Transcript Highlights:

• measure so that it only applies to counties with a population over 500,000 people and not the neighbor islands
• measure so that it only applies to counties with a population over 500,000 people and not the neighbor islands
• measure so that it only applies to counties with a population over 500,000 people and not the neighbor islands

Summary: The committee first took up HB 229 HD1, a transportation measure previously heard jointly with another committee. Members recommended passing it with amendments. The amendments would shift the left-lane restriction from a speed-based standard to apply to vehicles over 10,000 pounds and vehicles towing another vehicle or trailer on roads with three or more lanes in the same direction. The committee also indicated the Judiciary Committee would handle the penalty amounts, while preserving exemptions for passing, left turns, public transit, school buses, and emergency vehicles, and keeping the bill limited to counties with populations over 500,000. The motion was adopted without discussion. The committee then considered HB 1 HD2 relating to the HCDA and transit-oriented development financing. The proposed amendments would give HCDA authority to develop parcels outside community development districts, allow community facilities districts within TOD zones, authorize CFD bonds and HCDA bonds to finance infrastructure, especially transit infrastructure, and incorporate the structure and intent of SB 1669, along with technical changes. The committee recommended passage with amendments, and the measure was adopted. Later, the committee heard HB 1167 HD1, an emergency appropriation to the Department of Transportation. DOT testified in support and clarified that the requested appropriation was $1 million from state highway funds. The committee recommended passing the bill with amendments, including changing the defective date to July 1, 2025 and noting the $1 million request in the committee report for further consideration by Ways and Means. The motion passed, with the chair, Senator Kanuha, and Senator Dort voting in favor and the vice chair excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• The dictionary is used throughout the metro area schools, as well as in and around Prairie Island, Lower
• </c><01:31:56.239><c> This</c><01:31:56.480><c> would</c> artists on the Tujong Island.
• This would artists on the Tujong Island.
• It began here at Lake Phalen, and it sat at the earlier testimony about Tuja Shong Island.
• It began here at Lake Phalen, and it sat at the earlier testimony about Tuja Shong Island.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, like Hawaii has one geographic rating area, but New Jersey has one as well.
• You know, like<00:25:44.280><c> Hawaii</c><00:25:44.720><c> has</c><00:25:45.000><c> one</c><00:25:45.160
• ><c> geographic</c><00:25:45.600><c> rating</c> like Hawaii has one geographic rating like Hawaii has

Bills: HF3766 , HF3972 , HF3437 , HF4118

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: travel insurance, regulation, insurance licensing, consumer protection, travel assistance, short-term rental, vacation rental, home sharing, rental marketplace, online platform, property damage guarantee, damage waiver, reimbursement insurance, insurance regulation, commerce department, platform user, Airbnb, Vrbo, host protection, rental home marketplace

Transcript Highlights:

• together like back in 2000 over Zoom and I told you that I grew up in a rural area, um, not here but in Hawaii
• up in a rural area um not here<01:10:39.040><c> but</c><01:10:39.600><c> in</c><01:10:39.840><c> Hawaii
• > I</c><01:10:41.520><c> guess</c><01:10:41.679><c> when</c><01:10:41.920><c> I'm</c> here but in Hawaii
• and I guess when I'm here but in Hawaii and I guess when I'm thinking<01:10:42.400><c> about</c><01:

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• health care system has 17 sites with 74 of those outside of the state of Kentucky, including one in Hawaii
• 20:31.719><c> in</c> the state of Kentucky including one in the state of Kentucky including one in Hawaii
• > of</c><01:20:34.360><c> kuy's</c><01:20:34.880><c> contract</c><01:20:35.280><c> pharmacies</c> Hawaii
• 58% of kuy's contract pharmacies Hawaii 58% of kuy's contract pharmacies are<01:20:35.960><c> located

