Bills: HR21 , HR471 , HR375

Keywords: committee appointments, House of Representatives, HR21, legislative process, government structure, ethics, transparency, for-profit, board members, democracy, renewable fuels, ethanol, E15, ethanol-15, renewable fuel standard, RFS, RINs, renewable identification numbers, refinery capacity, farmers

Bills: HR187 , HR186 , HR375 , HR165 , HR204 , HR197 , HR207

Keywords: government oversight, accountability, federal employees, transparency, administrative leave, Elon Musk, conflict of interest, government efficiency, federal contracts, renewable fuels, ethanol, E15, ethanol-15, renewable fuel standard, RFS, RINs, renewable identification numbers, refinery capacity, farmers, refiners

Bills: HR1016 , HCR68 , HB6359 , HB7148 , HB7147 , HR375 , HR1014

Keywords: corrections, Department of Homeland Security, legislative process, engrossment, military intervention, Venezuela, Congress, war powers, foreign policy, pregnant students, pregnancy accommodations, college pregnancy, higher education, Title IX, student rights, campus resources, student health center, counseling center, orientation materials, student handbook

Transcript Highlights:

• companies were treated alike. you Mr chair thank you representative you Mr chair thank you representative rins
• 32.919><c> wanted</c><00:07:33.199><c> to</c><00:07:33.400><c> start</c><00:07:33.680><c> with</c> rins
• I just wanted to start with rins I just wanted to start with leveling<00:07:34.240><c> the</c><00:07

Transcript Highlights:

• And just on the affordability question again, I know you mentioned the RIN credits.
• Would you be open to maybe amending the bill or requiring that RIN credits be sold and refunded to customers
• And again, these RINs are currently, you know, mandated under federal law.

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee heard several transportation and infrastructure bills. HB 1239, Energy Infrastructure Investment, would let the Public Service Commission create a mechanism for utilities to recover costs for renewable natural gas infrastructure; supporters said it could diversify energy supply and help agriculture, while members raised concerns about consumer rates and asked whether savings from RIN credits should be passed to customers. The bill drew supportive public testimony and was reported favorably after debate, with members noting the PSC would set costs and that the sponsor was open to further discussion on consumer protections. The committee then took up HB 313, which exempts Purple Heart recipients from paying Florida tolls. With no questions or opposition, it passed unanimously. The committee also considered HB 567, a broad transportation omnibus/strike-all bill covering EV tax revenue for roads, airport and MPO changes, workforce funding, traffic signal modernization, speed limits, and a pilot to streamline airport permitting. A major amendment added utility right-of-way notice, response, and incentive/penalty provisions, and another amendment authorized local governments to set age and ID rules for e-bikes, scooters, and other micromobility devices after testimony about a fatal crash. The bill was reported favorably after extensive debate and public testimony from transportation and utility stakeholders. HB 112, dealing with municipal sewer collection systems, would allow cities to use sewer revenues to expand wastewater infrastructure. Sponsors said it was aimed at helping cities like Hollywood reduce septic use and improve water quality; testimony supported the measure as a way to unlock funding for sewer expansion, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee also approved HB 7009, preserving public records and meeting exemptions for 911 and public safety radio communications systems and expanding them to next-generation 911. Finally, PCS for HB 1397, a large transportation package addressing airport, seaport, spaceport, and workforce issues, was amended and passed 14-1 after questions about federal testing notifications, removal of certain business preference language, and a provision redirecting some transit funds to highway projects if not timely used.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome Lynn Noble, Shauna Meyer, Maggie Connor, and Rin Compare, just four of the 25 music
• <00:09:22.920><c> Maggie</c><00:09:23.240><c> Connor,</c><00:09:24.160><c> and</c><00:09:24.360><c> Rin
• </c><00:09:24.600><c> Compare,</c> Meyer, Maggie Connor, and Rin Compare, Meyer, Maggie Connor, and Rin

Transcript Highlights:

• However, we don't know which RINs to be looking for until seven days before the election, and so we would
• However, we don't know which RINs to be looking for until seven days before the election, and so we would
• However, we don't know which RINs to be looking for until seven days before the election, and so we would
• However, we don't know which RINs to be looking for until seven days before the election, and so we would
• However, we don't know which RINs to be looking for until seven days before the election, and so we would

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• They're accompanied by McAiley the Rins Townland. She's the ag teacher out of Pilot Grove.
• They're accompanied by McAiley the Rins Townland. She's the ag teacher out of Pilot Grove.

