Transcript Highlights:

• And when factoring in hidden costs such as lawsuits, oversight, contract inefficiencies, private prisons
• In a privately owned, operated and managed facility and future contracting with private vendors, while
• We're the only private entity contracted with the TDCJ to operate these facilities.
• Today, we manage 30 contracts.
• It's basically by contract if we have to meet the department's training requirements as well as their

Bills: HB153

Transcript Highlights:

• And when factoring in hidden costs such as lawsuits, oversight, and contracting deficiencies, private
• To operate and manage facilities and future contracting with private vendors.
• We're the only private entity contracted with the TDCJ to operate these facilities.
• Today we manage 30 contracts with 42 years of experience in corrections, including 17 years.
• House Bill 1410 seeks to prohibit TDCJ from contracting with private vendors for inmate confinement.

Bills: HB153, HB1410, HB1461, HB1760, HB1762, HB3261, HB3773, HB153

Keywords: education, funding, student resources, technology access, equal opportunity, veterans treatment court, mental health, criminal justice, rehabilitation, eligibility criteria, veterans, treatment court, military service, legislation, private prisons, inmate confinement, criminal justice reform, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, government contracts, inmate housing

Transcript Highlights:

• In private schools, we're in contracting; we'll begin deployments in July.
• So you currently have contracts with some of the private schools? We're drafting with them.
• Are you anticipating having contracts with each school district or a master contract with the state?
• Are you anticipating having contracts with each school district or a master contract with the state?
• I mean, if you get a whole bunch of contracts, how many pilots do you actually need?

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met with a quorum and announced a full agenda, including combined public testimony for two bills related to student personal communication devices. The committee first took up Senate Bill 1262 by Senator Nichols, a school safety cleanup bill following House Bill 3. The bill would allow TEA to commission peace officers for school safety purposes, require annual renewal of good-cause exceptions to armed guard requirements, create a new report based on intruder detection audits and vulnerability assessments, and require behavioral threat assessment teams to include someone with specific knowledge of a special education student’s disability. Committee members asked about the difference between TCOLE licensing and TEA commissioning, the scope of the officers’ authority, and how the good-cause exception would work. The committee substitute was adopted, and public testimony included support from school safety and drone-response advocates, Disability Rights Texas in favor of the special education provisions, and a student witness raising concerns about the mental health impact of repeated lockdowns and the need for immediate, reliable school safety responses. The bill was left pending after testimony, then the committee briefly recessed and later reopened testimony to hear the student witness. The committee then laid out Senate Bill 2252 by Senator Creighton, a major early literacy and numeracy bill for kindergarten through third grade. Creighton said the bill builds on prior literacy efforts by funding teacher stipends for literacy and math academies, providing free and clearly administered screeners and assessments, expanding screening options, clarifying how results are used, supporting high-quality pre-K, and increasing the early education allotment. He emphasized low reading performance and the need for early intervention. Members discussed how the bill differs from earlier academy models and whether the assessments are diagnostic or high-stakes; Creighton and witnesses said the tools are intended to identify students needing support, not to serve as punitive testing. The committee adopted the substitute. Witnesses for SB 2252 largely supported the bill. A Uplift Education representative described strong gains from small-group literacy tutoring and said students receiving targeted support can make more than a year of growth in a year. An education specialist explained that the bill aligns general education screening with existing dyslexia and special education practices and helps districts identify students who need intervention before a disability evaluation is required. A Commit Partnership witness cited statewide reading data, the importance of high-quality pre-K, and the need for transparent, consistent progress monitoring and parent engagement. Members asked about the meaning of the growth data, how dyslexia screening works, and how the bill would help identify struggling students earlier. Before finishing all questions, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair after the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when they're released, they sign a contract with the Board of Pardons and Paroles where all offenders
• We've been contracted here, uh, with TDCJ to operate correctional facilities since 1995.
• Of the current seven contracts, 3 of them are set to expire in August 31st of 2025.
• The remaining four are in year two of two-year base contracts with 31-year options available.
• We have full-time contract monitors on each of those facilities that we operate for TDCJ.

