Transcript Highlights:

• responsive mental health support to Californians, children, youth, and caregivers, particularly in remote
• that in a way because so much resources are going into these apps and online portals and virtual or remote
• that in a way because so much resources are going into these apps and online portals and virtual or remote

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the chair and members about recent federal cuts to public health, mental health, family planning, and Title X funding, with strong concern about the impact on California programs and providers. The committee then turned to the Department of State Hospitals, which presented its 2025-26 budget proposal of $3.4 billion, including new positions, capital improvements, and funding tied to increased patient costs and incompetent-to-stand-trial services. DSH reported major progress in reducing the IST waitlist and wait times, said it had met the court’s 28-day treatment benchmark for those without extenuating circumstances, and described workforce recruitment and retention efforts such as residency programs, fellowships, outreach, and hiring streamlining. Members asked about future IST referral trends, SB 1323’s effect on diversion and community treatment, and workforce lessons in high-cost regions; public comment urged reconsideration of county IST growth cap methodology in light of new criminal justice initiatives. The committee next received an informational overview of Proposition 1 and its changes to behavioral health funding and governance. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that Prop. 1 restructured county MHSA funding buckets, expanded the Commission for Behavioral Health, shifted prevention and early intervention responsibilities, and authorized a $6.4 billion bond, including $4.4 billion for behavioral health facilities through BHCIP. DHCS said it had released guidance for county integrated plans and was receiving extensive public comment. Members focused on BHCIP application requirements, especially letters of support and tribal projects, and raised concerns about whether DHCS’s implementation matched statutory intent. DHCS said it had authority to set application requirements and that tribal entities were treated differently because of sovereignty and funding structure. DHCS then updated the committee on BHCIP, the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program, and related bond implementation. The department said BHCIP had awarded about $1.7 billion across five rounds, with more than 130 projects and 223 distinct facilities funded, and that it was preparing to award the new bond funds after receiving nearly $8 billion in applications. The LAO’s assessment found that more than half of awards served at least 80% Medi-Cal enrollees, but also raised concerns that the regional allocation model could reinforce inequities, that the program had not sufficiently addressed the highest-need regions such as the southern San Joaquin Valley, and that smaller counties and less launch-ready applicants faced barriers. For bridge housing, DHCS said more than $1.1 billion had been awarded, serving over 5,000 people and supporting more than 2,000 operational beds, but the Governor’s budget proposes to eliminate Round 4 funding as the administration weighs other statewide investments and Proposition 1 implementation workload. Public commenters and members urged more accountability, better regional equity, stronger labor and community involvement, and caution about funding for for-profit psychiatric facilities. Finally, the committee heard on the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. CalHHS and DHCS described CYBHI as a broad prevention- and equity-focused effort with more than 1,300 organizations funded, over $2.1 billion awarded, and multiple work streams spanning schools, community programs, workforce, and digital supports. DHCS highlighted school-based services, the fee schedule rollout, and digital platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna, which it said are reaching users statewide and providing low-barrier access to coaching and support. Members and public commenters raised concerns about delays in school fee schedule implementation, the large share of funding going to digital tools, the need for more in-person services, and whether the initiative is sufficiently tracking outcomes and equity impacts. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• which is the harassment section of Century Code, by adding the definition of a robot, which includes remotely
• piloted aircraft, ...definition of a robot, which includes remotely piloted aircraft commonly referred
• Subsection 1(c), the definition of robot, is added again and includes remotely piloted aircraft.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, pledge, roll call, and a quorum present, then approved a motion to lay over House Bill 1525 for one legislative day. It also voted not to concur with House amendments on Senate Bills 2294, 2297, 2070, 4017, and 2262, appointing conference committees for each. The chamber then took up a series of House bill amendments and final-passage votes. On amendments, the Senate adopted changes to House Bill 1229 on fleeing law enforcement and driving-record transparency after debate over insurance impacts and public safety; House Bill 1510 on teacher retention, on-site child care, and licensure study language; House Bill 1160 to restrict student personal electronic devices during instructional time; House Bill 1429 to address drone harassment and stalking of animals; House Bill 1203 to harmonize medical marijuana provisions; House Bill 1600 to create a UND immigration clinic with reporting requirements; House Bill 1130 to broaden K-12 funding formula changes and reduce state fiscal impact; House Bill 1279 to modify the coal conversion tax exemption; House Bill 1442 to adjust membership and scope of a state task force; and House Bill 1464 to convert a maternal care services proposal into a study and remove the appropriation. The Senate rejected an amendment to House Bill 1022 concerning the Retirement and Investment Office bonus program, then passed the bill. It also passed House Bill 1234 on a $90 million transfer to reduce PERS liability, while rejecting a floor amendment to it. On final passage, the Senate passed House Bills 1008 (Public Service Commission budget), 1218 (temporary moratorium and study on economic analysis for drain projects), 1234 (PERS funding transfer), 1146 (PERS defined contribution cleanup and emergency clause), 1355 (expanded notice for administrative rulemaking), 1470 (Game and Fish fee changes and guide/outfitter updates), 1029 (Capital Grounds Planning Commission duties), 1017 (Game and Fish budget), 1374 (township supervisor open-meeting exemption for on-site inspections), and 1064 (NC-SARA membership and distance education regulation). It defeated House Bill 1583 on false political advertisements with civil-action language and House Bill 1393 on earned wage access provider regulation. The transcript ends as the Senate begins consideration of House Bill 1326 on self-defense and unlawful firearm possession by felons.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm doing well, and thank you very much for allowing me to testify remotely.
• director, your experience is so important for this particular agency and the authority. testify remotely
• we have two sick kids testify remotely we have two sick kids at<00:17:48.360> home<00:17:49.120

