Video & Transcript Research : 'zero-interest loans'

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DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Natural Resources & Energy Committee Meeting Jun 24th, 2026

Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • It eliminates the recycling grants and low-interest loan program and repurposes the Delaware Recycling
  • It eliminates the recycling grants and low-interest loan program and repurposes the Delaware Recycling
  • But I am interested. I keep reading, and I'm just really trying to understand.
  • Yes, it's to balance the interests of ratepayers and the company.
  • Zero, to my knowledge. We just had a major snowstorm in, what, January, February this year.
Bills: SB287
Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and considered three Senate bills. SB 287 with Senate Amendment 2, a DNREC cleanup bill on recycling, would tighten recycling collection rules for haulers and commercial generators, require multifamily recycling education, repurpose the Delaware Recycling Fund, and add annual reporting; after brief questions and no public comment, the committee motion to release did not initially receive enough votes, so the bill was circulated for signatures. SB 346, which would speed Environmental Appeals Board hearing and decision timelines so DNREC secretary decisions become final if deadlines are missed, drew support from the Nature Conservancy and also failed to get enough votes at the meeting, so it too was circulated for signatures. The committee then took up SB 326, a major utility-regulation bill sponsored by Senator Hanson and Representative Heffernan that would cap certain non-mandatory utility spending, limit interim rates, increase oversight and transparency, and streamline rate-setting. SB 326 generated extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the Public Advocate, Sierra Club, PSC staff, and some legislators, argued that Delmarva Power’s spending on non-mandatory infrastructure has risen far faster than inflation, that the company is a regulated monopoly, and that the bill would help restrain future delivery-rate increases without harming reliability because mandatory reliability, storm response, and vegetation management spending would remain allowed. Opponents, including Delmarva Power, business groups, contractors, labor representatives, and the Delaware Contractors Association, argued the cap would delay needed reliability and capacity projects, hurt economic development, reduce jobs, and interfere with utility planning; they also said supply costs, not distribution spending, are the main driver of recent bill increases. After public comment and additional questioning, the committee voted to release SB 326 on a split roll call, but because several members were absent the bill was also walked for additional signatures. The committee then adjourned.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AEN-HHS-WAM, JDC-WAM DEFER, WAM-JDC, WAM, WAM Public Hearings 04-09-2026

Agriculture and Environment

Transcript Highlights:
  • Right now, again, we're putting money, $1 million, for a loan. We have zero. Okay.
  • But again, try to put the cost and saying it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.
  • But again, try to put the cost and saying it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.
  • But again, try to put the cost and saying it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.
  • Chair votes I, I vote I. ...it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.
Bills: HB1618
Summary: The committees held a joint hearing on HB 1618 HD1, which would create and fund a cesspool conversion revolving loan fund administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to help homeowners upgrade, convert, or connect cesspools. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state agencies and advocacy groups, with witnesses emphasizing that cost is the main barrier to cesspool conversion and that recent Kona flooding underscored the public health and pollution risks of cesspools. One testifier suggested the fund should actively pursue outside funding sources, and another urged an effective date that would allow counties to contribute sooner. A member raised concerns about whether loans would be affordable and whether other financing tools, such as tax credits, should also be considered; another member opposed the bill as not adequately addressing district-level sewer and septic issues. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, and the motion was adopted. The joint Judiciary and Ways and Means committees then considered HB 2592 on the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. The chair outlined amendments to clarify that the authority would assume property and liability associated with transferred assets, preserve existing liability rules, transfer conditional use permits if not already transferred, allow lease extensions before transfer, and set reversion triggers if the authority fails to adopt a management plan by June 30, 2028, or administrative rules by December 31, 2029. Members asked about preserving the public trust and whether the amendments would keep the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ role intact; the chair confirmed the fee and board role would remain unchanged. The committees voted to pass the bill with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. The committees also took up HB 2033, making further amendments to clarify the definition of state, delay certain effective dates, allow rental and U-Drive lessors to avoid liability by identifying renters, delete one section, and add administrative hearing language and bus-camera clarifications. HB 1888 was amended to expand protections for educational workers to include sports officials, define sports official, make intentional bodily harm a felony with enhanced penalties for repeat offenses, and authorize the attorney general to assist with restraining orders. Both measures were recommended for passage with amendments and adopted. Later, several bills were moved with little or no discussion: HB 1515, HB 1713, HB 1718, HB 2022, and HB 2385 were recommended for passage unamended; HB 2375 was deferred; and HB 1741 was amended to reflect Honolulu’s concerns, narrow study requirements, add exemptions and a delayed implementation date, and was recommended for passage with amendments. The committees adopted the recommendations on these measures, with some members noting reservations or prior opposition on certain bills.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 4/8/26

