Video & Transcript Research : 'electric rates'

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WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Ways & Means Jan 22nd, 2026 at 04:00 pm

Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • But I think it's the difference between the lower tax rate and the higher tax rate for pre-existing inventory
  • This occurs even as smoking rates and tax pack sales decline because the higher tax per pack rate more
  • Washington's smoking rate is at a historic low.
  • This is due to the consolidated state tax rate...
  • So again, in the bill, the rate is set at about $2.6.
Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held public hearings on several tax and retirement-related bills. Senate Bill 6073 would move eligible Department of Natural Resources wildland and aviation firefighters from PERS into LEOFF 2 prospectively. Committee staff outlined the higher retirement age and benefit costs under LEOFF 2 and noted a small implementation cost and a modest actuarial rate increase. DNR and labor representatives supported the bill, saying the firefighters face significant physical and mental risks and deserve LEOFF coverage; a senator asked about LEOFF board review and was told the bill was requested by DNR, not the board. Senate Bill 6113 was presented as a set of technical and administrative tax-code fixes tied largely to last session’s ESSB 5814, including clarifying taxable retail services, use tax treatment, a transition period for businesses reclassified into retailing B&O, and other corrections. DOR said the bill codifies guidance and is revenue neutral, while several speakers from schools, arts groups, newspapers, broadcasters, and business organizations said some provisions go beyond technical cleanup and would continue or expand unintended consequences from last year’s tax changes. Concerns focused on sales tax treatment of school services, live presentations and rehearsals, and a new section affecting newspaper and broadcaster advertising exemptions if litigation is lost. Some business groups were supportive of the technical fixes but asked for amendments. Senate Bill 6116 would restore the vapor products tax structure for nicotine-containing vapor products, moving them back to the per-milliliter tax and restoring revenue distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account and the Foundational Public Health Services account, retroactive to January 1, 2026. Supporters from public health and the cancer fund said the bill would correct an unintended diversion of revenue and preserve funding, while tobacco-control groups opposed lowering the tax on vapor products, arguing it would weaken public health policy. Retailers and harm-reduction advocates supported the bill, saying the 95% tax created compliance problems, harmed small businesses, and encouraged illicit sales. Senate Bill 6129 proposed a broader overhaul of nicotine and tobacco taxes, including a single 90% tax on nicotine products, a 10% flavor tax, higher cigarette taxes, and new distributions to cancer research and public health accounts. Public health, pediatric, and anti-tobacco groups strongly supported the bill as a way to reduce youth use and raise revenue, while retailers, tobacco businesses, and some consumers opposed it as regressive, harmful to small businesses, and likely to drive sales to illicit or out-of-state markets. Several speakers also raised concerns about tribal consultation, the treatment of menthol and flavored products, and the impact on modified-risk products. The committee also heard briefings and began testimony on Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform bill that would expand senior and disability property tax relief, increase income thresholds and deductions, and consolidate the state property tax rate.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Jan 21st, 2026

Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm driving an electric car. So, Mr.
  • That's not a little step in the bond rating.
  • House Bill 253 all set the state up so we have a better bond rate. We can get lower interest rates.
  • , and probably another 20 years working another bond rate increase.
  • additional amount. for the electric vehicles fully electric.
Bills: SB2
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Jan 21st, 2026 at 02:04 pm

Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • ; and section three introduces a new surcharge on electric.
  • We have top-tier credit ratings. Current debt is being retired.
  • That's a big step; that's not a little step in the bond rating.
  • All set this state up so we have a better bond rate. We can get lower interest rates, right?
  • an additional amount for the electric vehicles.
Bills: SB2
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 21st, 2026 at 01:58 pm

