Transcript Highlights:

• written testimony because I'm running out of time what our amendment is, but it's regarding the strict liability
• 41.519> strict it's regarding the strict the um strict it's regarding the strict the um strict liability
• provision that's in the liability provision that's in the language.<00:03:43.599> Thank<00:03
• In addition, in closing, the strict liability problem is a concern I have.
• In addition, in closing, the strict liability problem is a concern I have.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs met on March 19, 2025, and heard testimony on several firearms-related bills. HB 125 would require firearm sellers or transferors to provide buyers notice about secure storage laws, expand secure-storage requirements, and clarify criminally negligent storage. The Department of Law Enforcement and the Department of Education supported the bill. The Office of the Public Defender raised constitutional concerns under District of Columbia v. Heller and suggested narrowing the bill so a firearm need not be made inoperable when the lawful owner is home. Supporters, including Brady, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, veterans, and other advocates, said secure storage would reduce accidental shootings, youth access, theft, suicides, and school shootings. Opponents argued the bill was redundant, could criminalize victims of theft, and imposed strict liability. The committee noted 24 individuals in support and 103 in opposition. The committee also heard HB 137, which would impose a mandatory prison term for violent felons who violate firearm or ammunition possession prohibitions. DLE, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, and the Hawaii County Prosecutor supported the measure, arguing it targets repeat offenders and strengthens public safety. The Office of the Public Defender opposed mandatory sentencing, saying judges already have discretion to impose lengthy sentences and that mandatory terms can be inappropriate in some cases. The committee then heard HB 392, which would prohibit ghost guns and establish mandatory minimum sentencing for use of a ghost gun in a felony. DLE and the Honolulu Prosecutor supported it, while the Public Defender and several opponents said parts of the bill were redundant or could create definitional problems; the committee recorded five supporters and 70 opponents. HB 995 would amend deadlines for annual firearms carry reporting by the Attorney General and county police chiefs. The Attorney General’s office and HPD supported the bill, with the Attorney General asking for more time for police departments to submit complete data and for the April 1 deadline to be removed. The committee also heard HB 664, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a grant program, a resource bank, and a special fund. The Department of the Attorney General supported the concept but recommended consolidating the new office’s duties with the existing Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission to avoid duplication and possibly repealing the existing commission statute. DLE supported HB 664, while the Tax Foundation objected to the special fund. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reduction to underage drinking would lead to less alcohol-related violence in our state.
• Reduction to underage drinking would lead to less alcohol-related violence in our state.
• Reduction to underage drinking would lead to less alcohol-related violence in our state.
• I mean, if they make the wrong repair, surely they're not, they don't wipe their hands of liability,
• or liability, do they? or liability, do they?

Bills: HB1991, HB1776, HB1897, HB1900

Keywords: liquor tax, alcohol, inflation adjustment, small craft breweries, public health, tenant rights, housing stability, landlord-tenant code, eviction prevention, multilingual resources, condominium, dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration, attorneys' fees, common expenses, construction defects, building code, statute of repose, statute of limitations

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1991, which would change Hawaii’s liquor excise tax structure to an ABV-based system. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii took no position and stood on written comments. Supporters, including the Hawaii Public Health Institute and an individual testifier who described surviving a drunk-driving crash, argued that higher alcohol taxes reduce alcohol-related harms, save lives, and generate additional state revenue. The public health witness cited alcohol-related harms as a major preventable cause of death and said the tax increase would have only a small annual cost for most consumers. Most industry testimony was in opposition. Representatives of Lanikai Brewing Company, Maui Brewing Company, the Wine Institute, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association said the bill would sharply raise taxes on beer and wine, squeeze already thin margins, and threaten local jobs and businesses. They argued Hawaii producers already face high costs for labor, energy, shipping, and compliance, and said an ABV-based tax would be difficult to administer, would require additional testing and labeling work, and could reduce consumer choice. Several industry witnesses urged lawmakers to instead adopt a small-producer or class 18 carveout, with one suggesting a cap tied to 60,000 barrels. Committee members questioned the brewers about alcohol content testing, labeling, and whether smaller producers already measure ABV. Witnesses said many local producers do not certify ABV for in-state sales, that yeast and fermentation can vary by batch, and that an ABV-based system could require more testing than current practice. No vote or final action on the bill was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The credit is designed to compensate for the increased tax liability experienced by couples who file
• This increased tax liability is referred to as a marriage penalty.
• experienced by couples who tax liability experienced by couples who file<00:37:59.839> their<
• This increased<00:38:02.800> tax<00:38:03.040> liability<00:38:03.520> is<00:38:
• zero. tax liability is zero.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You saw a 25% reduction in participation in SEHBP from December 2025 to January 2026 when there was a
• You saw a 25% reduction in participation in SEHPB from the December of 2025 to January 2020. in SEHPB
• pressure employers to adjust plan terms, eligibility rules, and coverage practices to reduce or avoid liability
• The Make Polluter's Pay Act imposes a retroactive liability on...
• The Make Polluter's Pay Act imposes a retroactive liability on folks who were doing legal, needed activity

