Transcript Highlights:

• THE BILL WE ARE REQUIRING LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS OR PARCELS IN THE STATE PARK TO BE DEVELOPED WITH INPUT
• SENATOR, ARE WE PREEMPTING ANY LOCAL REGULATIONS ON GAMBLING AND GAMING IN THIS BILL?
• MY NAME IS WHITNEY VARNER, DIRECTOR FOR REGULATION FOR THE FLORIDA FORESTRY WE ARE A MAJOR SUPPORTER
• THE BILL ALSO ADDRESSES THE CURRENT LACK OF DATA ON THIS ISSUE AND REQUIRES ENHANCED DATA COLLECTION
• THANK YOU FOR THE INPUT FROM THE SENATORS, TAKING NOTES.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:04.399><c> or</c> we would want private sector input or we would want private sector input
• Regulation and the costs remain high.
• Regulation, enforcement, responsibility.
• </c><00:38:30.800><c> Effectively,</c> regulate this new industry.
• Effectively, regulate this new industry.

Summary: The joint committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Economic Development and Tourism heard three measures. HB 450, which would transfer the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, drew support from DBEDT, the State Foundation, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, DAGs, and individuals. Members asked about the bill’s purpose and the relationship between arts administration and international/cultural considerations. The committees voted to pass HB 450 with amendments, including a housekeeping change allowing specific legislative direction in narrow cases; the measure was adopted with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. HB 437, relating to out-of-state offices, received testimony in support from DBEDT and representatives of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce and another individual. The discussion focused on whether an overseas office in the Philippines was the best use of funds, given existing offices and trade relationships in places like Beijing and Taiwan. Members questioned the return on investment, fiscal priorities, and whether DBEDT had a broader strategic plan for selecting markets. The committees ultimately passed HB 437 with a Senate Draft 1 and technical amendments, with some members voting with reservations. HB 1391, relating to trade and creating a Hawaii-Ireland trade commission, also advanced after a lengthy discussion. DBEDT said it offered comments rather than a firm recommendation and explained that the bill appeared intended to build economic ties with Europe through Ireland, but members questioned why a commission was needed, how it would be structured, and whether similar efforts should focus on other countries. DBEDT said it would provide reports on sister-state relationships and office performance, and noted that trade initiatives would likely require private-sector participation. The committees passed HB 1391 with amendments and reservations from some members.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE SAW THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF COLLECTING DATA.
• DATA TO THE FLORIDA NURSING HOME UNIFORM REPORTING SYSTEM.
• I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF OSHA REGULATIONS.
• THESE ENTITIES HAVE A LANE AND THEY ARE HIGHLY REGULATED.
• WE REGULATED MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND IT'S WORKING.

Bills: SJR4 , SJR40 , SJR81 , SCR37 , SCR39 , SB22 , SB32 , SB33 , SB36 , SB38 , SB95 , SB209 , SB249 , SB311 , SB326 , SB365 , SB458 , SB609 , SB660 , SB664 , SB693 , SB732 , SB745 , SB760 , SB762 , SB779 , SB783 , SB785 , SB868 , SB871 , SB883 , SB921 , SB955 , SB993 , SB996 , SB1008 , SB1057 , SB1067 , SB1151 , SB1171 , SB1210 , SB1255 , SB1265 , SB1267 , SB1271 , SB1307 , SB1313 , SB1316 , SB1318 , SB1321 , SB1332 , SB1365 , SB1426 , SB1470 , SB1484 , SB1494 , SB1559 , SB1592 , SB1596 , SB1598 , SB1637 , SB1677 , SB1706 , SB1758 , SB1762 , SB1786 , SB1809 , SB1818 , SB1822 , SB1841 , SB1871 , SB1967 , SB2064 , SB2077 , SB2112 , SB2148 , SB2320 , SB2406 , SB2407 , SJR36 , SJR81 , SJR50 , SJR4 , SJR40 , SJR27 , SCR22 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SCR38 , SCR37 , SB921 , SB609 , SB660 , SB765 , SB62 , SB666 , SB888 , SB687 , SB847 , SB1248 , SB504 , SB305 , SB296 , SB284 , SB304 , SB1023 , SB204 , SB670 , SB850 , SB854 , SB413 , SB1346 , SB1033 , SB1220 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB1539 , SB447 , SB1119 , SB1505 , SB1215 , SB1302 , SB583 , SB673 , SB681 , SB1172 , SB955 , SB957 , SB541 , SB266 , SB1415 , SB53 , SB1352 , SB785 , SB1450 , SB1502 , SB1566 , SB1062 , SB711 , SB746 , SB1404 , SB1448 , SB507 , SB1026 , SB1349 , SB1355 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1596 , SB1403 , SB667 , SB1059 , SB1567 , SB310 , SB311 , SB505 , SB1210 , SB1470 , SB264 , SB1358 , SB1364 , SB1569 , SB1376 , SB1228 , SB519 , SB1350 , SB462 , SB827 , SB1585 , SB1484 , SB1273 , SB927 , SB1227 , SB1229 , SB1353 , SB1464 , SB1709 , SB1729 , SB1733 , SB1744 , SB1772 , SB1841 , SB1008 , SB2016 , SB1173 , SB1163 , SB996 , SB1370 , SB1321 , SB1101 , SB860 , SB993 , SB693 , SB1537 , SB1332 , SB1307 , SB963 , SB493 , SB984 , SB619 , SB1122 , SB455 , SB522 , SB1057 , SB1239 , SB1254 , SB1255 , SB1259 , SB1341 , SB1877 , SB1277 , SB32 , SB732 , SB731 , SB268 , SB1822 , SB1589 , SB397 , SB1058 , SB1267 , SB2112 , SB1930 , SB532 , SB508 , SB292 , SB291 , SB901 , SB1333 , SB1436 , SB1494 , SB964 , SB779 , SB1378 , SB2312 , SB1719 , SB287 , SB2143 , SB1245 , SB261 , SB1247 , SB2406 , SB2407 , SB1882 , SB618 , SB38 , SB393 , SB1371 , SB1365 , SB2243 , SB2226 , SB2039 , SB1919 , SB1895 , SB1598 , SB1493 , SB1810 , SB1791 , SB1706 , SB1644 , SB1238 , SB783 , SB458 , SB22 , SB651 , SB897 , SB1809 , SB1080 , SB745 , SB826 , SB989 , SB1320 , SB1437 , SB2320 , SB2289 , SB1171 , SB664 , SB1637 , SB2064 , SB868 , SB1079 , SB1243 , SB1504 , SB1851 , SB1879 , SB2237 , SB1257 , SB2034 , SB1522 , SB883 , SB249 , SB1318 , SB1151 , SB596 , SB1191 , SB226 , SB570 , SB870 , SB991 , SB60 , SB365 , SB1067 , SB1786 , SB326 , SB1401 , SB1592 , SB1728 , SB1265 , SB586 , SB529 , SB217 , SB209 , SB1923 , SB1559 , SB1839 , SB387 , SB1874 , SB1872 , SB1873 , SB1921 , SB1883 , SB1677 , SB95 , SB1620 , SB1838 , SB2024 , SB2429 , SB1999 , SB511 , SB2309 , SB2166 , SB871 , SB510 , SB33 , SB2420 , SB1860 , SB1541 , SB1316 , SB1314 , SB1313 , SB1426 , SB1398 , SB1869 , SB1750 , SB1871 , SB36 , SB855 , SB1233 , SB760 , SB2425 , SB2037 , SB1758 , SB1759 , SB2365 , SB1924 , SB762 , SB1271 , SB1818 , SB605 , SB1405 , SB1762 , SB1968 , SB1977 , SB2077 , SB2148 , SB2321 , SB1967 , SB1662 , SB1663 , SB2124 , SB2204 , SB1855 , SB863 , SB37 , SJR39 , SCR1 , SCR27 , SCR32 , SCR42 , SCR6 , SB2232 , SB819 , SB2078 , SB2252 , SB1962 , SB2253 , SB825 , SB1577 , SB1184 , SB2018 , SB2206 , SB1901 , SB1030 , SB2368 , SB1963 , SB1960 , SB1643 , SB1625 , SB1299 , SB841 , SB668 , SB584 , SB231 , SB2411 , SB1085 , SB2431 , SB2231 , SB1490 , SB530 , SB34 , SB1261 , SJR81 , SB32 , SB458 , SB664 , SB693 , SB868 , SB1008 , SB1267 , SB1307 , SB1321 , SB1484 , SB1637 , SB1809 , SB1822 , SB2064 , SB2112 , SB2320 , SB2406 , SB2407 , SB609 , SB660 , SB921 , SB779 , SB1470 , SR388 , SB3042 , SB440 , SB2876 , SB3042 , SB440 , SB2876

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the other things we recognize is data is also foundational... ...so we have the One Seattle data
• , which is our traditional data administration, our data analytics, as well as our data science group
• Think of it as a spectrum. ...as well as our data science group.
• So we are going to cover AI policy and regulation.
• There's definitely a data privacy risk with AI.

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on technology use in government, AI policy and oversight, and federal broadband funding. The first panel featured Seattle CTO Rob Lloyd, who described the city’s AI approach as centered on public trust, responsible use, privacy, security, and community partnership. He said Seattle is using small pilots and a data strategy to test AI for tasks such as public records processing, infrastructure inspection, and housing/permitting improvements, while keeping human decision-makers responsible. Members asked about permit review, training on best practices, labor engagement, and public records risks; Lloyd emphasized that AI should assist rather than replace human judgment and that the city is still testing solutions for records redaction and search. Washington Technology Solutions CTO Nick Stow and Deputy Director Mark Quimby then outlined the state’s AI policy work, noting that the state’s guidance now covers more than generative AI and is built into existing privacy and security review processes. They described a statewide AI community of practice, a sandbox used by more than 15 agencies, and use cases including a resident portal with opt-in consent features, cybersecurity screening, and wildfire detection. Committee members raised questions about labor, data privacy, and the status and effectiveness of wildfire detection tools. The AI Task Force update from the Attorney General’s office reported progress through eight subcommittees on topics including governance, consumer protection, labor, health care, public safety, education, government efficiency, and climate/energy, with an interim report due December 1 and a final report due July 1, 2026. The presenter also warned that a pending federal budget reconciliation provision could bar state AI regulation for 10 years, and a member noted ongoing work on prior AI bills for the 2026 session. The broadband portion of the meeting began with Commerce’s Dave Pringle, who said the BEAD broadband program is being reshaped by new NTIA guidance issued June 6. He explained that Washington’s original multi-round application process has been compressed into an expedited roughly 30-day application window, with a September 4 state submission deadline, and that earlier rounds are effectively being replaced under the new federal rules. He noted that no projects have been built yet, that four counties did not receive round-two applications, and that the state is working with applicants, the Governor’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office while also managing a leadership transition in the broadband office. The Office of Equity then reported on the Digital Equity Forum’s growth, membership expansion, outreach, and draft recommendations, including better interagency coordination, improved data for underserved communities, and elevating digital equity as a statewide priority; members discussed the loss of federal digital equity operating funds and the forum’s transition back to Commerce. The final presenter, Lumen’s Rob Thoms, discussed private-sector broadband deployment, saying the company continues investing in fiber overbuilds and working with local governments, but faces permitting, regulatory, and geography challenges. He said Washington has strong backbone fiber and is well positioned for enterprise and AI-related demand, but that rural and legacy telecom transitions remain difficult and that satellite and wireless options may play a larger role over time.

Transcript Highlights:

• Want to pursue some sort of agreement with a data center or the build-out of a data center in their community
• to develop a data center or develop the plans.
• Is there a different way that data centers are done?
• There's no regulation of data centers whatsoever. And it's just the wild west.
• Thank you as far as how are you using the term regulation, I guess, what regulations?

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several member introductions, then moved to House messages and special order business. The chamber concurred in amendments and passed Senate Bill 628 on transportation facility designations, CS/CS/HB 1389 on the Live Local affordable housing package, and CS/CS/HB 1451 on utility services. The utility bill’s House amendment shortened the phase-out of certain surcharges tied to bond covenants and advanced reporting deadlines for municipal utilities. The Senate also passed CS/CS/HB 1279, the education bill, after substituting it for SB 7038 and adopting an amendment that combined agreed-upon provisions on student health and safety, early learning, math, virtual instruction, career and technical education, school choice, university accountability, tuition protections, and financial aid. Several other bills were temporarily postponed, including SB 7036, SB 208, SB 1260, and SB 7034. A major portion of the meeting focused on CS/CS/HB 484, the data centers bill. Senators discussed the House amendment’s changes to ratepayer protections, the removal of the Senate’s nondisclosure-agreement prohibition, the 12-month confidentiality period, and a required OPAGA study. Supporters emphasized stronger language preventing data center costs from being shifted to residential and commercial ratepayers, while opponents raised concerns about transparency, local notice, and the possibility that communities could be kept unaware of projects for up to a year. After debate, the Senate concurred in the House amendment and passed the bill. The chamber then took up CS/CS/HB 399 on land use and development regulations, where debate centered on a proposed Fontainebleau Hotel water park project in Miami Beach and a series of amendments. One amendment to remove the project-specific language failed, while other amendments were adopted, including a sunset provision and a change related to compost facility permitting. A broader amendment dealing with Miami-Dade’s urban development boundary was also adopted, preserving the existing supermajority threshold for changes. The most contentious proposal was an amendment by Senator Martin creating a process for property owners to challenge rural boundary designations and seek compensation or removal from the designation without going to court; senators debated property rights, local planning, and the impact on Orange and Seminole counties, and the discussion included sharp exchanges before the transcript ended during debate on that amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just saying that I'm looking for your input on these ideas.
• I'm just saying that I'm looking for your input on these ideas.
• Okay, so I invite you to have some input on this.
• So I'd look forward to your input.
• We'll bring back as much data as we can get.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Making this data available raises serious concerns about data security and competitive harm.
• They have all the data available.
• The sort of importance of this bill and really getting our arms around what data exists, what data doesn't
• So worker data is defined... Sorry.
• It needs those inputs.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• These regulations went into effect almost 10 years later, in 2023.
• Most legislators had probably not focused yet on data centers, never mind hyperscale, large-scale data
• Since then, the data center landscape has shifted significantly.
• And then we decided to regulate them where we never regulated their competition.
• This would ensure data centers are not exempt from CEQA and creates a pathway for data centers built

Transcript Highlights:

• But we really do want input.
• And that's the purpose of want input.
• uh from all of our we want input uh from all of our members.<00:04:27.759><c> input</c><00:04:28.240
• Um, we try to data, we do the surveys.
• If I did one to data not comparable.

Summary: The Make America Healthy Again task force held its first meeting to set interim priorities rather than take formal action. Co-chairs and members said the group’s goal is to identify practical policy ideas to improve Kentucky’s poor health outcomes, with an emphasis on prevention, and to gather input from members and outside stakeholders. Roll was called, several members were present, and the co-chairs noted the meeting would be limited in length and would not include a lunch break. Members identified a wide range of possible focus areas, including childhood and adult obesity, nutrition in schools, food deserts, agriculture and support for local farms, health responsibility, physical activity, mental health, and provider education on nutrition. Several speakers stressed that Kentucky’s health care costs are rising unsustainably and that prevention is cheaper than treatment. Others emphasized that the task force should work with agencies, hospitals, universities, and experts, and should narrow its work to a few actionable areas rather than “chase every rabbit.” There was also discussion of food as medicine, improving the quality of food in schools and hospitals, and making healthier choices more accessible and affordable. Members referenced conversations already underway with industries, the Kentucky Department of Education, the Kentucky Hospital Association, and agricultural leaders. No votes or formal motions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided; the main action was the exchange of priorities and direction for future task force work.

Transcript Highlights:

• We use multiple types of non-motorized data technology counters.
• They also put out EB-105, which dictates sort of the rules and regulations that we need to follow when
• I think we all should understand that sometimes as legislators we get in the way with regulations.
• There's certainly a role that the state will still play in that digital data exchange.
• Local governments and communities are going to want to know... ...that digital data exchange.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met and first received an update from FDOT on the Sun Trail shared-use nonmotorized trail program. FDOT said the program, created in 2015 and expanded by 2023 legislation, now includes connections to the Florida Wildlife Corridor and received a one-time $200 million appropriation plus increased annual funding. The department reported programming about $180 million of that funding, completing 42 construction projects totaling nearly 95 miles in 21 counties, and installing trail counters and QR-code surveys to measure usage and economic impact. Members expressed support for the program and asked no substantive questions. The committee then heard a presentation on FDOT’s locally administered state transportation funding programs, including SCOP, SCOPM, SCRAP, SIGP, and TRIP. FDOT explained these programs support local roadway resurfacing, bridge repair, drainage, paving unpaved roads, and safety or capacity improvements, with varying state match levels depending on the program and eligibility. FDOT said its adopted five-year work program includes more than $1.4 billion for local transportation improvement projects. A member asked whether toll revenues from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties fund these programs; FDOT said it would research the funding source and follow up. The committee’s main discussion was a panel on advanced air mobility (AAM), including FDOT and industry representatives from Supernal, Joby, Atlantic Aviation, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, and Eve Air Mobility. FDOT described its AAM planning work, advisory committee, local government guidebook, and upcoming training, while panelists emphasized Florida’s leadership, the likely use of existing airport and heliport infrastructure first, and the expectation that private investment will fund much of the early vertiport buildout. Members raised concerns about community acceptance, privacy, zoning, airspace congestion, security, and lessons from scooters and drones. Panelists repeatedly stressed a “crawl, walk, run” rollout, local government coordination, multimodal connectivity, and public outreach. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after the panel.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need concrete data on the impacts emergency regulations have on agricultural products, cattle products
• input.
• management regulations or decisions, such as permanent in-stream flow regulations on the Scott and Shasta
• GSA regulation and fees.
• There's no way to regulate the dogs beyond their training.

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Summary: The committee heard a series of water, parks, transportation, energy, and fisheries bills, with authors and supporters generally emphasizing targeted exemptions, improved access, or regulatory clarity. AB 430 would require the State Water Resources Control Board to study and publicly release the economic and environmental impacts of repeated emergency water curtailment regulations; farm, water, and local government groups supported it as a transparency measure. AB 1139 would expand a CEQA exemption so county park agencies can open existing roads and trails for non-motorized recreation, with supporters citing outdoor access and opponents warning about impacts to species, riparian areas, tribal resources, and fire risk. AB 929 would temporarily exempt small community water systems and managed wetlands from certain SGMA pumping reductions and fees; supporters said it protects vulnerable communities and wetlands, while agricultural and water interests argued it undermines basin-wide groundwater management and could worsen SGMA implementation. The committee also heard AB 1225, creating an Accessibility Advisory Committee for State Parks, which drew broad support from disability advocates and committee members and no opposition. Additional measures focused on infrastructure and environmental policy. AB 975 would give Sutter County a narrow, temporary exemption from streambed alteration agreements for certain damaged small bridges and culverts, with county officials describing long delays in repairing flood-damaged crossings and no opposition heard. AB 514 would declare state policy encouraging local water suppliers to develop emergency water supplies for drought or service interruptions; it received broad support from water agencies and no opposition. AB 550 would allow incidental take permits for species under consideration for listing, aimed at reducing delays for clean energy projects; supporters said it would prevent regulatory limbo, while environmental groups sought amendments to clarify the permit standard, limit the use of scientific research as mitigation, and add a fee provision. The committee also took up AB 697 on the Highway 37 corridor, authorizing an incidental take permit for the near-term project between Mare Island and Sears Point to advance mobility and habitat restoration. Supporters from local transportation agencies and county officials said the corridor is a major bottleneck and the interim project is needed now, while environmental and tribal opponents argued it would fast-track highway widening, increase emissions, and affect tribal cultural resources. Members discussed tolling limits, equity, and the long delay on the corridor; the bill was moved out on a vote, with some members noting they would continue to monitor it. Finally, AB 1056 would phase out transferable set gill net permits after 2027, allowing only limited family transfers thereafter; supporters framed it as a gradual conservation reform consistent with Fish and Game Commission findings, while fishing groups opposed it as harmful to working fishermen.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 401 by Senator Connick, relative to consumer data privacy, creating the Louisiana Data Privacy
• , exemptions, and regulation effectiveness.
• It doesn't regulate the industry.
• It doesn't regulate the industry.
• Are we increasing regulation? What's new? No, no.

Bills: HR133 , HR134 , HR135 , HR136 , HR137 , HR138 , HR139 , HR140 , HR141 , HR142 , HR143 , HR144 , HR145 , HR146 , HR147 , HR148 , HR149 , HR150 , HR151 , HR152 , HR119 , HR120 , HR121 , HR122 , HR123 , HR125 , HR126 , HR127 , HR128 , HR129 , HR130 , HR131 , HR132 , HCR53 , HCR54 , HCR55 , HCR56 , SCR3 , SCR22 , SB4 , SB18 , SB66 , SB106 , SB201 , SB256 , SB274 , SB292 , SB326 , SB386 , SB406 , SB422 , SB423 , SB456 , SB475 , HCR3 , HB1 , HB3 , HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB241 , HB244 , HB306 , HB312 , HB313 , HB314 , HB345 , HB366 , HB383 , HB446 , HB473 , HB511 , HB514 , HB655 , HB730 , HB743 , HB836 , HB983 , HB1027 , HB1037 , HB1043 , HB1082 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1126 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1230 , HB1237 , HB1238 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , HB76 , HB132 , HB181 , HB210 , HB250 , HB265 , HB275 , HB291 , HB322 , HB342 , HB475 , HB486 , HB616 , HB635 , HB639 , HB690 , HB740 , HB757 , HB761 , HB774 , HB808 , HB855 , HB872 , HB883 , HB886 , HB903 , HB949 , HB962 , HB996 , HB1003 , HB1036 , HB1054 , HB1071 , HB1076 , HB1078 , HB1113 , HB1132 , HB1146 , HB1232 , HB1233 , HB21 , HB24 , HB29 , HB31 , HB39 , HB45 , HB77 , HB136 , HB150 , HB263 , HB273 , HB299 , HB315 , HB376 , HB377 , HB431 , HB444 , HB450 , HB519 , HB533 , HB538 , HB559 , HB562 , HB663 , HB664 , HB715 , HB717 , HB805 , HB822 , HB823 , HB834 , HB864 , HB867 , HB1017 , HB1018 , HB1068 , HB1134 , HB1137 , HB1234 , HB1235 , HB1236 , HB961 , HB399 , HB868 , HB905 , HB180 , HB192 , HB284 , HB476 , HB915 , HB952 , HB1006 , HB401 , HB51 , HB58 , HB140 , HB982 , HB1010 , HB750 , HB911 , HB977 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB9 , HB151 , HB193 , HB310 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB615 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773

Summary: The House met with a quorum and spent much of the day on personal privileges, recognizing visiting groups and designating several commemorative days, including Sigma Gamma Rho Day, Alpha Kappa Alpha Day, Italian Festival royalty, Acadiana’s Red and White Day, and Louisiana Automobile Dealer Day. Members also welcomed students, civic leaders, former legislators, a state pageant titleholder, and a visiting African law enforcement delegation focused on combating human trafficking. The chamber received Senate bills and committee reports, and several resolutions were adopted without objection, including condolences resolutions and commendations for schools, festivals, and public service organizations. The House then took up a long series of bills, with many passing on final passage after brief debate or technical amendments. Measures addressed topics such as notification of inmate releases from parish jails and DOC facilities (HB 76), ethics and financial disclosure, video voyeurism involving deceased persons (HB 265, renamed the Jacob Carter Dignity and Death Act), health insurance claim practices (HB 291), victim access to parole testimony without fees (HB 32), special education due process burden of proof (HB 342), AI disclosure in medical settings (HB 475), the psychology interjurisdictional compact (HB 486), homelessness provider oversight (HB 616), AI disclosure in campaign calls (HB 639), Medicaid managed care claim review (HB 740), menhaden fishing restrictions (HB 757 and HB 855), HIV exposure law modernization (HB 808), and rare cancer treatment advisory board changes (HB 761). Most of these bills passed with strong support; HB 342 passed 98-3, HB 639 passed 86-9, HB 808 passed 99-0, and HB 855 drew the most extended debate, with supporters citing science-based conservation and opponents warning about harm to the menhaden industry and coastal jobs. The House also adopted committee amendments and set several major fiscal measures as special orders for April 16, including HB 1, HB 2, HB 3, HB 313, HB 383, HB 983, and HB 1126. Additional bills were advanced to third reading from committee reports, and the chamber returned some measures to the calendar for later consideration. Overall, the meeting was marked by ceremonial recognitions, a heavy legislative agenda, and multiple substantive policy votes across education, health, criminal justice, transportation, ethics, and natural resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• The board will be meeting on March 15th, and at that time we will be trying to evaluate public inputs
• uh public inputs that will affect<00:33:25.240><c> uh</c><00:33:26.279><c> the</c><00:33:27.279><c>
• </c> state sorry than the federal regulations state sorry than the federal regulations that<00:35:45.040
• They're looking at what is appropriate, and so they wanted to gather more data and assess that.
• They're looking at what is appropriate, and so they wanted to gather more data and assess that.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 117 on condominiums. Testifiers were split: reserve-study professionals and the Community Associations Institute opposed tying reserve requirements to assessed value, arguing reserve studies should be based on actual components and costs and that the bill could lead to over- or under-collection. Condominium owners and advocates supported the bill, saying some associations are not completing reserve studies or are failing to provide audits and adequate funding, and urging stronger fiduciary accountability. A member later asked about compliance rates, and a witness said he was not aware of any association that had failed to do a reserve study, estimating compliance at well over 95 percent, likely close to 100 percent. The committee then took testimony on HB 544 on pet insurance, which drew support from the Attorney General’s office and the Insurance Division with comments about contract-impairment issues, as well as support from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association and the Hawaiian Humane Society. Testifiers said the bill would help consumers understand and use pet insurance as veterinary costs rise. HB 983 on certified public accountants also drew mostly support, with the Hawaii Society of CPAs and the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants offering conditional support and proposed amendments. Public accountants said the bill could help address a shortage of CPAs and expand pathways into the profession, while some speakers cautioned that the language needed clarification and that public accounting experience should be tied to CPA-firm work. An instructor from UH West Oahu said students cannot afford the extra credits currently required and would benefit from a more accessible pathway. The committee also heard HB 1050 on Title 24, with DCCA supporting the measure and no opposition or questions. The discussion then moved to HB 256 HD1 on environmental protection and incinerator emissions. The Department of Health offered comments, while Energy Justice Network and Climate Protectors Hawaii supported strengthening the bill, warning that it could weaken existing standards at H-Power unless amended to preserve stricter state rules and require modern pollution controls. A member questioned the Department of Health about H-Power’s permits and whether additional controls would be required if federal rules change; the department said permits are reviewed every five years and that the facility currently meets state and federal requirements, while EPA rules remain in a public comment process. Finally, the committee heard HB 1051 HD1 on energy efficiency portfolio standards, with support from the Consumer Advocate, State Energy Office, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaii Energy. The committee then heard HB 350 HD1 on energy, where the State Energy Office supported the bill, Solar Ray Corporation offered conditional comments urging any new mandated water-heating technology to meet the same efficiency level as existing solar thermal systems, and the Kauai Climate Action Coalition testified in support. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is the world that I come from, having run the data program, the MIS and data systems at the
• One, companies have a lot more data about us.
• It can't have all that data on me. It will have that data on me.
• In their complaints, the commission alleged that data brokers collect billions of data points and timestamps
• We've seen some regulator action.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 1159, which would update California student data privacy law for educational technology and college-level platforms. The author and supporters argued that students’ personal information is being collected and used far beyond educational purposes, including sensitive health and demographic data, and said the bill would limit misuse and add stronger privacy protections. Support came from privacy, labor, education, and civil rights groups, while opposition from college store and industry representatives focused on narrowing the definition of “operator,” preserving institution-related communications, and concerns about the bill’s private right of action. Members raised questions about how the bill would affect scholarships, financial aid, adult students, consent, and litigation; the author said the bill includes a right to cure and notice to the Attorney General. The committee voted 4-0 to pass the bill to Appropriations, with the measure placed on call. The committee then took up AB 1709, which would set a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts on platforms with specified addictive design features and create a youth safety commission. The author, pediatric and safety advocates, and several public supporters argued that social media companies intentionally design compulsive features that harm youth mental health, sleep, and development, and that the bill is a necessary product-safety response. Opponents argued the bill is overbroad, may be ineffective, raises First Amendment concerns, and could cut off vulnerable youth from important online support networks. Members focused heavily on possible amendments, especially a non-addictive feed option for younger users and strengthening the commission; the author said he was open to those changes and to further work with the committees. The bill was moved to Judiciary on a 5-0 vote and placed on call. At the end of the excerpt, the author began presenting a third measure, AB 2076, which would strengthen California’s Parents’ Accountability and Child Protection Act by adding nitrous oxide to the list of age-verified dangerous products, banning purchase with gift cards or store credit, and increasing penalties for large sellers. The author described nitrous oxide as increasingly accessible to minors online and cited enforcement gaps in the current law, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> regulations about premium increases. regulations about premium increases.
• c> that</c> into the data, the advanced data that into the data, the advanced data that insurers<01:13
• </c> data he had was 2022. data he had was 2022.
• </c> have more current data. have more current data.
• Any last input on this slide?

