Transcript Highlights:

• Saving money for a down payment and purchasing a home are just the first steps in becoming a homeowner
• a home are just the first purchasing a home are just the first steps<00:04:48.200><c> in</c><00:04:48.280
• They rely on this credit to purchase school supplies and clothing for their children.
• contaminated</c> the cleanup of 145 acres of contaminated the cleanup of 145 acres of contaminated land
• </c> land in environmental justice areas. land in environmental justice areas.

Bills: HF2715 , HF2499 , HF3420 , HF3657 , HF2303

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• They already, they—they're actually, looks like they might purchase all the land.
• ; the<00:59:52.000><c> the</c><00:59:52.640><c> piece</c><00:59:52.880><c> of</c><00:59:53.119><c> land
• the land, and they're looking at buying that land along with a couple other slots next to the land.
• They've established a ground lease already, and now they may purchase the property to boot on top of
• it rather than the ground lease, which allowed for provisions of purchase.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Next is Henry Curtis for Life of the Land in support.
• The land is the chief, the aa kanaka. The land is the chief, the people its servants.
• The land is the chief, the aa kanaka.
• </c><00:53:18.720><c> Uh</c> rodeos on land zone for a use. Uh rodeos on land zone for a use.
• </c><00:53:38.079><c> which</c> on some of our government lands which on some of our government lands

Summary: The joint committees heard House Bill 643, House Draft 2, which would create short-term management initiatives and appropriate funds for the coconut rhinoceros beetle response program. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Committee discussion focused on biocontrol efforts, including fungus and virus-based treatments, the need for a biosecure facility, and the timeline for testing and range studies. Department of Agriculture officials said initial testing is underway at the University of Hawaii, but full testing requires a higher-biosafety facility that is not yet available on island. Members also discussed funding levels, the possibility of a mobile facility, and whether the work could be accelerated. The committees later voted to pass HB 643 unamended. The committees also heard House Bill 736, House Draft 1, which would establish a three-year wastewater system and individual wastewater technology testing pilot program at the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center. Supporters said the bill could help certify new, lower-cost decentralized wastewater technologies and reduce the cost of cesspool upgrades while improving water quality. University of Hawaii witnesses explained that the center would test technologies, collect samples, analyze results, and provide reports to the Department of Health for certification. Members raised concerns about whether the program would help communities facing immediate wastewater issues, the length of the testing timeline, and whether technologies like the Genki ball could be included. The committee was told the pilot would likely test one technology at a time over about nine months each, though multiple tests could run in parallel later. The committees voted to pass HB 736 unamended. After those measures, the joint committee moved to an AEN-only agenda and began hearing STR 111 / SR 92, which declares a public health emergency relating to climate change and calls for statewide coordination on cross-sector solutions. Testimony in support came from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others. Supporters said climate change affects public health through heat, wildfire risk, invasive mosquitoes, and other impacts, and argued that the response should involve agriculture, planning, transportation, and emergency management, not just the Department of Health.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> categorizing lawful purchases. categorizing lawful purchases.
• </c> purchases to law enforcement. purchases to law enforcement.
• </c> land them on a government watch list. land them on a government watch list.
• ,</c><05:51:26.160><c> any</c> Once you can flag a purchase, any Once you can flag a purchase, any purchase
• at a pharmacy or every purchase at a liquor store or every purchase at a casino?

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> purchase a home. purchase a home.
• </c> a purchaser interested in buying a home. a purchaser interested in buying a home.
• </c> the purchaser. the purchaser.
• </c> total control over the the land itself. total control over the the land itself.
• Senate Bill 2341: Public lands; extend date of appeal on section prescribing who may purchase.

Transcript Highlights:

• The separation and the annual travel to other states to purchase said fireworks is part of that celebration
• driving to South Dakota, whether you're driving to Iowa, whether you're driving to Wisconsin to purchase
• </c> Wisconsin to purchase Wisconsin to purchase the<00:01:29.640><c> means</c><00:01:30.240><c> to</
• We don't know where they land.
• We don't know where they land.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> purchased from offtheshelf? purchased from offtheshelf?
• >> Uh, we had discussions about purchasing one and we couldn't.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Uh we had discussions about purchasing &gt;&gt; Uh we had discussions about purchasing
• I think we all can agree that we got here partially because of land acquisition issues.
• </c> here partially because of land here partially because of land acquisition<01:29:00.800><c> issues