Keywords: 1146, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met on June 28, 2026 and considered a long list of budget and policy bills, reporting many of them out of committee, often with amendments. Early measures included AB 2550 on continued dependent health coverage for certain adults with disabilities, AB 4794 allowing tax data sharing with the New Jersey Innovation Authority and Secure Choice Savings Board, and AB 3381/SB 1493 updating occupational therapy licensure requirements. The committee also advanced AB 4014, creating a social media research center at a public four-year institution, though one member opposed it as unnecessary spending given existing research on social media harms. Another bill, AB 5048/SB 1281, would ban certain apparel and diaper products with intentionally added PFAS; some members opposed it over safety and cost concerns, especially for firefighter gear, but it was reported. The committee also moved AB 383, which promotes volunteerism to help FamilyCare and SNAP recipients meet eligibility requirements, and AB 4357, extending telehealth pay parity, though one member objected to parity between telehealth and in-person care. The committee then took up several energy, environmental, and housing-related bills. AB 5188, the Advanced Grid Technologies Act, was released despite opposition from some members and labor interests. AB 2524 would let dual-use solar projects participate in community solar, and AB 5236 would strengthen pediatric psychiatry and behavioral health services; both were reported. AB 5348, allowing temporary use of open-space and related funds for certain municipalities, drew sharp criticism as a diversion of preservation money to fill budget holes, but passed. AB 5280 returned unexpended county appropriations to Hudson County and authorized supplemental operating aid; it also passed despite objections about prior bidding violations. AB 5347 provided certain motor vehicle-related funding to municipalities and was reported, as was AB 5334/SB 4423, appropriating Green Acres and CBT revenues for local open space and park projects. A major portion of the meeting focused on tax and business-related bills. AB 5329 increased the child tax credit for 2026-2028, with testimony urging that the expansion be made permanent; it was reported. AB 3899, the General Contractor Licensing Act, also passed. AB 5310/SB 4406 clarified sentencing under certain circumstances and was reported. AB 5330, allowing temporary transfers in the pension system, drew testimony from NJEA warning that the State Health Benefits Program was in crisis and asking for a longer repayment period to avoid rate spikes; the bill was still reported. AB 1326 created a higher education governance and funding task force and was amended to add a Talmudic institution or theological seminary representative. Later, AB 5333/SB 4424 appropriated additional Green Acres and CBT funds for recreation and conservation projects and was reported. The committee also advanced several business and alcohol-related measures, including AB 5235 establishing the School-Based Partnership for Access and Resilience for Kids program, AB 5325 reducing business formation fees, AB 4836/SB 2368 on portable solar devices, AB 4881 establishing an advanced nuclear energy procurement program, AB 3974/SB 3183 revising renewable energy incentive and solar interconnection rules, AB 4013 creating a social media research center focused on addictive behavior, AB 5225 making temporary alcohol beverage provisions permanent, and AB 5295 revising alcoholic beverage licensing laws. The most contentious debate came on AB 4085, the Fair Price Protection Act, which would restrict “surveillance pricing” and regulate grocery pricing practices. Consumer advocates supported the bill as a protection against individualized pricing, while retailers and chambers of commerce argued the language was too broad and could undermine loyalty programs, discounts, and electronic shelf labels. Despite those objections, the committee voted to report the bill after amendments. Finally, AB 4530/SB 3739 on EV supply equipment standards was reported, and AB 5322 imposing a temporary cap on net operating loss deductions under the corporate business tax sparked strong opposition from business groups and a policy debate over whether legitimate losses and investment-related deductions should be limited; the bill was still moved out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• registration, revocation, suspension, agents' contracts, disclosure, fees, penalties, violations, liabilities
• convenience fees, provide relative to driving vehicle registration privileges, compulsory motor vehicle liability
• regulating certain calls, telecommunication providers, duties of the Attorney General, penalties, liability
• may experience a net increase, but these expenditures may be affected by further possible cost reductions
• “And I think it’s a great sentence: these increases could be affected by further possible cost reductions