Transcript Highlights:

• But then you'd be contract for that.
• is a contract.
• <02:08:33.920> You<02:08:34.159> have tenant contract is a contract.
• You have tenant contract is a contract.
• a contract with full information. a contract with full information.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• different contracts.
• contract for other reasons. contract for other reasons.
• of the same contract. of the same contract.
• contract argument. contract argument.
• to your primary secondary contract to your primary contract. contract. contract.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• contracts are much higher than expected. contracts are much higher than expected.
• Because if it was a fixed-price contract, or 80% fixed-price contract or whatever, then the utility would
• Or do you think fixed price contracts.
• these six-month fixed cost contracts these six-month fixed cost contracts with<04:43:32.000>
• So contracts that were load following.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:49.919> are out improperly for one bid contracts are out improperly for one bid contracts
• If there's a contract, why wouldn't the owner not have the ability to see that contract?
• If there's a contract, why wouldn't the owner not have the ability to see that contract?
• If there's a contract, why wouldn't the owner not have the ability to see that contract?
• If there's a contract, why wouldn't the owner not have the ability to see that contract?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2294, which would require condominium associations, boards, and managing agents to comply with declarations, bylaws, county ordinances, and state and federal laws, including mortgage lending requirements. The Community Associations Institute opposed the bill as redundant, arguing existing law already requires compliance and provides penalties. Supporters, including condominium owners and board members, said the measure would clarify that associations are not “self-governing” in a way that exempts them from outside laws, and cited examples where local officials or police told residents to take issues back to their boards. Several supporters said the bill would reinforce board responsibility for permits, safety, and legal compliance. The committee noted 27 pieces of testimony, with 10 in support and 17 in opposition, and then moved on without taking a vote on the measure in the transcript provided. The committee also took up SB 2298, which would require common interest community proxy forms to include additional language explaining proxy selection options. The Community Associations Institute opposed the bill, saying the proposed language was inaccurate and would not improve consumer clarity unless significantly revised. Supporters argued that proxy forms are confusing and that clearer instructions would help homeowners understand how their votes are being used. Opponents said the added language would make the forms longer and more confusing, and suggested a separate instruction sheet or other educational material instead. Testimony also raised broader concerns about proxy voting being misused in some associations, with one witness urging that proxy voting be eliminated altogether. The committee reported 29 written testimonies, including seven in support, 19 in opposition, and three with comments, and again did not record a final vote in the excerpt. For SB 2300, which would shorten condominium reserve cash-flow projections from 30 years to 25 years, the Community Associations Institute opposed the bill, saying it would not make housing more affordable, would reduce transparency, and would increase the annual burden by giving associations less time to save for long-life components. The group suggested that if affordability is the goal, lawmakers should consider allowing future loans or special assessments with guardrails. Supporters of the bill said the shorter projection period would better reflect practical budgeting and help associations plan more realistically, though some supporters also warned against relying too heavily on loans and emphasized accountability and fiduciary responsibility. Other testimony stressed that the impact of changing the projection period would vary by association and that many owners are already struggling with rising fees. The discussion remained focused on testimony and policy concerns, with no final action on SB 2300 shown in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• When was the contract awarded?
• For clarification purposes, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services is the buyer of our contract,
• So, it is not a direct contract or award from DJJ, but we've got delivery orders that kind of tie us
• contract awarded? contract awarded?
• , but because it's a of our contract, but because it's a master<01:08:07.760> agreement,<01:08

