Transcript Highlights:

• No one should be managed by an invisible system they don't understand or even realize is operating.
• No one should be managed by an invisible system they don't understand or even realize is operating.
• 23,000 men and women in the construction industry.
• in the construction trade, so thinking<00:53:43.080> electricians,<00:53:43.720> etc.
• are a non-profit labor management are a non-profit labor management committee<01:03:39.800> representing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the managing director of buildings at Fresh Energy.
• We can with regard to our fiscal management of the city.
• As soon as we have these properties in hand, we will begin construction on them.
• <00:53:31.079> and discussion around new construction and discussion around new construction
• We also have 64 additional units under construction in Alexandria right now.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Because it is a fool's errand to sit here and just manage, manage, manage when you're not impacting the
• This management approach is also enabled by the natural construct of this particular aquifer which, as
• It regulates construction and post- construction activities by requiring the development of protection
• plans are constructed.
• They can only manage what they can manage.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got another 4 that are under construction.
• It's under construction.
• Many municipalities across the state impose a franchise fees on solid waste management services.
• Uh, Chris Maycomb, on behalf of Waste Management of Texas Inc. for the bill. Is that correct?
• I'm the governmental affairs director for Waste Management of Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• contract or a construction manager, general contractor, and other methods that do early contractor involvement
• for construction contracting. for construction contracting.
• :07:03.200> manager, contract or a construction manager, contract or a construction manager, general
• Administration and Financial Management Administration and Financial Management for<00:31:24.120
• . manager. manager.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved a motion and then deferred a large batch of 246 contracts totaling about $187.8 million until the April 2026 meeting. It then moved through the agenda and reviewed several pulled items, beginning with four Attorney General contingent-fee contracts. Committee members questioned why the contracts were new, what the $20 million maximums meant, and how the fees would work; the AG’s office explained they were new awards from a September RFP, that the $20 million was an outside estimate tied to a full recovery, and that one contract would require a $380 million recovery to pay out the maximum. The committee voted to consider those contracts reviewed without objection. The Department of Highways then explained an “alternative delivery support” contract, describing it as a procurement method different from the usual design-bid-build model and noting it can help with innovation, speed, timeliness, or cost reduction. After that explanation, the committee again voted to consider the contract reviewed without objection. The Kentucky Horse Park/Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation presented eight legal services contracts; members focused on differing hourly rates and retroactive approval. The corporation said it had selected four firms through an RFP to maintain flexibility and avoid conflicts, would use in-house counsel first, and did not expect to use the maximum rates. Senator Thomas argued the committee’s statutory hourly rate cap is outdated and should be revisited. The committee then approved the contracts. One Transportation Office of the Secretary contract was deferred to the April meeting, consistent with the agency’s prior request. The committee then reviewed Cabinet for Health and Family Services items from the Department of Community Based Services: three contract amendments and one memorandum of agreement. Members asked about funding sources, service outcomes, and whether the programs reduce future need; the agency said one amendment was a $55,000 increase offset by reductions elsewhere, that the total contract amount with the agency did not change, and that follow-up data show over 90% of children remain in the home after services. The committee approved those items. Finally, the committee reviewed a LIHEAP contract amendment from the Division of Family Support, which the agency said used federal funds, not state general funds, to add newly appropriated federal money for low-income home energy assistance and crisis heating support. Members asked about future funding and were told that continuation depends on Congress. The committee approved that item. It then began reviewing Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities memoranda of agreement tied to Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center staffing; members asked for a count of personnel, and the agency said it would provide that information, after which the discussion continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is in part a market construction 2942 problem.
