Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for allowing me to speak my testimony to everyone in this room. Thank you.
• We’ll start with the testimony. Hi. Heather Fenzell is with the LAO.
• And in my testimony, you know, as a human, your God-given right is peace.
• So I want to thank you for your testimony and letting you know that it does.
• So thank you for your testimony as now we move to Issue Four. Thank you so much.

Summary: The committee heard a broad public safety budget hearing focused on youth justice funding, probation incentive grants, and disaster response and recovery. On the youth justice item, the Office of Youth and Community Restoration described a proposed change to the JJRBG funding formula that would shift resources away from a DJJ-based measure and toward county youth population, serious offenses, and step-down placements in less restrictive programs. Members asked about data on Native American youth; OYCR said statewide data are limited, but its SYTF data show about 1% of youth in secure youth treatment facilities were Native in 2024. The Department of Finance had no objections, and the item was discussed as a way to support alternatives to long-term incarceration. The committee then reviewed the community corrections performance incentive program for county probation departments. The Department of Finance proposed stabilizing the program with a maintenance payment, updating the performance baseline, and adding a growth factor; the LAO agreed the formula needed changes but recommended using 2022-23 data instead of 2021-23, using marginal rather than average cost assumptions, rejecting the growth payment and minimum guarantee, and adding stronger oversight through the BSCC. Finance said it was open to some technical changes but opposed a new BSCC audit framework, noting Judicial Council already surveys probation departments and that evidence-based practice use has increased over time. Members and staff indicated the proposal still needed further work. A major portion of the hearing focused on the January 2025 Southern California wildfires and state disaster response. A resident of Altadena gave emotional testimony about evacuation failures, loss of home, and the need for accountability. LAO and Cal OES outlined the disaster response and recovery system, including mutual aid, alert and warning, debris removal, FEMA and state funding streams, and the long timeline for reimbursement. Cal OES said it had pre-positioned resources, temporarily took over the county’s wireless emergency alert function for about three weeks, coordinated debris removal and recovery operations, and had already allocated more than $286 million in state funds. Officials also discussed the 100% federal cost share for emergency work for 180 days and the uncertainty created by changing federal processes and the cancellation of the BRIC resilience program. The committee also heard two smaller Cal OES items: a request to reappropriate about $22 million for the law enforcement mutual aid reimbursement program, which the LAO said should be placed in statute with clearer goals and reporting, and an update on Victims of Crime Act funding, where Cal OES said federal VOCA allocations have fallen sharply and that roughly $224 million would be needed to maintain current service levels if federal funding does not improve. Public comment included a request for funding to expand datacasting and emergency alert receivers for wildfire and earthquake warning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will proceed to public testimony.
• If there's no other question, thank you for your testimony. Thank you.
• Thank you for your testimony. Thank you. Next, the chair calls Kimberly.
• Thank you for your testimony. Next, the chair calls Frank Bliss. Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. Thank you so much. Have a good one.

Bills: HB602, HB1322, HB1930, HB2225, HB2304, HB2494, HB3275, HB3810, HB3919

Keywords: affordable housing, land use, zoning, urban planning, community development, housing crisis, mixed-use development, sustainability, municipal utility district, board of directors, qualifications, land ownership, Texas, taxation, residency, municipal approval, subdivision plans, local governance, plats, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• testimony. Yes. Thank you, uh, Mr. testimony. Yes. Thank you, uh, Mr.
• The uh testimony bill? Not seeing any. The uh testimony is<00:53:12.400> closed.
• and then begin your testimony, please. and then begin your testimony, please.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• <01:20:21.440> Chair, begin your testimony. Mr. Chair, begin your testimony. Mr.

Bills: HF1587, HF2293, HF2218, HF1208, HF1482

Keywords: HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty

Transcript Highlights:

• Further testimony on Senate File 25? Further testimony on Senate File 25?
• Uh, is there any other testimony? Anyone else online? Okay, we'll close testimony.
• Any further testimony in the room?
• Any further testimony in Senator French. Any further testimony in the<01:11:07.360> room?
• >> So ma'am uh great testimony. Thank you. >> So ma'am uh great testimony.

Bills: SF0025, SF0027, SF0043, SF0066

Keywords: landowner licenses, hunting, wildlife management, quota hunt areas, game and fish commission, game management, hunting regulations, black bear, tracking dogs, wildlife conservation, conservation, contracting, supervisor, funding, districts, hunting licenses, donated licenses, life-threatening illness, vision impairment, nonprofit organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh we have submitted testimony Defender.
• > touched Police Department's testimony touched Police Department's testimony touched upon<00:
• loaded in our testimony. loaded in our testimony.
• You have our written testimony, and you heard from many of our members via the written testimony.
• We'll conform testimony.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard several Senate bills. SB 2149 would exempt paternity proceedings involving allegations of domestic abuse from mediation and clarify the domestic abuse mediation exemption in divorce cases. The Department of the Attorney General and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence supported the measure but recommended technical and conforming changes, including updating references from HRS Chapter 584 to 584A and aligning the language more closely with the Uniform Mediation Act. Members discussed whether the bill’s wording could limit who may bring a support person to mediation, and the chair suggested the intent was to preserve survivor choice while avoiding ambiguity. No vote was taken in the portion heard. SB 2203 would create an offense for law enforcement officers using masks or personal disguises. The Office of the Public Defender, ACLU of Hawaii, Legal Clinic, and many other supporters argued the bill would improve transparency, accountability, and public trust, while still allowing safety exceptions. Law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Law Enforcement, Honolulu Police Department, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, raised concerns about operational needs, undercover and auxiliary units, body cameras, and possible supremacy clause issues if the bill is aimed at federal officers. The chair noted the bill appeared likely to move forward and asked agencies and advocates to work on possible amendments; testimony count was reported as 114 in support, 3 opposed, and 2 comments. SB 2251 would appropriate funds for the victim witness assistance program in the City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying it would replace shortfalls from declining federal funding and help maintain victim services and rights information. A former program director also testified in support. When asked, the office said it would not object to a simple reporting requirement. The committee then moved on to SB 2311, which would address claims against the state and add reporting and timing requirements; the Department of the Attorney General testified with concerns and recommendations, and members began questioning current practices for handling claims and settlements.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the conclusion of invited testimony, we will have public testimony.
• And you may begin your testimony. Also, if I, I apologize if I.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• In our written testimony, we highlighted Katie's story.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . testimony. testimony.
• a two-minute time limit on testimony. a two-minute time limit on testimony.
• >> thank you for your testimony. >> thank you for your testimony.
• My testimony is done.
• My testimony is done. I'll be entirely. My testimony is done.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony.
• Um, so thank you all so much for your testimony.
• OK, thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. Members, are there any questions? Thank you all for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony, members, any questions? OK. Thank you for your testimony.

Bills: HB 2646, HB 3941, HB 5153, HB 5155, HB 5394, HB 1106, HB 426, HB 4529, HB 3984, HB 4273, HB 1097, HB 3940, HB 1941, HB 4377, HB 3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony. That concludes the testimony for. 1414. And we will For you.
• So I didn't mean to step on your testimony, sir. I apologize.
• So Representative Patterson, the testimony was very compelling.
• TPPA appreciates the opportunity to provide this testimony.
• up earlier in other testimony.

Bills: HB316

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, affordable care act, medical assistance, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the testimony.
• Thank you all so much for your testimony.
• I just thought I submitted written testimony.
• I just thought I submitted written testimony.
• Thank you, gentlemen, for your testimony.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session held in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 education and local aid budget, with remarks from legislative co-chairs, local officials, and education agency leaders. Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero emphasized Lawrence’s high-need student population, the importance of Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, and the impact of state aid on schools serving many English learners and low-income families. Carrero highlighted Lawrence High School programs such as early college, dual degrees, career pathways, and early childhood classrooms embedded in the high school, while lawmakers introduced themselves and noted the importance of the hearing to their districts. Acting Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of Higher Education Noi Ortega, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw outlined the administration’s FY27 priorities. They described investments in literacy initiatives, universal school meals, student mental health, early college and career pathways, higher education affordability, community college and university student-success supports, preschool expansion, child care subsidies, and workforce supports for early educators. The commissioners also discussed federal funding threats, equity gaps, and the administration’s efforts to improve outcomes for Black and brown students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Members questioned the panel about the local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to revisit Chapter 70 funding to better address rising costs such as special education, transportation, and health care. Officials said the local contribution study report is expected by the end of June, with a draft to be shared after data analysis and public comment. Commissioner Martinez said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but more work is needed, and he pointed to a proposed Accelerating Achievement Initiative to support the highest-need schools. Senator Oliveira also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities and asked about partnerships with libraries to support literacy, prompting discussion of broader early literacy collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony.
• you Dr ases thank you for your testimony you Dr ases thank you for your testimony good<00:08:40.000
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.

Bills: HF2446, HF2878, HF2667, HF1795, HF2683, HF2916

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, chair present your testimony.
• . testimony. testimony.
• Chair Prince, present your testimony.
• yourself and present your testimony. yourself and present your testimony.
• Anyway, I appreciate the testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• proceed with your testimony. proceed with your testimony.
• proceed with your testimony. proceed with your testimony.
• Chair, and testimony. Thank you, Mr.
• The one that struck testimonies today.
• Everybody's testimony. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. We'll go to the next testifier.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• testimony that I would stand behind. testimony that I would stand behind.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. >> Thank you. Thank you for your testimony.
• affect your testimony. affect your testimony.
• I agree with most of the previous testimony, and I will submit my written testimony.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would be your testimony, contrary to the testimony of a few others, that as you read the bill and
• um and that's why I started my testimony um and that's why I started my testimony with<01:17:00.840
• <01:33:04.320> was the family court extensive testimony was the family court extensive testimony
• <01:33:45.840> or process of accepting testimony or process of accepting testimony or accepting
• some of those there was no testimony some of those there was no testimony when<01:34:33.199>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Children and Family Law Committee opened its March 4 meeting with procedural announcements, including a deadline for any Minority Report, notice that the committee would not meet the following Tuesday because of town meeting day, and a preview of its March 18 agenda. The chair said that meeting would include hearings and executive sessions on HB 518, requiring DHHS to provide a detailed annual report of DCF costs, and HB 775, directing DHHS to seek proposals for supervised visitation centers; HB 553 was also slated for executive session. The committee also heard an update on Representative Grossman’s son, who remained in the PICU at Mass General. The main hearing was on HB 493, which would require child abuse and neglect education for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants as a condition of licensure. Representative Alicia Gregg presented the bill and an amendment reducing the required training from two hours to one hour, saying the goal was to improve recognition of abuse and prevent both missed cases and false accusations. Cassandra Sanchez, the state Child Advocate, strongly supported the bill, describing a 2020 review of nine cases of non-ambulatory infants with serious injuries and later system mapping that identified gaps in medical recognition; she said the training should be part of existing continuing education hours and that voluntary uptake had been limited. Dr. Michael Matos of Wolfeboro Pediatrics also testified in support. Ben Bradley of the New Hampshire Hospital Association opposed legislating the requirement, saying hospitals already train staff and that the legislature should not single out one topic for statutory mandate when other reporting obligations are handled differently. In questioning, committee members asked whether the hour would be part of existing continuing education, whether hospitals already provide similar training, and whether the bill should be placed in the continuing medical education statute instead of child protection law. Bradley said hospital members already provide annual training and collaborate with proponents, but did not support putting the requirement in statute. Sanchez said the bill was intended to use one of the hours already required for training, though members noted that the bill text did not clearly say so. The committee also heard broader testimony about the Family Division of Circuit Court, including a proposal to create a subcommittee to study more difficult issues such as pre-trial counseling, evidentiary practices, and domestic violence-related cases, with the Speaker appointing members to that subcommittee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your time for testimony today.
• Your testimony seems a little conflicted.
• And that's the end of my testimony. Thank you. Thank you very much for your testimony.
• Thank you each for your testimony. Members, any questions? Thank you each for your testimony.
• Go ahead and proceed with your testimony, please.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• West, please begin your testimony. West, please begin your testimony.
• times you skip over written testimony times you skip over written testimony when<00:03:02.600>
• Superintendent Evans, begin your testimony. State your full name and begin your testimony.
• Miss Nelson, begin your testimony. State your full name and begin your testimony." Ms.
• Feist or her testimony? Feist or her testimony? Testifier. Representative Hollins.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:36.960> Miss thank you for your testimony Miss thank you for your testimony Miss Williams
• Thank you so much for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• <01:26:42.760> and thank you so much for your testimony and thank you so much for your testimony
• <01:29:39.280> are year thank you for your testimony are year thank you for your testimony

