Transcript Highlights:

• This is related to Washington State's four-year balanced budget requirement and state operating budget
• and legislative enacted budgets.
• the budget.
• We're supporters of budget sustainability legislation, including the four-year balanced budget requirement
• When I first saw this bill pop up at the last second, I read the title, 'budget sustainability.'

Bills: HB2747

Keywords: budget sustainability, state finance, fiscal policy, economic growth, government spending, 904, all

Summary: The Appropriations Committee held public hearings on several bills and took executive action on House Bill 2747. HB 2747 would change how state budget outlooks estimate revenues for the next two biennia by using the official revenue forecast instead of the current 4.5% growth assumption. Staff said the change is tied to Washington’s four-year balanced budget requirement and would have an indeterminate fiscal effect on available resources. Testimony was mixed: the Washington Roundtable and OFM supported the bill as a more measured budgeting approach, while one public commenter criticized it as a blank check for spending. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then voted 26-3 to report the bill out of committee with a do pass recommendation. The committee also heard Second Substitute Senate Bill 6182, which would create an abortion savings program funded by a new annual assessment on health carriers offering exchange plans. Staff explained the bill would direct most of the new revenue to grants for abortion care providers, with administrative costs for the Department of Health and Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Supporters, including Planned Parenthood-affiliated and clinic representatives, said the bill would stabilize access to abortion care and help patients facing travel and cost barriers. Opponents argued the bill would force taxpayers and premium payers to subsidize abortion, raised moral objections, and questioned the program’s safeguards; an insurance industry representative also raised concerns about the assessment’s interaction with actuarial rate-setting rules. Substitute Senate Bill 6355, which would create a Washington Electric Transmission Authority, was also heard. Staff said the authority would support expansion of transmission capacity, partner with public and private entities, identify high-priority corridors, and create related accounts and a tribal clean energy work group. Supporters from industry, labor, clean energy, and business groups said the bill would help address grid congestion, improve reliability, and speed construction of needed transmission. County and forest landowner representatives supported the goal but warned about local tax losses, eminent domain, and the need for county and landowner input; they asked for payment-in-lieu-of-taxes provisions and board representation from rural counties. The committee then heard Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6260, which would reduce funding or eligibility in several K-12 programs: extending bus depreciation schedules, reducing Running Start’s combined enrollment cap from 1.4 to 1.2 FTE, and changing transition-to-kindergarten funding to a budgeted amount. School districts, community and technical college representatives, students, and education groups opposed the cuts, saying they would reduce opportunities for low-income and rural students and strain district budgets; the hearing ended before any action on this bill.

Bills: SB2596, SB3002, SB3067

Keywords: government leases, state entities, real property, affordable leasing, budget impact, green infrastructure, urban development, sustainability, environment, climate change, public health, Hawaii State Planning Act, land records, registration, surveys, subdivision, Hawaii Revised Statutes, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Water and Culture and the Arts and on Hawaiian Affairs heard SB 3173, which would create a cultural training pilot program in the Department of Land and Natural Resources, administered by DOBOR, for commercial permit holders operating in Lahaina Harbor. Testimony was largely supportive from Lahaina Strong, which said the bill responds to community concerns and would help commercial operators return with greater cultural understanding and respect. Supporters framed the measure as a way to rebuild Lahaina intentionally and strengthen relationships between industry and community. Opposition came from Trilogy Excursions and the Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaii. They said they already provide or encourage cultural education, but argued the bill as written is too broad, potentially mandatory, and could create hiring and operational problems for businesses trying to restart after the fire. They asked that any program be voluntary, collaborative, and practical, with clearer details on who must take the training, how often it would be offered, and how it would be coordinated. In response to questions, a witness said most operators would likely participate if the training were accessible and well-marketed, but that the harbor’s limited current operations and staggered rebuilding make timing important. After testimony and questions, the chairs said they appreciated the comments but wanted to move the bill forward without amendments because of a filing deadline, noting that timing and other issues could be worked out in later committees with DLNR, OHA, and stakeholders. Both committees then voted to pass SB 3173 unamended, with one member excused in each committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• billion, representing 86% of the total budget.
• The current budget has $28.7 million.
• There was a... that was already within the governor's existing budget.
• before the budget comes back from the Senate.
• This is essentially a standstill budget from last year.

