Transcript Highlights:

• Business and investment entities do not include businesses regulated under state or federal banking or
• A seller of the single-family residential property, a real estate broker, or a title insurer is not liable
• The bill also specifies it doesn't prohibit a landlord from retaining a portion of a security deposit
• You know, when I started working on this bill, the insurance piece, at least in the Oregon model, did
• your insurance that way.

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of security? So I'm going to share an opinion.
• You know, you talked about Senator about the security issue.
• We work on the federal level.
• There are additional security and like trip preparer.
• And this is currently a liability, a federal liability.

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it was for insurance premiums. It's only for the insurance side, okay?
• S802 relating to insurance.
• SB 802 relating to insurance.
• SB 802 relating to insurance.
• property insurers to requires insur property insurers to offer<01:33:22.000><c> discounts</c><01:33:

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee opened by outlining testimony procedures and then heard SB 376 on tax credits, which would create a home fire safety improvement tax credit. Testimony from the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi urged that the concept would be better handled as a subsidy program and raised drafting concerns about unclear definitions and eligibility. Later, the committees agreed to pass SB 376 with amendments, including making the credit nonrefundable, clarifying third-party certification, deleting recapture-related language, and making technical changes. Members then heard SB 417, which would make unlicensed contractor work during or within five years after an emergency or disaster a class B felony. The Contractors License Board was listed for comments, and the Subcontractors Association supported the measure. The committees ultimately recommended passage with technical, non-substantive amendments and an adjusted effective date, and the measure was adopted. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on SB 782, which would require free and accessible voice communication services for incarcerated people and prohibit state agencies from profiting from those services, while also directing the PUC to set standards and providing funding for the SAVIN victim notification program. Supporters, including the Public Defender, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Worth Rises, and others, argued the bill would reduce costs for families, improve reentry, and align adult corrections with the juvenile system. Opponents, including the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Hawaiʻi Paroling Authority, and SAVIN-related witnesses, warned that changing the funding structure could weaken victim notification and safety services. The committees deferred SB 782. The committee also heard SB 999 on fireworks, which would repeal permissible consumer fireworks uses, impose civil penalties and forfeiture remedies, and create a forfeiture special fund for safety education. The Department of Law Enforcement and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, while fireworks industry representatives and others opposed it, arguing prohibition would be ineffective and urging stronger enforcement and education instead. The committees deferred SB 999 for further consideration, and SB 1136 on insurance was also deferred after insurers and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs opposed it. In the later joint session with the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, SB 744 on condominium loans was heard with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and banking groups, while one testifier raised concerns that the program could function like C-PACE financing and add risky debt to condominium associations; testimony and discussion continued on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Title IV-E, which is federal funding, gives money to the states in foster care cases, and it requires
• That's going to be a difficult thing to prove, but the federal government is trying to figure out other
• will not accept it, and insurance companies will not accept it.
• That can be really important for insurance purposes and other things.
• My name is Kathy Green, and I'm the Director of State and Federal Strategy for AARP.

Bills: HB557 , HB732 , HB1892 , HB1954 , HB2301 , HB3180 , HB3405 , HB3650 , HB3758 , HB4035 , HB4621 , HB4795 , HB4870 , HB5069 , HB5137 , HB5149

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Keywords: child support, arrears, court enforcement, contempt, legal protections, healthcare, insurance, cost reduction, accessibility, regulations, impotency, marriage annulment, Family Code, Texas law, family law, Texas legislation, dissolution of marriage, annulment, marriage, child custody

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><04:02:37.120><c> auto</c><04:02:37.439><c> insurance,</c> to insurance, auto insurance, to insurance
• They're not in that business of ensuring that you actually have a bond or have security or have the insurance
• or have the have a bond or have security or have the insurance<04:09:08.880><c> card.
• </c> insurance problem. insurance problem.
• . insurance. insurance.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> exercise federal protected rights. exercise federal protected rights.
• It's federal cost for locals or state. It's federal funds. funds. funds.
• in the the in least in um federal in the the in federal<03:47:11.920><c> dollars.
• buy health insurance. It you have to buy health insurance.
• </c> actually help you able to get insurance. actually help you able to get insurance.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's for health insurance costs.
• Federal funding or state funding? Madam Chair, the funding is federal. Thank you.
• Is that a state requirement or a federal requirement?
• Good flags around the ongoing insurance conversation.
• Good flags around the ongoing insurance conversation.

