Transcript Highlights:

• One, I work with counsel, just like your opposition group are working with counsel against this plan.
• This is acceptable to the author.
• You didn't work with anybody? Okay. No. Let me tell you who I work with.
• I work with a constituent, the members that we've worked with over the past years in terms of trying
• All you needed to do was work. Work hard, follow the rules, and you'll earn the American dream.

Bills: HB4, HB 4

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was no statutory authority authorizing this, specifically with respect to negotiated rates, and
• . authority. authority.
• sometimes it's worked to our advantage. sometimes it's worked to our advantage.
• I'm sure it's a ton of work.
• I'm sure it's a ton of work. general. I'm sure it's a ton of work.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the State of Hawaii’s affirmative litigation against the federal administration, with no public testimony. Attorney General Lopez and deputies said the office’s goal is to enforce the rule of law, not make partisan points, and noted that Hawaii is involved in 27 ongoing cases. They grouped the cases into four broad areas: immigration, funding freezes and grant terminations, federal agency dismantling/reductions in force, and protecting elections, health, and safety. Several immigration-related cases were discussed in detail. These included a challenge to the federal sharing of Medicaid data with DHS for immigration enforcement, a similar challenge to USDA’s demand for SNAP applicant and recipient data, and litigation over immigration-enforcement conditions attached to federal grants. The office also described the birthright citizenship executive order, saying it conflicts with the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court precedent; lower courts granted preliminary relief, and the U.S. Supreme Court later addressed only the scope of nationwide injunctions, not the merits. In the Department of Transportation case, the court granted a preliminary injunction against the “Duffy directive,” finding the immigration conditions lacked statutory authority, were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the Spending Clause and APA. The briefing also covered multiple funding disputes. In the education funding freeze case, the Department of Education and OMB withheld about $6 billion in formula funds, including roughly $33 million for Hawaii; after suit was filed, the funds were released. Other cases included the termination of over $11 billion in public health grants, which affected Hawaii Department of Health grants, the NIH indirect cost cap case, and NIH grant terminations tied to DEI, transgender issues, and vaccine hesitancy. The speakers said some cases have already resulted in preliminary or permanent injunctions, while others remain on appeal or are still being litigated.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think they have that authority. Only EMNR has the authority to fund state parks.
• However, you need to start doing other things to make that work?
• Yeah, gave them authority.
• I think the plan that has been worked out locally I think the plan that has been worked out locally with
• And I don't even know they have the authority to do that.

Bills: SB190, HB247, HB8

Keywords: cancer treatment, revenue bonds, Gila Regional Medical Center, Nor-Lea General Hospital, healthcare funding, capital outlay, capital projects, appropriations, reversion, encumbrance, reauthorization, reappropriation, general fund, capital development and reserve fund, tribal infrastructure project fund, Department of Finance and Administration, DFA, state board of finance, severance tax bonds, tax-exempt bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• Bless the work that they do, and cover this place with your.
• Tyler Obrey, Derek Franco, author. Linda Culpepper.
• Best wishes for their continued success and all the work that they do.
• Submitting to public utility agencies, providing authority to issue bonds, providing authority to impose
• H.C.R. 100 by Flores, Authorizing the Bureau.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're caregivers, by and large, if they can work, they do work.
• , this medicine didn't work, this one didn't work, now this one finally does.
• And they are working. They are working. My time is up. Thank you. Senator Tillis. Thank you, Mr.
• So they can get back to work.
• coverage if he doesn't work.

Keywords: Michael Falkender, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, IRS, taxpayer privacy, nomination process, committee hearing

Summary: The committee convened to discuss critical issues surrounding the nomination of Michael Falkender for the position of Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. This meeting included a series of remarks from committee members who expressed divergent views on Falkender's qualifications and the implications of his appointment. Senator Wyden voiced strong opposition, arguing that Falkender represents harmful policies expected to be perpetuated under the current administration, especially concerning taxpayer privacy and IRS tactics. Meanwhile, other members defended Falkender, noting his extensive experience, including a commitment to transparency in government operations if confirmed.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a great example of his work.
• We look forward to continuing to work with the author, this committee, and the committee going forward
• We look forward to continuing to work with the author and the sponsor about the remaining issues.
• We look forward to continuing to work with the author and the sponsor about the remaining issues.
• I just really want to thank the author for all the work that she's been doing, especially related to