Summary: The committee first established a quorum and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Members then received a staff report on the Kentucky Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel, including an annual LOIC evaluation of the panel’s operations, statutory compliance, case management system development, member experience, and written procedures. The report noted recent House Bill 778 expanded the panel’s access to records and to TWIST/I-TWIST, and recommended that staff request access and training promptly to avoid implementation problems. Analysts reported the panel has met statutory membership and meeting requirements, and that agency responses to the panel’s 2025 recommendations improved, with all responses meeting statutory content requirements though some were late. They also said the panel still lacks formal written procedures, so a prior recommendation was reissued. The report discussed the panel’s new case management system, now in testing with the Commonwealth Office of Technology, and a survey of panel members showing generally positive views of meetings and case discussions but recurring concerns about SharePoint access, time demands, virtual meetings, and the panel’s lack of enforcement authority. The report included a matter for legislative consideration suggesting the General Assembly may wish to seek additional testimony from agencies when responses are unclear or more information is needed. Panel staff responded that the work is difficult but important, said they are optimistic about gaining TWIST access, and acknowledged that written procedures have not yet been completed because they wanted to align them with the new system. They said both the system and procedures are hoped to be finished by the end of the year, with the new case management system expected to be implemented by September 1 after further testing and migration. Members also discussed trends in child fatality and near-fatality cases, including increases in reported cases since 2013, substance abuse, safe storage of firearms, and concerns about THC/CBD gummies reaching children. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits unnecessary capital purchases.
• And so my school district may have purchased land that sits unimproved and vacant in anticipation of
• There is no thing that doesn't tell you what's vacant land. It's easy.
• There's a picture of the land. There's a map. There's a value of it.
• The land is not owned by the school board. It is owned by the citizens.

Transcript Highlights:

• To respond in a timely manner to market needs and as part of a land-grant university to fulfill this
• Rick Rantam: ...that wanted to come into this primary service area and purchase a hospital.
• We are the only academic safety net that is part of the state's land-grant university.
• There have been folks who have come into Missouri in Central Missouri and purchased a hospital.
• Is it to actually purchase? Or is that the difference between a purchase and a partnership?

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Transcript Highlights:

• We are taking care of the land. But I just wanted to make that last comment. Thank you.
• We were fortunate in that we did receive a grant from EPA to purchase those a few years back.
• For example, Tinker has purchased land to help expand their area, make it more secure, install gates,
• Purchasing requirements, and we will be asking this year for that cap to be raised from 25,000 to 75,000
• Requirements pursuant to the Central Purchasing Act.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an agreement between the seller and the purchaser.
• It's an agreement between the seller and the purchaser.
• Homes that are on leased land don't have the value of the land to bring the value up, so you're going
• ><c> to</c><00:47:28.559><c> to</c> the the the value of the land to to the the the value of the land
• </c> the related instruction purchase the related instruction purchase training<01:30:47.080><c> materials

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• It should have said purchasing ROWs, because these have not been purchased.
• </c> next to illegally take our land. next to illegally take our land.
• The First Nations of Canada filed suit and claimed spiritual land ties to their lands.
• ties to their and claimed spiritual land ties to their lands.<00:16:05.280><c> In</c><00:16:05.400><
• </c> large project that places private land large project that places private land at<00:25:41.360><c

Bills: HF3879

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• doubt for those of us also who are districts, whether we have large vacant lots and we have a lot of land
• Whether we have large vacant lots and we have a lot of land available, there are certainly, unfortunately
• I think we land in a much better place.
• has strengthened the work we do in regional planning and also strengthened the coordination between land
• SB 375 is not producing the results needed for regions to reach their GHG emission targets through land

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on active transportation, transit, road safety, and local enforcement. SB 569 would restrict removal or downgrading of bikeways built with state General Fund dollars for at least 20 years, require public hearings before major changes, and was supported by bicycle advocates and some local and environmental groups. The City of Encinitas opposed the bill, arguing it could limit needed safety fixes and should apply only to future projects; committee members discussed whether the bill still allowed safety-based modifications. The bill passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations. SB 741 would streamline the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program by reducing administrative burden and giving transit agencies more flexibility to use funds for service improvements, fare programs, and other transit needs while maintaining oversight and disadvantaged community requirements. Transit agencies and advocacy groups supported the measure, saying it would help agencies respond to post-pandemic ridership and financial challenges. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 1167, which would tighten consumer protections by clarifying that high-powered e-motos and similar motor vehicles are not e-bikes, requiring clearer disclosures and labels, and improving crash reporting. Supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and improve safety for riders, pedestrians, and parents; the Motorcycle Industry Council opposed unless amended, arguing the term “e-bike” is used broadly and the bill could affect existing businesses. The bill passed to Appropriations. Later, SB 953, dealing with vehicular manslaughter cases dismissed through misdemeanor diversion, would add DMV points so fatal conduct remains reflected on driving records; the bill was supported by the victim’s family and safety advocates and passed to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1218, which would let local agencies boot vehicles tied to repeated unpaid illegal dumping citations instead of using DMV enforcement. Oakland officials and community groups supported the bill as a needed deterrent, while the ACLU opposed it as punitive debt collection without a sufficient nexus to the vehicle. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 739 would revise the Clean Miles Standard for rideshare companies by allowing CARB and CPUC to adjust electric vehicle mileage targets in light of current market conditions; Uber and Lyft supported the flexibility, while clean air advocates began raising concerns about weakening climate goals as the transcript cut off.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in particular, when the value that they're getting for their land is going to be cut in half due
• Senate Bill 6216 is regarding updating timber sale processes and DNR's land sales.
• Before land or valuable materials may be sold, From state lands.
• Before land or valuable materials may be sold, there are requirements in statute that DNR give notice
• And I think that was due to the importance of our state lands.