Bills: SB37 , SB29

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• insurer.
• Or a California Department of Insurance-licensed insurer.
• actions and the federal climate.
• In federal fiscal year 2026, we do also project that we will exceed the federal target again.
• -26 and 2026-27 until those additional federal funds are secured, and to cover the costs above the target

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:49:55.040><c> government,</c><01:49:55.520><c> federal</c> helping the federal government, federal
• lawsuits and federal to file federal lawsuits and federal other<02:03:39.440><c> things,</c><02:03:39.599
• </c> federal law. federal law.
• law</c> saying it's federal law it's federal law saying it's federal law it's federal law you<02:16:
• We li federal government. Have you it. We li federal government.

Transcript Highlights:

• task forces involving any federal agency like ICE or the Department of Homeland Security, which have
• task forces involving any federal agency like ICE or the Department of Homeland Security, which have
• task forces involving any federal agency like ICE or the Department of Homeland Security, which have
• task forces involving any federal agency like ICE or the Department of Homeland Security, which have
• task forces involving any federal agency like ICE or the Department of Homeland Security, which have

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a good way to secure a building and kind of manage and change codes when tenants move in and out
• size requirements on being able to accommodate a wheelchair instead of tying the requirements to federal
• That's HB 2304, which expands a condo liability insurance option for buildings up to four stories.
• purchasing flood and renter's insurance.
• Housing providers are not insurance brokers and are not licensed to make such insurance recommendations

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Immigration is a federal issue, and the federal government is taking the lead.
• Now, could federal law change? Yes.
• of federal immigration laws.
• And if you look at your car insurance, it's not just one line. It's not car insurance, whatever.
• I'm actually paying the most to not insure myself.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then read an amended joint proclamation expanding the special session call to include financial penalties for government officials, criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. No committee reports, governor’s messages, or House messages were on the desk before the chamber moved to the special order calendar. The main item was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill, along with a late-filed strike-all amendment by Senator Gruters. Gruters said the amendment aligned terminology with federal law, increased penalties for crimes by unauthorized aliens, added transnational crime organizations to gang definitions, required stronger participation in the federal 287(g) program, created financial penalties for noncompliance, offered a $1,000 bonus for officers assisting ICE in large operations, directed more information-sharing with federal agencies, and barred DHSMV from issuing licenses or IDs to unauthorized aliens. He framed the bill as supporting President Trump’s immigration agenda and focusing on criminal illegal aliens rather than street-level enforcement. A long question-and-answer period followed, with Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Roscoe, Berman, and others pressing the sponsor on scope, legality, costs, and implementation. Questions focused on whether the bill would require participation beyond jails and detention centers, whether schools or churches could be affected, liability and immunity for local agencies, the size and purpose of the proposed appropriations, and the impact on undocumented students receiving in-state tuition waivers. Gruters and Senator Fine said the 287(g) provisions were intended to apply to jails and detention facilities, that green-card holders and lawful residents would not be affected, and that the tuition waiver repeal would end discounted tuition for students in the country illegally while not affecting their ability to attend. Fine also defended the mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses committed by illegal immigrants, acknowledging it would likely be challenged in court but arguing the bill was designed to test and advance the policy. No final vote or other action on the bill is reflected in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Insurers still determine what is authorized and what is medically necessary.
• Matt Aiken, with the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies.
• Matt Aiken, with the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies.
• continuity of care amidst federal developments.
• If an insurance carrier discriminates against someone who says that they are...