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism heard several bills focused on California’s creative economy, sports development, and cultural preservation. SB 226 by Senator Cabaldon would clarify that infrastructure revitalization financing districts may be used for entertainment and sports facilities, with testimony from West Sacramento officials emphasizing that the tool would rely only on project-generated city tax increment and would not affect school districts, counties, or the General Fund. Members discussed the relationship between IRFDs and EIFDs and the distinction between infrastructure financing and direct subsidy of private sports teams or stadiums. SB 865 by Senator Ashby proposed support for destination music festivals, citing the economic impact of events such as Aftershock and Golden Sky in Sacramento and similar festivals elsewhere in the state. Supporters from Visit Sacramento and Danny Wimmer Presents said festivals generate substantial jobs, tax revenue, and tourism spending while promoters bear the financial risk. Several committee members and public witnesses supported the bill as a way to sustain the creative economy, local businesses, and opportunities for artists. The bill passed the committee on a unanimous vote and was sent to Appropriations. SB 1050 by Senator Ashby would require disclosures when synthetic performers are used in advertisements, including audio ads, to inform consumers and protect human performers from displacement. SAG-AFTRA and voice actor advocates argued that consumers deserve to know when an ad uses AI-generated likenesses or voices, while TechNet, the Motion Picture Association, broadcasters, and other industry groups opposed unless amended, raising concerns about overbreadth, audio-only implementation, private enforcement, and the need for clearer exemptions and definitions. Members generally supported the bill’s goal but noted technical issues to refine; it passed unanimously to Judiciary. SB 1073 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would create a voluntary tax checkoff to support the South Los Angeles Black Cultural District. Supporters described the district’s historic and cultural significance and framed the measure as a way to help preserve Black cultural assets amid limited public funding. Members discussed how the checkoff would appear on tax forms statewide, its voluntary nature, and whether it could serve as a model for other districts. The bill also passed unanimously to Appropriations, and the committee later adopted the consent calendar unanimously as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• I first want to say thank you to everyone who worked on this bill, particularly the bill's author.
• I'd like to take a question from the author. Will the author yield?
• >> The author of the Amendment or the author of the bill, the author of the Amendment, he will
• Even though the bill author, I know how this would work, it is important that this body is focused on
• And I guess I know some of my colleagues have tried to ask the author how this would work operationally

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 3432, a public safety bill requiring identifying equipment and insignia to be removed from emergency vehicles sold to the public. The chamber first adopted a House language amendment, then debated a broader security package that would fund judicial and courthouse security, Capitol security measures, short-term protection for legislators facing credible threats, State Patrol deficiency funding, and additional BCA analysts and investigators to assess threats statewide. Supporters framed the bill as necessary to protect public safety, democracy, and First Amendment activity at the Capitol and courthouses; they also said the package was pared down from larger requests and based on security reviews. The House adopted an A-1 amendment clarifying that BCA staff could investigate threats statewide, and later rejected a Schultz A-3 amendment that would have eliminated all appropriations in the bill. The A-3 was defeated on a 37-94 vote after the House upheld the Speaker’s ruling that a proposed school-safety secondary amendment was not germane, with that appeal decided 69-62. A major theme of debate was whether the Legislature should prioritize security for members and the Capitol before passing school safety funding. Several members argued they could not support spending tens of millions on Capitol and legislative security without first funding school safety for all students, including public, charter, private, and tribal schools. Others defended the bill as necessary because of recent threats and violence, including the June 14 tragedy, and said the Capitol security changes were based on professional recommendations. Some members also criticized the new security setup as overly restrictive or “security theater,” while supporters said the measures were needed to keep the public, staff, and lawmakers safe. After the A-3 was defeated, the bill was read for third time and members continued floor debate. The discussion remained split between those emphasizing immediate Capitol and legislative security needs and those insisting school safety should come first. Representative Agbaje then moved to table the bill, and the clerk began a roll call on that motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I recognize the author of the bill.
• Uh, it was an honor to work with Representative Feist, my co-author on this bill.
• Uh, thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you to the bill's author and all of those that worked on this
• author of the bill, Representative West. author of the bill, Representative West.
• > do<00:34:48.159> that authorized agent uh would do that authorized agent uh would do