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is an example of a four-star enhanced rate.
  • Those rates over 50 to 60 of that rate is about compensation.
  • will shift to the enhanced rate.
  • So the idea is that we We have three rates: a part-time rate for preschool-aged children.
  • And then there's a full time preschool rate.
Bills: SB2
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs May 7th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The building was rented out at a whopping rate of $1 per year for a 20-year lease period.
  • Texas leads the nation in maternal mortality, in pregnancy sepsis rates, and in infant deaths.
  • Um, uh, Roe returned in 2022, the maternal mortality rates in Texas increased by 33%.
  • Yes, and while the national rate decreased by 7.5%, is that the data you're familiar with as well?
  • The rates are even more dramatic, where black women saw maternal mortality rates go from 31%, 31.6% to
Bills: SB 6, SB 11, SB 33
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs May 7th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The building was rented out at a whopping rate of $1.5 million per year for a 20-year lease period.
  • Texas leads the nation in maternal mortality in pregnancy, sepsis rates, and in infant deaths.
  • The maternal mortality rates in Texas increased by 33%. Is that your data? Yes.
  • And while the national rate decreased by 7.5%, is that the data you're familiar with? with as well.
  • For women, the rates are even more dramatic, where Black women saw maternal mortality rates go from 31.6
Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs May 7th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The electrical demand for Texas is 86 gigawatts.
  • The entire valley has an electrical peak demand. The electrical demand is three gigawatts.
  • Stargate in Abilene has an electrical demand projected to be twice that by 2030.
  • Having to balance those applications with system resiliency plan reviews, rate case reviews, and electric
  • Differentiate based on what customers are doing with the electricity.
Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 16th, 2026 at 09:30 am

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The... ... data shows us 48% below market rate.
  • It just amends the statute to say the healthcare entity can only access the preservation fund when rates
  • So those are obviously riskier, and those can obviously have bigger rates of return, but the point of
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 16th, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The data shows us 48% below market rate.
  • amends the statute to say the Health Care Authority can only access the FMAP Preservation Fund when rates
  • So those are obviously riskier, and those can obviously have bigger rates of return, but the point of
Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and several gallery introductions recognizing guests and honorees, including the Medford Cardinals football team for their academic and athletic success, Guthrie Day, the Oscar J. Upham post office designation, the OKC Spark professional softball team, the Elks organization, and the YMCA’s 175th anniversary. Senators also welcomed a new intern and acknowledged Senator Carl McDowell’s return to the chamber. Most of the early floor time was devoted to ceremonial citations and concurrent resolutions, all of which were adopted without recorded opposition. The chamber then moved through a series of Joint Committee Reports and third-reading votes on appropriations and related measures. HB 4031 reauthorized $41 million for previously approved ODAA projects and passed 36-8, declared an emergency. HB 4032 redirected industry fees to the Department of Mines and passed 34-11, emergency. HB 4034 appropriated $142,137 for salary increases for certified shorthand reporters and passed 45-0, emergency. HB 4036 transferred $5 million from the Film and Oklahoma revolving fund to a new sitcom-related revolving fund and passed 30-15. HB 4037 raised the Ethics Commission Fund retention cap from $150,000 to $250,000 and passed 45-0, emergency. Several transportation, health, and public safety measures also advanced. HB 4038 moved $5 million for the eight-year road plan and additional project funding, passing 28-17 and then as an emergency measure after vote changes. HB 4040 set up cash-flow funds for the State Department of Health’s $223 million federal award and passed 45-0, emergency. HB 4041 appropriated $2.25 million to the Attorney General, including $2 million for a trafficking victim pilot program and $250,000 for a public safety technology fund, and passed as an emergency. HB 4042 appropriated $500,000 for the Commerce census revolving fund and passed 35-9. HB 4043 transferred $1 million to Emergency Management for Oklahoma Task Force 1 and passed 44-0, emergency. The most extended debate centered on HB 4045 and HB 4046, which expanded and funded the Military Readiness, Innovation, Education, and Aviation program. Supporters said the measures would help military bases, schools, infrastructure, simulation training, and defense-related economic development; critics questioned the broad language, lack of detail, and whether the projects fit a broader strategy. HB 4045 passed 37-7 and HB 4046 passed 39-7, both as emergency measures. HB 4047 funded Commerce projects including housing for aged-out foster youth, the State Fair, a university upgrade, and a COG-related economic development request; it passed 30-16 and then 40-6 as an emergency. HB 4048 appropriated $13 million for transportation infrastructure, drew criticism for bypassing the eight-year plan, and passed 36-10 before being declared an emergency. Finally, HB 4030, the Education Budget Limits Bill, was explained in detail, including $43.75 million for the Strong Readers formula, $5 million for literacy coaches, and $5 million for a charter school revolving loan fund; after questions about bonds, charter schools, and the revolving fund, it passed 39-5 and was declared an emergency measure.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health Finance and Policy Committee 4/15/26