Summary: The Washington State Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard public testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 5930 would create a new conflict-of-interest exception allowing spouses of irrigation district directors to be employed by the district if they were already employed before the director’s election, with disclosure and recusal requirements. The sponsor and a representative of the Washington State Water Resources Association said the bill would help rural irrigation districts recruit and retain workers while keeping safeguards in place. Written testimony was reported as 58 pro and 1 con, and the public hearing was closed. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6075, which would expand use of the Habitat Conservation Account to help landowners when mitigation requirements from Ecology or Fish and Wildlife are unusually costly or reduce the financial benefit of property by more than half. The sponsor said the bill is intended to provide relief to landowners facing expensive mitigation obligations. No one testified in person, though 296 people signed in pro and 2 con, and the hearing was closed. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 6216, a DNR efficiency bill that would modernize timber and land sale notice requirements by moving publication to the agency website, eliminating pamphlet and certain physical posting requirements, and allowing more flexible methods for smaller sales. DNR and forest industry representatives supported the bill as a cost-saving and efficiency measure, and testimony noted that state trust land sales generate significant revenue for public services. Written testimony was reported as 60 pro and 1 con, and the hearing was closed. Finally, after waiving the five-day notice rule, the committee heard Senate Bill 6233, which would increase criminal wildlife penalty assessments for trafficking in covered animal species and direct half of the penalty revenue to the University of Washington’s Center for Environmental Forensic Science. Committee members asked about the scope of “trade,” the treatment of legally harvested animals, and the center’s role. The center’s director testified that the funding would support wildlife forensic research used to combat illegal wildlife trafficking. Written testimony was reported as 6 pro and 62 con, and the committee concluded its business for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• So are you in agreement that the ratepayers will actually have increased rates if we're purchasing it
• "I've purchased a home. I've not built one."
• Well, my city, one of the cities in my district does have its own power plant, but it purchases power
• I've purchased a home. I've not built one.
• So if a representative from PETA is going to go onto someone's land, that this has nothing...

Summary: The House first approved the previous day’s journal by roll call vote, 112-2, and then spent time on numerous guest introductions and recognitions. Guests included former Rep. Bill E. Kidd, students and school officials from several districts, pharmacy students, community and labor representatives, Alliance for Life members, Link community partners, and the student who led the Pledge of Allegiance. A personal privilege announcement also recognized a legislator’s son’s birthday. The main floor debate centered on House Committee Substitute for House Bills 21, 22, and 1626, the Missouri Nuclear Clean Power Act. Supporters argued the bill would remove a roadblock to small modular nuclear reactors by allowing construction work in progress (CWIP), lower long-term electricity costs, attract industry, and help Missouri meet future baseload demand, especially for data centers and other large users. Opponents said the measure would shift risk and cost overruns to ratepayers, cited past nuclear cost overruns and safety concerns, and argued Missouri voters had previously rejected such financing. After extended debate and several inquiries, the House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bills perfected and printed. The chamber then perfected and printed House Bill 1881, which would make xylazine a Schedule III controlled substance. The sponsor and supporters said the drug is a dangerous animal tranquilizer increasingly used in illicit fentanyl mixtures, while the bill preserves legitimate veterinary and agricultural uses. Members from both rural and urban districts supported the measure, and the House adopted an amendment clarifying penalties for knowingly starving an animal and false reporting in animal abuse cases. Finally, the House took up House Bill 2292, which would encourage cross-reporting among agencies handling child, elder, and companion animal abuse. The sponsor said abuse in one area often correlates with abuse in the others and that the bill would use existing agencies rather than create a new department. An amendment was also offered to strengthen elder-abuse investigations by allowing post-certified investigators in the Department of Health and Senior Services to assist law enforcement and obtain records. The discussion emphasized protecting vulnerable Missourians and improving coordination among investigators and local police.