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land opened with housekeeping remarks about testimony limits, video availability, and that decision-making would follow the hearing. The committee then heard and considered several SCRs authorizing long-term nonexclusive easements over state submerged lands for existing public or private infrastructure on Oahu, including stormwater outfalls, shoreline protection structures, concrete stairs, seawalls, and a rock revetment. DLNR supported each measure and generally requested only technical or clarifying amendments; for SCR 3, DLNR asked that the title be clarified to specify the easement would be granted to the City and County of Honolulu. After discussion, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendations, passing SCR 3 with amendments and SCRs 4, 6, and 7 unamended, while SCR 5 was passed with technical, non-substantive amendments. Senator Meli noted general concerns about seawalls and hardening but said he would support the measures because they involved repair of existing structures and public access, though he indicated a reservation on SCR 6. The committee then took up governor’s messages for HCDA appointments. For GM 58, Gerald Gordner was nominated to the Kalaeloa district seat; HCDA’s executive director and another supporter praised his urban planning, housing, zoning, GIS, and collaborative skills, and Gordner described his interim service and background in housing affordability and disaster recovery. Members also discussed a former military hangar in Kalaeloa and possible future uses, with Gordner noting he understood there had been restrictions that were later lifted, while the chair raised concerns about airport operations and modular housing use. The committee also heard support for GM 559, nominating Micki Lidstone as cultural specialist; HCDA said she had been an active and reliable board participant and cultural resource, and Lidstone said she valued learning from Native Hawaiian testimony and helping balance community perspectives. Finally, GM 688 nominated Deborah Kabibi to the Leeward Oahu/Maui district seat; HCDA said her community ties would be valuable for South Maui planning, and Kabibi said she had learned a lot from the board’s collaborative process and was eager to represent her community. The transcript ends during discussion of GM 688, before any vote on the nominations is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're disconnected and you're testifying remotely, just rejoin as soon as you can and I'll try to
• That was a really long recitation of what it does, but we will point out first, um, this bill appears
• It will appear to run concurrent with the current processes of court or hearing officer.
• to create a first, um this bill appears to create a removal<01:03:40.120> a<01:03:40.160>
• :43.080> with<01:03:43.320> the appears to run concurrent with the appears to run concurrent