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and took up House Bill 785, as amended by a committee substitute that combined language from HB 785 and HB 787. The bill was described as addressing Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) audits, provider contract notice and amendment procedures, mental health parity compliance, and related transparency requirements. Supporters said the measure would tighten notice to providers, limit repeated contract amendments and rate reductions, require more standardized audit procedures, and add reporting on Medicaid claims, appeals, and grievances. It also includes a provision requiring coverage of at least two evaluation-and-management billable services per physician per recipient per date of service, and a section addressing narcotic/opioid treatment program licensing and reimbursement language. Testimony in support came from Representative Kim Moore, John Inman of BrightView Health, Michelle Sandborne of the Children’s Alliance, and Kelly Cormic of RYSE. They argued that MCOs often use audits and recoupments in ways that are burdensome, opaque, and financially damaging to providers, especially smaller and rural ones. They cited examples of multiple audit requests in short timeframes, large record requests with short deadlines, delayed or absent feedback, and recoupments taken before appeals are resolved. They also said parity laws are not being consistently enforced and that the bill would give the Department of Insurance authority to suspend or revoke an MCO certificate of authority for willful or repeated parity violations. Committee members generally expressed support for provider protections and transparency, while asking for clarification on the narcotic treatment and E/M billing provisions. Tom Stevens of the Kentucky Association of Health Plans testified in opposition, saying the bill is complex to implement and should be handled through the broader Medicaid oversight work of House Bill 9, the MOAB. He said the issues raised were better suited for that bipartisan stakeholder process and noted the committee substitute had not yet been fully reviewed by his group. After discussion, the committee adopted the committee substitute and then moved to a vote on the bill; the roll call began, with several members recorded as voting yes, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote result is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• stating findings of the legislature in honoring the sacrifice of Idaho civilians who served on Wake Island
• This is a resolution honoring civilians who were working on Wake Island in World War II, and many of
• If you happen to have the resolution pulled up, Wake Island was one of a chain of islands that was supposed
• If you happen to have the resolution pulled up, Wake Island was one of a chain of islands that was supposed
• There was a siege on this island, a 16-day siege, and many of these civilians gave of their lives and

Transcript Highlights:

• Kennedy asserted himself into an anti-vaccination crisis in the island nation of Samoa.
• We've just had a measles case in Rhode Island, the first since 2000.
• system that the bureaucracy could never explain, never justify, and that persistently pays Rhode Island
• CMS should let Rhode Island try humane end-of-life care through CMMI.
• I will work with you to make CMS responsible to the needs of Rhode Island and to remedy those disparities

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• we're going to fight hard to make sure in this budget that we properly educate all our kids from Long Island
• we're going to fight hard to make sure in this budget that we properly educate all our kids from Long Island
• we're going to fight hard to make sure in this budget that we properly educate all our kids from Long Island

Summary: The Education Budget Conference Joint Committee met on March 18 to begin negotiations on the state education budget. Co-chairs Senator Shelley Mayer and Assembly Member Benedetto outlined their chambers’ priorities, with the Senate emphasizing Foundation Aid changes to better support students experiencing homelessness or foster care, English language learners, a minimum 2% increase for all districts, expanded universal pre-K, and continued support for special education programs and nonpublic schools. The Assembly highlighted its one-house proposal, including a $1.4 billion increase in Foundation Aid, a higher ELL and pupil needs weighting, a new weight for students in foster care or housing instability, removal of the pupil needs cap, $600 million for New York City class size reduction, additional community schools funding, and restorations or increases for libraries, teacher resource centers, 4201 schools, My Brother’s Keeper, and educational television and radio. Members from both chambers offered opening remarks stressing education as a top budget priority and expressing confidence that a compromise could be reached. Senator Tedisco focused on school safety and bullying, arguing that parents should be notified when their children are bullied and citing the need to protect students’ ability to learn. Assembly Member Vanel emphasized education as a tool for economic mobility and called for stronger financial literacy instruction. Assembly Member Carroll supported funding for libraries and evidence-based reading programs, while Assembly Member Smith said the Foundation Aid formula remains outdated and urged more support for English language learners, special education, and community schools. Assembly Member Chludzinski stressed local control, criticized the electric school bus mandate, and called for greater support for libraries and fiscal restraint. No votes were taken. The meeting was an opening conference session, with both sides stating their intent to continue negotiations and work toward an on-time budget that reflects shared priorities for students, schools, and libraries across New York State.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, he had the Rock Island line that was an Ameren line.
• The state with the Katy Trail, you know, he had the Rock Island line that was an Ameren line that because
• So Ameren owned that Rock Island line, and they turned that over to the state based upon a settlement

Committees: House Agriculture , House Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, he had the Rock Island line that was an Ameren line.
• The state with the Katy Trail, you know, he had the Rock Island line that was an Ameren line that because
• So Ameren owned that Rock Island line, and they turned that over to the state based upon a settlement