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health met in Room 2100 and first handled its consent calendar, which included several bills and resolutions with amendments. The committee established a quorum, approved the consent calendar 6-0, and placed it on call. AB 2233 by Assemblymember Taw was then heard; the bill would clarify that authorized ABA therapy for autistic patients should remain usable across the authorization period rather than being effectively reduced by weekly utilization caps. Supporters, including behavior analysts, family advocates, and health organizations, described missed sessions caused by provider shortages, scheduling conflicts, and family disruptions. Health plans and insurers initially expressed fraud and utilization-management concerns but said they would remove opposition after the amendments preserved utilization management. The committee voted 7-0 to pass AB 2233 as amended and re-refer it to Appropriations, placing it on call. The committee next heard AB 96 by Assemblymember Jackson, which would remove the high school diploma or equivalent requirement for Medi-Cal peer support specialist certification. Supporters from county behavioral health agencies, nonprofits, and local governments argued that lived experience, communication, empathy, and cultural competency are the key qualifications for peer work, and that the current education requirement excludes capable candidates and worsens workforce shortages. One opposition witness from the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals raised concerns, but the bill’s proponents explained that peer certification still requires 80 hours of training, testing, and recertification on core competencies. The committee voted 7-0 to pass AB 96 and re-refer it to Appropriations, placing it on call. AB 1876, the Fair Care for All Act by Assemblymember Addis, was then heard. The bill would codify federal nondiscrimination protections into state law to ensure people are not excluded from health care coverage or services based on a protected class. Support came from transgender health advocates, psychologists, county and state health groups, and other organizations, who said the bill would help protect access to gender-affirming and other medically necessary care. Opposition testimony argued the bill would force coverage of sex-rejecting interventions and weaken insurer safeguards, while the author responded that the measure simply mirrors existing federal nondiscrimination law and does not expand coverage. The committee voted 7-1 to pass AB 1876 and re-refer it to Judiciary, placing it on call. After the roll was reopened for absent members, the committee also finalized votes on the earlier bills and adjourned after concluding its business.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> take action to secure our liberties. take action to secure our liberties.
• I was proud to help secure $540,000 in federal funding for the department's emergency communication enhancements
• Border security, our national security, should not be partisan.
• </c> high health insurance costs. high health insurance costs.
• The American people deserve a secure border. They want a secure border.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jimmy Harris, Insurance Commissioner, State Insurance Department.
• This is a federal law preemption issue.
• So we're asking federal law, federal law preemption issue, but it's based on the state law that was passed
• There's fully insured and there's self-funded plans.
• The Employee Retirement Security Act, the federal law, that typically governs the vast majority of aspects

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Summary: The committee met and opened with a prayer, then approved the prior meeting minutes and received the monthly revenue report from the Bureau of Legislative Research. The report showed gross general revenue collections up year to date and net general revenue above forecast, with the staff noting changes driven by casino gaming transfers, income tax growth, and a lottery-related collection. No action was required on the revenue report. Several subcommittee reports were then presented and adopted, including the executive committee, administrative rules, game and fish/state police, hospital/Medicaid/developmental disability, occupational licensing, PEER, revenue, state insurance programs, and personnel. Topics included a Jackson County School District cooperative purchasing waiver, rulemaking updates from several agencies, federal immigration and wildlife issues, SNAP and Medicaid waiver reimbursement rates, occupational authorization reviews, temporary appropriations and transfer requests, a tire removal contract held for later review, EBD pharmacy and medical drug recommendations, and personnel items. The PEER report also included questions to the State Broadband Director about a provider with delinquent property taxes; he said the provider would not be brought forward until the issue is resolved and that broadband grant payments are tied to performance milestones. The most extended discussion came during review of a State Insurance Department report on pharmacy benefit manager oversight. Commissioners and members questioned Navitus Health Solutions’ refusal to provide certain claims data for self-funded plans in an affiliate pricing examination. The department said the matter is being briefed and set for an administrative hearing, likely in April, and that the dispute centers on ERISA preemption and state authority to request the data. Members also asked about the status of the other PBMs under review and whether they had raised similar objections. After all reports were adopted or filed as reviewed, the meeting adjourned with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jimmy Harris, Insurance Commissioner, State Insurance Department.
• This is a federal law preemption issue.
• So we're asking federal law, federal law preemption issue, but it's based on the state law that was passed
• There's fully insured and there's self-funded plans.
• The Employee Retirement Security Act, the federal law, that typically governs the vast majority of aspects

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 530, by the Health and Welfare Committee, relating to insurance.
• It requires a public explanation if participation cannot be secured.
• Some of you know that I was, for a brief period, a federal law enforcement officer.
• We are coming under federal guidelines, and there is a support system there.
• voted it down because we said... ...federal programs listed in it.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because even though there's federal law, you know, federal laws on...
• There's a federal program.
• As you may know, reservations are federal land, and it was the federal government who put them there
• We have the border basically secure, but it's only secure on those crossings.
• federal law stipulates.