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, with most measures drawing either support or comments rather than opposition. HB 2395, relating to taking marine deposits for research, education, management, or propagation, received support from the University of Hawaii and DLNR. HB 2585, relating to agricultural tourism, drew broad support for its intent to keep agritourism secondary to farming, but agencies and farm groups raised concerns about enforcement, county authority, and the rebuttable presumption language. Testifiers included OPSD, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau, a small farm operator, and others, with some urging clearer definitions, simpler registration, and protections for bona fide farms and hosted farm stays. HB 1728, on rainwater catchment systems, was supported in principle by DLNR, which cited drought conditions and said it deferred to counties and the Department of Health on safety and regulation. HB 1881, which would prohibit passenger ropeways on mountain lands, drew strong support from community testifiers who said it would help prevent development disguised as agritourism and protect forests and country lands. HB 1990, establishing penalties and possible foreclosure for unresolved zoning violations, received comments from the Attorney General recommending removal of AG references and more county-centered enforcement, while the Hawaii Association of Realtors warned the 30-day timeline could create problems for absent or unaware homeowners. The committee also heard HB 1712, which would expand and make permanent certain seats on the State Building Code Council. The Plumbers and Fitters union supported the bill, but BIA Hawaii requested amendments to add “licensed contractor” language, and architects and other professionals opposed the measure, arguing that increasing the council from 12 to 15 voting members would make it less efficient and harder to reach quorum. Finally, HB 2151, relating to hempcrete, was supported by a Kauai workforce development advocate and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, who said hempcrete could support agriculture, manufacturing, and affordable housing while reducing carbon and reliance on imported materials. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• At that time, the department was looking at ways to support families remotely.
• At that time, the department was looking at ways to support families remotely.
• At that time, the department was looking at ways to support families remotely.
• At that time, the department was looking at ways to support families remotely.
• At that time, the department was looking at ways to support families remotely.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division 2 work session first took up HB 506, a bill dealing with the return of seized firearms. Members discussed how the measure would shift background-check processing for firearm returns through the Department of Safety, while the physical firearms would still remain with local police unless State Police had taken custody. The department said the bill would change which cases come to it, and members clarified that the bill concerns the background-check decision rather than possession of the firearms. The committee then voted OTP on HB 506 FN by a 7-0 roll call. The committee next discussed HB 671, establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program. Department of Education staff explained that the bill grew out of a COVID-era Waterford contract that provided home-based early literacy support for families using federal relief funds, at a cost of about $600,000 per year, but that the program ended when those funds expired. Members raised concerns that the bill’s $1 appropriation was not realistic, that the prior program lacked sufficient outcome data, and that the references to ESSA tier-one benchmarks were unclear. The department said it was conducting a broader literacy needs assessment and updating the state literacy plan, including data from the zero-to-five range, K-5, and dyslexia-related work. Waterford representatives described the program as an early-literacy, pre-K readiness service for children ages zero to five, originally designed to work in homes with computers and internet provided where needed, and later expanded in some settings such as daycares and pre-K classrooms. They said the program used assessments at the beginning and end, had served hundreds of children, and was intended to support family engagement and kindergarten readiness. Despite that testimony, members remained concerned about funding and the lack of clear results, and one member moved to retain the bill for more information. The discussion ended with the bill retained rather than advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Remote chair. >> On. >> On. >> On. >> Perfect.
• Maybe I'll do the welcome remotely and then we'll introduce us that are here remotely, and then I'll
• I am just leaving a meeting that Kate from Winona was at, so she should be joining remotely if she hasn't
• She likes to have me chair when she's remote so I can see all your faces more clearly maybe.
• so I can have me chair when she's remote so I can see<00:04:28.800> all<00:04:28.960> your