• That is a good way to manage this in the growing risk.
• work, is going to take, let's say, three years to construct.
• work, is going to take, let's say, three years to construct.
• Contribution in aid of construction is another.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce held its first interim hearing on securing critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, with a focus on Texas’s electric grid and the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act. The chair also highlighted Texas’s relatively low electricity prices and welcomed new committee members. ERCOT, the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and the Attorney General’s office were invited to explain how the state screens market participants and grid equipment for ties to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and how the agencies respond to noncompliance. ERCOT testified that it has implemented the requirements of three related Senate bills by requiring attestations on corporate affiliations and on critical grid equipment and services. ERCOT said it has processed thousands of attestations, used additional requests for information and third-party verification tools such as Dun & Bradstreet, and terminated nonresponsive market participants. ERCOT also said it has not seen a case requiring direct Attorney General involvement, but it does refer matters to the PUC when needed. The PUC said it can investigate suspected violations and impose penalties of up to $1 million per violation per day, and that most investigations into late or missing attestations have been resolved through compliance, market exit, or removal by ERCOT. The Attorney General’s office said its role is currently limited to audits and court involvement, and that it lacks broad independent investigatory authority under the act. Members pressed the panel on whether the current system is too reliant on self-reporting and whether it adequately addresses indirect foreign influence, especially through supply chains for batteries, inverters, transformers, and other equipment with routable connectivity. ERCOT acknowledged that the current attestation process has gaps and said it plans to refine definitions of critical grid equipment and grid services, improve information requests, and continue stakeholder rulemaking. The panel also discussed possible legislative changes, including tying prohibitions to the Department of Defense Section 1260H list and the Texas Prohibited Technologies list, clarifying warranty and service access, and expanding the statute to cover grid services more directly. Several senators raised concerns about cost, reliability, and the extent to which foreign-sourced components remain embedded in Texas infrastructure, while others suggested incentives for domestic manufacturing and stronger verification tools, including possible work with national labs such as Sandia.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a senior project manager with AW Architects, and we're located in the Twin Cities in Minneapolis.
• In new multifamily construction, 70% of the cost goes toward materials and 30% to labor.
• ,<00:33:04.559> 2/3 compare that to new construction, 2/3 compare that to new construction
• I've worked in the property management industry since 2011.
• manager. um and the um the fiscal note. manager. um and the um the fiscal note.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Twelve are in active construction.
• For our wildfire protection grants and vegetation management projects.
• assistance grant, we manage that.
• I think our recovery directorate in particular, we're a grant management team.
• Jim Wood here on behalf of Fire Side, a California-based wildfire risk management company.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sharp oversaw the nearly $12 billion investment in the construction and conversion of what is now known
• According to every Texan, women only make up 11% of employees in professional scientific and management
• Refers to the Committee on Land and Resource Management.
• Dedication and Management of water rights placed in the Texas Water Trust Fund were further Committee
• Of land and Resource Management.