Transcript Highlights:

• child welfare, you know most Native children are born in birthing facilities not located on tribal land
• If the family resides on tribal land, **CYFD** would not be the appropriate agency to address issues
• Not one—not the governor, lieutenant governor, land commissioner, auditor, treasurer.
• If I'm insured in New Mexico and I purchase travel insurance, would I purchase this travel insurance
• Um, board of Finance approval for land sales, and Senator Wirth asked me to. I'm an expert.

Committee: House House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not that easy purchasing property.
• So, I of who's buying up Wyoming land.
• <01:16:53.600><c> management</c><01:16:54.080><c> agencies,</c> land management agencies, land management
• And uh I want to purchasing these homes?
• </c> money into our law school at our land money into our law school at our land grant<03:01:12.240><

Transcript Highlights:

• This makes sense, as no other member of the Land Board have attorneys in the Department of Lands.
• This makes sense, as no other member of the Land Board have attorneys in the Department of Lands.
• And last summer, ...of the Land Board have attorneys in the Department of Lands.
• It will ensure consistency and clarity, not only for the State Land Board and the Department of Lands
• Nearly 70% of Idaho's public land is public, and agents can enter that land anytime they want.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:54.800><c> without</c> who hunts on private land without who hunts on private land without
• Brian Nielsen on behalf of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
• Brian Nielsen on behalf of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
• </c> acting lands administrator Liaka. acting lands administrator Liaka.
• Uh, moving to SB 1654 relating to land transfers.

Bills: SB2341 , SB2306 , SB2782 , SB2161 , SB17 , SB2358 , SB2367 , SB2240 , SB2547 , SB2401 , SB3031 , SB1406 , SB521 , SB3247 , SB1654 , SB1112 , SB1301 , SB2443 , SB2996

Committee: Senate Water, Land, Culture and the Arts

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to hunting, trespass enforcement, conservation banking, coral reef resilience, and search and rescue. SB 2130 would require DLNR to increase the percentage of public land acreage designated for public hunting areas; DLNR offered comments, the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council expressed concern, and a Game Management Advisory Commission member urged adequate funding for both study and maintenance of any expanded hunting areas. SB 2128 would require forfeiture to the state of firearms or motor vehicles used in hunting trespass on private land; the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council supported the bill, and another signer testified without additional detail. The committee also heard SB 3053, which appropriates funds to DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources for mangrove removal and shoreline/stream maintenance in the Westlock and Middleock shorelines and watersheds. DLNR supported the measure and noted staff involved in mangrove removal work; no other testimony was offered. On SB 20005, which authorizes conservation banks for compensatory mitigation in habitat conservation plans and incidental take licenses, DLNR supported the bill but said a House measure, HB 1802, would place key safeguards in statute rather than administrative rules. Earthjustice opposed SB 20005 for lacking statutory safeguards and said it would support incorporating the House language, while CARES supported the bill as a modernization that could reduce permit processing time and provide more predictable costs. A lengthy discussion followed on SB 3201, which would direct DLNR to prioritize coral reef resilience and set performance targets for coral cover and herbivore biomass. DLNR said it supported the intent but wanted more flexibility because outside factors such as climate and emissions policy affect reef conditions; the Nature Conservancy shared that concern and asked for more flexible language. For the bill, For the Fishes strongly supported stronger protections and suggested adding abundance as a metric, while NOAA and DLNR discussed the difficulty of setting universal benchmarks because reef conditions vary by location. Randy Kosaki and CARES supported the bill, emphasizing coral decline and the need for measurable goals, while committee members asked about restoration projects, benchmarks, and whether the bill’s deadlines were meant to require a plan rather than immediate achievement. Finally, the committee took up SB 2937, which would create a search and rescue card program and special fund to reimburse state, county, and volunteer search-and-rescue operations. DLNR’s wildlife division said it stood on its written testimony, and the Hawaii SAR Alliance supported the concept but said Hawaii first needs a stronger search-and-rescue framework, including a state coordinator, before implementing such a program. No votes or final actions were taken on any of the measures in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Environment Committee, we reviewed rules for the Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Lands
• Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Idaho Department
• 19 human skulls posted online in an Idaho group as either private collections for sale or to be purchased
• So current Idaho Code 27-502 currently allows the lawful possession, purchase, and sale on the public

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules