Transcript Highlights:

• I also want to note that we are accepting written testimony through the position letter portal on the
• Pala has then had to use extensive resources and staff hours in order to negotiate the funding agreement
• Pala has then had to use extensive resources and staff hours in order to negotiate the funding agreement
• Originally, this bill was written so that any county that did not have a high school or a hospital would
• The 14-day written notice is highly inconsistent.

Summary: The hearing covered several child welfare, human services, tribal housing, child care, and long-term care bills. SB 1099 would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA; SB 1190 would regulate private youth transport services by requiring permits, background checks, training, and bans on blindfolds, hoods, restraints, and overnight pickups; SB 1322 would streamline tribal access to Community Care Expansion housing grants and better align the process with tribal sovereignty; SB 1109 would require an annual license renewal review for STRTPs with five or more Type A citations in a year; SB 1234 would require fentanyl testing in juvenile dependency cases when a court finds a risk of fentanyl use; SB 991 would require DSS to identify the specific type of abuse on its public licensing database; SB 1200 would redefine “infant” for family child care ratio purposes as under 18 months; and SB 1345 would strengthen foster youth rights regarding access to and dignified transport of personal belongings. The committee also approved a consent calendar including SB 534, SB 1410, and SB 1421. Testimony was largely in support of the measures, often from authors, advocates, county officials, and people with lived experience. Supporters of SB 1190 described traumatic youth transport practices and argued for basic safety standards. SB 1322 supporters said tribal grantees face unnecessary delays and collateral demands that conflict with sovereignty. SB 1109 drew support from county probation officers who cited repeated serious violations and public safety concerns at STRTPs, while the chair ultimately opposed the bill as duplicative of existing CDSS authority. SB 1234 drew emotional support from a grandparent who lost a child to fentanyl, but also opposition from the Drug Policy Alliance and a dependency attorney, who argued the bill was redundant, vague, and could create biased or unnecessary testing; amendments were accepted to narrow the standard. SB 991 supporters said the public needs more specific information about abuse findings, SB 1200 supporters said the change would expand infant care capacity and help working families, and SB 1345 supporters said foster youth deserve dignity rather than having belongings packed in trash bags. Votes were taken after quorum was established. SB 991, SB 1200, SB 1345, SB 1190, SB 1234, SB 1322, and SB 1099 were all reported out of committee, most on unanimous or near-unanimous votes; SB 1234 passed 6-0 as amended to Appropriations, and SB 1099 later had a vote change recorded, ending 5-1. SB 1109 did not advance after the motion failed for lack of a second, and it was held in committee. The committee then adjourned and transitioned into an oversight hearing reviewing the outcomes of AB 2247 (placement stability and notice protections for foster youth) and AB 2496, with presenters discussing how the earlier foster youth placement law has changed practice and the importance of dignity, notice, and youth voice in placement decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:10.960><c> between</c><00:21:11.840><c> the</c> fund the labor agreement between the fund
• I'd also like to remind the committee of the priority admissions review panel agreement, which states
• </c> advocates in written and oral testimony. advocates in written and oral testimony.
• You also have written testimony in your package for your review. Mr.
• Uh you also have uh written closed.

Bills: HF2434

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• , this is a new year; we don't want people reading the testimony that they've provided to us in a written
• format if you're going to talk a written format if you're going to talk about<00:07:16.639><c> it</c
• If you've given me written testimony, trust me either to vote with you or to read it.
• </c> testimony if you've given me written testimony if you've given me written testimony<01:15:19.920
• New Hampshire-based data privacy agreement to protect all of your student data.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And this was written, I want to say, in 1792.
• And so I think we can let the federal government deal with that and make their agreements.
• </c><01:48:33.600><c> We</c><01:48:33.760><c> don't</c> that and make their agreements.
• We don't that and make their agreements.
• </c> the bill as it's currently written the bill as it's currently written because<02:20:46.160><c> it

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh buy into a bed purchasing agreement uh buy into a bed purchasing agreement on<00:12:59.360><c
• </c> well-being we have submitted written well-being we have submitted written testimony<00:45:51.119
• </c><00:45:54.520><c> testimony</c><00:45:55.119><c> from</c> users as well as written testimony from
• users as well as written testimony from several<00:45:55.680><c> of</c><00:45:55.839><c> our</c><00:
• I hope this is an area of bipartisan agreement where we can commit to a targeted investment.