Bills: HB1, HB312, HB313, HB314, HB383, HB983, HB1126, HCR3

Keywords: state budget, appropriations, education funding, public health, social services, government operations, state institutions, budget, funding, state general fund, local government, fiscal year, economic development, state treasury, emergency response, education, voting technology, sustainability, revenue sharing, fund distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a reduction from the existing operating budget.
• The governor's budget proposal has largely remained unchanged.
• The governor utilized the revenue source when he built his budget.
• It makes changes to our current fiscal year operating budgets.
• The ancillary bill appropriates funding to 11 budget units.

Bills: HB1, HB2, HB3, HB312, HB313, HB314, HB383, HB983, HB1126, HCR3

Keywords: state budget, appropriations, education funding, public health, social services, government operations, state institutions, capital outlay, budget, infrastructure, appropriation, general obligation bonds, bond authorization, capital improvement, financial management, state treasury, funding, state general fund, local government, fiscal year

Transcript Highlights:

• We've actually done something similar in previous budget cycles.
• This is just a message to our budget process that we do need to make sure we keep the... ...that we want
• This is just a message to our budget process that we do need to make sure we keep those thoughts that
• But this just reminds our negotiators for the budget that we have to have that conversation.
• I mean, this million dollars says it's a placeholder, as how I look at it, until we get to the budget

Bills: HB2029, HB2096, HB2116

Keywords: water conservation, grants, infrastructure, environmental protection, sustainability, cesspool remediation, cesspool replacement, forgivable principal, forgivable loan, wifa, water infrastructure finance authority, clean water revolving fund, drinking water revolving fund, wastewater infrastructure, on-site wastewater system, septic system, groundwater protection, public health, nonpoint source pollution, county water projects

Transcript Highlights:

• A project proposer may unknowingly choose a location with water availability or sustainability concerns
• The current requirements are sufficient to meet the growth opportunities in the state in a sustainable
• We appreciate Representative Acom's leadership and desire for a balanced approach to sustainable data
• The data center industry is committed to being a collaborative stakeholder for sustainable data center

Bills: HF2928, HF2912, HF2297

Keywords: water appropriation, data centers, environmental review, energy conservation, permit application, carbon-free energy, geothermal energy, renewable energy, Macalester College, appropriation, sustainability, solar energy, pollinator programs, license plates, agrivoltaics, environmental sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• A project proposer may unknowingly choose a location with water availability or sustainability concerns
• We appreciate Representative Aim's leadership and desire for a balanced approach to sustainable data
• for sustainable data center development<00:25:54.559><c> in</c><00:25:54.799><c> Minnesota.
• Thank you. the upcoming budget the upcoming budget negotiations.<00:28:40.159><c> As</c><00:28:40.399
• :18.640><c> for</c> building a sustainable future for building a sustainable future for Minnesota<00:

Bills: HF2928, HF2912, HF2297

Keywords: water appropriation, data centers, environmental review, energy conservation, permit application, carbon-free energy, geothermal energy, renewable energy, Macalester College, appropriation, sustainability, solar energy, pollinator programs, license plates, agrivoltaics, environmental sustainability, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a budget-neutral transfer.
• And our capital budget chair isn't here at the moment, but was there funding in the capital budget for
• The bill is assumed in the House budget.
• The bill is assumed in the House budget.
• The House budget does not provide any funding for this bill in their budget.

