Transcript Highlights:

• HB 213 explicitly authorizes laser procedures on live human eyes, yet vests oversight with the Optometry
• HB213 explicitly authorizes laser procedures on live human eyes, yet vests oversight with the optometry

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 120, which would revise New Mexico law on restraint and seclusion in public schools. The sponsor and supporters said the bill grew out of a year-long stakeholder working group and would clearly define terms such as chemical, mechanical, prone restraint, seclusion, timeout, de-escalation, and elopement; prohibit chemical, mechanical, and prone restraint; require continuous supervision during seclusion; update school safety plans and staff training; and improve reporting to parents and the state. Testimony from disability advocates, the Public Education Department, educators, and parents emphasized that students with disabilities are disproportionately affected, that clearer rules would help staff act safely, and that better reporting and de-escalation practices would reduce trauma. Committee members asked about the meaning of timeout, chemical restraint, data accuracy, and the juvenile detention facility exception, and the sponsor indicated an amendment on parent-notification timing would not be pursued to avoid delay. The committee then began House Bill 213, which would expand the Optometry Act to allow trained optometrists to perform certain laser procedures, including treatment for capsular clouding and glaucoma-related procedures. The sponsor said the bill adds training, certification, supervised live-procedure requirements, adverse-outcome reporting, and an Optometry Board member qualified to perform the procedures. Supporters argued the measure would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, and that the procedures are already performed safely in other states. Opponents, including ophthalmologists and the New Mexico Medical Board, argued the bill would move surgery outside the Medical Practice Act, lower the standard of care, and create regulatory and malpractice-accountability concerns because optometrists would not be subject to the same oversight and emergency-care authority as physicians. The committee did not reach a final vote on HB 213 before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Constitution gives the legislature substantial authority to determine what kind of jurisdiction to vest
• You can use the authority that the Constitution allows the legislature to vest, which is At this level

Bills: SB16 , SB76 , SB310 , SB311 , SB396 , SB505 , SB827 , SB964 , SB1209 , SB1210 , SB1386 , SB1470 , SB2035 , SJR37 , SB 16

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• This means that redistricting members cannot be affiliated with a party or selected by anyone with a vested
• </c><00:29:10.000><c> a</c> party or selected by anyone with a party or selected by anyone with a vested
• interest in any party especially vested interest in any party especially the<00:29:12.640><c> duopoly
• commission, and these are, you know, folks who have a, as Representative Geman mentioned, a very vested
• commission, and these are, you know, folks who have a, as Representative Geman mentioned, a very vested

Transcript Highlights:

• It vests discretionary authority in local governments to withhold approval. 80 is the concurrency statute
• It vests discretionary authority in local governments to withhold approval until that infrastructure
• cannot explicitly preempt local land use authority while simultaneously invoking that statute that vests

Bills: S0002 , S0026 , S0354 , S1112 , S1192 , S1220 , S1352 , S1670

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard several bills and reported most of them favorably. The first major measure, CS/SB 1220, was described as a broad transportation package expanding FDOT authority over trails, seaports, aviation, advanced air mobility, delivery devices, and related technology, while also addressing toll revenue use, autonomous vehicle penalties, digital driver licenses, and an FDOT study on alternative-fuel vehicles. An amendment narrowed some provisions, including local regulation of personal delivery devices and FDOT airport language. Senator Smith and others raised concerns about language involving FDOT assistance to local governments on federal grant applications, but the bill passed unanimously after support from industry and local-government appearance cards. The committee also approved SB 1112, the Labor Pool Act, which would prohibit labor pools from charging placement fees when workers are hired permanently by a third-party employer and require annual registration with the Department of Commerce. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would reduce barriers to full-time employment, improve oversight, and help returning citizens and low-wage workers; multiple witnesses testified in support, including labor advocates and individuals describing high placement fees. Senators from both parties praised the bill’s worker and reentry benefits, and it passed unanimously. The committee then favorably reported SB 2, a claims bill for the estate of Danielle Maudsley arising from a fatal FHP arrest incident and settlement, and SB 26, another claims bill providing relief for the estate of Mark Legata after alleged FDOT negligence. Senate Bill 1352 on motor vehicles also passed without opposition. It would create a secure online portal for license plate seizure processing, allow disabled veterans to retain their DV plate designation upon reissuance or transfer, ban license plate covers and similar devices that obscure plates, and route certain online driver license and ID transactions through county tax collectors. SB 1192, a customer service pilot requiring callback queues for certain calls to the Department of Commerce and Department of Children and Families, was likewise reported favorably to improve response times and reduce hold times. The most extensive debate centered on CS/SB 354, the Blue Ribbon Projects bill, which would create a new process for very large developments on 10,000-acre or larger parcels if the owner sets aside 60% of the land for conservation or reserve uses. Supporters said it was intended to promote long-range planning, preserve land, and provide certainty for infrastructure and services, while opponents from counties, planning groups, and environmental organizations argued it would preempt local land-use authority, weaken public participation, and allow conservation requirements to be too vague. An amendment added more detail, but concerns remained about administrative approval, timelines, and the definition of reserve areas. Despite opposition from some members, the committee reported the bill favorably on a divided vote. SB 1670 was temporarily postponed, and the committee adjourned after recording one member’s vote on SB 1220.