Bills: HF1380 , HF1166 , HF487 , HF1553 , HF1472 , HF258 , HF1911

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> it would depend on the lease agreement it would depend on the lease agreement on<01:32:06.960><c
• </c><01:32:28.679><c> into</c> private matter of what's written into private matter of what's written
• ><c> who's</c><01:32:30.280><c> responsible</c> the lease agreement on who's responsible the lease agreement
• there is a you know what's the agreement there is a funding<02:09:29.559><c> agreement</c><02:09:29.920
• ><c> that</c><02:09:30.159><c> effectively</c> funding agreement that effectively funding agreement that

Bills: HF2432

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And the commission is directed to issue written findings for each of those categories based on a series
• As written, SB 887 creates a framework. ...careful attention.
• Specifically, SB 1417 will provide a written outline of the proposed rate increase and the reasoning
• for the proposal, convene a public meeting to discuss the proposed service increase, send the written
• Specifically, SB 1417 will provide a written outline of the proposed rate increase and the reasoning

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• An IEP is a very detailed written document. informed both by federal law and state law.
• They were all in agreement on that. Has that been your? experience?
• I have not written... in a D.C.
• I've written a lot of reports. I don't know that I've ever written one that just looked in time.
• I know it's inconvenient, but that's that's what's written in there.

Bills: HB3 , HB3

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Please know that your written testimony will be considered by the committee.
• We stand on our written testimony, offering comments on this measure, and will be available for questioning
• We stand on our testimony, providing written comments, and are available for questions. Thank you.
• We've submitted our written comments and are available for questions. Thank you.
• You have our written testimony.

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on HB 982 HD1, a wildfire-related measure aimed at creating a wildfire recovery fund and a financing structure to address future catastrophic wildfire liability. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Division of Consumer Advocacy, and the Public Utilities Commission submitted comments and were available for questions. Supporters included IBW Local 1260, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Clearway Energy Group, Hawaiian Electric, Par Hawaii, and others, while Charter Communications and the Hawaii Association for Justice opposed or raised concerns. Life of the Land supported the bill but urged changes to the definition of a catastrophic wildfire and noted concerns about prudency review language. IBW Local 1260 asked to restore language from the original draft, and Charter warned the bill could impair existing contract and indemnity rights unless amended. A major focus of the hearing was Hawaiian Electric’s position on the HD1 version. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the original bill but objected to the HD1 requirement for an additional $500 million shareholder contribution, arguing it was not feasible and could delay or prevent the fund from operating. The company said the bill would help protect customers and improve credit ratings by creating a dedicated revenue stream and a bankruptcy-remote financing structure, which it said would lower borrowing costs over time. Members questioned how the $1 billion securitization amount was chosen, whether credit rating agencies had indicated it was sufficient, and how the bill would work in bankruptcy; Hawaiian Electric said the amount was a balance among interests, not based on a specific agency directive, and that it would follow up on bankruptcy questions. Opponents and skeptics raised concerns about liability caps, the new claims process, and unclear language on damages above the fund’s limits. The Hawaii Association for Justice argued the bill limits victims’ remedies and gives too much authority to the new entity without clear guardrails. Committee members also pressed Hawaiian Electric on comparisons to California, the feasibility of the shareholder contribution, and whether alternative capital-raising or divestiture options had been considered. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; testimony and questioning continued with follow-up information requested from Hawaiian Electric and others.