Summary: The Military Affairs and Border Security Committee met for its second meeting, opened with a lengthy reminder about Senate decorum rules and the consequences for disruption, then approved the January 26, 2026 minutes. The committee first heard SB 1268, an emergency measure clarifying that a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability receives a full property tax exemption on a primary residence, including when the home is jointly owned with a spouse. County assessors said the bill was a needed cleanup to prior legislation and urged quick passage so applications could be processed before tax deadlines. The bill passed 7-0 with a do pass recommendation; one senator supported it in committee but objected to the emergency clause on the floor because it limits referendum rights. The committee then considered SB 1152, which would make people with pending asylum applications eligible for state or local public benefits until an immigration judge grants asylum. Supporters argued it would prevent state funds from going to people whose status is not yet verified and emphasized taxpayer responsibility; opponents said existing law already covers the issue, warned it could encourage racial profiling, and cited the economic contributions of refugees and asylum seekers. After debate, the bill passed 4-3. Next, SB 1156 appropriated $20 million to DPS to reimburse cities, towns, and counties for short-term detention costs for unauthorized persons. Supporters said local governments were bearing an unfair burden and needed backfill funding; opponents argued the money was unnecessary, not requested by DPS, and should not be spent on detention. The bill passed 4-3. SB 1157, which would appropriate $20 million for reimbursement of local border fencing or walls in high-crossing areas, drew the most extended and contentious testimony. Supporters framed it as a response to border gaps, cartel activity, and local security needs, while opponents said it would worsen fear, harm wildlife and communities, and divert funds from education and other priorities. The meeting briefly became disorderly during public testimony, prompting a rules clarification from the committee attorney about audience decorum and the chair’s authority. After debate, SB 1157 also passed 4-3. Finally, the committee heard SB 1213, as amended, which makes unlawfully present persons convicted of state or local offenses ineligible for probation and requires ICE notification; the amendment removed CBP from the notification provisions. The sponsor tied the bill to a recent child sexual assault case and said it would ensure convicted noncitizens are not placed on probation at taxpayer expense. Opponents raised due process and equal protection concerns and said the bill would profile noncitizens. The amended bill passed 4-3, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does deal with federal emergencies, so I do want to clarify that.
• It's already covered under federal law. I've already covered. You're correct.
• You need it for security reasons. You need it for demographic reasons.
• They care about their property insurance. They care about floods.
• They care about their property insurance. They care about floods.

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Summary: The committee took up several bills and one set of confirmations. SB 330, relating to disability provisions for firefighters, law enforcement, and correctional officers, was explained as clarifying the heart disease presumption and allowing transferred law enforcement officers to rely on a prior physical if the new agency fails to provide one; it was reported favorably. SB 526, a broad commercial construction bill, was amended with a title amendment and a delete-all amendment before being reported favorably. SB 1192 created a pilot program for callback queues at certain executive agencies to reduce hold times, and it was also reported favorably. SB 1078 established gubernatorial transition procedures, including liaisons, briefing materials, office space, and access to records; an amendment narrowed and reassigned some duties and increased penalties for improper disclosure, and the bill passed favorably. SB 7022 extended and updated a public records exemption for classroom examinations and assessment instruments through 2031, and it was reported favorably. SB 1250 removed the Florida Commission on Human Relations’ requirement to use registered mail for certain notices, allowing less expensive notice methods, and it passed favorably. SB 1698 allowed certain employer notices and posters to be posted electronically instead of physically, and it was reported favorably. The committee also recommended confirmation of 10 appointees to the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the State Retirement Commission. SB 1072 created an anti-Semitism task force within the Attorney General’s Office of Civil Rights to review anti-Semitism in Florida, improve community relations, advise on law enforcement training, assess digital media literacy efforts, review hate crime statutes, and issue annual reports. The bill drew extensive public testimony, with many speakers opposing it on First Amendment, academic freedom, and equal-protection grounds and arguing it could chill criticism of Israel or be used selectively; supporters said it was needed to address rising anti-Semitism and that the state’s definition of anti-Semitism had already been adopted in statute. After debate, the bill was reported favorably. SB 862, as amended, set a $60,000 salary goal by 2030 for state correctional officers, probation officers, and institutional security specialists, with annual raises subject to appropriations; members questioned a separate provision allowing deployment of correctional officers during emergencies, including whether that could intersect with immigration enforcement, but the sponsor said he would follow up and that the bill was aimed at recruitment, retention, and workforce stability. The bill received support from law enforcement and corrections groups and was reported favorably. SB 1642, the Freedom in the Workplace Act, generated the most contentious discussion: it would bar certain pronoun-related requirements, prohibit mandatory training or activities related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression as a condition of employment, require sex on employment forms to reflect biological sex, and extend similar protections to public employees and contractors. Supporters framed it as protecting free speech, conscience, and against compelled speech; opponents argued it would authorize discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people, invite litigation, and harm workplace safety and inclusion. An amendment moved the bill into the chapter governing public employers and employees, and the bill was then reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• The board will serve as a resource for the federal government to assist in the enforcement of federal
• In your bill, are we requiring mandatory transport of illegal aliens to a federal facility or federal
• It's a federal issue to transport.
• I want to point out also that because these are federal issues and we all pay federal income tax that
• government enforce federal immigration law.