Senate committee reports bills on winter utility rates, backflow inspections and anti‑commandeering to full Senate

The Senate Energy Industry and Mining Committee agreed by voice vote to report committee substitutes for several bills to the full Senate and, in some cases, to refer them under double reference to other standing committees.

Committee counsel told the group that the committee substitute for Senate Bill 48 would prohibit the Public Service Commission from approving a new rate, fee or rate increase to become effective between Nov. 1 and the following April 1, codifying current PSC practice. The committee substitute was agreed to with no amendments and the vice chair moved that the substitute be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass and that it first be referred to the finance committee under the double committee reference; the chair declared the voice vote carried.

On Senate Bill 586, counsel said the bill amends two code sections related to water backflow prevention assemblies. Under the substitute, rules from the Department of Health could not require low‑hazard backflow assemblies to be inspected more frequently than once every three years; high‑hazard systems would be inspected annually. Counsel noted the substitute mirrors prior legislation from the 2025 session. The committee agreed to the substitute, and the vice chair moved to report SB 586 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass; the motion carried by voice vote.

The committee also agreed to a committee substitute for Senate Bill 685, the natural resources anti‑commandeering act. Counsel said the substitute would bar state agencies, political subdivisions and officers from knowingly participating in enforcing or investigating federal orders, statutes, rules or regulations relating to coal, oil, gas, timber or other extracted resources when there is no comparable state law; it would prohibit public funds from supporting such federal enforcement activities and require the Attorney General to commence legal challenges the AG determines necessary and to publish guidance policies by Jan. 1, 2027. Counsel emphasized the substitute does not attempt to nullify federal law or block federal agents from acting directly. The committee agreed to the substitute and the vice chair moved to report it to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass and that it first be referred to the Judiciary Committee under double reference; the motion was adopted by voice vote.

All three measures were reported out by the committee on voice votes; the transcript records the chair’s declarations that "the ayes have it" but does not include numeric roll‑call tallies.