Transcript Highlights:

• And it's because we can no longer tolerate a system that I believe has failed the most vulnerable children

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, Senate Bill 832 by Senator Shrina Vassin is about vulnerable road user safety zones.
• It's about vulnerable road user safety zones, VDOT develop criteria and recommendations for destination

Keywords: 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know housing issues and so on and so forth, and we've done some work on things like zoning, lot size
• lot size and you know things like zoning lot size and you know trying<00:18:40.720> to<00:18:
• <00:18:59.280> and species rather than the other zoning and species rather than the other
• zoning and lot<00:18:59.919> size<00:19:00.400> things?
• They're not talking about the working-class family who needs to house on a maybe change zoning laws and

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Hobson: Move to adopt and strike all zones 11 through 14.
• Motion for adoption and strike all zones. I'll move for adoption and strike all zones 9 through 14.
• Motion for adoption and strike all zones. I'll move for adoption and strike all zones 9 through 14.
• Motion for adoption and strike all zones. I'll move for adoption and strike all zones 9 through 14.
• Motion for adoption and strike all zones. I'll move for adoption and strike all zones 9 through 14.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 12 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. The chamber also recognized several guests and groups, including the doctor of the day, visitors from Quebec, the Sumrall High School boys soccer team, Starkville public safety officials, and the Hattiesburg High School choral arts program. A resolution honoring the long-standing partnership between Quebec and Mississippi was read and adopted, and Ms. Nathalie Rivard of Quebec addressed the Senate about historical ties and economic cooperation between Quebec and Mississippi. The Senate then moved through a series of procedural actions on the calendar, including multiple motions to table reconsideration on medical cannabis and ARPA-related bills, and several motions to not concur and invite conference on workforce and budget measures. Among those were Senate Bill 2294, the Mississippi Future Innovators Act, Senate Bill 2288 on workforce training, Senate Bill 2401 on workforce development, Senate Bill 2189 on budget transfers, Senate Bill 2895 on ARPA funds, and Senate Bill 2917 on appropriations transfers. These motions were adopted, sending the measures to conference or otherwise advancing them as noted. A major portion of the meeting focused on appropriations bills. House Bill 1935, the Education Department appropriation, was explained in detail and adopted after a strike-all amendment; the bill includes funding for the student formula, teacher and assistant pay raises, special education supplements, school attendance officers, testing contracts, early learning coaches, and CTE instructor raises, with offsets from reduced or eliminated line items such as school safety platforms and certain vendor programs. The Senate also adopted strike-all amendments and passed House Bills 1936 and 1937 for Mississippi Public Broadcasting and the Library Commission, and then moved on to House Bill 1933 for the Bureau of Building. The Senate recessed until 2:30 p.m. and announced an appropriations meeting shortly after recess, while leadership noted that many supplemental appropriations bills would be considered later with attention to whether they contained reverse repealers and would go to conference or final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're supportive of the requirement that drivers education must include a section on work zone safety
• zone redesign activities, and safe road zones. one?
• And uh work zone<01:07:19.520> safety,<01:07:19.920> work<01:07:20.160> zone<01:
• 07:20.480> redesign zone safety, work zone redesign zone safety, work zone redesign activities
• activities and safe road zones. activities and safe road zones.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we do have some districts in the state that do that, that are on an innovation zone.
• And we do have some districts in the state that do that, that are on an innovation zone.
• And we do have some districts in the state that do that, that are on an innovation zone.
• And we do have some districts in the state that do that, that are on an innovation zone.
• And we do have some districts in the state that do that, that are on an innovation zone.