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Legal Aid Network of Kentucky, including Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, Kentucky Legal Aid, AppalRed Legal Aid, and the Legal Aid Society in Louisville. The presenters explained that the four nonprofit programs provide civil legal services in all 120 counties, focusing on low-income clients and matters such as domestic violence, family law, housing, expungement, public benefits, and veterans’ issues. They emphasized that they do not handle criminal defense cases and described statewide efforts such as the kyjustice.org website and Project Renew, which helps people in recovery with legal issues that affect stability, employment, housing, and family reunification. Each organization highlighted regional service challenges and examples of casework. Legal Aid of the Bluegrass described its 33-county service area, its mobile “justice bus,” and expungement work for people in recovery. Kentucky Legal Aid focused on disaster response after the December 2021 tornadoes, including insurance disputes and contractor fraud, and said it has continued to handle repeated FEMA-declared disasters. AppalRed described serving 37 rural counties with limited attorneys, the shortage of lawyers in “rural legal deserts,” and its disaster-response work after flooding and tornadoes, including FEMA appeals clinics and volunteer attorney support. The Legal Aid Society described its Louisville-area veteran services, including Social Security and VA disability cases, veterans treatment court referrals, and homeless outreach. Committee members praised the organizations’ work and noted the importance of their services. In response to questions about funding, the presenters said their support comes from a mix of Legal Services Corporation funds, state appropriations, federal grants such as VOCA, VAWA, and HUD, United Way, and foundation funding. They stressed that many grants are restricted, while state funding is more flexible and useful for emergencies and day-to-day operations. The presenters said current funding does not fully meet demand and requested an increase in the General Assembly’s appropriation from $500,000 per year to $1 million per year, or $2 million over the biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• the ambulance companies bemoaning the size of the contract and how to deal with it.
• Um, and then line four, uh, no foreign principal may lease or otherwise enter into a contract.
• Um, and then line four, uh, no foreign principal may lease or otherwise enter into a contract.
• Um, and then line four, uh, no foreign principal may lease or otherwise enter into a contract.
• Please speak otherwise enter into a contract. So, it otherwise enter into a contract.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 297 and a new amendment, 2462, which combined the original Senate bill with the Carson amendment and added a proposed alternative regulatory system, RSA 420R. The chair and members discussed that the amendment was intended to give the Senate what it had asked for while also creating a dual system for public entity risk pools. Members asked whether the new structure would affect ownership or governance of health trusts, and the chair explained that 420R would be a separate regulatory statute while existing 420J-style arrangements could remain in place. The committee also noted that a paragraph had been accidentally deleted from the amendment and that another amendment would be prepared to correct it, with the subcommittee recessed while that was done. Public testimony focused on School Care, represented by Executive Director Lisa Ducette, who opposed the shift to Department of Insurance oversight under 420R. She argued that public entity risk pools are not insurance companies, that they are accountable to member entities and taxpayers, and that the proposed dual regulation would add unnecessary costs through examinations, higher reserves, and additional accounting requirements. She said the change could threaten tax-exempt status and create an uneven playing field, and she urged the committee to support SB 297 with the Carson amendment instead of moving to 420R. Committee members questioned whether the amendment would actually affect pools that stayed under the Secretary of State model, and one member cited support from the New Hampshire Municipal Association for the dual system. The discussion then shifted to amendment 245 on ambulance reimbursement and contracting timelines. Members reviewed a provision giving insurers 45 days and ambulance providers 60 days in the contracting process, and one member suggested making both periods 60 days. The chair and others said the current language was intentional and part of a broader compromise aimed at ending balance billing and forcing insurers to establish reimbursement rates. Members noted that the measure was unusual and that its effects would be reviewed over the next two years, with one member saying the bill would likely be difficult to roll back later. No final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• with the state entity under contract with the state that<00:25:19.919> provides<00:25:20.279>
• would include under contract it would include individuals<00:25:36.440> that<00:25:37.080>
• his team is seeking to eliminate contracts for government workers.
• We recently reported that he had been in line to get a $400 million contract for armored Teslas, and
• <00:58:39.520> memos records reports plans contracts memos records reports plans contracts

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of those have defense attorneys that are hired through private contract.
• They have requests for whenever they have to set up new offices because they're not able to get contract
• attorneys or when the contract attorneys that are representing certain areas have that.
• In addition, you'll see a line item in there that they have capital defense cases in specific contracts
• Contract attorneys are compensated based on the hours they serve, and so it would be from some other

Bills: HB3834, HB3940, HB4346, HB2947, HB3257, HB3264, HB4326, HB4421, HB3944, HB3979, HB4118, SCR22, SB169, HB1047, HB2123, HB2650, HB3260, HB3403, SR41, HB3649, HB3742, HB3831, HB3996, HB4321, HB4339

Keywords: HB3834, Oklahoma Breakthrough Therapy Act, ibogaine, ibogaine-based therapeutics, ibogaine analogs, clinical trials, FDA approval, breakthrough therapy designation, opioid use disorder, substance use disorder, traumatic brain injury, mental health, neurological disorders, drug development, public-private partnership, State Department of Health, intellectual property, revolving fund, research funding, medical licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• In the past, the City of Zachary contracts with DCI on a yearly basis.
• So the city agreed that we would contract with DCI to maintain it, which over the years, the last two
• And we could also contract with local prison labor with the sheriff’s departments, but our local sheriff
• He added that, if he was not mistaken, they contracted it out later, and that they did not use unpaid
• The witness continued, “We contract with DCI for this payment for the transportation and the security