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriation authority uh still exists. appropriation authority uh still exists.
• than currently authorized purposes. than currently authorized purposes.
• We appreciate your work.
• We appreciate your work.
• And for the past 35 years, I've worked in this industry. I've worked in this industry.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• work on mitigation projects. work on mitigation projects.
• should continue their work. should continue their work.
• So you're not working.
• work to do with visitors going in. work to do with visitors going in.
• We'll work on it with a resolution and a working group later on this session.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 3019, which would cap ticket resale prices at face value for events in Hawaii and authorize DCCA to enforce violations. DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection opposed the bill and said it preferred a ticket transparency approach focused on upfront disclosure of fees, while supporters argued the measure would curb scalping, bots, and extreme markups. Testimony from the National Independent Venue Association and a concert promoter emphasized that resale does not add inventory and said the bill would protect consumers; committee members questioned DCCA about enforcement and cited examples of very high resale prices for local concerts. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair said the measure would be moved along for further consideration. The committee then heard Senate Bill 3311, which would create the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within DLNR to fund fire-mitigation grants for residential property owners. DLNR supported the bill, saying the need is immediate and that the program is modeled on successful mainland efforts, though the department said it ultimately belongs under the State Fire Marshal once that office has capacity. DCCA’s Insurance Division submitted written comments only. The measure was received without further action in the excerpt. Senate Bill 2979, authorizing DLNR and community-based organizations to enter community co-management agreements for state lands, drew broad support from OHA, community groups, and several individuals, who said the bill would formalize partnerships, strengthen shared responsibility, and help community stewardship efforts. Testifiers clarified that the bill does not require 65-year agreements and said the term should be left to DLNR’s discretion. The committee then moved on without questions or a vote shown in the excerpt. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2351 on the state park special fund, which would allow DLNR to use fund monies for environmental protection programs. DLNR’s state parks administrator opposed the bill, saying the special fund is already fully committed to urgent maintenance and infrastructure needs across an aging park system, and warned that diverting money would weaken the fund’s ability to support parks. The Tax Foundation also submitted written testimony, and a community witness opposed the measure for similar reasons. The excerpt ends as the committee begins Senate Bill 2918, which would require HCDA to establish a community action center in Chinatown; HCDA’s executive director expressed concern about jurisdiction and said the city and county should continue leading that work.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what the authority is supposed to be doing. Thank you.
• I work at Haard Industries.
• Hey, I'm not saying let them go get high at work.
• Now I worked at the Oklahoma County sheriff's office.
• All of these things are working.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are seven Democratic-authored bills and five Republican-authored bills.
• uh there are seven Democratic authored uh there are seven Democratic authored bills<00:03:47.599
• 00:03:49.120> bills bills and five Republican authored bills bills and five Republican authored
• It seems to work.
• It seems to work.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Authority, Lainer-A-R. Curry moves and Ms.
• Let's give our respectful attention to the bill author, please.
• Members, the author has asked for the first roll to be open for coauthors.
• Members, this is for co-authors. All members vote who desire to vote.
• Members, this vote is for co-authors. to these resolutions. Members, this vote is for co-authors.