Transcript Highlights:

• The several campus construction projects that were funded by funds provided by this body were completed
• We're aggressively managing our projects and working...
• About the management of the patient, that and so it becomes a really bigger problem to solve than just
• It was the move from Medicaid to managed care Medicaid.
• It took a little while because of construction and working with OMES on their deferred maintenance.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• advertising budget while we have not provided any additional budget funds in the Department of Management
• We address fleet management.
• in 18, 80 to those bill today, inspectors must understand and properly report on various construction
• And this state is a big problem for the construction industry.
• And so I know after Hurricane Andrew, I think we move toward scrapping when we did home construction

Transcript Highlights:

• As a current elected town moderator and former town manager, I love this stuff.
• I'm the general manager of the Topsfield Fair.
• I'm also the general manager of Northeast Harvest by Local.
• About making the present town administrator the town manager.
• About making the present town administrator the town manager.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on bills related to land use, zoning, permitting, municipal governance, and homelessness. Early testimony focused on a home rule petition for Ipswich to remove a residency requirement for a town manager, with supporters saying it would broaden the applicant pool and help fill a vacant permanent manager position. Another panel backed legislation to change the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission’s governance so ratepayers in surrounding communities would have representation, arguing the current board structure leaves many users without a voice in rate-setting and capital decisions. Several housing and zoning bills drew testimony. Senator Keenan and the Home Builders and Remodelers Association supported a bill to toll the one-year period for acting on a variance while an appeal is pending, saying appeals should not consume the time needed to implement approved projects. Representative Murray and the Real Estate Bar Association also testified on broader zoning reforms, including changes to undersized lots, merger rules, hearing deadlines, appeals, and variance standards; they argued the proposals would reduce delay and uncertainty and help housing production. Committee members questioned whether shifting zoning appeals from de novo to closed-record review would limit new evidence, and the witnesses said the change would speed cases while preserving limited opportunities to supplement the record. The committee also heard testimony on bills to end the criminalization of homelessness. Representatives, advocates, and shelter organizations said local camping bans and fines are counterproductive, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision, and urged a statewide response centered on housing and public health rather than punishment. Other municipal bills included remote participation in open town meetings for Wayland and a statewide local option, Fairhaven and Mattapoisett charter changes, and Cambridge’s request to use automated parking enforcement and mail parking tickets. The hearing also included testimony supporting fairground zoning flexibility, a Shrewsbury solar siting bill, and an Inspector General bill clarifying county land disposition procedures by requiring written notice to DCAM and a defined response period. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is the nature of construction. They kind of come and go.
• And Representative Matthews said that's not constructive to her.
• I'll ask you, Representative, whether is that a constructive or non-constructive amendment.
• Representative Matthews, is that constructive or not constructive? Representative Matthews: Mr.
• I thought you were looking at the whole construction of it.

Transcript Highlights:

• We believe in the construct of rent-stabilized housing, but it has to be made available for those who
• We believe in the construct of rent-stabilized housing, but it has to be made available for those who
• We believe in the construct of rent-stabilized housing, but it has to be made available for those who
• We are relying on to build affordable housing, and building managers and workforce we are counting on
• We believe in the construct of rent-stabilized housing, but it has to be made available for those who

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Conference Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Housing opened budget negotiations for the 2026-2027 enacted budget, with Senate and Assembly leaders outlining their one-house proposals and committee members giving brief remarks. The discussion covered environment, agriculture, housing, parks, and energy, with repeated emphasis on affordability, climate resilience, and support for rural and urban communities. Senate and Assembly chairs described the process and noted the agencies present, while minority members criticized the overall size of the budgets and urged more attention to housing affordability, building stakeholders, and energy costs. On the environment and energy side, the Senate highlighted proposals for $138 million in additional clean water infrastructure funding, a $75 million increase to the Environmental Protection Fund, $95 million in restored parks capital, $200 million for the Energy Affordability Program, and $1 billion for Sustainable Futures 2.0, including a proposed revival of the NY STUN program. The Assembly said it increased the EPF to $500 million, raised clean water infrastructure funding to $800 million, and included targeted amounts for cities, rural housing-related water projects, Cornell Ag Tech, and the Center for Sustainable Materials Management. Democrats argued that high utility bills are driven by natural gas costs rather than clean energy, while Senate and Assembly Republicans said the CLCPA and other energy mandates are increasing costs and should be reconsidered. Agriculture remarks focused on research, farm support, and resilience. Senator Hinchey described funding for Cornell’s COWS program, Farm to School amendments, $7 million for farm worker housing, and a new $20 million Farm Weather Resiliency Grant Program. Chair Lupardo said the Assembly added $16 million over the Governor’s proposal for educational research and outreach, restored support for beginning and disadvantaged farmers, and backed dairy, livestock, hemp fiber, and natural fibers initiatives, while also accepting $30 million in farmer tariff relief if guidelines are set. Minority Assembly Member Tague supported dairy infrastructure funding but criticized the farm labor overtime phase-down and the CLCPA’s impacts on farms. Housing discussion centered on major capital and assistance programs. The Assembly proposed $200 million more for the Housing Access Voucher Program, $100 million for Mitchell-Lama and NYCHA, $50 million for down payment assistance, $4 million for fair housing testing, land banks, and $40 million for the Homeowner Protection Program. The Senate outlined similar priorities, including $500 million for NYCHA, $100 million for Mitchell-Lama preservation, $250 million total for HAVP, and additional funding for mixed-income rental development, vacant rentals, senior housing, and block-by-block infill. Chair Rosenthal said rent stabilization was not being changed in the budget, while Republican members argued that affordability requires lower taxes, lower utility costs, and fewer regulatory burdens. No votes were taken; the meeting was an opening round of budget negotiations and ended with closing remarks from both sides.