Bills: HF1124, HF1457, HF1803

Keywords: school calendar, education, school year, Labor Day, state law, school construction, landfill, dump site, closed landfill, contaminated site, pollution control agency, school siting, public school, charter school, environmental health, student safety, brownfield, solid waste, waste disposal site, site contamination

Transcript Highlights:

• and<00:59:05.200> then<00:59:05.359> Sheron<00:59:05.720> marani comfort zone
• um and then Sheron marani comfort zone um and then Sheron marani also<00:59:06.839> requested
• month um we also started teaching the a month um we also started teaching the lock<01:26:16.800> Zone
• training uh through higher ed lock Zone training uh through higher ed as<01:26:18.840> a<01:26
• <01:26:31.560> for<01:26:31.760> people able to administer theck zone for people able

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• argument that the state would occupy the field and a city couldn't do something related to their zoning
• , non-conforming uses... ...and a city couldn't do something related to their zoning, non-conforming
• telling them which rules, regulations, and requirements are clearly preempted, which are in a gray zone
• telling them which rules, regulations, and requirements are clearly preempted, which are in a gray zone
• The day I put my sign up on the property to market it, I got a call from the planning and zoning guy

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our pedi are in a war zone.
• If you don't believe me, look at your local zoning code.
• If you don't believe me, look at your local zoning code.
• If you don't believe me, look at your local zoning code.
• If you don't believe me, look at your local zoning code.

Bills: HF3351

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun control, gun safety, local control, home rule, preemption, municipal regulation, county regulation, city ordinances, zoning, firearm dealers, gun dealers, ammunition, carry permits, permit to carry, pistols, Saturday night special, metal-penetrating bullets, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Now I served on the zoning board of adjustment. We had alternates.
• Now I served on the zoning board of adjustment. We had alternates.
• Now I served on the zoning board of adjustment. We had alternates.
• <00:17:42.559> is both planning board and in zoning is both planning board and in zoning is
• zoning ordinances. zoning ordinances.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee convened for a day of public hearings on nine bills, with plans to later execute several early bills and possibly additional measures under House Rule 44. Chair Diane Pauer outlined time limits for sponsors and testimony, announced a lunch break around noon, and noted substitute members would be arriving later. The first hearing was on House Bill 1107, which would allow municipal budget committees to have one to three alternate members. Representative Valon, the prime sponsor, said the bill was intended to help towns like Epping deal with quorum problems during the compressed budget season and noted that alternates are common on other local boards. The New Hampshire Municipal Association testified in support, saying the bill would increase flexibility and help fill seats. Committee members raised concerns about whether alternates should be elected, how they would be selected, whether they would be sufficiently informed to vote, and whether the bill’s one-year term language and rescission provisions were clear. The sponsor and NHMA said the process would be consistent with other local boards, that alternates would typically be appointed after elections, and that they would follow up on possible statutory clarification. The hearing closed with six remote supporters, one paper supporter, and no opposition reported. The committee then heard House Bill 1118, sponsored by Representative Colby, which would raise the daily amount municipal employees may hold before remitting funds to the treasurer from the current $1,500 limit to $3,500. Colby said the existing thresholds are outdated, have not been updated in about 20 years, and create burdens for smaller towns that must make frequent bank deposits, sometimes far from town offices. She said the bill would improve efficiency and allow staff to focus more on serving residents, while still allowing municipalities to keep lower limits if they choose. Members asked about how the remittance process works in practice, what amounts municipalities typically collect, and whether the change reflected a broader trend of updating cash-handling thresholds. The sponsor explained that the bill only changes the dollar thresholds in the relevant statutes and does not require municipalities to adopt the higher limit. The transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 1118 is reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Using the funding, the city of Keene was able to draft significant amendments to the city's zoning and
• So, I've sat on<01:34:46.159> Keen<01:34:46.560> zoning<01:34:46.880> board<01:34
• :47.520> on<01:34:47.760> assessing<01:34:48.320> board on Keen zoning board on
• assessing board on Keen zoning board on assessing board and<01:34:48.719> I've<01:34:48.880>
• zoning changes. zoning changes.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, we are going to move on to our next measure, SB 1610 SD2, relating to Ohana Zones.
• This basically funds continued funding for the Ohana Zones program and authorizes HHFDC to exempt the
• Ohana Zones projects from G and first up we have, um, is D R here?
• zones program and authorizes hhfdc<01:04:33.240> to<01:04:33.520> exempt<01:04:34.160>
• to exempt the Ohana zones projects hhfdc to exempt the Ohana zones projects from from from G<01:04:38.319

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Human Services and Homelessness heard two SNAP-related bills on March 13, 2025. SB 960 SD1 would appropriate funds to DHS to improve SNAP administration, including additional positions. Testimony from Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Food Industry Association, AARP Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed, and many others strongly supported the measure, emphasizing high food insecurity, the importance of SNAP federal dollars, and the need to reduce delays and improve access. DHS said vacancies and retention are the main barriers, with staffing shortages statewide across processing centers. The department described efforts such as wikiwiki hiring, bringing back retired workers, using interns, and improving call center efficiency, and said it had requested a 5% performance incentive package estimated at about $1.1 million per year, though that request did not make the governor’s budget. Members asked about vacancy counts, staffing distribution, and how the bill would interact with other SNAP funding; DHS said some funding was tied to the new eligibility system and that staffing requests would need to be separate. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion heard. The committee then heard SB 961 SD1, which would require DHS to adjust minimum certification periods and participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project. Supporters, including AARP Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Food Industry Association, and additional organizations and individuals, said the bill would reduce red tape, help kūpuna, and ease administrative burden. DHS supported the concept but said the current legacy system cannot automate these changes and that any implementation would require manual processing until the new system is in place. DHS and committee members discussed the risk of higher error rates and timeliness problems with manual processing, noting the department had recently been assessed a $1 million penalty for high payment error rates and was already in corrective action for timeliness. Members also discussed the anticipated fall 2026 rollout of the new system and whether the bill should be delayed until then; DHS said it preferred to assess the new system first before pursuing waivers and related changes. The committee then moved on to the next measure after the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We separate land uses so that public land uses like retail, commercial, are separated by zoning from
• Yes, so the key thing, what we call for property identification, is location, accessibility, zoning,
• But because we at the state level take care of these five things and the county does zoning, there's
• But because we at the state level take care of these five things and the county does zoning, there's
• there's a disconnect so we and Zoning there's a disconnect so we have<01:24:14.480> to<01:24:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance held informational briefings first with the Department of Defense on its FY 2026 budget request, then with the Hawaii School Facilities Authority. Major General Steve Logan outlined the Department of Defense request for $40.5 million in state funds, which he said would leverage about $74 million in federal matching funds and support 411 open projects that could attract up to $2.3 billion in additional federal grant money. He said the budget focuses on sustainment, safety, and reorganization in light of lessons from the Maui wildfires. Key requests included $1.3 million to sustain IT systems, $2.7 million for 32 HEMA emergency management positions, three new Hawaii Army National Guard positions plus four upgrades, and $1.9 million for the Youth Challenge Program to cover state-mandated fringe costs and staffing needs. He also reviewed capital improvement projects, including Youth Challenge facility upgrades, siren modernization, ADA improvements, building retrofits for disaster resilience, Army facility upgrades, a third state veterans home on Maui, HEMA EOC improvements, and a maintenance/fuel building at Diamond Head. Members asked about the siren modernization timeline, and HEMA said roughly 26 to 31 sirens would be modernized this year, with 15 on Maui, eight on Oahu, and eight on the Big Island. Questions also focused on Youth Challenge and Job Challenge enrollment and vacancies, with the department saying the Hilo Job Challenge Academy is growing and that combining Youth Challenge recruiting statewide into one Kilauea program has helped enrollment. Logan also answered questions about the New Year’s Eve medical transport mission, explaining the Hawaii Air National Guard’s relationship with active-duty Air Force assets and saying the flight cost is about $20,000 per flight hour, though the final bill had not yet been determined. On the Maui veterans home, staff said the University of Hawaii site was no longer viable after faculty senate opposition, so the department is now focused on a 10-acre Puna District site; the project remains tied to a certified $35 million state match and August 2025 and August 2026 federal suspense dates. Logan said the veterans home remains one of the department’s highest priorities, but it could not be moved higher in the submitted CIP ranking. The department also discussed a Governor’s add-on for a fire marshal/Office of Recovery and Resiliency proposal. Logan said the fire marshal position was reestablished last session but has not yet been filled, and that if the function is transferred to the Department of Defense, the department wants funding ready to move quickly. Staff later said the request would include about $1.1 million for seven positions and about $2.2 million for operating costs, though details were still preliminary. The committee then reconvened for the School Facilities Authority briefing, where Executive Director Ricky Fujitani described the agency as a startup created in 2020 to improve school and workforce housing development through standardized designs, prefabrication, best-value procurement, and public-private partnerships. He said Hawaii’s single school district still functions like 15 different districts because of its 264 schools across 15 complex areas, and that the authority’s goal is to create more efficient, maintainable, and cost-effective facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• categories with the greatest emissions impact are transit service expansion, travel demand management, and zoning
• categories with the greatest emissions impact or transit service expansion travel, demand management and zoning
• And in that example, the most effective offset depended on zoning changes from a city that’s over 60
• And in that example, the most effective offset depended on zoning changes from a city that city is saying
• cloud zoning changes for a city that's over 60 miles away from willmar, something that no one has the

Bills: HF4807

Keywords: overweight vehicles, aggregate mining, local ordinance restrictions, legislative audit, transportation, resource inventory

Transcript Highlights:

• Um and that local zoning restrictions.
• where this is looked at as a zoning where this is looked at as a zoning issue<02:03:08.000> or
• Yeah, it might include zoning, clean up the mess.
• > clean<02:04:53.760> up<02:04:53.920> the it might include zoning, clean up the
• it might include zoning, clean up the mess.<02:04:55.119> If<02:04:55.360> there's<02:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and forth, and I think it's safe to say my recommendation... ...might be a little outside my comfort zone
• crimes that are being recommitted, that's why we're here today: to determine whether we want to tolerate

Summary: The committee heard several bills, though no final votes were taken because a quorum had not yet been established. SB 493 by Senator Becker would add war or armed conflict to California’s price-gouging emergency triggers, with the author and supporters arguing it would protect consumers from gas-price spikes tied to international conflict. Opponents, including business and housing groups, warned the bill could over-trigger emergency powers and create broad, ongoing price controls. The chair indicated support for an aye-as-amended recommendation once quorum was reached. SB 1056 by Senator Grayson would require protective orders for disclosure of sexually explicit material involving adult victims in specified criminal cases. Denise Huskins-Quinn and Aaron Quinn testified in support, describing how sensitive evidence in their case was copied and handled without adequate safeguards; supporters said the bill would extend privacy protections similar to those already used for child sexual abuse material. Criminal defense attorneys supported the goal but raised concerns about notice procedures and how the bill would apply when material is in the public domain. The chair said the bill filled a gap in existing law and would receive an aye recommendation. SB 1208 by Senator Grayson would let law enforcement seize and return crypto assets used in scams and fraud to victims. The Attorney General’s office and law enforcement groups supported the bill as a tool to recover losses from transnational crypto fraud, while the ACLU and public defenders argued it lowered the burden of proof, raised constitutional concerns, and could be misused against unbanked or low-level defendants. The chair nevertheless said the bill aligned with existing law for stolen property and would be recommended aye. SB 874 by Senator Weber-Pearson would strengthen oversight of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, including requiring background checks for employees of providers and convening a stakeholder workgroup; it drew support from the California Association for Behavior Analysis and no opposition was heard. Later, SB 1266 by Senator Stern would change how the value of stolen copper and related infrastructure damage is calculated, aiming to address copper theft and its costs to cities and utilities. Supporters said the bill would better capture the real harm from thefts that disrupt streetlights, telecom, and emergency services, while opponents argued it would inflate charges, turn many misdemeanors into felonies, and increase court and incarceration costs. The author said he would continue discussions and accept the amendments. Senator Cervantes presented SB 1379, which would separate the Riverside County sheriff and coroner offices and create an independent medical examiner; supporters cited in-custody death concerns and conflicts of interest, while opponents said the problem was not unique to Riverside and that the bill would override local control. Cervantes also presented SB 1418 to extend ballot-custody protections to other election records and equipment after a Riverside County ballot seizure, with support from the Attorney General’s office. Finally, Senator Blakespear began presenting SB 936 on nitrous oxide misuse, describing public health, impaired-driving, and disposal concerns, but the transcript cuts off before the bill’s testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ryan, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law in relation to establishing first responder safety zones
• and speed limits in such safety zones.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held its first meeting of the legislative session, with Chair Jeremy Cooney and Ranking Member Patrick Gallivan welcoming members and outlining a focus on safety, reliability, infrastructure, workforce issues, emerging technologies, public transit, and state-local partnerships. The committee considered nine bills, many of them naming or rededicating highways or bridges in honor of individuals, including family members of fallen firefighters, Lieutenant Gator Award, Sergeant Henry Johnson, and Robert Boren. Members generally spoke in support of these commemorative measures and related them to broader transportation safety concerns. The committee also advanced several policy bills: a measure on handheld mobile device use by school bus drivers, a first responder safety zones bill, a bill to rededicate the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Mid-Hudson Bridge to Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, a school bus stop-arm camera bill, and a charter bus pre-trip safety briefing bill. The stop-arm camera bill prompted discussion about local courts’ ability to hear notice-of-liability cases and the need to ensure drivers have a fair opportunity to contest tickets, while members also noted implementation issues on multi-lane roads. The charter bus bill drew questions about enforcement and liability, especially regarding seat belt violations and whether responsibility would fall on drivers or companies; sponsors said the intent was to improve safety training and awareness after recent tragedies. All nine bills were reported from committee, with no recorded opposition on the final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• construct affordable housing, new city leadership can't come in, rip out the affordable housing, and zone
• nearly $30 million in backbone infrastructure to unlock infill development in locally designated green zones
• we've used our regional early action program, REAP funding, to help our cities and counties update zoning
• than we've had this century, and one-third of all the units in our region were built in these green zones
• Instead, that driver chose to drive 85 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on active transportation, transit, road safety, and local enforcement. SB 569 would restrict removal or downgrading of bikeways built with state General Fund dollars for at least 20 years, require public hearings before major changes, and was supported by bicycle advocates and some local and environmental groups. The City of Encinitas opposed the bill, arguing it could limit needed safety fixes and should apply only to future projects; committee members discussed whether the bill still allowed safety-based modifications. The bill passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations. SB 741 would streamline the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program by reducing administrative burden and giving transit agencies more flexibility to use funds for service improvements, fare programs, and other transit needs while maintaining oversight and disadvantaged community requirements. Transit agencies and advocacy groups supported the measure, saying it would help agencies respond to post-pandemic ridership and financial challenges. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 1167, which would tighten consumer protections by clarifying that high-powered e-motos and similar motor vehicles are not e-bikes, requiring clearer disclosures and labels, and improving crash reporting. Supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and improve safety for riders, pedestrians, and parents; the Motorcycle Industry Council opposed unless amended, arguing the term “e-bike” is used broadly and the bill could affect existing businesses. The bill passed to Appropriations. Later, SB 953, dealing with vehicular manslaughter cases dismissed through misdemeanor diversion, would add DMV points so fatal conduct remains reflected on driving records; the bill was supported by the victim’s family and safety advocates and passed to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1218, which would let local agencies boot vehicles tied to repeated unpaid illegal dumping citations instead of using DMV enforcement. Oakland officials and community groups supported the bill as a needed deterrent, while the ACLU opposed it as punitive debt collection without a sufficient nexus to the vehicle. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 739 would revise the Clean Miles Standard for rideshare companies by allowing CARB and CPUC to adjust electric vehicle mileage targets in light of current market conditions; Uber and Lyft supported the flexibility, while clean air advocates began raising concerns about weakening climate goals as the transcript cut off.

Transcript Highlights:

• that's<00:20:25.280> where<00:20:25.520> my<00:20:25.679> comfort<00:20:26.000> zone
• <00:20:26.960> that's that's where my comfort zone that's that's where my comfort zone that's
• my where I'm I'm out the edges of my where I'm I'm out the edges of my comfort<00:20:29.360> zone
• comfort zone. comfort zone.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• unequivocally, no other action is appropriate other than to get to higher ground if you're in a flood zone
• , or get to the basement or the bathtub if you're in a tornado zone.
• For example, if a child perishes in a known flood zone, a Justice of the Peace (JP) may determine the
• gained in the Navy as a logistics specialist to help establish several warehouses across the flood zone
• Part of it is explaining the difference between the floodway and the flood zone.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all