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, dispensed with the reading of the prior journal, and handled a large number of procedural motions, including suspending rules for guest introductions and committee notice, withdrawing AB 2595 from Appropriations, and moving ACR 110 to the inactive file. Members also noted absences for maternity leave and personal business, and the chamber recognized several birthdays and numerous visiting city officials and community groups. On the floor file, the Assembly took up several measures. AB 1673 by Assembly Member Hadwick, dealing with fish and wildlife funding for wildlife-conflict prevention, passed 62-0. ACR 143 by Assembly Member Pacheco, declaring April 19-25 as California Cities Week, was adopted with 65 coauthors added. AB 1982 by Assembly Member Lowenthal, which removes sunsets from existing anti-drink-spiking requirements for bars and nightclubs, passed 68-0. ACR 158 by Assembly Member Solache, recognizing April 2026 as Donate Life Month, was adopted with 74 coauthors added, and AB 1908 by Assembly Member McKinnor, authorizing counties to establish victim compensation funds for survivors of abuse by public agencies, passed 71-0. The Assembly also approved AB 2052 by Assembly Member Stephanie, aimed at allowing continuity of prosecution for vulnerable victims, by a 62-0 vote, and ACR 178 by Leader Flora, recognizing April 21 as National Rendering Day, with 69 coauthors added and adopted by voice vote. The second-day consent calendar, including multiple bills and resolutions, was adopted 69-0, with several items receiving unanimous urgency or resolution votes. The session concluded with an adjournment in memory of Mary Dallas Armstrong, followed by announcements of committee meetings and the next floor session scheduled for Monday, April 27 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• About 30% of their work is in the very competitive work of trying to get foreign direct investment into
• But do they have the authority? Was that the part that I heard? They have a temporary authority?
• But the authorities issue still needs to be worked out. Okay. All right.
• Do they have the authority? Was that the part that I heard? They have a temporary authority?
• But the authorities issue still needs to be worked. Okay. All right.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on the effects of tariffs on Washington’s economy, agriculture, and small businesses, followed by updates on emergency management, cybersecurity, disaster resilience, tsunami preparedness, and World Cup security planning. Office of Financial Management economist Abdelamintrawe Trieri said tariff increases are expected to raise prices, reduce output and employment, and lower state revenue over a four-year horizon, with the hardest-hit sectors including aerospace, food and beverage manufacturing, and agriculture. Members asked about updated tariff scenarios, crop-specific impacts, inflation versus deflation in different goods, and whether some manufacturing sectors could benefit; staff said updated numbers would need to be rerun as tariff rates changed. Washington Department of Agriculture representative Ryan Hamm described how tariffs raise costs for farm inputs such as equipment, parts, packaging, and fertilizer, while also affecting exports of key commodities like wheat, potatoes, apples, cherries, dairy, and wine. He said some sectors support tariffs on competing imports, but retaliation and market restrictions have hurt exports, especially to China and, in the wine sector, Canada. Department of Commerce representative Andrea Chartock outlined export assistance, business finance, recruitment, and industry-sector development programs, and proposed expanding tariff-resilience support through market diversification, supply-chain optimization, and efforts to attract investment and federal funding. She also noted uncertainty around delayed federal STEP funding for small business export assistance. Emergency Management Division Director Robert Ezell warned that federal disaster and mitigation funding is becoming less reliable, citing the denied bomb cyclone disaster declaration, delays in FEMA grant processing, and possible restructuring of FEMA that could shift more responsibility to states. He said Washington may need stronger state-funded public assistance, individual assistance, and mitigation programs, along with broader coordination among state agencies and local governments. Cybersecurity staff described state efforts to support local governments through the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, threat intelligence sharing, vulnerability assessments, and a proposed volunteer incident response team, while noting the loss of MS-ISAC funding and the importance of continued state matching funds for cybersecurity grants. Hazard mitigation and tsunami staff emphasized the need for sustained investment in flood, wildfire, earthquake, lahar, and tsunami resilience, including vertical evacuation structures and language-access outreach. Ezell also briefed the committee on World Cup security preparations and federal grants for counter-unmanned aircraft systems, explaining that the state can buy mitigation capabilities but current authority to use them remains largely federal; the committee asked follow-up questions about fan zones, training, and the meaning of drone mitigation. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will there be questions of the author? Senator Hicks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Will there be questions of the author? Senator Hicks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Will there be questions of the author, Senator Hicks? Thank you. Mr.
• This bill we've been working on for several years, approximately 3.
• And I just want to thank the author for bringing this forward.