Bills: HR192, HR193, HR194, HCR80, HCR81, HCR82, HCR83, HCR84, HCR85, HR188, HR189, HR190, HR191, SB134, SB140, SB281, SB331, SB384, SB389, SB415, SB451, SB458, SB479, SB504, SB523, HR38, HR96, HR160, HCR31, HCR61, SCR19, HB316, HB549, HB578, HB646, HB748, HB798, HB824, HB988, HB989, HB1001, HB1032, HB1081, HB1108, HB1129, HB1140, HB1157, HB1186, HB1192, HB1195, HB1198, HB1222, HB1244, SB73, SB89, SB128, SB149, SB191, SB196, SB238, SB318, SB340, HB225, HR1, HR17, HCR5, HCR4, HCR47, HCR32, HB362, HB893, HB990, HB1007, HB1153, HB1243, HB12, HB42, HB205, HB222, HB267, HB324, HB325, HB350, HB478, HB610, HB617, HB745, HB749, HB752, HB797, HB807, HB821, HB896, HB979, HB992, HB1000, HB1024, HB1050, HB1166, HB1172, HB1173, HB1207, HB1218, HB1223, SB162, SB349, SB350, SB382, SB383, SB127, SB244, SB256, HB911, HB306, HB366, HB1161, HB1230, HB59, HB481, HB772, HB897, HB1003, HB1008, HB1112, HB1180, HB1189, HB181, HB1118, HB901, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB393, HB458, HB459, HB525, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB773, HB864, HB996, HB1035, HB1058, HB1082, HB1113, HB1234, HB1240

Keywords: ACOG, maternal health, healthcare professionals, patient-physician relationship, obstetrics, gynecology, condolences, military service, veteran, community, memorial, visual acuity, student health, de-identified data, longitudinal analysis, education policy, property rights, carbon dioxide sequestration, expropriation, Landowner Bill of Rights

Transcript Highlights:

• salary for most of my career, and I decided to move to a rural part of the state and wanted to take a reduction
• would pay an alternate contribution rate to the pension system to ensure that there was no unfunded liabilities
• would pay an alternate contribution rate to the pension system to ensure that there was no unfunded liabilities
• Retirement System to ensure that that position is still having funds that pay down the unfunded liability
• the scenario of an elected official that might fall into those scenarios where they might take a reduction

Bills: HB2211, HB2229, HB2389, HB2403, HB2445, HB2502, HB2620, HB2813, HB2872, HB2889, HB2960, HB4028, HCR2007

Keywords: contractors, subcontractors, resident preference, public contracts, materials supply, Arizona Revised Statutes, local businesses, pregnancy resource center, pregnancy center, crisis pregnancy center, DHS, Arizona Department of Health Services, state appropriation, general fund, nonprofit grant, women's health, maternal health, reproductive health, abortion funding, pro-life