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The following members intend to vote from a remote location pursuant to rule 40.7: Senators Carlson,
• remote location pursuant to rule 40.7. remote location pursuant to rule 40.7.
• It appears that Senator Marty is deferring to Senator Rasmussen.
• c> Marty<00:39:47.720> is<00:39:48.280> is It appears that Senator Marty is is It appears
• Senator Houseworth reporting the remote voters. Senator Carlson votes aye.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate was called to order, a quorum was established, and remote voting was authorized for several members. The body adopted committee reports except those related to Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, gave Senate File 4067 a second reading, and referred newly introduced bills as listed on the agenda. It also adopted a motion to strike and re-refer House File 3379 to the Committee on Finance, and then moved into special orders and floor debate. The main floor action was on House File 2358, a public safety bill providing enhanced criminal penalties for certain coercion offenses. Senator Lang described it as creating a Minnesota crime targeting sexual extortion of children, including online extortion. Senator Maye Quade supported the bill and spoke about the tragic constituent story behind it. The Senate took a roll call and passed the bill 67-0, with its title agreed to. The Senate then began debate on Senate File 4511, which would clarify Minnesota gambling law to prohibit prediction-market style betting disguised as futures contracts. Senator Marty argued the bill was needed to stop companies such as Kalshi and Polymarket from using futures-contract language to evade state gambling restrictions and to protect existing regulated gambling businesses. Senator Johnson initially offered the A10 amendment to delay action until federal jurisdiction issues are resolved, but withdrew it after debate. He then offered the A8 amendment to preserve longer-term weather-related hedging contracts, which Senator Marty supported as a distinction from short-term, manipulable bets; the A8 amendment was adopted. Debate continued with questions about the bill’s scope, including whether it would reach election-related or financial contracts.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration will come to order because this is a fully remote

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely. Anderson, P. votes yes.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• implement the outreach program using the state libraries as locations where the public can participate remotely

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: At the final hearing of the Government Operations Committee on March 27, 2025, members considered SCR 53/SR 35 and agreed to move it forward as a Senate Draft 1. The measure was amended to replace references to the Department of Accounting and General Services with the Legislative Reference Bureau, and to direct the LRB’s Public Access Room to work with the Hawaii State Public Library System on an outreach program using state libraries so the public can participate remotely in the legislative process. The LRB would also be required to report to the legislature on implementation plans. The chair voted yes, and the measure passed with amendments. The committee also took up SR 135/SR 114, which urges state departments to partner with the Office of Wellness and Resilience on data-sharing agreements. After concerns raised by members, the proposal was revised into Senate Draft 1 to incorporate language tied to Act 29-291 and the Office’s work on a social determinants of health electronic dashboard. The amendments emphasized secure data-sharing, privacy and confidentiality protections, and the use of deidentified, aggregated, and anonymized data to support community needs assessments and aid strategies. Additional changes corrected titles in the measure, including identifying the chairperson of the Department of Health rather than the director. The chair noted the Office of Wellness and Resiliency would follow strict data governance protocols and work with state departments. The committee then voted yes on SR 135/SR 114, Senate Draft 1, with all members present voting in favor except Senator Gab, who was excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to review our budget request.
• return perspective, it is difficult to make large capital investments to fully satisfy all of the remote
• and I guess there's no such carve-out for charter schools, is that correct, like DOE has a remote school
• nature of the school La ho of the remote nature of the school La ho Hoy<05:34:22.040> and<05:
• <05:34:33.080> um like doe has a you know a remote um like doe has a you know a remote um