Transcript Highlights:

• health<00:47:14.800><c> as</c><00:47:15.119><c> the</c><00:47:15.280><c> small</c><00:47:15.760><c> rin
• </c><00:47:16.640><c> breeder</c><00:47:17.119><c> and</c> health as the small rin breeder and health
• as the small rin breeder and ruminate<00:47:18.400><c> breeder</c><00:47:18.720><c> and</c><00:47:18.880

Transcript Highlights:

• and unpaid volunteers to stay overnight or arrive in the early morning hours in order to count the RINs
• With all of that, we were there until 3 in the morning counting all the hand counts and RINs.
• There were a large number of RINs, and these are paid workers, but people get tired, and when you get
• I am happy to take questions. hand counts and rins there were a large hand counts and rins there were
• a large number<04:19:42.080><c> of</c><04:19:42.199><c> rins</c> number of rins number of rins um<04

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• Rin: Yes. Schwarz: No. Steer: No. With eight yeas and 10 nays, the amendment fails.
• then diversion into illegal gun trafficking is a major concern. yes ream yes ream yes<01:01:55.400><c> Rin
• </c> yes Rin yes Rin no<01:01:58.480><c> Schwarz</c> no Schwarz no Schwarz no<01:02:01.559><c> steer<

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:29:38.799><c> that</c><00:29:38.960><c> the</c><00:29:39.120><c> problem</c><00:29:39.919><c> rins
• </c> to fix here is that the problem rins to fix here is that the problem rins yeah<00:29:40.960><c>

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Next on the list will be Peter Rin. Did you want to speak?
• 01:27:10.360><c> Peter</c> Young next on the list will be Peter Young next on the list will be Peter Rin
• /c><01:27:13.880><c> I</c><01:27:13.960><c> had</c><01:27:14.080><c> in</c><01:27:14.159><c> my</c> Rin
• did you want to speak I had in my Rin did you want to speak I had in my email<01:27:14.560><c> you're

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• commodity for Minnesota farmers and farm businesses to sell in a robust domestic market, much like the RINs

Transcript Highlights:

• :09.679><c> chair</c><00:20:09.919><c> and</c><00:20:10.120><c> representative</c><00:20:10.679><c> Rin
• </c> you madam chair and representative Rin you madam chair and representative Rin um<00:20:12.200><c

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Rin Bell, Sarah Stockton, and Tracy Shannon. Kevin Witt, Autumn Launer, and Kelly Lyons. Thank you.

Bills: SB38 , SB287 , SB291 , SB292 , SB508 , SB618 , SB901 , SB1436 , SB1494 , SB1626 , SB1719 , SB1999 , SB1333 , SB 38

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• They're accompanied by McAiley the Rins Townland. She's the ag teacher out of Pilot Grove.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by roll call vote. Members then spent much of the morning introducing guests, including FFA groups from multiple counties, school officials, chamber leaders, veterans advocates, and other visitors. Several members also used personal privilege remarks to congratulate election workers and candidates following the previous day’s election. The chamber then took up committee reports and several bills. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3239, dealing with the workforce diploma program for adults seeking a high school diploma, was reconsidered after debate over its cost, eligibility, and relationship to other adult education programs. Supporters argued it offers a second chance and better outcomes than a GED, while opponents raised concerns about cost and diversion of K-12 funds. After motions for the previous question and reconsideration, the House ultimately passed HCS HB 3239. House Bill 1772, aimed at easing and encouraging adoptions and foster care permanency by helping cover legal costs and reduce delays, also passed with broad support. The House then passed House Bill 2096, which increases state matching funds for regional planning commissions and updates the statewide commission list, and later perfected House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2740, creating a pediatric disease task force in the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to track research, outcomes, and funding with annual reports and a sunset in 2030. Members emphasized the bill’s accountability and its personal importance to the sponsor and others affected by pediatric illness. House Bill 2422, which raises a recording fee from $4 to $5 to support the Department of Agriculture’s land survey program and adds rulemaking authority for related records and maps, was also perfected and printed after debate; an amendment to redirect the fee increase to the Missouri Housing Trust Fund was offered, discussed, and then withdrawn. The House then recessed until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• outcomes<00:18:47.600><c> uh</c><00:18:47.760><c> as</c><00:18:47.880><c> Chief</c><00:18:48.159><c> Rin
• </c><00:18:48.520><c> Wald</c><00:18:48.880><c> emphasized</c> outcomes uh as Chief Rin Wald emphasized
• outcomes uh as Chief Rin Wald emphasized in<00:18:49.600><c> the</c><00:18:49.799><c> state</c><00:18

