willing to work with the commission on policy changes, but still opposed the measure as written. The committee took testimony and questions; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Nov 4th, 2025
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- This accrediting body sets the standards for children's advocacy centers across the country.
- The NCA is the accrediting body for CACs across the country, setting nine standards of accreditation
- In Florida, CACs work closely with local partners to meet these standards.
- Conduct forensic interviews, fulfilling two critical standards of the CAC model.
- Each community will have a set of rules, a standard operating procedure, which defines at what point
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs held a panel discussion on Florida’s child protection teams (CPTs), child advocacy centers (CACs), and the related roles of DCF, DOH, and law enforcement. Testimony from DCF, the Department of Health, a local CAC director, the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, a Pinellas County CPT nurse practitioner, and a Jacksonville sheriff’s sergeant described how the system is intended to work: hotline reports are screened by DCF, mandatory referrals are sent to CPT, forensic interviews and medical exams are coordinated through CPT/CACs, and multidisciplinary teams share findings with law enforcement and prosecutors. Speakers emphasized the value of co-location, telemedicine, multidisciplinary staffings, and trauma-informed practices to reduce repeated interviews and improve child safety and case outcomes.
Committee members focused heavily on communication breakdowns, staffing shortages, and delays in response times. Senators raised Jordan’s Law and asked what had been done to improve coordination among DCF, CPT, and law enforcement. Several members questioned whether the promised 24-hour response standard is being met in practice, citing reports of delayed referrals, delayed forensic interviews, and bottlenecks that can affect medical evaluations and criminal investigations. Law enforcement testimony from Jacksonville described cases where CPT interviews were scheduled one to two weeks out and reports were not received for weeks, while DCF acknowledged average CPI caseloads of about 12 investigations and turnover commonly occurring within 12 to 18 months.
The panel also discussed access gaps and funding concerns. The Florida Network of CACs said Florida has 26 member centers, with some counties lacking CAC coverage and some centers having closed due to funding challenges. Speakers said CACs are voluntary but critical for integrated services, and that workforce shortages in medical and mental health providers limit expansion. DCF and DOH representatives said they would provide follow-up information on the number of CPT medical staff and other requested data. No bills were voted on; the meeting ended with committee members requesting additional information and recommendations for statutory and budgetary changes, and the committee adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Human Services Committee May 1st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill does not remove oversight standards from these programs, but rather shifts the responsibility
- The CARF accreditation process is often lengthy and expensive, and as state standards have evolved over
- time, the CARF standards have also become redundant.
- time, the CARF standards have also become redundant.
- Although it has really great standards, they are duplicated in other California quality measures that
Summary:
The Assembly Human Services Committee met with quorum established after beginning as a subcommittee. The committee heard AB 790, which would require jurisdictions receiving state homelessness funds to develop systems specifically supporting women and children, especially single mothers and survivors of domestic violence. Supporters said current homelessness programs overlook this population; the bill was amended and passed unanimously on a 7-0 vote. The committee also heard ACA 4, the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act, which would dedicate a minimum share of the state general fund to affordable housing and homelessness programs. Supporters argued more stable funding is needed to address the housing crisis, while opponents questioned whether more spending would help; the measure passed 5-2 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Members then heard AB 349, which would index the infant supplement for parenting foster youth to inflation. The author and sponsor described the needs of pregnant and parenting teens in foster care and rising costs for diapers and formula; the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 779, which expands a domestic violence consultant pilot in child welfare offices statewide, also passed 6-0 after testimony that it would help keep families together safely and improve trauma-informed responses. AB 1335, which would remove a private CARF accreditation requirement for regional center employment programs and rely on state oversight instead, drew support from disability service providers but opposition from the chair over concerns about weakening quality checks; it failed on a 2-2 vote and reconsideration was denied.
The committee also considered AB 1066, a bill to bar state-funded immigration legal services for people unlawfully present in the country who have certain serious felony convictions. Supporters framed it as a public-safety and fiscal-responsibility measure, while opponents said it would restrict due process and align California with mass-deportation policies. The bill failed on a 2-2 vote. Two bills, AB 277 and AB 318, were pulled by the author and not heard. After final roll calls on absent members, the committee adjourned.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EEP Public Hearing - Thu Feb 13, 2025 @ 10:15 AM HST
Energy & Environmental Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- We support the intent of this bill to protect against, I would call, backsliding of standards to protect
- Standards to protect people from toxic Standards to protect people from toxic emissions<01:00:21.760>
- well below those emission uh standards well below those emission uh standards by<01:01:44.799>
- A regulatory approach sets the standard and provides a much-needed jump start to a more sustainable model
- sets the standard and provides a<01:04:17.200>
much <01:04:17.440>needed <01:04:17.720>
Summary:
The Energy and Environmental Protection Committee met on February 13, 2025, after a brief recess for a concurrent hearing. The committee heard testimony on several measures, including HB 332 on recycling and lithium-ion batteries, HB 256 on environmental protection and federal air standards, HB 348 on single-use plastics in lodging establishments, HB 810 on noise pollution and helicopter-related civil actions, HB 505 on Red Hill coordination, HB 975 on carbon sequestration incentives, and HB 974 on utility financing and step-in agreements. Testimony was generally supportive on HB 256, HB 348, HB 505, HB 975, and HB 974, while HB 332 drew both support and opposition, including concerns from the Consumer Technology Association about battery recycling policy. On HB 975, OPSD supported the program but urged language to prevent use for carbon offsets, and the committee discussed how the program would be monitored and reimbursed. On HB 974, the chair summarized extensive amendments addressing reserve fees, revenue definitions, trust funds, default procedures, and customer credits, while noting the Consumer Advocate’s changed view that a reserve fee may not be constitutionally required.
In decision making, the committee adopted amendments and recommended passage for HB 332, converting it into a working group to study recycling of small- and medium-format lithium-ion batteries, with members from state agencies and industry and a note that an appropriation may be needed. HB 256 was passed with amendments to clarify compliance with federal law unless standards become more stringent. HB 348, HB 810, and HB 505 were each passed as is. HB 975 was passed with amendments, including language to prevent use of the program for carbon offsets and a note that dollar amounts would be blanked out and addressed in the committee report. HB 974 was also passed with amendments after the committee reviewed the proposed changes and discussed the reserve fee issue. The committee additionally noted that HB 1476 had previously been deferred and would remain deferred, and the meeting concluded with adjournment.