Transcript Highlights:

• It vests discretionary authority in local governments to withhold approval.
• Section 180: The concurrency statute vests discretionary authority in local governments to withhold approval
• cannot explicitly preempt local land use authority while simultaneously invoking that statute that vests

Bills: S0002 , S0026 , S0354 , S1112 , S1192 , S1220 , S1352 , S1670

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have a vested interest in that. That's why we're here.
• in some press, well, the water rights themselves that the state is able to permit to you become a vested
• We must respect the long-standing principle that groundwater ownership is a private property right vested

Bills: HB24 , HB27 , HB24 , HB27

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• to the issuance of the search warrants, but it sounds like they were playing it really close to the vest
• And the information was held very close to the vest. Here's the reality.
• Their information was held very close to the vest. We cooperated.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• times he told Matt that he needed to fix his antiquated equipment, that those boys should have a BCD vest
• times he told Matt that he needed to fix his antiquated equipment, that those boys should have a BCD vest
• keep thinking about when we go on planes and you see the flight attendant put on the yellow safety vest
• The vest inflates and brings you to the surface. It's the exact same thing with a BCD.
• The vest inflates and brings you to the surface. It's the exact same thing with a BCD.

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• He said police officers have a vested contractual, operative word here, contractual interest in the pension
• He said police officers have a vested contractual, operative word here, contractual interest in the pension

Bills: SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6176 , SB6335 , SB6047 , HB2235 , HB2464 , HB2619 , HB1376 , SB5808 , SB5949 , HB1347 , HB1759 , HB1983 , HB2120 , HB2264 , HB2338 , HB2385 , HB2495 , HB2521 , HB2604 , HB2610 , HB2675 , HB2426

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects

Summary: The Senate considered Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, a measure to terminate and restate the LEOFF 1 pension plan and use surplus funds for other state purposes if federal approval is obtained. During debate, senators discussed whether the plan should remain funded at 110% or 120% of actuarial value, whether surplus dollars should instead go to transportation or the budget stabilization account, whether members should receive an additional distribution, and whether local governments should be reimbursed for retiree health care costs. Several amendments were offered: a Gildon amendment to raise the funding target to 120% failed; a technical Robinson amendment adding a date passed; Holy, King, Harris, Schessler, and Conway amendments addressing member distributions, transportation, budget stabilization, local government health care costs, and a reconstituted board distribution all failed; and Robinson’s amendment removing Climate Commitment Act repayment language passed. The Ways and Means striking amendment, as amended, was then adopted. On final passage, supporters argued the bill was actuarially sound, had been reviewed by attorneys, actuaries, the State Investment Board, and the Department of Retirement Systems, and would allow use of excess funding for other state needs. Opponents warned it left too little in the pension fund, should dedicate surplus dollars only to one-time uses, and did not adequately reimburse cities and counties for retiree medical obligations. After debate, the Senate passed E2SHB 2034 by a vote of 25 yeas, 22 nays, with one absent and one excused. Afterward, the Senate returned to Substitute House Bill 2178, which was also passed on final passage by a vote of 39 yeas and 9 nays, with one excused. The chamber then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I have a vested interest for my constituents in the buildout of wind and solar because on peak days
• So I have a vested interest for my constituents in the build out of wind and solar because on peak days