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard several bills on January 30. SB 286 and SB 287 both concerned supplemental funding for the Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney: SB 286 for the career criminal prosecution unit and SB 287 for the victim witness assistance program. Testimony from the department explained that these bills are filed each year because the Attorney General’s core budget allocation may not be sufficient, though the department said the core had recently been increased and the supplemental request might no longer be necessary. For SB 287, the department also warned of a possible federal Victims of Crime Act funding freeze that could cut about $1.88 million and severely harm victim services. Both bills drew support from county and community witnesses, and members asked about prior-year funding and why the requests were limited to fiscal 2025-26; no votes were taken in the excerpt. SB 289, from the State Ethics Commission, would create a more uniform administrative fine process under the ethics code and lobbyist law. The commission said the measure would not change substantive enforcement but would let it issue a notice and order of fine first, with the respondent able to request a hearing within 20 days, which would speed up cases that are not factually disputed. Members questioned whether the bill would deny due process or function like an automatic parking ticket, and the commission responded that respondents could still challenge the fine and that the process would apply to violations with fines under $1,000. The committee also heard SB 304, which would add 11 positions for the First Circuit Adult Client Services Branch; Judiciary testimony said probation caseloads are high, with an average of 116 cases per officer, and the added staff would help meet national supervision standards and better serve higher-risk clients. Members asked whether the positions were already in the budget and about current staffing ratios; the witness said the positions were not already funded and that the Judiciary supported the bill with amendments. The committee then heard SB 311, a proposed constitutional amendment to exclude spending money to influence elections from protected free speech. Testimony was strongly divided: supporters argued that Citizens United has distorted elections and empowered special interests, while opponents warned the language was too broad and could affect nonprofit advocacy and grassroots groups. Finally, SB 313 would impose a 1% wealth asset tax on individuals with $20 million or more in assets. The Department of Taxation said it had concerns about the bill’s ambiguity and administration and noted it would require annual valuation and likely additional resources; opponents, including family business representatives and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, argued the tax would be difficult and costly to administer, would require sensitive business disclosures, and could force family businesses to pay from company cash. Supporters said wealthy residents should pay a fair share. The committee heard testimony and questions on these bills, but the excerpt does not show final committee votes or actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> testifiers thank you so much Senator testifiers thank you so much Senator Umar<01:32:05.320><c> Rin
• 06.679><c> Roy</c><01:32:07.920><c> duti</c><01:32:08.920><c> uh</c><01:32:09.360><c> chief</c> Umar Rin
• first up is Roy duti uh chief Umar Rin first up is Roy duti uh chief executive<01:32:10.119><c> officer

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And they receive what are called RINs to help support their fuel production.
• think what we've seen is that with LCFS, along with the tax credits discussed earlier, in addition to RINs

Summary: The hearing was a select committee discussion on the transportation costs and impacts of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), with opening remarks from the co-chairs and members emphasizing affordability, climate goals, and the need to explain the program’s benefits to the public. The first panel from CARB and the California Energy Commission described how LCFS works as a market-based, declining carbon-intensity program that rewards lower-carbon fuels, supports zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, and is intended to reduce greenhouse gases and local air pollution. They argued the program has driven billions in private investment, increased alternative fuel use, and that LCFS credit prices are not the main driver of retail gasoline prices, which they said are dominated by crude oil, refining, and distribution costs. Members questioned the panel on the gap between the regulatory target and actual carbon-intensity performance, the role of credit banking, which fuels are generating the most credits, how the 2025 amendments affected the program, and whether LCFS credits are truly additional. CARB explained that banking helps cost-effectiveness and investment certainty, that ethanol, renewable diesel, and biodiesel currently provide the largest volumes while electricity is expected to grow, and that the updated targets were informed by the state’s 2045 carbon-neutrality goals and the 2030 scoping plan. The Energy Commission said its data show environmental programs add some cost to gasoline but do not drive price volatility, which is mainly tied to crude oil and refinery margins. The second panel, featuring academic and research experts, focused on program design, out-of-state credit generation, and broader economic effects. Speakers said LCFS is successful because it ties incentives to emissions benefit, uses life-cycle analysis, and allows flexible compliance that lowers costs compared with more direct regulation. They also said the program’s benefits generally outweigh costs, that it can reduce air pollution disparities and support equity, but that some issues—especially indirect land use change, additionality, and older program assumptions—need more research and may warrant future rulemaking. One researcher noted that while LCFS likely raises gasoline prices somewhat, the effect is uncertain by design and usually smaller than normal market fluctuations, and another warned that limiting credit generation too narrowly could create legal and efficiency problems.