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, uh, stage 4 would result, could potentially result in 10% reduction in water use by industry, as
• The contractor side or the insurance side, the liability side of that, can you elaborate a little bit
• into the agreement with them to go ahead and sell them the water, we found a way to unwind that liability
• to fix the aging, deteriorating drinking water and wastewater systems that are really becoming liabilities
• opportunity to prioritize water, I would encourage you to think about water security as a matter of risk reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Stage 4 would result... potentially result in 10% reduction in water use by industry, as he stated.
• mention it, you might have briefly talked about. the contractor side or the insurance side, the liability
• went into the agreement with them to go ahead and sell them the water we found a way to unwind that liability
• diversify our water supply portfolio for a drought prone and growing state. that are really becoming liabilities
• opportunity. to prioritize water, I would encourage you to think about water security as a matter of risk reduction

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we also deleted a paragraph on operating expense reduction relative to the House. Mr.
• And we also deleted a paragraph on operating expense reduction relative to the House. Mr.
• We change the operating expense We change the operating expense reduction<00:21:53.080> paragraph<
• paragraph to focus on others reduction paragraph to focus on others on<00:21:56.120> the<00:21
• There are reductions to many state agencies of 4% in 27, 7% in 28.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Recommendations include 3.3 billion reduction due to district property growth.
• FSP for 2425, include a $389.3 million increase. in GR and a $1.8 billion reduction in all funds.
• It's funding for Educator Investigations Business Unit, which is losing funding due to the reduction
• That's a billion and a half dollar reduction into the regular program budget which does not come with
• Yeah, to my knowledge it doesn't save the money, it costs. causes a reduction in labor effort, and so

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> So, it's a reduction on the fiscal note? >> Um, Mr.
• As far as the lady in Hastings, when she got injured down there, where does the liability fall on this
• To Senator Howe's point,<00:47:26.480> um<00:47:26.680> liability<00:47:27.320> as
• this group of point, um liability as this group of transportation<00:47:28.920> expands<00:47
• , my guess is you'll see more liability, my guess is you'll see more and<00:47:44.920> more<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Even if the students were known to be hyperviolent, no liability whatsoever.
• The students were known to be hyperviolent, no liability whatsoever, period.
• Even if that's, even if the students were known to be hyperviolent, no liability whatsoever.
• The students were known to be hyperviolent, no liability whatsoever, period.
• Yes, but you want us to protect you from that contractual liability, right? Yes, yes, sir.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfunded liability: 122,988,967,431,782,266.
• <03:41:20.319> 13 insurance 12 unfunded liability 13 insurance 12 unfunded liability 13 2,378,384
• Unfunded liability amortization payments. Step pay. Para direct distribution.
• <05:23:23.920> cost<05:23:24.240> 85,811,4861 liability cost 85,811,4861 liability cost
• <05:53:01.440> 10850,355 liability 10850,355 liability 10850,355 55<05:53:03.440> 527,814163,256

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, in addition, liability insurance on the truck is... not in every case, but in most cases, the insurance
• So releasing them from liability will not help. And they are available.
• So releasing them from liability will not help this situation.
• It also creates a reduction in co-payments for families receiving half-day child care, most commonly
• The proposed amendment, it creates numerous new legal definitions and hurdles with the liability.

Summary: The House convened with quorum, offered prayers and moments of silence for community members who had recently died, and recognized several guests and family members in the chamber. After routine communications and passage of consent calendar 29, the chamber took up a series of measures on the main and colored agendas, with several bills and resolutions passing by voice vote or roll call. Among the measures approved were House Concurrent Resolution 157, which as amended requested a State Lottery report on options to support traditional lottery retailers; Senate Bill 53 on the Delaware Farm to Community Program; Senate Bill 307 on PSC authority for Lifeline telecommunications carriers; Senate Bill 339 clarifying health directive forms in mental health facilities; Senate Bill 235 on manufactured home community rent increases; Senate Bill 325, as amended, updating fire prevention and volunteer fire/EMS background check rules; Senate Bill 309 on inmate work and discharge of incarceration-related balances; Senate Bill 324 on deadly weapons and constable agency representatives; Senate Bill 293 on youth camp child care licensing; Senate Bill 94 on respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication delivery; and Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment protecting the right to marry regardless of race or gender while preserving religious freedom. House Bill 188, changing Delaware primary elections to allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary, also passed after debate. Two measures drew extended discussion and amendments. Senate Bill 233, requiring snow and ice to be removed from vehicles, was tabled once, then later amended and passed after debate over whether the law was workable for truck drivers and other vehicle operators; a proposed truck-related exemption amendment failed. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404, creating a pilot program for artificial intelligence and extended reality in schools, passed after testimony from the Department of Education emphasizing guardrails, privacy, and educator oversight, alongside concerns from members about data, bias, and long-term effects. Several items were tabled or reconsidered during the session, and the House adjourned after completing the day’s business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 200, a bill to be entitled an act relating to comprehensive waste reduction and recycling
• House Bill 295, a bill to be entitled an act relating to a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling
• House Bill 295, a bill to be entitled an act relating to a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling
• The provision is necessary because of a 2019 court decision that created a strict liability litigation
• assert a much-needed and very narrow natural geology defense provided by this bill against strict liability