Committee: Senate Energy And Telecommunications

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, chaired by Senator Kevin Parker, considered several Public Service Law bills and advanced each one to the Rules Committee after brief discussion and recorded no votes or without-recommendation votes on some measures. The bills included proposals to prohibit utilities from using ratepayer funds for certain activities (1012A), establish minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers (1327), adjust residential fixed charges (1329), require the Public Service Commission to consider economic impacts when setting rates (1847), require utilities to adopt PSC-authorized equity ratios and returns on equity (1896), create the Rate-Hike Notice Act (5553C), suspend certain utility rate changes while allowing retroactive revenue recovery (5593), allow consideration of non-economic losses in penalty determinations (7165A), change the composition of the Public Service Commission (7328A), and let utilities retain revenues above authorized returns on equity (7693). Members asked questions about who would be affected by the bills, including whether fixed-charge reductions would apply to vacant units or vacation homes and whether economic-impact considerations could affect customers differently depending on where they live; the chair and sponsors generally explained the measures as territory-wide or applicable to all residential customers, with no occupancy or income-based circuit breaker in the text. The committee then heard testimony from Alexandra Fasulo, introduced as an entrepreneur and farmer in Schuylerville, about her concerns regarding the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) and utility-scale solar development on farmland and grasslands. She argued that solar developers were pressuring landowners, including older and lower-income property owners, into long-term leases, that ORES approves most projects despite local opposition, and that the process lacks transparency, with redacted documents and limited public access to information. She also criticized the siting of solar projects on productive farmland and said decommissioning rules could leave equipment buried in the soil. Committee members responded that the Legislature has already taken steps to protect high-quality soils, that ORES was created by statute and operates within the Public Service Department, and that DEC and ORES are supposed to work together rather than ORES superseding DEC. Several senators said they were sympathetic to concerns about farmland and community engagement, but also emphasized the need to expand renewable energy and balance that with land preservation. Members suggested that specific complaints about ORES transparency or solar siting could be addressed through future legislation or by inviting ORES and PSC officials back for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• County's legislative power is vested in an elected five-member board of county commissioners who share
• establish the fiduciary duties of members of Boards of Regents of state educational institutions, vest

Transcript Highlights:

• Honorable members of the Colorado Senate, pursuant to the authority vested in the office of the Governor
• Colorado Senate, pursuant to<01:17:41.240><c> the</c><01:17:41.360><c> authority</c><01:17:41.720><c> vested
• /c><01:17:42.040><c> the</c><01:17:42.120><c> office</c><01:17:42.320><c> of</c> to the authority vested
• in the office of to the authority vested in the office of the<01:17:42.440><c> Governor</c><01:17:42.760

Transcript Highlights:

• Then the districts believe that we need an amendment to the bill to recognize the vested property interests
• purpose of the landowners to use the water, and in that process it identified that landowners have a vested
• state of Washington the districts believe that we need an amendment to the bill to recognize the vested
• purpose of the landowners to use the water and in that process it identified that landowners have a vested