Transcript Highlights:

• which prohibits the Department of Transportation from utilizing state funds for the planning, construction
• , operation or management of new passenger rail projects.
• , operation or management of new passenger rail projects.
• , funds for the planning, construction, funds for the planning, construction, operation<00:03:03.599
• > passenger operation or management of new passenger operation or management of new passenger

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Public Works and Highways Committee met in work session on HB 100 and HB 561, with brief housekeeping remarks at the start noting a new committee member, Representative Charlie Foot, and the departure of committee assistant Karen Davis. The chair also referenced upcoming discussion of the 10-year transportation plan and warned that the gas hearings and related funding changes would affect communities. HB 100 would prohibit the Department of Transportation from using state funds for planning, construction, operation, or management of new passenger rail projects. Members raised concerns that the bill needed more work and might have unintended effects on private and tourist rail operations, including the Cog Railway and other tourism railways. Several speakers said the issue should be studied further rather than acted on immediately. HB 561 concerns the transfer of state-owned real property, specifically requiring approval from municipal legislative bodies before transferring state-owned class one or two highways. Multiple members supported an interim study, saying the bill is tied to broader questions about the 10-year plan, road funding, municipal partnership, and the possibility that the state may eventually need to turn highways over to towns. Concerns were also raised about specific road situations such as Continental Boulevard and the need to understand current practices before making changes. In executive session, the committee voted 16-0, with two members absent, to send both HB 100 and HB 561 to interim study and place them on the consent calendar. The chair then explained that the bills would be revisited next fall and could later be debated on the House floor. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They do cover all costs to construct and maintain West Upland Road and any other off-system roads.
• The state must manage the connector properly.
• And various agencies, HPD, constables, and the management district, have all said that since this bus
• On lease terminations or construction under this bill, even involuntary or emergency relocations would
• Construction in November will complete an international bridge expansion, as I mentioned, constructing

Bills: HB2026, HB2427, HB2455, HB2560, HB3510, HB3966, HB3986, HB4429, HB5436, SB3062

Keywords: memorial highway, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, Archer County, highway designation, vehicle weight, ports of entry, Texas Transportation Code, truck regulations, load limits, Adopt-a-County Road, funding, road maintenance, county partnership, public recognition, memorial designation, highway, Sergeant Mark Butler, transportation, Brazos County

Transcript Highlights:

• to new construction, as it did in the 1970s in Somerville.
• Shlomo has over 50 years as a small landlord and managing a number of properties.
• Property management used to be about housing people.
• Property management used to be about housing people.
• I was managing a property in Worcester. ...and changed the makeup of the communities I served.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on a broad slate of landlord-tenant and home rule bills, with most testimony focused on rent stabilization, tenant opportunity to purchase (TOPA), tenant fees, access to counsel, algorithmic rent fixing, and tenant protections in subsidized housing. Chairs Cyr and Haggerty outlined the hearing procedures and noted that written testimony could also be submitted. Several members and invited speakers emphasized that the committee was hearing from both local officials and residents affected by housing instability, especially in Somerville and other communities facing high rents and displacement. Supporters of rent stabilization and local-option rent control argued that Massachusetts needs tools to prevent displacement while new housing is built. Senator Eldridge, Senator Jalen, Somerville officials, tenant organizers, and residents described steep rent increases, no-fault evictions, and the loss of naturally occurring affordable housing. Somerville’s home rule petition was described as allowing annual increases tied to CPI plus 2%, capped at 5%, with exemptions for owner-occupied two- and three-family homes and a 15-year exemption for new construction. TOPA supporters said it would let tenants or their designees buy buildings before speculative buyers, preserving affordable housing stock; opponents, including small landlords and property managers, argued rent control would reduce supply, discourage investment, and that TOPA could delay sales and harm properties. The committee also heard testimony on bills to curb junk fees and regulate tenant charges, including limits on late fees, lease renewal fees, payment portal fees, attorney’s fees, and other add-on charges. Advocates said these fees can add hundreds of dollars a month and disproportionately harm low-income renters and renters of color. Another major topic was algorithmic rent fixing: Senator Moore and Representative Sabadoza said landlords should not use software such as RealPage to coordinate pricing, citing federal antitrust actions and arguing that competition is essential to lowering rents. Additional testimony supported a statewide right to counsel in eviction cases, with legal services providers saying representation dramatically improves outcomes and can save the state money, and a bill to create an office of tenant protections to better enforce sanitary code violations. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• on the management of those funds.
• So there's an investment pool that TASB owns, and it manages.
• I believe Amazon actually manages it for them.
• Amazon does not manage by board. And so I'm getting that.
• I'm president and manager of Goodnight Weenie.

Bills: SB458, SB819, SB1238, SB1642, SB1643, SB1644, SB1791, SB1810, SB1824, SB1825, SB758, SB1455, SB1706

Keywords: insurance appraisal, property insurance, auto insurance, homeowners insurance, residential property, disputed loss, loss valuation, appraisal clause, appraiser, umpire, Texas Department of Insurance, TDI, insurance dispute resolution, claims adjustment, total loss, windstorm insurance, FAIR Plan, surplus lines insurance, policyholder, insurer

Transcript Highlights:

• Construction has been an absolute bright spot for New Mexico. A lot of.
• Okay, and construction seems to be a big part of it, and I guess and.
• versus non-private sector construction and what's driving that.
• So they manage the claims, they manage the network, but they actually don't bear any of the liability
• It says, second line, certain public health care facilities, the constructions.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:36.840> residents the plant's construction residents the plant's construction residents
• putting in the vertical construction putting in the vertical construction financing<00:53:08.079
• <02:19:03.639> the um and then also I think managing the um and then also I think managing
• picket Haw Wildfire management picket Haw Wildfire management organization<02:45:21.720> on
• with a ha Wildfire management with a ha Wildfire management organization<03:26:09.080> and

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard three House bills related to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. HB 606 would extend the Act 279 special fund to June 30, 2028, continue deposits and appropriations to help eliminate the DHHL waitlist, and require a strategic plan and annual reporting. DHHL strongly supported the measure, saying most of the initial $600 million had been used and that the need remains large, with more than 29,000 people on the waitlist. Public testimony also supported the bill, emphasizing its importance to Native Hawaiian families and concerns about Hawaiians leaving the islands because of housing costs. A member noted the bill is a priority and that the committee will keep working on how to fund another $600 million. HB 1086 would exempt DHHL homestead lot and housing development from general excise and use taxes. DHHL supported the bill, saying any tax savings would reduce the eventual cost of housing for low-income beneficiaries. The Department of Taxation said it could administer the measure and noted it is already being implemented under the governor’s emergency proclamation, with a proposed effective date of January 1, 2026. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical comments and urged the committee to weigh existing benefits already received by DHHL beneficiaries. HB 1307 would appropriate funds for DHHL water well development and geothermal exploration on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL said the bill is a follow-up to prior study funding and would support slim-hole drilling, site evaluation, and consultant work to identify viable geothermal resources, especially on Hawaiʻi Island. Several testifiers opposed the bill, arguing there had been inadequate beneficiary consultation, raising environmental, cultural, and safety concerns, and objecting to using $20 million for geothermal rather than housing. In response to committee questions, DHHL staff explained that the goal is to gather information for a future public-private partnership to develop geothermal electricity, and that a Chapter 343 environmental review would be required later in the process. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.