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House committee advances amended bill to create state energy authority after negotiated amendment and voice votes
Summary
The House Energy Committee adopted an amendment to HB 314 that redesigns the proposed energy authority’s makeup, moves oversight to DEQ, limits voting by state regulatory officials, adds annual reporting and sunsets the authority in 2031, then passed HB 314 as amended by voice vote (11–3 reported).
Following a brief recess, the House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations Committee took executive action on HB 314, a bill to create a state energy authority with statutory powers and a dedicated revenue account. Committee members presented and debated an amendment that substantially revises the structure and oversight of the authority.
Key changes in the amendment (read on the record by the amendment presenter) include: assigning administrative functions to the Department of Environmental Quality rather than the Department of Commerce; specifying membership categories (residential customer representative, small business, agriculture, commercial/industrial, transmission/distribution expertise, private-sector development including an investor-owned utility representative, renewable energy experience, coal/coal-fired generation expertise); adding two legislative liaisons (one from each chamber, not of the same political party) with voting authority; designating executive branch and Public Service Commission representatives as non‑voting advisers; adding an annual report requirement to the Energy and Telecommunications Committee; and including a sunset of December 31, 2031.
Several members asked whether stripping vote authority from regulatory officials could create practical difficulties for implementation; sponsors replied that retaining advisory roles while removing voting rights reduces conflicts of interest. The committee discussed drafting language ("may not" vs "shall") and the intent that legislative liaisons represent different parties.
The committee held a voice vote on the amendment; the clerk recorded a roll count after chair calls that ultimately reported the amendment as carried (clerks reported counts as the chair reconciled them; reported counts varied in the record but the amendment was approved). The committee then took a voice vote on the bill as amended; clerks reported 11 ayes and 3 noes and Chair Perry announced the motion carries. The clerk recorded Zolnikoff and Mitchell voting "no" by proxy (as recorded in the hearing), and the bill was sent to the House floor.
Recorded committee action: - Amendment to HB 314 (structure, reporting, sunset) — carried by committee voice vote (amendment adopted). - Motion that HB 314, as amended, do pass — carried by committee voice vote; clerks recorded 11 ayes and 3 no's; bill advanced to the House floor.
The committee adjourned after completing executive action.