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 2170, which would authorize DNR to enter ecosystem service and carbon contracts on state trust lands, and House Bill 2578, which would add tribal members and alternates to the Fish and Wildlife Commission. For HB 2170, the Department of Natural Resources and supporters said the bill would diversify revenue, help meet climate goals, and allow DNR to participate in emerging carbon and ecosystem markets without necessarily eliminating timber harvest. Opponents, including counties, school districts, timber companies, loggers, and forest industry groups, argued the bill could reduce harvest levels, harm rural jobs and mill supply, and lower revenues for schools and other trust beneficiaries; several said any new authority should be limited to additive projects with stronger safeguards. Supporters included environmental groups and some local officials who said the bill would provide a more stable revenue stream and better align land management with climate and watershed benefits. The chair noted there are two related vehicles in committee, HB 1508 as the negotiated version and HB 2170 as the department version, and the public hearing on HB 2170 was closed after extensive testimony. For HB 2578, staff explained that the bill would add four tribal commissioner positions and four alternates to the Fish and Wildlife Commission, with representation from federally recognized tribes on both sides of the Cascades and staggered terms. Prime sponsor Rep. Deborah Lekanoff said the measure would strengthen co-management and the state’s government-to-government relationship with tribes, while acknowledging there are other related bills and ongoing legal issues involving WDFW. The chair asked whether the bill would affect existing tribal consultation obligations, and Lekanoff said it would not replace government-to-government consultation; she also said she would follow up on how the governor would make appointments. The hearing on HB 2578 was then suspended so the committee could return to HB 2170 testimony. The committee also heard staff briefing and sponsor testimony on House Bill 2544, which would create a pilot process for the Upper Columbia River water rights adjudication. Staff said the bill would require Ecology to run the adjudication in two phases, starting with tribal and federal claimants and allowing time for settlement before bringing in other claims, with a report due by June 2035. Rep. Larry Springer said the bill is intended to establish a baseline of water use more efficiently in a process that can otherwise take decades. After the briefing and sponsor remarks, the committee began public testimony on the bill, with tribal representatives and other stakeholders queued to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have, you know, we're not only fiduciaries to the system, but we also have a personal vested interest
• beneficiaries receiving a benefit payment from the system and another 35,000 inactive members who are either vested
• or non-vested.
• If someone calls and they say, 'When can I vest?', they don't even have to talk to an agent.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that most of us that have been born and raised in Hawaii has a vested interest to figure out
• have been born and raised in Hawaii has have been born and raised in Hawaii has a<00:31:33.840><c> vested
• 34.880><c> figure</c><00:31:35.039><c> out</c><00:31:35.440><c> is</c><00:31:35.679><c> this</c> a vested
• interest to figure out is this a vested interest to figure out is this something<00:31:36.240><c> we

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions focused on economic development, tourism, agriculture, and gaming. It first took up a measure to support advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity through the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, with testimony from DBEDT, HTDC, and APE Hawaii in support. Witnesses said the proposal aligns with federal and university partnerships, could help small and medium-sized businesses, and could support use of industrial sites such as the Mililani Technology Park. The committee then considered a resolution asking DBEDT to sponsor a Michelin Guide for restaurants statewide; testimony was mixed, with support for culinary recognition but concerns about cost and uncertainty over the return on investment. The committee amended that measure to require review and evaluation of the cost and benefit before sponsorship. The committee also heard a resolution directing the Agribusiness Development Corporation to assume routine maintenance and repair of the Kohala ditch. ADC testified that it would need to meet with stakeholders, assess the damage, and likely spend the first year determining needed repairs before seeking additional capital funding; members noted a prior $10 million appropriation and asked that the committee report reflect a transfer of those funds to ADC. The measure was moved forward as is, with that comment for the report. The most extensive discussion centered on a resolution to establish a tourism and gaming working group within DBEDT. Supporters included DBEDT, Aloha Halawa District Partners, labor representatives, the stadium authority, and Boyd Gaming, who described it as a first step to gather data and recommendations before any gaming policy decisions. Opponents argued the gaming industry should not help write the rules, warned about problem gambling and outside corporate influence, and urged the committee to reject the measure. The committee ultimately passed the resolution with an SD1 and technical amendments, and members said they would keep the issue open for further discussion, including possible inclusion of AHDP in the working group. The committee also heard and advanced a separate resolution urging the stadium authority to finalize the new Aloha Stadium contract and continue work on the entertainment district, with testimony both supporting the project and opposing it in favor of more housing. The committee voted to pass the stadium resolution as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:48:03.119><c> an</c><00:48:03.359><c> interested</c><00:48:03.760><c> or</c><00:48:04.000><c> vested
• </c> everybody with an interested or vested everybody with an interested or vested interest<00:48:04.640
• And I don't want tax law changing from someone personally gaining that have a huge vested interest in
• </c><01:12:33.920><c> interest</c><01:12:34.719><c> in</c> uh that have a huge vested interest in uh
• that have a huge vested interest in in<01:12:36.080><c> the</c><01:12:36.320><c> digital</c><01:12:37.679