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several member introductions before taking up the special order calendar. The chamber first postponed CS/SB 80 on state land management, then moved through a series of bills, often substituting House companions when identical or nearly identical. Early actions included unanimous passage of HB 295 on a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan, which directs DEP to develop a recycling and waste-diversion roadmap, and passage of CS/CS/SB 492 on land development and mitigation banking after amendments addressing out-of-service credits and former phosphate mine lands; that bill passed 35-3 after debate over possible constitutional concerns. The Senate also passed HB 255 on aggravated animal cruelty, adding a sentencing multiplier and a searchable FDLE database of convicted animal abusers, and HB 711 establishing the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism, with $190,000 in nonrecurring implementation funds and a July 1, 2026 implementation date. The chamber then approved HB 1089 to add Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, and HB 393 revising the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program to expand eligible mitigation projects, lower the approval threshold, and clarify ownership and reimbursement issues. Members discussed funding levels and whether insurance premium credits would be required, but the bill passed unanimously. The Senate also passed HB 1145 on workforce education, HB 827 on a statewide study of automation and workforce impact, and HB 181 on parole guidelines, all without recorded opposition. CS/CS/SB 976 on court-appointed psychologists also passed unanimously, as did HB 1451 on sexual cyber harassment, which broadened protections against non-consensual and digitally forged intimate images. Later, the Senate approved HB 1156 creating the Home Health Aid for Medically Fragile Children Program, after clarifying training requirements and hearing support that the measure would help families keep medically fragile children at home while compensating trained parents. The chamber also passed HB 1091 on substance abuse and mental health care, with an amendment allowing designated facilities to retain stabilized patients who still meet involuntary examination criteria. Throughout the day, senators used questions and debate to probe charter school governance in CS/CS/SB 822, which was substituted with HB 443 and amended to expand charter autonomy over conduct codes, enrollment, reporting, and facility use while maintaining sponsor oversight; that bill was placed on the calendar for third reading rather than voted on in the excerpt. Several other measures, including SB 716, SB 76, and the final SB 1252 item, were postponed or not reached before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Read the next bill: Senate Bill 200, a bill to be entitled an act relating to comprehensive waste reduction
• House Bill 295, a bill to be entitled an act relating to a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling
• House Bill 295, a bill to be entitled an act relating to a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling
• The provision is necessary because a 2019 court decision created a strict liability litigation cloud
• assert a much needed and very narrow natural geology defense provided by this bill against strict liability