Bills: HF2090, HF982, HF2229

Keywords: higher education, scholarship, financial aid, state grant, tuition assistance, Pell grants, student retention, education equity, disabled veterans, veterans' dependents, dependent children, college affordability, books and fees, University of Minnesota, public colleges, Office of Higher Education, veterans benefits, military families, permanent disability, 100 percent disability

Transcript Highlights:

• Don't read your testimony; summarize your testimony.
• don't read your testimony summarize your testimony<01:15:17.400> if<01:15:17.520> you've
• Milhouse this letter is a testimony Milhouse this letter is a testimony support<01:22:21.719>
• and I'm not reading from any testimony and I'm not reading from any testimony that<01:43:04.520>
• 1.6 per annually yes well the testimony 1.6 per annually yes well the testimony from<01:48:15.199

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, seeing none, public testimony on the amendment.
• Seeing none, public testimony.
• And that’s all the public testimony. Debate, members? Any debate? No.
• All right, seeing none, public testimony.
• Any public testimony on the amendment? All right. Any public testimony on the amendment?

Summary: The Transportation Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up four member bills. The first, CS/HB 1387 by Rep. Overdorf, would create the Taxpayer Dollars Protect Workers Act and require secret-ballot union recognition for companies receiving state economic development funds. Questions focused on whether the bill was pro- or anti-union and on its fiscal impact; the sponsor said it was neutral and expected no fiscal impact. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with several speakers arguing it would interfere with private-sector labor relations and discourage companies with existing labor agreements from investing in Florida, while a few supporters backed the measure. The bill was reported favorably on a party-line style vote, with several members voting no. The committee then unanimously reported favorably CS/HB 1211 by Rep. Albert, which streamlines senior management service governance in the Department of Military Affairs, updates military leave benefits for state employees serving in the Florida National Guard, expands emergency financial assistance eligibility for guardsmen, and repeals an unfunded statutory program. An amendment aligning senior management positions under state statute was adopted without objection. The committee also unanimously reported favorably CS/HB 741 by Rep. Owen, a Department of Commerce bill updating outdated statutes, including provisions on military installation revertor clauses, rural community definitions, community development block grant language, and E-Verify/unauthorized employment provisions; the sponsor said there would be little or no fiscal impact. Finally, CS/CS/HB 1093 by Rep. Spencer, dealing with advanced air mobility, was amended to focus on infrastructure and funding for vertiports and charging systems and to remove liability, siding, and preemption provisions. Support came from industry and legal groups, and the bill was reported favorably unanimously. Before adjournment, the chair noted that budget recommendations for fiscal year 2026-27 had been submitted to the appropriations chair. The ranking member offered closing remarks, saying it was his last year in the House and thanking members for their collegiality. The meeting then adjourned.