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Municipal Committee met at 12:09 p.m. with a quorum present and heard several local government bills. HB 990 by Rep. Lyons, supported by Jefferson Parish, would extend lien/privilege authority for unpaid sewerage and water service charges to Jefferson Parish, including issues involving multifamily properties with master meters. After questions about tenant impacts and administrative burden, the committee reported the bill favorably with no objection. HB 1087 by Rep. Adams, authorizing the City of Zachary to use certain inmates to cut grass in a private cemetery, drew significant concern from members about using unpaid prison labor on private property, the lack of clear ownership/contact with the cemetery board, and whether the property should instead be acquired or otherwise addressed. After discussion, the author withdrew the motion and the committee voluntarily deferred the bill to a later meeting. HB 893 by Rep. Knox, concerning the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, and HB 1007, creating the Foeberg Nouveau-Marine Improvement District in New Orleans Parish, were both reported favorably without objection. HB 1153 by Rep. Coates would allow parishes and municipalities to declare and enforce burn bans. The committee adopted amendments clarifying publication, lifting bans when risk subsides, and adjusting penalties, and then reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 1215 by Rep. Baham, dealing with the disposition of removed historical statues and monuments through the Lieutenant Governor’s Office of State Parks, was amended to require coordination rather than imposing costs solely on local governments, but members raised concerns about fiscal impact, local zoning authority, and the need for the lieutenant governor’s staff; the bill was voluntarily deferred for two weeks. HB 362 by Rep. Newell creating the Regency Park Townhomes Crime Prevention and Security District was reported favorably, while HB 484 on the New Orleans Regional Business Park was deferred after confusion over a proposed amendment and board appointment changes. Several other bills and resolutions were also deferred, and the committee adjourned after announcing the next agenda would include the deferred items.

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits governmental contracts for information technology from foreign sources of concern.
• It prohibits certain contracts relating to critical infrastructure with foreign sources of concern.
• addresses are especially acute when there are no existing guardrails against reliance on vendors, contracts
• Sections 5 and 10 of the bill address contracts of entities that have a foreign country of concern holding
• information and establish reporting mechanisms for contracts related to critical infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The items that they will cover are listed on page two, number 33: public meeting act, contract review
• and such, travel compensation, per diem, and significant issues, which easily could be emergency contract
• <00:15:57.040> review<00:15:57.759> the<00:15:58.000> legislative contract review
• the legislative contract review the legislative oversight<00:15:58.959> committee<00:15:59.360
• has to be one of emergency contract has to be one of those<00:16:07.920> that<00:16:08.160>

Bills: SB54, SB126, SB128, SB101, SB102, SB104, HB282, HB298, SB54, SB126, SB128, SB101, SB102, SB104, HB282, HB298

Keywords: sunset law, Alabama Surface Mining Commission, environmental regulation, mining, state commission, Alabama Private Investigation Board, regulatory oversight, agency review, continuation, sickle cell disease, healthcare, regulatory commission, public health, regulation, electrical contractors, state agencies, home medical equipment, board continuation, boards, commissions

Transcript Highlights:

• sellers, and crematory contract sellers, and crematory provisions to add specificity and revise and
• Our contract with the Office of Legal Services was terminated, and we had to seek...
• "The only thing I would add is, because it's relatively recent that we have, um, that the contract with
• we have um it's relatively recent that we have um that<00:13:55.279> the<00:13:56.000> contract
• with office of legal that the contract with office of legal services<00:13:57.760> was<00:13:

Keywords: 0:00– Meeting start/roll call 0:39 – Approval of minutes 1:11 – Council on Postsecondary Education 3:06 - State Board of Elections 5:33 - Office of the Attorney General; Office of Regulatory Relief 7:02 - Board of Examiners of Psychology 16:38 - Energy and Environment Cabinet; Department for Environmental Protection 17:37 - Education and Labor Cabinet - Department of Education 19:14 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met for its January meeting, approved the minutes from the prior meeting, and welcomed the new regulations compiler. The first item was a repealer from the Council on Postsecondary Education, 13 KAR 2:111, which was explained as necessary because Senate Bill 77 from the 2025 session removed the regulatory authority for advanced practice doctoral degree programs at comprehensive universities. No questions were raised, and the repealer moved forward without objection. The subcommittee then reviewed a large package of State Board of Elections regulations with staff-suggested amendments. The package would update definitions and election procedures, require e-poll books to be ready before polls open, change the standard and timeline for removing an election officer, add oversight by a State Board appointee on election days, recognize the Kentucky party, require voter registration records to be added to electronic voter records, require ballots to fit all races and questions on a single sheet, adjust precinct consolidation petition deadlines, and update incorporated forms and identification references. The package was approved without objection. The Office of the Attorney General’s Office of Regulatory Relief also presented multiple regulations with staff amendments, covering funeral planning declarations, cemetery companies, pre-need cemetery merchandise and funeral/burial contract sellers, and crematory contract sellers. These changes were described as adding specificity, streamlining forms and reporting, and bringing the regulations into compliance with KRS Chapter 13A; they were approved without objection. The Board of Examiners of Psychology presented several regulations, including compact rules, grace-period extensions, and significant fee increases for applications, renewals, reinstatements, exam retakes, and reciprocity. Board representatives said the increases were needed because many fees had not been raised since 2002, the board was operating at a deficit, and legal and administrative costs had risen sharply after the termination of state legal services. Members expressed concern about the size of the increases, but the chair said he would not hold the matter up and would raise the issue with the committee of jurisdiction. The subcommittee also approved staff amendments for the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s air quality regulations and the Education and Labor Cabinet’s education regulations, which updated nontraditional instruction procedures, waiver requests, instruction topics, superintendent assessment requirements, and academic standards. The meeting ended with the next meeting scheduled for February 9 at 1 p.m., and the agenda was adjourned without further objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• ONCE WE EXHAUST THAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE WE GO TO PRIVATE AMBULANCE CONTRACTS.
• Guthrie: WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TODAY TO HAVE A CITY CONTRACT WITH A PRIVATE ENTITY.
• WE ARE MANAGING OVER 12,000 ACTIVE CONTRACTS RIGHT NOW.
• THE TOTAL VALUE OF THOSE CONTRACTS IS $22 BILLION SO FDOT EMPLOYEES, PROJECT MANAGERS CONTRACT MANAGERS
• AND ALL THE SUPPORT STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING 12,000 CONTRACTS WITH A VALUE OF $22 BILLION,

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I sent you the existing contracts that we have with Butler Snow, some of which have expired.
• What I'm asking for is a motion to authorize me to enter into contracts with Butler Snow for the... .
• I move that we continue the contract for both. of Butler Snow and authorize him to negotiate that.
• Commissioner Schmidt moves to extend the contract and authorize the executive director to enter into
• new contracts.

Keywords: Texas Ethics Commission, legislative recommendations, general counsel appointment, foreign lobbying, political contributions, quarterly meetings, public testimony, rule amendments

Summary: The meeting focused on the Texas Ethics Commission's (TEC) evaluation of legislative recommendations and personnel updates, including the appointment of a new general counsel and discussions about upcoming quarterly meetings. Commissioner Schmidt reported on the progress of various bills, including amendments to existing laws, the need for increased regulation on foreign lobbying, and the publication of new rules in the Texas Register. Public testimonies were heard regarding compliance issues and proposed changes in political contribution regulations. The Commission agreed to schedule further review on the legislative items discussed and the proposed rule amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:25.440> with<00:04:25.680> eligible to enter into contracts with eligible to
• enter into contracts with eligible employers<00:04:26.880> or<00:04:27.199> registered
• Allows the department to contract with a third party in accordance with procurement code 103D to assist
• Allows the department to contract 2026.
• Allows the department to contract with<00:27:47.919> a<00:27:48.080> third<00:27:48.240