Bills: HB1069, HB2091, SB6355, HB2104, SB6003, HB2441, HB2124, HB2610, HB2338

Keywords: collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, electric transmission, energy policies, infrastructure, regulatory framework, transmission systems, aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on the capital budget and several policy bills. Staff briefed Proposed Substitute Senate Bill 6003, including amendments that shifted funding among capital projects, added money for the Yakima Behavioral Health Hub and Rent and Resource Center, moved the African Diaspora Cultural Anchor Village project, corrected juvenile rehabilitation and irrigation appropriations, and made a technical change to water pollution control revolving funds. The committee also considered bills on survivor health premium reimbursements for line-of-duty deaths, a higher lump-sum retirement payment threshold, collective bargaining coverage for certain employees outside the NLRA, permanent property tax exemptions for senior centers and nonprofit low-income homeownership projects, weatherization capital funding, and a Climate Commitment Act restructuring bill. Amendments were adopted on SB 6003 and on the CCA bill, while several later CCA amendments were withdrawn. All of the executive-session bills received due-pass recommendations, with the CCA bill sent to the Transportation Committee as amended. The public hearing began with Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, which would terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1 in 2029, transfer members to a new plan with identical benefits, and distribute surplus assets to the Climate Commitment Account and the pension funding stabilization account. Committee staff described the plan’s overfunded status and the need for IRS approval; senators asked about funding history, medical liabilities, and governance. Testimony was sharply divided: retirees and firefighter groups opposed the bill as a broken promise and urged benefit enhancements or COLAs instead, while counties and cities said they wanted clearer language about taking over local medical obligations and disability board issues. No action was taken during the hearing. The committee then heard Engrossed House Bill 2179 on PERS membership for port workers in other employer-funded plans, with port officials and the Washington Public Ports Association supporting it and asking for clarifying amendments, while one member of the public supported having only one pension system. House Bill 1069, allowing DOC employees to bargain over supplemental retirement benefits, drew support from Teamsters and opposition from a policy group concerned about the bill’s scope and fiscal effects. House Bill 2091, expanding employee-information disclosure to all public employers under the PSRA, drew union support and privacy objections from Washington Policy Center. The committee also heard Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1210 on targeted urban area tax preferences for clean energy transformation projects, where labor and local economic development groups supported it and contractor, environmental, and anti-nuclear witnesses opposed the project labor agreement and the nuclear-facility implications. Finally, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408 on community preservation and development authority funding and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1974 on land bank authorities for affordable housing both received supportive testimony, and Substitute House Bill 2650 on tax administration notices and effective dates was presented as a technical Department of Revenue request with no fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did not anticipate that a much, a big, a major portion of the budget—72% of the budget for the water—would
• Uh, we did not anticipate that a much, a big, a major portion of the budget, 72% of the budget for the
• So they wanted to make sure they had a water budget that could accommodate that. So they did.
• So when you go to the next page that goes to the budgets, sources, and uses...
• “So one of the previous witnesses talked about the maximum sustained pumping volume.

Bills: HB24, HB27

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management

Summary: The committee met to hear House Bills 27 and 24 on groundwater issues in East Texas, with members and witnesses focusing on a proposed large-volume groundwater export project and the need for more science before major permitting decisions are made. HB 27, which was within the special session call, would direct the Texas Water Development Board to conduct a hydrogeologic study of the aquifers in the affected area and temporarily pause new export permits while the study is underway. HB 24, a separate bill that would limit certain production and export permits to 5% of modeled available groundwater, was laid out but the chair said it would not be moved out of committee. Testimony on HB 27 was largely supportive, though some witnesses were neutral. Supporters, including representatives from a water supply corporation, the Trinity River Authority, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, said the region lacks enough hydrologic data, that the proposed pumping could affect private wells, surface water, and local economies, and that the state needs better information on sustainable yield and groundwater-surface water interaction. Several witnesses emphasized that groundwater conservation districts need clearer tools and better data, while also noting concerns about property rights and the rule of capture. Committee members discussed the scale of the proposed project, the absence of a groundwater conservation district in Houston County, and the possibility that the study should examine desired future conditions and maximum sustainable pumping rather than only modeled available groundwater. The committee adopted the committee substitute for HB 27 and voted it out favorably to the full House with a recommendation that it do pass, be printed, and be sent to the Committee on Calendars. The roll call was unanimous, 11 ayes and 0 nays. After the vote, members briefly reflected on the complexity of the issue and the need to continue working on broader groundwater policy in the interim and next session. HB 24 was discussed later in the meeting, but no final action on that bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• owners to significant monetary compensation based on market valuations, which might strain municipal budgets
• Adhere to and to budget accordingly.
• that they need, but growth is also something that we really need to be looking at how did it do sustainably

Bills: HB24

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management

Bills: HB24

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management

Transcript Highlights:

• We are looking at some innovative technologies to get sustainable renewable energy.
• </c> technologies to to get sustainable technologies to to get sustainable renewable<00:05:13.840><c>
• things like green fertilizer, green things like green fertilizer, green steel,<00:47:58.240><c> sustainable
• /c><00:47:58.800><c> aviation</c><00:47:59.280><c> fuel</c><00:47:59.680><c> because</c> steel, sustainable
• aviation fuel because steel, sustainable aviation fuel because when<00:48:00.160><c> those</c><00:48

Bills: HF4770

Keywords: biomass, anaerobic digester, renewable energy, sustainability, energy generation

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then took up House File 4770, as amended by an A1 technical amendment. The bill was presented as a proposal to help Liberty Diversified International and Liberty Paper in Becker plan for replacement steam and energy supply as the Shuro facility closure approaches in 2030. Testimony described Liberty Paper’s current closed-loop steam arrangement with Shuro, the need to study future fuel and technology options, and the potential use of anaerobic digestion, biomass, construction and demolition waste, and food waste to produce steam and possibly power. Members asked about feedstock availability, the need for a feasibility study, possible backup natural gas use, and whether waste heat or wastewater heat could be useful. The bill was laid over as amended. The committee then heard a presentation from CenterPoint Energy on Minnesota heating demand and electrification. CenterPoint staff said affordability and reliability are central concerns and outlined how the utility manages customer costs through energy efficiency, contracting, storage, peak shaving, and conservation. Dr. Joel Lynch presented research on peak heating with natural gas and the “missing piece” in Minnesota’s electrification puzzle, explaining that Minnesota’s cold climate makes winter heating demand especially challenging and that replacing natural gas would require substantial new electric capacity and renewable resources. He compared his work with prior national and state studies and said the analysis used Minnesota-specific gas throughput, COP assumptions across several electrification scenarios, and January renewable capacity data. Lynch summarized preliminary findings that Minnesota’s peak gas heating throughput could be up to 40 gigawatts, with electric resistance heating implying roughly 36 gigawatts of new demand, and lower but still substantial demand under heat-pump scenarios. The presentation was informational only; no vote was taken on the CenterPoint presentation. The meeting ended with House File 4770 laid over and the energy demand presentation continuing.

Bills: HCR 10

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism

Transcript Highlights:

• the disposition of approximately 90 million in general revenue and another $73 million in federal budget
• For fiscal years 2025, the agency's indirect administrative rate is budgeted at 1.5%.
• Direct administration of agency programs is budgeted at another 10%. 88.5% of all appropriated funds
• And that's why 90% of our annual budget supports personnel costs for professional educators and staff
• sustainable textiles to boost demand.

Bills: HB294

Keywords: energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties, sustainability, real estate

Bills: HB223

Keywords: municipal budget, county budget, local government finance, spending cap, expenditure limit, inflation plus population growth, taxpayer impact statement, budget transparency, property tax, fees, Legislative Budget Board, voter approval, disaster spending, fiscal restraint, Texas Local Government Code, city budget, county expenditures

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs heard several House bills, with most measures left pending after testimony and later taken up in a batch of votes. Early in the meeting, HB 5624 on liability protections for motocross/off-road vehicle tracks, HB 223 on requiring competitive procurement for municipal lobbying contracts, HB 3709 on post-election audit procedures, and HB 5081 on protecting personal information of judicial officers and court staff were all discussed and left pending after testimony. Witnesses on HB 223 supported greater transparency in municipal lobbying contracts. HB 3709 drew sharp opposition from an election integrity advocate who argued the bill would reduce precinct-level granularity and make it harder to detect ballot errors, while a Secretary of State resource witness said the bill would simplify and standardize the audit process by location. HB 5081 received strong support from court administration and a district judge who described prior threats and an attack tied to publicly available personal information. The committee also heard HB 3546 on allowing school districts to move elections to November, HB 493 on barring certain felony offenders from serving as poll watchers, HB 5115 on increasing penalties for election fraud and related conduct, HB 4081 on trade secret filing procedures, HB 3909 on limiting restrictions on wireless devices at polling places, HB 2702 on limiting gubernatorial closure authority for certain veterans organizations during pandemics, HB 119 on foreign adversary lobbying, and HB 5138 on the Attorney General’s authority to prosecute election crimes. Several of these bills were explained with committee substitutes and then left pending before final action. Testimony on HB 493 and HB 5115 came from an election integrity advocate who supported both bills, saying the poll watcher restriction was appropriately narrowed and that the election fraud bill would help address invalid votes and refusal to count valid votes. Later, the committee took up pending business and voted out a large number of bills, generally along party lines or with broad support. HB 186 on minors’ social media use, HB 229, HB 2885, HB 3909 as substituted, HB 4285, HB 1661, HB 2820, HB 3181, HB 4157, HB 223, HB 521, HB 640, HB 1234, HB 2253, HB 2294, HB 3053, HB 3697 as substituted, HB 4281, HB 4463, HB 4995, HB 5081 as substituted, HB 5624 as substituted, HB 119 as substituted, HB 3225, HB 5138 as substituted, HB 5115, HB 481 as substituted, HB 3546, HB 493, and HB 4145 were reported favorably to the full Senate, with several also placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted committee substitutes for multiple bills, including HB 3909, HB 5081, HB 5624, HB 119, HB 5138, and HB 481. At the end, the chair noted another committee meeting would likely be needed before deadlines, possibly on a weekend, and recessed the committee subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• education system and our innovations around viticulture science. ...get us to a point where we can sustainably
• Business Leaders Program, having saved over half a million single-use bottles annually through sustainable
• You know, the boomer generation that was sustaining the wine industry is phasing out, and how do we,
• This bill would allow this funeral director to... ...manage their budget much better and allow us to
• This ensures that regulatory costs and expanded contract brewing activities are sustainably funded.