Bills: HB3976, HB3000, HB3001, HB3003, HB3004, HB3066, HB3904, HB3644, HB1687, HB3920

Keywords: rural hospitals, small hospitals, grant program, healthcare funding, Oklahoma health department, cosmetology, barbering, massage therapy, State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, Service Oklahoma, license renewal, license reinstatement, licensing fees, sunset extension, board membership, human trafficking, victim services, beauty school, barber school, esthetics

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you or is it kind of authority?
• Uh, if they have the regulatory authority, then do they have authority to approve it or disapprove it
• And then we started looking into the regulatory authority and there is no regulatory authority through
• and there is no regulatory authority and there is no regulatory authority<00:18:39.520> through
• There's no authority through them.

Bills: HB542, HB566, SB270, HB618, HB617, HB542, HB566, SB270, HB618, HB617

Keywords: HB542, district attorney, prosecutor, supernumerary district attorney, Employees' Retirement System, ERS, Alabama retirement, public employee retirement, pension, retirement benefits, post-retirement employment, salary cap, dual participation, double dipping, District Attorneys' Plan, assistant district attorney, deputy district attorney, state pension, survivor benefits, Office of Prosecution Services

Transcript Highlights:

• and I don't think that's going to work. and I don't think that's going to work.
• . authorization. authorization.
• provider authorize my authorized specialist.
• authorization to have my authorized authorization to have my authorized provider<00:50:16.000>
• > authorize<00:50:16.640> my<00:50:16.880> authorized provider authorize my authorized

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Performance Audit and Oversight Committee met to accept prior minutes and receive updates on ongoing audits. Audit staff reported progress on three education-related reviews: special education (34 of 71 observations completed, draft expected in the second quarter and final in the summer), education freedom accounts (22 of 41 observations completed, draft expected in the second quarter and final in the summer), and the doorway program (5 of 13 observations completed, draft expected by the end of February and final by April or May). No committee questions were raised on the audit status update. The committee then discussed possible future oversight topics, beginning with SNAP and concerns about fraud and work requirements. Members suggested inviting DHS officials and contract administrators to explain program operations and compliance, and also discussed whether the Department of Justice Medicaid fraud unit or other experienced officials could provide useful context. Members noted New Hampshire’s existing oversight layers, including the Executive Council and the joint HHS oversight committee, while also expressing interest in hearing more directly from department staff about staffing and contract management capacity. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on whether to pursue an audit of special education at the local school level. Members debated whether to wait for the ongoing statewide special education review and a legislative study commission report, or to begin scoping a local audit now so work could start sooner. Supporters argued that local-level spending, identification rates, and effectiveness vary widely by district and that an audit should examine both costs and outcomes; others cautioned that the scope would need to be manageable given limited audit staff and that the statewide report may help narrow the focus. The committee also briefly discussed a potential audit of the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, but no decision was made on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do appreciate the work on that.
• it in Judiciary, um, and I've worked it in Judiciary, um, and I've worked with<00:08:38.640>
• It allows the hiring of licensing licensing licensing authority<00:10:11.800> to authority to
• authority to or<00:10:12.840> a<00:10:12.920> licensing<00:10:13.400> authority<
• And also, you know, our partisan staff as well do really good work, and it's been a pleasure working

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Michelle and I conducted the work on this audit.
• States with more requirements to enter this field of work perform no differently.
• Some of this process is working well.
• They're documented to work here? Yeah, thank you, Representative Pollet.
• So we've been working diligently with DOH.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on the Restoring Quality Home Care Initiative (I-1163), which created home care aide certification requirements, FBI background checks, and an abuse/neglect registry. Auditors said some requirements likely improve safety, especially background checks and training, but the state lacked pre-2011 data to measure outcomes directly. They also found Washington has a long-term care workforce shortage, though its workforce supply ranks better than many states, and that more stringent entry requirements do not appear to reduce workforce participation compared with other states. The audit’s main concern was that the certification process is slow and burdensome. Auditors reported that most applicants never finish certification, that only about one-third of fiscal year 2025 applicants were certified within the 200-day legal deadline, and that the average time to certification was 463 days. They identified delays between training and testing, limited testing access in some areas, and redundant Department of Health verification of FBI background checks as key causes. The audit recommended streamlining the process by accepting applications later in the process, expanding testing within training programs, and eliminating the redundant background-check verification. Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services staff largely agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations. They said they have already made improvements, including moving exams into more than 110 training programs, increasing credentialing staff, and reducing barriers through rule changes. DSHS noted testing is offered in 13 languages. Committee members asked about testing contract incentives, language access, and whether the agencies would seek statutory or budget changes to implement the recommendations. No public testimony was offered, and the meeting adjourned without any vote or formal action by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a great example of his work.
• That is a great example of his work.
• We look forward to continuing to work with the author, this committee, and the committee going forward
• We look forward to continuing to work with the author and the sponsor about the remaining issues.
• Assemblymember Elowari, I just really want to thank the author for all the work that she's been doing

Keywords: 988, house, all