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee held an informational briefing with the University of Hawaiʻi, led by new President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance Calbert Young. Hensel outlined the university system’s scope, student demographics, research activity, and campus missions, emphasizing four strategic priorities: serving Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi, student success, workforce development, and economic diversification through innovation and research. She highlighted the system’s enrollment, research funding, and the roles of Mānoa, Hilo, West Oʻahu, the community colleges, and specialized institutions such as JABSOM and the Cancer Center. Young then reviewed the budget request, focusing largely on making prior one-time appropriations permanent and supporting recurring needs. Items included funding for Mānoa athletics, the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology, K-12 teacher education, Pamantasan Council support, Hilo programs, Windward’s mental health technician certificate, Maui’s practical nursing bridge program, and student support positions such as financial aid and admissions counselors. He also described workforce-related requests tied to nursing expansion at Mānoa and West Oʻahu, as well as facilities support at West Oʻahu. A major portion of the testimony addressed the university’s two Kakaʻako medical facilities. Young explained that declining tobacco settlement and cigarette tax revenues are no longer sufficient to cover debt service for JABSOM and the Cancer Center, so the governor’s budget includes general fund support to supplement those obligations. He also described a regents-approved request not included in the governor’s proposal: expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise financial aid program to the four-year campuses, estimated at about $11–12 million. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would this stop a county judge or a county commissioner from appearing pro se, if that's an attorney,
• But I have evidence we have...” “...appearing as a lawyer in the court, so they can do the vetting judge
• It appears that anyone who disagrees with any book in our store has a right to file a lawsuit.
• I've appeared before this committee several times and other committees of the legislature to talk about
• The appearance is there. So I appreciate this bill, and thank you for the time. All right.

Bills: HB2242, HB2446, HB2799, HB4502, HB2920, HB2790, HB5620, HB5060, HB5076, HB5080, HB5081, HB5128, HB5130, HB3847, HB5116, HB2969, HB4546, HB4202, HB5624, HB3964, HB4803, HB872, HB4775, HB4777, HB4961, HB5570, HB2988, HB4260, HB1375, HB5009, HB5411, HB5134, HB4388, HB3095, HB1387

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 4961, which would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages after a collision. The author said the bill is intended to create incentives to maintain insurance and to address what he described as an unfair system for insured drivers. Texans for Lawsuit Reform and Texas Eagle Forum testified in support, while the Texas Trial Lawyers Association opposed it, warning the bill could also affect pedestrians, passengers, children, and others who did not choose whether a vehicle was insured. The bill author clarified that passengers would be included in the bill’s coverage. No vote was taken and the bill was left pending. House Bill 5570 would extend a legislative attorney CLE exemption to attorneys appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate to boards or commissions. The author said the measure is meant to ease time burdens and encourage service, and a witness supported it as a modest incentive for public service. A committee member noted a discrepancy in the number of affected attorneys, and the author agreed to verify the correct figure. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 2969, which would restrict the State Bar from adopting rules or penalties that unreasonably burden attorneys’ religious exercise or free speech based on sincerely held beliefs. The author and several witnesses from Texas Values, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Cecilia Wood argued the bill protects lawyers of faith from an ABA model rule they described as a speech code. No one testified against the bill, and it was left pending. House Bill 4260, which would prohibit county judges and county commissioners from practicing law in courts over which they have jurisdiction, drew opposition from the County Judges and Commissioners Association, which argued existing ethics rules already address conflicts and that the bill would burden rural officials. The author said the bill was prompted by concerns about judges using their office to pressure others. The bill was left pending. House Bill 5134 would limit Rule 202 pre-suit depositions to people who have suffered or reasonably expect actual damages and would allow attorney’s fees against abusive petitioners. The author said the bill is aimed at preventing harassment and fishing expeditions, especially in family-law disputes. Questions focused on how the standard would work and how it differs from current law; the author said the main change is fee-shifting and a clearer legislative directive. The bill was left pending. House Bill 3095, a committee substitute version of a similar uninsured-motorist bill, would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages and limit economic recovery, with several exceptions. Trial lawyers argued it was unconstitutional because it capped economic damages and could unfairly affect innocent drivers, pedestrians, and older people who no longer drive. The author acknowledged constitutional concerns and said the bill would need further work; the committee withdrew the substitute and left the bill pending. Finally, House Bill 4388 would require all judges, including county judges who perform administrative duties, to remain subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct. Supporters said some elected judges avoid accountability by relinquishing judicial functions, while opponents argued the bill is too rigid and unnecessary because existing remedies already exist. House Bill 3964 would limit public nuisance claims to their historical role and bar such claims against lawful conduct, conduct already covered by other remedies, and products. The author and supporters said the bill is meant to prevent courts from using public nuisance to make policy, while opponents argued it would eliminate useful remedies and could affect local actions against environmental or product-related harms. The author said the bill would not affect statutory nuisance claims, private nuisance claims, or other causes of action, and would be amended to clarify some provisions. The bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• to now recognize Senate members of this committee, several of whom have texted me that they are remotely