Committee: House Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2280, sponsored by Representative Nulte, but did not have a quorum. The bill would require the state land surveyor’s office to determine and publish the geometry of abandoned railroad rights-of-way so adjoining landowners and surveyors can identify ownership boundaries, with the work potentially contracted to private surveyors or engineers. Nulte said the measure is intended to address uncertainty over abandoned rail corridors, where the Surface Transportation Board is the entity that formally abandons rail lines, and noted the bill includes a sunset date in 2046 to spread out the work and reduce fiscal impact. Members asked about how abandonment is defined, how landowners would reclaim or survey former rail property, how the bill might affect rail-to-trail corridors such as the Katy Trail, and whether railroad fences or other remnants remain the railroad’s responsibility. Nulte said the bill is aimed at long-abandoned lines and that a committee substitute would likely add more detail on how the geometry would be reconstructed from historical maps and records. He also said title insurance and existing boundary records may help in some cases. The Missouri Railroad Association testified in opposition to the bill as drafted, saying the issue is more complicated than it appears because abandoned lines can involve reverted property, state-owned trail corridors, industrial sites, brownfields, and older records that may be proprietary or incomplete. The association said it was concerned about privacy, liability, and the burden of scrubbing historical ownership information from its files, and noted that Missouri’s rail network remains heavily used for freight and national defense shipments. No witnesses testified in favor, no votes were taken, and the hearing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Asian American Pacific Islander community is a vital and growing part of Texas. Texas.
• Asian languages in our state is Vietnamese, Chinese, Hindi, Tagalog. of the Asian American Pacific Islanders
• Bojani. for recognition. to recognize Asian American Pacific Islander Day of Action on February 24th.

Transcript Highlights:

• My family can trace itself back six generations to the islands of Brava and Fogo.
• To be honest, it feels like Rhode Island has sort of had the academic powerhouse of Richard Loban with
• many of his books working at Rhode Island College.
• Her father and her family are very well known on the island of Fogo.

Summary: The meeting was the first organizational discussion of the newly created commission to study the feasibility of establishing a Massachusetts Cape Verdean Cultural Center in Boston. Senator Liz Miranda opened with background on the seven-year effort to create the commission, the seed funding included in the state budget, and the commission’s one-year mandate to produce a report on location, funding, and next steps. Members introduced themselves and described their Cape Verdean ties, with discussion emphasizing the historical importance of Cape Verdean communities in Boston, New Bedford, Falmouth/Cape Cod, Brockton, and other parts of the Commonwealth. A major topic was how to structure the commission’s leadership. Members discussed whether the co-chairs should be legislators, outside appointees, or a mix, and several noted the need to follow open meeting law and other public meeting requirements. Representative Cabral suggested Senator Miranda and Representative Diggs as co-chairs, with possible vice chairs drawn from other appointees. The group also discussed the need to keep the commission representative of the broader state, not just Boston, and to consider an advisory group of Cape Verdean association presidents and other community leaders outside the formal membership. The commission then reviewed a long list of potential additional members, focusing on people with experience in arts, culture, education, history, community building, philanthropy, construction, health, and related fields. Members were asked to review the list, suggest additions or gaps, and send feedback to staff. No final appointments were made at this meeting. The commission voted to reconvene in two weeks to organize itself, potentially elect co-chairs and vice chairs, and move forward with additional appointments; the motion passed, and the meeting was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Add to that, as you all know, South Texas and South Padre Island are key tourist destinations, creating
• jobs and income for the inhabitants of South Texas and South Padre Island specifically.
• need to repair and make sure that we provide services to our district area, which is South Padre Island
• , Port Isabel, and Laguna Heights. and Long Island Village, about a 20-mile radius.

Bills: HB1342 , HB2889 , HB3002 , HB3254 , HB4820 , HJR40 , HJR40

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: private activity bonds, housing, residential rental projects, low-income, affordable housing, bond measures, funding equality, political subdivisions, public communications, election fairness, debt collection, consumer rights, disclosures, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, settlement agreements, State Board of Education, group benefits program, health insurance, state employees, dependents eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• Virgin Islands.
• and<00:03:31.959><c> the</c><00:03:32.040><c> US</c><00:03:32.319><c> Virgin</c><00:03:32.840><c> Islands
• each</c><00:03:34.000><c> one</c><00:03:34.159><c> of</c><00:03:34.280><c> us</c> and the US Virgin Islands
• each one of us and the US Virgin Islands each one of us is<00:03:34.560><c> funded</c><00:03:34.920>

Transcript Highlights:

• Grandma receives a call from their grandson who's in the Caribbean islands on vacation.
• <00:08:19.080><c> in</c><00:08:19.159><c> the</c><00:08:19.319><c> Caribbean</c><00:08:19.759><c> islands
• </c> grandson who's in the Caribbean islands grandson who's in the Caribbean islands on<00:08:20.440>

Transcript Highlights:

• across the aisle trying to find solutions, it's going to get more and more difficult as they are on an island
• they</c><00:12:37.560><c> are</c><00:12:37.800><c> on</c><00:12:37.959><c> an</c><00:12:38.199><c> island
• </c> more difficult as they are on an island more difficult as they are on an island uh<00:12:39.360>

Transcript Highlights:

• 25th, 2026, we are very pleased to have Father Frank Crumble III of Christ Church Parish in Kent Island
• He's also, obviously, the rector at the Christ Church Parish in Stevensville on Kent Island.
• Church Parish in in Stevensville<00:02:30.960><c> on</c><00:02:31.120><c> Kent</c><00:02:31.360><c> Island
• </c> Stevensville on Kent Island. Stevensville on Kent Island.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the bipartisan infrastructure law brought nearly 100 projects closer to completion in Rhode Island
• It's a crucial project, as you know, not just for Rhode Island, but for the region.
• significant grant for the Newport Bridge, which is the key artery from the mainland to Aquidneck Island
• If you're dealing with coastal highways, we have roads all around Rhode Island, and I'm sure many of
• By the way, the one thing that my good friend from Rhode Island didn't mention on permitting delays.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Keywords: surface transportation, infrastructure reauthorization, bipartisan collaboration, safety, federal programs, funding challenges, bureaucracy, transportation needs, critical projects, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting focused on the development of the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. Discussions centered around key principles aimed at improving the safety and reliability of the transportation network, reforming federal programs for efficiency, and addressing the diverse transportation needs across various states. Members emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration to streamline processes, eliminate bureaucratic delays, and ensure timely funding for critical infrastructure projects. There were also notable conversations about specific projects and funding challenges, reflecting the urgency for action and commitment to modernizing America's infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• to attack all of our immigrant students—not just the Latino community, but the Asian and Pacific Islander
• I rise on behalf of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus in support of H.R. 42,
• to make sure that we all recognize, especially those of you that have Asian American and Pacific Islanders
• Unfortunately, we talked a lot about stigma, but in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities
• that all of you know that, for all of our communities, but including the Asian American and Pacific Islander

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then moved through guest introductions, including students and fellows from California Lutheran University, UC Merced’s CAPE program, the Maddy Institute, and Madera High School’s Madtown Robotics Team 1323, which was recognized for multiple robotics world championships. The chamber also adopted an adjournment in memory and took up the daily file. Several bills and resolutions were considered and passed, including AB 1390 on school board compensation thresholds, AB 1338 on air district cost recovery for fence-line air monitoring, AB 648 on community college housing, AB 1207 on cap-and-trade price ceilings, ACR 66 recognizing Skin Cancer Awareness Month, AB 49 on keeping ICE out of public schools, AB 317 on a CEQA exemption for certain single-family homes, AB 527 on geothermal exploratory wells, AB 665 on the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation ombudsman report, AB 940 creating quantum innovation zones, AB 1021 on workforce housing for education agencies, AB 1112 on property tax apportionment in Rancho Mirage, AB 1318 on nonprofit eligibility for public funding, and AB 1470 on using student housing loan funds for affordable housing in downtowns and commercial districts. Most measures passed with broad support; AB 49 and AB 1318 were urgency bills and passed with the required higher vote threshold. The floor also adopted H.R. 40, declaring May 25 as Rosenda’s Day to honor a teen killed by a drunk driver, and H.R. 42, recognizing May as Behavioral Health Awareness Month. Both drew extensive personal testimony from members about mental health, suicide, substance use, and the need to reduce stigma and expand access to care. Additional health-related bills passed, including AB 408 creating a physician health and wellness program, AB 546 requiring coverage for HEPA purifiers for certain enrollees after wildfire disasters, AB 967 expediting licenses for out-of-state physicians, and AB 968 expanding pharmacist authority to provide non-hormonal contraception. The Assembly also debated AB 1056 on phasing out gill net fishing and AB 1376 on limiting juvenile probation terms, with supporters framing both as conservation or rehabilitation measures and opponents warning about economic harm or public safety concerns. Both bills ultimately passed. Throughout the session, members repeatedly emphasized public safety, education, housing, climate, health care access, and support for immigrant and youth communities, with recorded roll-call votes and voice votes taken on each measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Roads were gone, buildings were gone, and as I met with the three mayors and was leaving the island,
• I think I was the only one on the island, couldn't find the road, and I saw this in the distance.
• And I leaned out and I said, "Do you need help getting off this island?"
• Let's get you off the island." And she said, "No, I want to find my boyfriend.
• She said, "He's on the island," so I said, "Let's go find."