Bills: HB223

Keywords: municipal budget, county budget, local government finance, spending cap, expenditure limit, inflation plus population growth, taxpayer impact statement, budget transparency, property tax, fees, Legislative Budget Board, voter approval, disaster spending, fiscal restraint, Texas Local Government Code, city budget, county expenditures, 1185, senate, all

Bills: HB223

Keywords: municipal budget, county budget, local government finance, spending cap, expenditure limit, inflation plus population growth, taxpayer impact statement, budget transparency, property tax, fees, Legislative Budget Board, voter approval, disaster spending, fiscal restraint, Texas Local Government Code, city budget, county expenditures, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Iran and as we see fossil fuel prices go through the roof, that's not a cost that Minnesotans can budget
• Iran and as we see fossil fuel prices go through the roof, that's not a cost that Minnesotans can budget
• And of course, they're sharing a strong concern about the financial sustainability or vulnerability to
• <01:18:52.480><c> or</c><01:18:52.800><c> vulnerability</c><01:18:54.080><c> to</c> sustainability or
• vulnerability to sustainability or vulnerability to misuse.<01:18:55.440><c> I</c><01:18:55.760><c>

Bills: HF3545, HF4004

Keywords: energy efficiency, construction standards, building codes, environment, sustainability, 1183, house

Summary: The House Workforce, Labor, Economic Development, and Finance and Policy Committee met on March 10, 2026, approved the March 5 minutes, and then took up House File 3545, which would alter Minnesota’s residential energy code process. Representative Mekeland moved a DE amendment and explained it would remove the commissioner’s authority to choose a more efficient standard and eliminate the requirement that the 2038 residential code achieve a 70% reduction in annual net energy consumption compared with 2006, arguing the change was needed to protect home affordability. The committee adopted the DE amendment, and the chair indicated the bill was expected to be voted on that day for referral to the general register. Testimony was split sharply. The bill’s supporters, including Representative Mekeland and later witnesses from Housing First Minnesota and ARX, argued that energy-code mandates raise construction costs, threaten affordability, and could slow permitting or create unintended consequences in the code-adoption process. They said the state should follow the model code, keep the Department of Labor and Industry involved, and focus on homeownership costs. Opponents, including representatives from Center for Energy and the Environment, AIA Minnesota, Sierra Club, Fresh Energy, and FIA Alliance Minnesota, argued that energy codes are not the main driver of housing prices, that stronger codes save homeowners money over time through lower utility bills, and that the current process already includes stakeholder and cost review. Several cited studies and examples suggesting energy-efficiency upgrades pay back over time and improve comfort, safety, resilience, and climate outcomes. During member questions, Representative Pinto asked about cost-effectiveness materials, and Fresh Energy’s Eric Fowler said a cited analysis showed a modest upfront mortgage increase offset by larger monthly utility savings. Department of Labor and Industry legislative director Josiah Moore said the department had concerns that the bill would move Minnesota to a less energy-efficient code and that the DE could create unintended consequences in the code-adoption process, while noting the existing TAG process already considers cost concerns. The chair then closed public testimony and moved to member questions on the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did not anticipate that a major portion of the budget—72% of the budget for the water—would come from
• Aquifer, or what is sustainable.
• Sustaining local economies depends on safeguarding access to water.
• So one of the previous witnesses talked about the maximum sustained pumping volume.
• To sustain the growth that drives our great state.

Bills: HB24, HB27, HB24, HB27

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management, 997, house, all

Bills: SB18

Keywords: greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, air quality, climate policy, sustainability, 996, all