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs held its fifth public hearing of the 2025-2026 session, chaired by Senator John Velis and Representative Joe McGonagle. The chairs said the hearing focused on legislation involving tax credits, annuities, and other financial benefits for veterans, service members, and military families. Senator Velis highlighted recent action on the HERO Act, which increased the annual annuity for 100 percent disabled veterans, Gold Star parents, and Gold Star spouses from $2,000 to $2,500, and noted that legislation to ensure eligibility for Gold Star spouses had been enacted and signed into law, removing a remarriage restriction on receiving the annuity. No members of the public had pre-registered or appeared to testify in person or virtually on the bills on the agenda. After confirming that no one was present to offer testimony, the committee briefly acknowledged attendance and then moved to adjourn. The motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• This meeting, including the audio and video of remote participants, is being streamed live on YouTube

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened with the 10:54 agenda and took up SB 2656, a short-form bill relating to taxation. The chair explained the intent was to insert the provisions of proposed SD1, then recommit the bill to the Committee on Ways and Means so the process could start over and a full hearing could be held later. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass SB 2656 proposed SD1 with amendments and recommit it, with aye votes from the chair, vice chair, and several senators, and reservations from Senators Elefante, Wai, and Favlla; Senators Kidani and McKim were excused. For the remaining three agendas on that meeting block, no oral testimony was taken. The chair said there was a large volume of written testimony, so the committee would review it and defer decision-making to a later date on all three measures. The meeting then moved through the 10:55, 10:56, and 10:57 agendas. On the 10:55 agenda, the committee said it would defer decision-making to Monday, March 2, except for SB 334, which would be deferred and then reposted as proposed SD2 for a full hearing, with testimony to be submitted on the proposed SD2 rather than the current version. On the 10:56 and 10:57 agendas, the committee deferred decision-making to Tuesday, March 3, at 10:15 a.m. in conference room 211, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• relation to requiring governmental entities to implement multi-factor authentication for local and remote