Bills: HJR 138 , HB 42 , HB 104 , HB 129 , HB 677 , HB 426 , HB 668 , HB 1699 , HB 2017 , HB 2128 , HB 2038 , HB 3783 , HB 3717 , HB 2316 , HB 3686 , HB 2563 , HB 3883 , HB 4021 , HB 2788 , HB 2663 , HB 3305 , HB 3173 , HB 3474 , HB 1105 , HB 3531 , HB 3490 , HB 3597 , HB 1295 , HB 3512 , HB 3010 , HB 3112 , HB 4215 , HB 3223 , HB 3464 , HB 3120 , HB 4214 , HB 4511 , HB 3704 , HB 4081 , HB 4783 , HB 4063 , HB 2783 , HB 4937 , HB 5085 , HB 2510 , HB 3426 , HB 4361 , HB 1169 , HB 2516 , HB 2347 , HB 4034 , HB 4700 , HB 3560 , HB 5150 , HB 3860 , HB 3146 , HB 3924 , HCR 98 , HCR 92 , HB 1520 , HB 1545 , HB 5265 , HB 1887 , HB 1914 , HB 2402 , HB 2306 , HB 2350 , HB 3000 , HB 3237 , HB 3326 , HB 3211 , HB 1056 , HB 2081 , HB 2187 , HB 3092 , HB 3308 , HB 3526 , HB 3750 , HB 4219 , HB 4230 , HB 4290 , HB 5238 , HB 4804 , HB 4749 , HB 245 , HB 1465 , HB 294 , HB 793 , HB 809 , HB 3928 , HB 334 , HB 2037 , HB 1973 , HB 285 , HB 4341 , HB 1043 , HB 1234 , HB 1193 , HB 1729 , HB 2498 , HB 1314 , HB 1353 , HB 3960 , HB 3923 , HB 2221 , HB 2517 , HB 2518 , HB 2213 , HB 5092 , HB 3748 , HB 5246 , HB 4344 , HB 1482 , HB 4044 , HB 2702 , HB 4264 , HB 2807 , HB 2898 , HB 3181 , HB 3250 , HB 2091 , HB 2115 , HB 2542 , HB 2768 , HB 3349 , HB 4406 , HB 1593 , HB 1899 , HB 3133 , HB 3133 , HB 4960 , HB 3214 , HB 2145 , HB 1201 , HB 5061 , SB 29 , SB 879 , SB 65 , SB 1745 , SB 412 , SB 412 , SB 1746 , SB 1238 , SB 1341 , SB 522 , SB 1532 , SB 1378 , SB 1062 , SB 2066 , SB 1963 , SB 2204 , SB 1366 , SB 2077 , SB 1967 , SB 1151 , HB 1618 , HB 2156 , HB 2615 , HB 2615 , HB 2349 , HB 1926 , HB 569 , HB 1762 , HB 38 , HJR 138 , HB 42 , HB 104 , HB 104 , HB 129 , HB 677 , HB 426 , HB 668 , HB 1699 , HB 2017 , HB 2128 , HB 2038 , HB 3783 , HB 3717 , HB 2316 , HB 3686 , HB 2563 , HB 3883 , HB 4021 , HB 2788 , HB 2663 , HB 2663 , HB 3305 , HB 3173 , HB 3474 , HB 1105 , HB 3531 , HB 3531 , HB 3490 , HB 3490 , HB 3597 , HB 1295 , HB 3512 , HB 3010 , HB 3112 , HB 4215 , HB 3223 , HB 3223 , HB 3464 , HB 3120 , HB 4214 , HB 4511 , HB 3704 , HB 4081 , HB 4783 , HB 4063 , HB 2783 , HB 4937 , HB 5085 , HB 2510 , HB 3426 , HB 4361 , HB 1169 , HB 2516 , HB 2347 , HB 4034 , HB 4700 , HB 3560 , HB 5150 , HB 3860 , HB 3146 , HB 3924 , HCR 98 , HCR 92