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:54:49.040><c> a</c> party or selected by anyone with a party or selected by anyone with a vested
• interest in any party especially vested interest in any party especially the<00:54:51.640><c> doop</
• And these are all folks who have a very vested interest in the results of those maps.
• as representative geman mentioned a as as representative geman mentioned a very<01:05:15.359><c> vested
• interest in uh the results very vested interest in uh the results of<01:05:18.200><c> those</c><01:05

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate, and Daniel Perez, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, by virtue of the authority vested
• Article 3, Section 3(c), Florida Constitution, and Section 11.01... ...by virtue of the authority vested

Transcript Highlights:

• He said police officers have a vested contractual, operative word here, contractual interest in the..
• . ...vested contractual, operative word here, contractual interest in the pension provisions in force

Bills: SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6176 , SB6335 , SB6047 , HB2235 , HB2464 , HB2619 , HB1376 , SB5808 , SB5949 , HB1347 , HB1759 , HB1983 , HB2120 , HB2264 , HB2338 , HB2385 , HB2495 , HB2521 , HB2604 , HB2610 , HB2675 , HB2426 , SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6176 , SB6335 , SB6047 , HB2235 , HB2464 , HB2619 , HB1376 , HB1796 , HB2091 , HB2249 , HB2353 , HB2431 , SB5808 , SB5949 , HB2124 , HB2104 , HB2624 , HB2510 , HB1347 , HB1759 , HB1983 , HB2120 , HB2264 , HB2338 , HB2385 , HB2436 , HB2495 , HB2521 , HB2604 , HB2610 , HB2675

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects

Transcript Highlights:

• Practice, ASAP, Centers for Disease Control, and Department of Health and Human Services are now vested
• Will be vested in international organizations that are not accountable to anyone in the United States
• It is simply vested in the governor's commissioner of health. >> -- Optional. >> It would be up to the
• They would use union labor, but they can build them on a much faster timetable and they have a vested
• THEY WOULD USE UNION LABOR BUT THEY CAN BUILD THEM ON A MUCH FASTER TIMETABLE AND THEY HAVE A VESTED

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions, including students from Brooklyn and St. John’s University, followed by adoption of the resolution calendar with exceptions for two items. The chamber then took up a series of previously adopted resolutions recognizing Black Maternal Health Week, Workplace Violence Prevention Month, the one-year anniversary of the Jet Set nightclub tragedy in the Dominican Republic, New York Constitution Day, and the Month of the Military Child. Senators speaking on the maternal health resolution emphasized racial disparities in maternal mortality and the need for culturally competent care; the workplace violence resolution highlighted hospital safety programs; the Jet Set resolution was adopted in memory of the victims; and the Constitution Day speech reviewed New York’s delayed but eventual support for independence in 1776. The military child resolution stressed the sacrifices of military families and support for children of service members. All of these resolutions were adopted, and the resolutions were opened to co-sponsorship. The Senate then moved through the third reading calendar, passing several bills and laying others aside. Measures passed included bills on public health, environmental conservation, executive law, public authorities, and consumer protection. One notable debate involved a bill to require transparency from private arbitration organizations handling consumer cases; supporters argued it would provide basic public data and guard against conflicts of interest, while opponents said it would burden a useful dispute-resolution process and intrude on privacy. The bill passed after debate. Another debated bill would phase out number 4 heating oil statewide; supporters said cleaner alternatives exist and the fuel is harmful to public health, while opponents raised cost and transition concerns, especially for colder regions. That bill also passed. The chamber also considered a bill to create a rebate program for battery-powered landscaping equipment, funded through utility-related mechanisms administered by NYSERDA. Supporters said it would reduce air and noise pollution and help companies transition, while opponents argued ratepayers should not subsidize landscaping equipment. The bill passed after being restored to the non-controversial calendar. Finally, the Senate began discussion of a housing-related bill aimed at preserving manufactured home parks by enabling nonprofits or municipalities to acquire development rights and keep the land dedicated to that use, with the sponsor explaining that the goal is to protect affordable housing and help residents remain in their homes.