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Internet Technology Committee met on February 25 at 12:10 with Senator Gonzalez chairing and Senator Stec as ranking member. The committee considered a series of bills focused on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biometric surveillance, and related technology issues, including measures to create a Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, require notices for generative AI systems, direct a state agency telework report, require multi-factor authentication for governmental entities, establish a Secure Our Data Act, study facial recognition technology, restrict biometric surveillance by law enforcement, and increase transparency for synthetic content and AI training data. Most bills were moved and reported out of committee, with several sent to the floor and others referred onward to the Finance Committee, Codes Committee, or reported without recommendation or with opposition noted. SB 933, SB 934A, SB 936A, SB 3699, SB 6954A, SB 6955A, SB 7263, and SB 9051 were reported to the floor; SB 1139, SB 1961A, and SB 9051 were sent to Finance; and SB 5609 was sent to Codes. Votes varied by bill, with some receiving no opposition and others drawing one or more nays or without-recommendation votes. Senator Gonzalez also briefly highlighted SB 9051, which would prohibit AI chatbots from using features considered unsafe for minors, describing it as a response to concerns about harm from companion bots and chatbot interactions with children. The chair noted work with the Attorney General’s office and Common Sense Media and said the bill was intended to promote regulation and accountability for companies deploying such systems. The meeting concluded with thanks to the ranking member and staff, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we have one person presenting remotely, one person present.
• of e-commerce and then office parks that were sitting half occupied in an age of higher rates of remote
• :47:16.319> of occupied in an age of higher rates of occupied in an age of higher rates of remote
• 17.599> what<00:47:17.839> they<00:47:17.920> said,<00:47:18.160> well, remote
• And what they said, well, remote work.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:05 Roll Call 00:00:12 Discussion of Legislative Measures 00:03:12 Discussion of Housing and Land Use 00:21:58 Discussion of Short Term Rental Policies 01:03:17 Adjournment 01:15:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its June 4, 2025 meeting and then heard a series of presentations focused largely on housing and land-use policy. Senator Robbie Mills and Representative Josh Bray discussed two 2025 housing measures: Senate Bill 50, which would create residential infrastructure development districts to help local governments finance infrastructure for new housing developments through special assessments and local debt, and House Bill 7, which would let local governments identify development areas and rebate new property tax revenue to developers as an incentive for housing growth. They said Kentucky faces a statewide housing shortage of roughly 210,000 units, projected to grow if building patterns do not change, and argued that regulatory relief and financing tools are needed to increase supply. Representative Rebecca Rymer presented House Bill 371, which would require local permitting when an industry’s residual waste landfill is located in a different county from the industry itself. She said current law lets such landfills bypass local review, leaving host counties with no say despite road impacts and other local burdens. She said the bill would preserve the existing exemption when the landfill and industry are co-located, and noted support from KLC and KO. Representative Steve Doan also described House Bill 806, a statewide backyard chicken bill that would allow domesticated hens, prohibit roosters, set a minimum of six hens that local governments could not go below, and preserve local authority over setbacks, sanitation, maintenance standards, and egg sales. He said it would override outright local bans but not HOA restrictions, and cited a current Northern Kentucky dispute and ADA litigation as reasons for the proposal. The committee then heard a broader discussion on housing and land use from Charlie Gardner of the Mercatus Center and Nolan Gray of California YIMBY and the Bluegrass Institute. They outlined categories of land-use regulation, described the recent growth of state-level housing reforms nationwide, and cited examples such as ADU legalization, smaller lot sizes, reduced parking minimums, streamlined permitting, and single-stair or other building-code reforms. They argued that housing shortages are a statewide concern, that localities often have incentives to block growth, and that state intervention can reduce costs and uncertainty without compromising health and safety. Members asked about the housing shortage estimate, the effect of red tape on safety and local authority, and how state reforms could be phased in; the presenters said reforms often include lead time, can be targeted to larger jurisdictions, and should focus on reducing time and cost while maintaining basic standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• access posted on our website, the dates, the times, the places, the Zoom links if you want to join by remote
• access posted on our website, the dates, the times, the places, the Zoom links if you want to join by remote
• access posted on our website, the dates, the times, the places, the Zoom links if you want to join by remote
• access posted on our website, the dates, the times, the places, the Zoom links if you want to join by remote
• access posted on our website, the dates, the times, the places, the Zoom links if you want to join by remote

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This meeting, including the audio and video of remote participants, is being streamed live on YouTube
• For people participating remotely, please remain muted and video disabled until shortly before it is
• to 1 minute per testifier per bill for people<00:01:20.759> participating<00:01:21.720> remotely
• <00:01:22.360> please people participating remotely please people participating remotely please