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • We had over 80 small business emergency loans and close to a dozen loan guarantees.
  • We had over 80 small business emergency loans and close to a dozen loan guarantees.
  • We had over 80 small business emergency loans and close to a dozen loan guarantees.
  • During that time, we were still paying rent, utilities, uh, loan interest with no income.
  • loans would only deepen this crisis. loans would only deepen this crisis.
Bills: HF4477
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee 3/13/25

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think that we all know the issues with our crushing student loan debt.
  • I had a ton of statistics and information available for today, but I thought, in the interest of time
  • <00:04:07.640> to have had to rely on student loans to have had to rely on student loans to
  • 1933 to provide relief for student loan 1933 to provide relief for student loan borrowers<00:05:
  • But I'm certain that someday I will have an income sufficient to repay my loans.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • So I filed House Bill 5419, which is a zero-based budgeting bill to cut through the nonsense and the
  • She asked me, would you be interested in that?
  • Yes, that is why I'm here, crossing party lines to ...me, would you be interested in that?
  • Zero-based budgeting is a conservative good government approach to efficiency in a state agency, and
  • Our precious dollars that taxpayers are interested in. You had talks with TEA.
Summary: State Representative Gina Hinojosa and a group of parents and education advocates testified in support of House Bill 5419, a zero-based budgeting proposal aimed at reviewing Texas Education Agency spending and redirecting more public education dollars to classrooms. Hinojosa argued that public schools are being weakened by chronic underfunding, teacher shortages, delayed special education services, and inadequate school safety funding, and said the bill would help cut bureaucracy, vendor contracts, and other non-classroom spending in favor of teacher pay, safety, and special education. Several witnesses, including self-identified Republicans and former GOP officials, backed the bill as a good-government measure and said they were crossing party lines because public schools need more direct investment. They criticized TEA growth, vendor contracts, public-private partnerships, and what they described as unfunded mandates from the state, including school safety requirements. One witness said rural districts are being forced into four-day school weeks, while others cited campus closures, deferred maintenance, and local tax increases tied to state funding shortfalls and recapture payments. The discussion also focused on the need for a systematic review of TEA spending and the lack of a sunset review for the agency since before 2005. Hinojosa and others said increasing the basic allotment would help districts, reduce recapture pressures, and prevent local tax hikes. The exchange was primarily a public hearing and advocacy session; no vote or formal committee action was described in the transcript.
DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Administration Committee Meeting Jun 17th, 2026

Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • Section 1 of this act is interest-free loans to provide financial assistance.
  • Now, Section 1 of this act is interest-free loans to provide financial assistance.
  • It establishes an interest-free loan.
  • During the shutdown, it establishes an interest-free loan program for financial assistance and provides
  • There's no conflict of interest.
Bills: SB268, SB306, SB264, SB312
Summary: The House Administration Committee met to consider a series of resolutions and bills covering arts districts, child care background checks, federal worker relief, health care reform, court transparency, school tax reassessment, municipal charter changes, constitutional amendment procedures, data center nondisclosure agreements, state employee benefits governance, and lieutenant governor vacancies. Members also noted that House Concurrent Resolution 12 had been removed from the agenda and that public comment would be limited to one minute per speaker. The committee released SCR 167 to study arts, culture, and creative districts in Delaware; HB 438 to close a loophole in the child care service letter requirement; SB 268 to provide interest-free loans, free transit, and tax deferrals for federal workers during shutdowns; SS2 for SB 1 to expand and permanently strengthen primary care investment while also addressing hospital cost growth; HCR 147 to request a Court of Chancery report on audio recordings and automated case assignment; SB 322 to replace the current post-reassessment 10% school revenue increase authority with a 2% annual increase option under safeguards; SB 306 to amend the Rehoboth Beach charter; HB 440 to require voter approval for constitutional amendments after legislative approval; SB 312 to bar nondisclosure agreements for large data center projects; SS1 for SB 289 to change State Employee Benefits Committee governance; and SB 264 to require a special election to fill a lieutenant governor vacancy. Testimony was mixed on several measures. Arts, child care, federal worker relief, primary care, court transparency, data center transparency, and the lieutenant governor vacancy bill drew mostly supportive testimony, while SB 322 and SB 306 drew both support and opposition, especially over tax impacts and the proposed spouse/partner restriction in Rehoboth Beach. HB 440 prompted debate over whether 55% voter approval was the right threshold for constitutional amendments, and SB 312 was supported as a transparency measure by residents affected by prior data center NDAs. All of the listed measures were released from committee by roll call vote, with some members voting no on HB 440, SB 306, SB 312, SS1 for SB 289, and SB 264.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs May 6th, 2026

Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • medical debt bill, we're striking everything, but we're keeping the part where we're capping the interest
  • We're capping the interest rate at 3% for medical debt.
  • So basically, members, what we're doing is we're just capping the interest rate on medical debt at 3%
  • The interest rate on medical debt is capped at 3%, which is similar to what other states have done.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Feb 10th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • Having received nine ayes and zero nays, I declare Senate Bill 1525 to have passed.
  • to no interest loans that are able to help with that infrastructure.
  • Chairwoman Thompson, 9 ayes and zero nays.
  • Having received nine ayes and zero nays, I declare Senate Bill 1998 to have passed.
  • Having received nine ayes and zero nays, I declare Senate Bill 1771 has passed.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 3/3/25

Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Same type of 45%, although we do have a 0% interest rate on this loan, and we only require interest only
  • Same type of 45%, although we do have a 0% interest rate on this loan, and we only require interest only
  • Same type of 45%, although we do have a 0% interest rate on this loan, and we only require interest only
  • Same type of 45%, although we do have a 0% interest rate on this loan, and we only require interest only
  • Same type of 45%, although we do have a 0% interest rate on this loan, and we only require interest only
Bills: HF770, HF857, HF38, HF1500, HF43
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Environmental Regulation Mar 27th, 2025

Environmental Regulation

Transcript Highlights:
  • I manage the Zero Emission Truck Initiative for Environmental Defense Fund, uh, testifying on the bill
Bills: HB205
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Apr 15th, 2025 at 03:30 pm

Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Transcript Highlights:
  • From talking to interested parties and leadership, there was some angst about committing the next legislature
Bills: SB2003
Summary: The committee reconvened to act on Senate Bill 2003, the higher education budget. Members first replaced prior intent language related to the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences with new language stating it is the intent of the 69th Legislative Assembly that an Allied Health Facility expansion be completed, and that the 70th Legislative Assembly consider supporting completion of the project. The chair explained the change was meant to avoid binding the next legislature to a specific $50 million commitment while still helping UND with fundraising. The amendment was moved, seconded, and adopted unanimously. The committee then addressed funding for Minot State University’s “Advancing Students Toward Education and Employment” program. After some discussion about the amount already in the bill and what had been previously agreed to, the committee approved adding $1 million, bringing the total appropriation for that line to $1.5 million. Members referenced prior testimony in support of the program. That amendment also passed unanimously. After approving the amendments, the committee adopted a do-pass recommendation on Senate Bill 2003 as amended, with Representative Sanford designated as the bill carrier. The chair noted the bill would likely be taken up on the floor later in the week. The committee also said it would return to commerce-related work the next day and then adjourned for the day.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Apr 15th, 2025 at 10:15 am

Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Transcript Highlights:
  • But I think we can look into how do we create a loan option.
  • Representative Louser, to my knowledge, we do not, but if we set up a loan for them, then they can pay
  • loan.
  • The loan, is that what you were referring to?
  • If you remember, the Senate kicked it over to us for seven because they had zeroed out Find the Good
Bills: SB2003
Summary: The committee first reconsidered Senate Bill 2003 in the higher education budget and adopted several changes. It removed $3 million for enterprise resource planning, struck $2 million for a grant program for students who are pregnant or recently gave birth, and then added $3 million back into workforce education and innovative grants, restoring that line to $12 million. Members also discussed a possible purchase of the 19th Avenue building in Fargo for the State School of Science, but the motion was withdrawn for later consideration. Other higher ed items were briefly noted, including tribally controlled community colleges and a state magazine funding line, but no final action was taken on the building proposal during this segment. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 2018, the Commerce budget, and reviewed a long list of funding items. It restored a vacant workforce FTE, increased tourism marketing to $10 million and Find the Good Life to $5 million, raised Operation Intern by $1 million, removed a $100,000 infrastructure study, increased autonomous agriculture grants to $15 million, and set the Regional Workforce Impact Program at $10 million. It also kept or adjusted several other items, including the uncrewed aerial vehicle replacement program, the global talent office, tribally controlled community colleges, Native American small business grants, and technical skills training grants. A major new provision would transfer $50 million total, split between SIF and Bank of North Dakota profits, to the Theodore Roosevelt Library Museum Endowment Fund, matching a private fundraising challenge; members expressed both support and concern, and said they would revisit it later. The committee also discussed language to allow commercialization of Vantis and to permit the Turtle Mountain gaming compact proposal to move forward with required federal approvals, while clarifying that a previously discussed $100,000 study had been removed. Commerce officials said the workforce language was intended to centralize data and strategy, and they noted Operation Intern would need an emergency clause because applications begin in May. No final vote on the Commerce budget was taken in this segment, and the chair said the committee would return later to finish both budgets.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Apr 14th, 2025 at 02:30 pm

Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Transcript Highlights:
  • It came over to us at zero, and we've added $1.5 million to that.
  • We've zeroed that. SIF funding for nursing education consortium. Mr.
  • And then if you want, if you're interested...
  • And then if you want, if you're interested, but I'm just going to explain it to you.
  • And then if you want, if you're interested in it, then I will.
Bills: SB2003
Summary: The committee met to work through the higher education budget, beginning with a conflict-of-interest request from Representative Martinson, who was excused from voting because of a partnership that leases office space to Bismarck State College. Members then reviewed the higher education institution budget sheets, covering ongoing and one-time funding items for campuses and system projects such as BSC housing, Lake Region roof repairs, UND’s STEM and National Security Crossroads projects, the UND allied health facility, NDSU projects including New Horizons, DSU deferred maintenance and campus security, Mayville’s Old Main, Minot projects, and the regional health institutes. Members also discussed student financial assistance, the professional student exchange program, IT security funding, and workforce/education innovation grants. Several amendments and policy questions were debated. The committee adopted an amendment to make workforce education innovation grants competitive rather than automatically distributed, and then voted to remove language prohibiting those funds from being used to duplicate academic programs. Members also removed similar anti-duplication language from the New Horizons section. They agreed to extend the UND hyperbaric chamber transfer authority to 2027 and clarified language around UND land-sale proceeds. A proposed amendment to add $5.6 million for the Wahpeton State School of Science building purchase failed for lack of a second, and a proposal to restore fetal alcohol spectrum disorder funding to UND was left for conference. The committee also discussed, but did not add, a tuition cap change, a study on the Praxis exam, and several governance-related provisions. The committee spent significant time on broader higher education policy items, including a $3 million enterprise resource planning request for the university system, a $2 million grant program for students who are pregnant, recently gave birth, or are caring for young children, and a $1.1 million request for library age-verification software tied to the Odin system. Members also discussed dual-credit authority for UND and NDSU, a goal for the UND medical school to increase North Dakota resident enrollment, and intent language regarding the commissioner/chancellor model and presidential search authority. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved the amendments and then gave the higher education budget a do-pass recommendation as amended, with Representative Sanford designated as the carrier. The Forest Service budget was also approved, including two additional FTEs, and the committee adjourned after noting it would continue with other budgets the next day.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Conservation Feb 10th, 2026 at 09:05 am

Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:
  • Zero carbon emissions.
  • So if we redefined renewable to include any zero-carbon source, what's the level?
  • So if we could have a zero-emissions gas-fired plant, it would have no, it would meet the zero wired
  • But if the goal is zero emissions, then a gas-powered plant that does zero emissions would be acceptable
  • This mandate is a mandate of 100% zero carbon on a government-approved timeline.
Bills: SB78, SB235, SB22, SB310
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/26

Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is an interesting bill.
  • business purpose mortgage loan. business purpose mortgage loan.
  • of interest. of interest.
  • business purpose mortgage loans. business purpose mortgage loans.
  • :00.080> prepayment<01:20:00.560> penalty loans with a prepayment penalty loans with a
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • There being five ayes and zero nays, the committee substitute to Senate Bill 1237 is reported to the
  • There being four ayes and zero nays, the committee substitute for Senate Bill 1844 is reported to the
  • There being four ayes and zero nays, the committee substitute for Senate Bill 1454 is reported to the
  • There being four ayes and zero nays, the committee substitute for Senate Bill 2520 is reported to the
  • There being four ayes and zero nays, the committee substitute for Senate Bill 2541 is reported to the