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • in the updated rate methodology to maintain the rates in the years when the methodology is being updated
  • Thank you. payment rate structure that the payment rate structure that the recommendation<00:02:33.040
  • </c> meeting to discuss the rate structure. meeting to discuss the rate structure.
  • ><c> be</c><00:03:06.600><c> updated</c> The rate methodology should be updated The rate methodology
  • </c> This would help ensure that dental rates This would help ensure that dental rates continue<00:03
Bills: HF4401, HF4466
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Community Affairs Feb 10th, 2026

Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so when we look at that rate of the drowning, yes, it goes up.
  • study, procure a consultant for the rate study, perform the rate study, and implement the rates, including
  • As you know, the same factors probably went into that rate that would go into another additional rate
  • What that reasonable rate of return is is certainly up for debate.
  • What that reasonable rate of return is is certainly up for debate.
Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills focused on water safety, utilities, housing, transparency, and claims relief. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment was presented as a follow-up to prior water-quality legislation and reported favorably with one support waiver. SB 28, a claims bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, was also reported favorably. CS/SB 658, a bipartisan child-drowning prevention bill for rental properties, drew extensive testimony from child advocacy and drowning-prevention groups in strong support; amendments required rental license applicants to certify compliance and removed local-government add-on authority, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 18, a claims bill involving the estate of a deceased minor and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, prompted questions about settlement and responsibility but was ultimately reported favorably despite opposition from a waiver form. Several utility and infrastructure measures were considered. CS/SB 1724 would regulate municipal utility service outside city limits, limit revenue transfers, require public meetings, and cap rate differences; an amendment added gas utilities, and the bill was reported favorably after testimony from municipal utility representatives and small-county advocates. CS/SB 1014 would require municipal utilities to extend water and wastewater service to certain nearby residential properties without conditioning service on annexation; an amendment narrowed the bill to residential uses and clarified capacity and grandfathering provisions, and it passed favorably. CS/SB 1102 would allow local infrastructure surtax revenue to fund body camera programs, with an amendment making the surtax authorization prospective and requiring a new referendum; it was reported favorably. CS/SB 260 on electric-vehicle storage in towing yards was amended to focus on storage only and to tie the higher fee to the period before fire-risk inspection, then reported favorably after testimony from insurers, fire officials, and EV industry representatives. The committee also advanced education, housing, and ethics-related bills. SB 1264 would ease zoning and code barriers for small private schools and micro-schools, with supporters arguing it would expand school choice and opponents raising implementation concerns; it was reported favorably. SB 934 on Florida Keys areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a tax-exemption section that conflicted with the Live Local Act, then reported favorably. SB 1622 would provide a one-time waiver of late financial-disclosure fines under specified conditions and was reported favorably. Finally, CS/SB 1566 on local government spending and transparency required online posting of budgets and related materials, and an amendment added utility revenue reinvestment and other changes while removing DEI spending restrictions; the bill drew support for transparency but concern from small cities and counties about cost and workload, and it was reported favorably. The meeting ended with adjournment after senators recorded votes on selected bills.