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And due to the hybrid nature of today's hearing, those wishing to testify, or excuse me, to provide remote
• And finally, I want to thank you all in person and those remote for testifying today for your time and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on several property and local tax bills. The main focus was H.56, the Municipal Empowerment Act, which the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, MAPC, and Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo supported as a package of local options and administrative reforms. Supporters said municipalities need more tools to relieve pressure on property taxes and fund services, citing proposed increases to local meals and lodging taxes, a new local vehicle excise surcharge, senior property tax relief, one-year override flexibility for emergencies, and central valuation of telecom and utility property by DOR. The administration said the bill was based on municipal listening sessions and was intended to give cities and towns optional, not mandatory, revenue tools. Opponents, including the National Federation of Independent Businesses, argued the tax increases would hurt restaurants, hotels, tourism, and small businesses and add to affordability concerns. The committee also heard testimony on H.3211, dealing with deeds excise receipts, from Norfolk County Commissioner Richard Staidi. He said Norfolk County is financially stable but needs additional revenue for major capital needs at its agricultural school, especially a new cafeteria and other aging facilities, and also to support county programs such as veteran transportation services. On S.2020, a bill to allow settlements of tax liability, Greater Boston Legal Services, the Asian American Civic Association, and several individual taxpayers urged creation of a more workable offer-in-compromise process at DOR. They said the current system is too subjective, requires an unaffordable $5,000 threshold, lacks clear standards and appeal rights, and leaves low-income taxpayers stuck with unmanageable debt, license suspensions, or business closures. Supporters said the bill would give both taxpayers and DOR a practical way to resolve liabilities and bring people back into compliance. The committee also took testimony on S.1966, which would require nonprofits selling property to disclose any back-tax obligations to buyers. Senator Peter Durant said the bill was prompted by a personal experience in which a tax bill arrived after a nonprofit property purchase was already completed, and he argued the disclosure would prevent buyers from being surprised by retroactive tax liability. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed the session after hearing from all scheduled witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now there's technology where they have remote-control-operated deployment strips.
• really dealt with the technology a little bit more, but there's a program called Nighthawk, which is a remote-controlled

Bills: HB316, HB549, HB646, HB752, HB824, HB873, HB1129, HB1157, HB1170

Keywords: literacy, adolescent, teacher education, high-dosage tutoring, reading intervention, workforce development, training programs, Bayou Growth Opportunity, funding, employment, skills gap, qualified employer, credential recognition, government growth limit, recurring revenue, state finance, Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund, fiscal responsibility, legislative sessions, regular sessions

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 22 and first considered Chairman Beaulieu’s House Bill 646, a constitutional amendment limiting the amount of State General Fund money that may be appropriated in a fiscal year. After adopting a set of amendments creating the Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund and making conforming changes, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The companion bill, House Bill 824, which establishes the growth limit formula based on CPI, medical CPI, and population change, was also amended and reported favorably as amended. Supporters framed both measures as a way to keep spending within recurring revenues and create a path toward reducing or eliminating the state income tax. The committee then reported favorably as amended House Bill 1157, creating the Louisiana State Infrastructure Fund to help finance infrastructure-related projects, with testimony that it would leverage private and federal dollars and initially focus on rail, port, road, and bridge projects. House Bill 316, which provides a framework for student literacy reforms for grades four through eight, was presented as having no new cost because the Department of Education said the work was already covered by existing resources; it was reported favorably. House Bill 549, creating the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program to provide employer-based training grants, also received support from business groups and was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1129, dealing with the sale of state-owned surplus movable property, drew support from Louisiana auctioneers who argued local firms should be allowed to bid on the state’s auction contract instead of relying on an out-of-state vendor; it was reported favorably. House Bill 873, which would fund pursuit intervention technology through a $2 driver’s license fee, generated significant concern about adding fees and whether the money should instead come from existing budgets. After discussion of the proposed technologies and training, the committee deferred the bill voluntarily to work on alternatives, including a possible sunset and other funding options. Finally, House Bill 752, which would change the timing and duration of regular legislative sessions by joint rule, was reported without action after members noted the revised fiscal note showed a decrease in state general fund expenditures. The meeting then adjourned.