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and heard several member introductions and recognitions. The Rules Chair moved CS/CS/SB 622 to the end of the special order calendar, which was adopted without objection. SB 80 on state land management was temporarily postponed, as were later bills SB 716 and CS/CS/CS/SB 1348. The chamber then took up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and adopting amendments before final passage. Measures approved included a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan (HB 295, 38-0), mitigation banking and land development changes with a phosphate mining lands amendment (CS/CS/SB 492, 35-3), aggravated animal cruelty with a searchable FDLE database and sentencing multiplier (HB 255, 37-0), the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism and related training/funding (HB 711, 37-0), newborn screening for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (CS/CS/HB 1089, 36-0), and revisions to the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program to expand eligible mitigation projects and adjust approval thresholds (CS/CS/HB 393, 37-0). The Senate also passed workforce education legislation allowing charter schools access to grant funding and expanding money-back guarantees (HB 1145, 37-0), a statewide study on automation and workforce impact (HB 827, 35-0), parole guideline revisions (HB 181, 37-0), court-appointed psychologist procedures in family law cases (HB 901, 37-0), sexual cyber harassment protections covering digitally forged intimate images (HB 1451, 37-0), a home health aide program for medically fragile children with training and reimbursement provisions (CS/CS/SB 1156, 37-0), substance abuse and mental health care changes including 988 oversight and involuntary examination procedures (HB 1091, 37-0), a feasibility study for a statewide pond data database (HB 1359, 37-0), and Department of Law Enforcement housekeeping changes and retired police dog reimbursements (HB 1053, 37-0). The most extensive debate centered on the charter schools bill (HB 443), which expanded charter autonomy, reporting parity, enrollment flexibility, and governance rules; after a delete-all amendment and a friendly amendment, it was placed on the third-reading calendar rather than immediately voted on. Several bills were briefly discussed with concerns about transparency, accountability, funding, and constitutional issues, but all bills brought to a vote during this segment passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that the reduction over that period was about 40%. Okay, 40% in resin loss. Correct.
• I don't have the total number to share, but we're really pleased to see that reduction over time.
• If you, in order, I imagine... ...in order to have a baseline and then a reduction, you must have the
• vector reduction.
• , vector reduction, and so that's part of producing biosolids.

Bills: HB1341, HB1674, HB4028, SB2321

Keywords: hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• a level rate of increase over each of the four years of the contract, and then got a $2 million reduction
• So, you know, we're talking about a $2 million overall cost reduction by... $2 million overall cost reduction
• This also exposes the state to legal liability, preventable harm, and the possibility of catastrophic

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state level is making certain that there are no reductions in police and fire at the local level,
• other lower tax rate states because that's their long-term indication of what their property tax liability
• Approval rate, a balanced budget that didn't include about $33 million of reductions to get to that proposed
• Well, here's how you can now claim that we have seen record reductions in violent crime.

Bills: SB9, SB 9

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap, tax rollback, tax levy, maintenance and operations, debt rate, disaster relief rate, Texas Legislature, local taxing unit, school assessment

Transcript Highlights:

• Are they paid back in a reduction in the next billing cycle?
• Are they paid back in a reduction in the next billing cycle? Are they paid back?
• The tenant understandings for them to be paid back in a reduction of the billing cycle.
• for grocery pricing, to provide for definitions, to provide for prohibited conduct, to provide for liability
• of mandatories, to provide for defenses, to provide for exemptions of liability, to provide for enforcement

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 267, which would change the membership rules for the Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors by adjusting appointment qualifications, term limits, and nomination procedures. Vice Chair Thomas explained the bill was meant to address the lack of nominations from existing entities and to allow the governor more flexibility, especially in smaller districts. After adopting a technical amendment, the committee reported HB 267 favorably. The committee then considered House Bill 478 on utility overcharge reimbursements. The bill, as amended, requires utilities to clearly label reimbursements on customer bills and sets a deadline for issuing refunds. After discussion with the Public Service Commission and utility representatives, the committee changed the reimbursement timeline from 45 days to 90 days and clarified that the bill would not interfere with larger settlement or regulatory credits. HB 478 was then reported favorably as amended. The longest discussion centered on House Bill 924, a consumer protection measure aimed at contractors who solicit residential property owners after declared disasters. The author said the bill was intended to curb predatory storm-chasing and fraudulent insurance-related practices, while still allowing emergency mitigation work. The committee adopted technical amendments and then a conceptual amendment shortening the catastrophe response period from six months to 30 days. Testimony was split: the Insurance Commissioner and some roofing industry witnesses supported the bill as a way to deter fraud, while other contractors argued it would hurt small businesses, limit legitimate door-to-door work, and not solve enforcement problems. The bill remained under consideration after extensive testimony and public comment.