Transcript Highlights:

• This came to the State Board of Education because of the zero-based regulation review process, Executive
• You'll also see that the definition participation data, or removing the word data from that definition
• In addition to the public comment periods, we sought public input from our special education advisory
• And they provided input in meetings on May 20th and September 16th, 2025, with the board approving this
• In addition to the public comment periods, we sought public input from our special education advisory

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of the big problems we have is bad data. in the voter roll.
• This bill would give us the ability to clean that bad dirt. data up.
• I'm not talking about states that share voter data, I'm talking about driverless data.
• I will specifically be using data from from 2010 to November of 2024.
• Is that because it's not a data set you collected?

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

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• essentially regulating form.
• essentially regulating form.
• The fact that the middle housing bill was not regulating unit count, but was saying you can regulate
• Or regulating floor area ratio in the TOD bill, regulating the bulk of the structure rather than so much
• The regulating plan effectively is zoning standards, but that regulating plan also looks at things like

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. Chair Solomon opened by explaining the topics as ways to explore more flexible zoning, barriers to child care access, and whether frontage improvement mandates are discouraging housing projects. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson described them as zoning that emphasizes building form and public realm over use and density, with objective standards and illustrations. He said they are typically applied in specific districts, not statewide, and can reduce reliance on large use tables. City of Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby said Lacey’s Woodland District code was created through community engagement, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards; she said it has helped produce a more walkable environment and more flexible uses, but can be harder for applicants and staff to navigate and may still require some use restrictions in a hybrid approach. The child care siting panel focused on state and local permitting barriers. DCYF officials Ruben Reeves and Nicole Rose said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed child care providers, but applicants must navigate both state licensing and local zoning, building, fire, parking, and occupancy rules, which can vary widely by jurisdiction. They said DCYF recently created a pre-licensing support team and is collecting data on why applicants stall or drop out, with a broader action plan expected in summer 2026. Testifiers including Julia Perez of Yakima described costly and confusing local requirements for in-home child care, including fees, multiple departments, elevation and well-related conditions, and delays that led her to abandon her effort. Enterprise Community Partners’ Juanita Salinas Aguila said child care deserts remain widespread and identified impact fees, zoning and building code requirements, permitting delays, parking mandates, outdoor space requirements, and lack of dedicated funding as major barriers; she highlighted examples of local fee waivers, expedited permitting, zoning reforms, and county funding efforts. Jordan Crawley of Seattle and Julie German-Murray of Spokane also described delays, parking and zoning barriers, and the difficulty of finding feasible sites, especially for larger centers or specialized inclusive care projects. The final section addressed street standards and frontage improvements. Poulsbo planning manager Nicole Coleman argued that current frontage and utility standards, largely designed for greenfield subdivisions, are mismatched with today’s infill and middle housing needs and can add $50,000 to $200,000 per project. She gave examples where required sidewalks, utility relocation, water main replacement, and access standards made small projects infeasible or caused them to be abandoned. Blueprint Capital’s Lucas de Herrera echoed those concerns for Seattle and Kirkland, saying frontage, curb ramp, alley, and EV-ready parking requirements can trigger expensive engineering and undergrounding work that kills small projects, and that some standards are buried in manuals or director’s rules rather than clear code. No votes were taken; the session was informational, and members discussed possible follow-up on child care facility designation as an essential public facility and on whether state-level changes to frontage and parking rules could reduce barriers.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're supportive of the State Fire Marshal adopting regulations to regulate these hydrogen pipelines.
• And while data centers themselves are users of electricity, I am a user of that data center.
• Data centers, again, aren't trying to circumvent regulation, but do seek equitable treatment to other
• Data centers, again, aren't trying to circulate regulation, but do seek equitable treatment to other
• And so, as we've seen data center clusters, data centers have traditionally attracted more data centers

Summary: The committee first heard SB 804, the Hydrogen Pipeline Safety Act, from Senator Arreguín. He said the bill would designate the State Fire Marshal as the safety regulator for intrastate hydrogen pipelines and require hydrogen-specific standards, while not mandating any pipeline construction or bypassing environmental review. Supporters included labor groups, utility employees, and the City of Burbank, while Air Products opposed unless amended, citing concerns about the bill’s specificity, fee structure, and the need for a hydrogen-specific rulemaking process. The committee discussed safety, fees, and regulatory certainty, and later passed SB 804 on a 9-0 vote to Emergency Management with commitment to take amendments. The committee then took up SB 905 by Senator Becker, aimed at reducing electricity rates by changing utility incentives. The bill would tie part of executive compensation to keeping rates below inflation, require more performance metrics, and allow the CPUC to consider lower returns on equity for certain lower-risk investments and alternative financing options. Support came from consumer, environmental, agricultural, and large energy user groups, while Southern California Edison, CalChamber, PG&E, and utility labor groups raised concerns that the bill could reduce investment, create regulatory uncertainty, and raise borrowing costs. After extensive discussion about utility affordability, wildfire costs, and capital markets, the committee passed SB 905 on a 7-1 vote to Appropriations. SB 913, also by Senator Becker, would create a clearer pathway for distributed energy resources such as batteries and smart thermostats to participate in the resource adequacy market and compete with utility-scale resources. Supporters said the bill would better use existing grid capacity, lower costs, and build on the state’s Demand Side Grid Support Program; PG&E opposed unless amended, saying the use case was not yet proven and was already being addressed in other rulemakings. After the committee accepted amendments, one opposition group moved to neutral and another said it might do so after reviewing the changes. The bill passed 8-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call. Several other measures were heard and advanced, including SB 1196 on faster utility hookups for small energization projects such as ADUs and EV chargers, SB 931 reauthorizing the Diablo Canyon Essential Services Mitigation Fund through 2028, SB 1158 reducing the frequency of joint reliability assessments from quarterly to twice yearly, and SB 1245 directing further study of California’s gasoline market and potential use of non-CARBOB fuel during supply disruptions. SB 1196 and SB 931 both passed with broad support and no opposition after amendments, SB 1158 passed without testimony, and SB 1245 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates but opposition from fuel industry and business groups concerned about costs, confidentiality, and fuel standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• That means there's no public hearing, no neighborhood input.
• It stops cities from regulating ADUs out of existence.
• You know, we have regulations for a reason.
• We are dealing with the data arms race. This is a good versus evil issue.
• We know that the algorithms are already tracking and monitoring our data.