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The conference committees reconvened on April 25, 2025, and worked through a series of measures, mostly public employment cost items, appropriations, workers’ compensation, data sharing, and retirement-related bills. Several bills were briefly held for later action because Finance/FIN-WAM or related release had not yet been received, including SB 382, HB 423, HB 480, HB 214, HB 828, HB 717, HB 1065, and HB 1036, with some of those rolled over to a 2:30 p.m. meeting in Conference Room 16. HB 1424, relating to appropriations, was described as requiring the Director of Finance to report on transfers between position funding and operating expenses; the conferees agreed to a CD1 and voted to pass it. HB 430, relating to internships, was also agreed to in CD1 with technical amendments removing certain appropriation language and was passed after clarification that the funding covered both years and included the Helima program. The committees then moved through a block of public employment cost items. HB 1026, HB 1027, HB 1028, HB 1029, HB 1030, HB 1032, HB 1034, and HB 1035 were each reported as having CD1 agreement and Finance/WAM release, with appropriations tied to various bargaining units and governor’s messages; each was voted out. HB 1036 and HB 1037 were held over due to release issues, while HB 1038 was noted as having CD1 and Finance/WAM release and was passed for bargaining unit 13. HB 1039 was also rolled over for lack of release. Later, SB 336 on defense of state employees was agreed to with technical cleanup and passed as a CD, and SB 1491 on departmental data sharing was amended to add agencies to the state longitudinal data system and require aggregation/anonymization of certain data before being passed as a CD. Additional measures were also resolved. SB 935, relating to government, was amended to reduce the ERS multiplier for judges beginning in 2031, remove sheriff and deputy sheriff language, and require a DHR study on changing vesting from 10 to 5 years; it passed as a CD with no appropriation. SB 1567 required DERT to complete a comprehensive review of classification and compensation systems by October 31, 2026, allowed a third-party contractor, required legislative reports, and included $1.75 million in the budget; it passed as a CD. SB 855, relating to the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act, clarified covered employers, required automatic enrollment unless employees opt out, repealed a fee cap, and added funding for FY26 and FY27; it passed as a CD. SB 743 established a data sharing governance working group within the Office of Enterprise Technology Services and required a legislative report; after a brief recess it was passed as a CD. SB 717 and SB 1065 were both continued to the later 2:30 p.m. meeting because release was still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• It clarifies that the civil service exemption for personal service contracts for building custodial and
• service exemption for personal the civil service exemption for personal service<00:18:41.360> contracts
• c><00:18:41.840> for<00:18:42.080> building<00:18:42.559> custodial service contracts
• for building custodial service contracts for building custodial and<00:18:43.799> grounds<00:
• <00:18:56.960> or<00:18:57.280> qualified number of contracts or qualified number of

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Labor and Technology Committee heard testimony on several bills, mostly related to workers’ compensation, labor relations, retirement, and employment exemptions. HB 423 would clarify selection of certified rehabilitation providers and require automatic approval of vocational rehabilitation services when likely needed for suitable gainful employment; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the bill but requested timeline amendments, including advancing the plan within 90 days of the initial evaluation and filing it with the employer, employee, and director within two days. HB 480 would let an attending physician request a functional capacity exam without employer permission and deem licensed occupational and physical therapists qualified to perform such exams; it drew support from the department, the Hawaii Insurance Council, and the Hawaii Medical Association. HB 162 would expand the pool of interest arbitrators for collective bargaining disputes by allowing the HLRB to request a list from FMCS as well as the ABA, and testimony from labor groups supported that change. HB 164 concerned indebtedness to the state and wage deductions; HGA supported it with comments, while the Department of Accounting and General Services raised concerns about the percentage structure but said it could implement the requested changes. The committee also heard HB 1152, which would permanently exempt three specialized Department of Taxation positions from civil service; the department supported the measure and said the positions are not currently civil service positions. HB 214 would allow certain retirees to work in school resource officer or investigator roles without losing retirement benefits, subject to conditions; ERS expressed concerns about shortening the required separation period from 12 months to 6 months and about uniform administration and cost implications, while the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Education supported the bill, and the Department of Law Enforcement asked to include its investigators as well. HB 874 would amend the Uniform Custodial Trust Act for child performers, requiring trust accounts for minors meeting certain earnings thresholds and making misuse of funds a fiduciary breach; SAG-AFTRA Hawaii, HGEA, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, and the Hawaii Nurses Association supported it, and members discussed that enforcement would likely need further research, possibly through labor or the film office. HB 159 would cap the civil service exemption for personal service contracts with qualified community rehabilitation programs at $850,000 in the aggregate per private person or entity; United Public Workers, HGEA, and the Hawaii State AFL-CIO supported it. No final votes were taken because the committee lacked quorum. After recessing and reconvening, the chair announced that decision-making on the agenda would be deferred to Wednesday, March 12 at 3:01 p.m. in Room 224.