Transcript Highlights:

• If the local government enters into a probate agreement, payment stops immediately.
• Kelly's must notify DFA at least 90 days in advance as to whether the agreement goes into effect.
• I mean they could conceivably enter into an agreement and only have a few days or 30 days to give us
• And so in CoreCivic's agreement And grants, they had ICE, they had the U.S.
• That's the way this is written.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• , if a utility has made an installation within the right-of-way, whether it's with the franchise agreement
• or whatever, isn't there within that agreement a reciprocal communication that they would be notified
• So currently, as the bill is written, it is now inviting not only that opportunity for broadband utilities
• that this bill will help to fulfill that mission while at the same time fulfilling our franchise agreement
• other utilities to better fit WSDOT fish passage projects into our budget to meet our franchise agreement

Bills: SB5750 , SB6148

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• , if a utility has made an installation within the right-of-way, whether it's with the franchise agreement
• or whatever, isn't there within that agreement a reciprocal, I guess, communication that they would
• So currently, as the bill is written, it is now inviting not only that opportunity for broadband utilities
• that this bill will help to fulfill that mission, while at the same time fulfilling our franchise agreement
• other utilities to better fit WSDOT fish passage projects into our budget to meet our franchise agreement

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held public hearings on several bills. Substitute Senate Bill 5690 would require WSDOT to give utility owners advance notice of fish barrier removal and other projects, seek federal funding for those projects when available, and report back to the Legislature; supporters said it would help small utilities plan for costly relocations, while WSDOT said the bill would not achieve its intended effect and that federal reimbursement for these costs is limited. The committee also heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5746, which would create or continue an advisory process on EV charger infrastructure property crime; the sponsor and supporters said it would help address vandalism and theft affecting charging access, and testimony was overwhelmingly in favor. Senate Bill 5750 would authorize state facilities to charge fees for privately owned EVs using state charging stations and deposit the revenue into the motor vehicle fund; the sponsor said this would make charging costs fairer and recover expenses, with broad support and some questions about whether the policy could be implemented administratively without legislation. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6148, which would increase the maximum term for regional transit authority bonds from 40 years to 75 years, affecting Sound Transit. Sound Transit and transit advocates argued the longer term would better match debt to long-lived assets, help accelerate construction, and reduce near-term financial pressure without raising taxes, while opponents warned it would increase long-term costs and shift repayment burdens to future generations. Committee members asked about interest costs, asset values, and examples of eligible long-lived projects such as tunnels and bridges. No votes were taken during the hearing, and each bill closed with testimony counts recorded on the record.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I've provided in my written testimony a table which provides that breakdown.
• HB 1689 would remove the question of interlocal agreements in Chapter 36 of the Water Code for the use
• Without a formal agreement process and dedicated funding mechanisms for these initiatives.
• SB 3058 addresses this gap by requiring the district to enter into an annually renewable agreement with
• This agreement must be approved by the majority vote of the district's board to ensure accountability

Bills: HB2018 , HB1633 , HB1689 , SB612 , SB3058

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Summary: The Senate Water, Agriculture, Rural Affairs Committee heard several bills focused on groundwater management, water infrastructure, and agricultural land conservation. SB 612 would limit certain water districts in Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties from charging developers pipeline construction fees above actual, documented costs; the committee substitute removed a developer challenge mechanism to preserve district discretion over construction standards. HB 1633 would require groundwater conservation districts to consider registered exempt wells when reviewing or amending permits, and testimony from landowners, district representatives, and advocacy groups largely supported the bill as a way to protect domestic and livestock wells from drawdown caused by large export projects. HB 1689 would clarify that export fee revenues may be used for well operability, alternative water supplies, and aquifer monitoring, including through interlocal cooperation, and HB 3058 would give the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District authority to use export fees for county road improvements and environmental programs tied to well inspection and groundwater management. HB 2018 would clarify that the Texas Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program is intended to purchase conservation easements only on working agricultural lands, with support from cattle raisers and Farm Bureau representatives. The committee also considered HB 29, which would require large water systems to validate water loss audits and submit mitigation plans; a committee substitute removed the water-loss threshold and adjusted the timeline for more detailed validation. Public testimony on the bills was generally supportive, with several witnesses describing declining well levels, road damage from export projects, and the need to preserve agricultural land and local water supplies. The committee adopted committee substitutes and voted favorably on HB 29, HB 1689, HB 2018, SB 612, and SB 3058, recommending several of them for the local and uncontested calendar; HB 1633 was left pending awaiting a committee substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had really good bipartisan agreement in committee to undo some of the most harmful cuts made by
• I want to highlight the areas of agreement that make up the bulk of this committee amendment.
• Could this logic apply to real estate contracts, NDAs, or employment agreements?
• Could this logic apply to real estate contracts, NDAs, or employment agreements?
• The chief component of that agreement was total funding for settlements at $75 million a year.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> state constitution, which was written state constitution, which was written over<01:05:40.079><c
• </c> There's we have received some written There's we have received some written testimony.<01:39:51.679
• <c> already</c> And these agreements are already And these agreements are already subordinate<02:15:44.000
• Any private religious agreements are Any private religious agreements are already<02:23:41.120><c> subject
• </c> mentioned you have written testimony. mentioned you have written testimony.

Committee: House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Summary: The committee first continued its hearing on HB 1287, which concerns the definition of “veteran.” Representative Manion explained that the amendment would adopt the federal-style definition by including a general discharge under honorable conditions, while restoring documentation requirements such as a DD214 and removing a problematic reference to World War II allied veterans. The chair said the committee would close the hearing and take the bill up later in executive session. The committee then moved to HCR 13, a resolution calling for an Article V convention limited to proposing a constitutional amendment imposing term limits on members of Congress. Representative Joe Alexander, the prime sponsor, said the measure is narrowly focused on congressional term limits, that 12 states have already passed similar resolutions, and that broad public support in New Hampshire justifies action. Members asked whether the effort would prompt Congress to act on its own, whether the resolution should also cover Supreme Court justices, and how many states are needed; Alexander said the goal is to pressure Congress, that the Constitution already treats Supreme Court justices differently, and that 34 states are required. Testimony in support came from former Representative Linda Masamela, who gave a history-based argument for Article V conventions as a constitutional check, and from Deborah Childs and Aaron Ducet of U.S. Term Limits. Childs said New Hampshire voters strongly support term limits and argued they would open seats to younger, more diverse candidates. Ducet said the application is single-topic and would allow only one amendment, described Article V applications as historically common, and argued that state pressure can force Congress to act. No vote was taken in the portion provided; the chair continued hearing testimony on HCR 13.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> getting an agreement getting an agreement uh<00:47:58.720><c> from</c><00:47:58.960><c> the</c>
• </c><00:48:43.599><c> Uh</c> uh if there is an agreement. Uh uh if there is an agreement.
• We may have to come to get an agreement.
• <00:59:07.280><c> with</c><00:59:07.440><c> CMS</c> agreement with CMS agreement with CMS and<00:59:09.440
• ><c> or</c><01:15:59.679><c> other</c> wills, written contracts, or other wills, written contracts, or

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Would you accept this as written testimony?
• </c> see over there uh as written testimony. see over there uh as written testimony.
• I've written 15 of them myself.
• I've written 15 of them myself.
• </c><05:24:41.920><c> I</c> agreements um that um that happen. I agreements um that um that happen.

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• I have it with the workers, most of whom are part of project labor agreements.
• those contracts to run their course and apply the bill only prospectively to any contracts that are written
• To run their course and apply the bill only prospectively to any contracts that are written after July
• It maintains the tax exemption for those contracts that are already written, but allows for an expiration
• we made sure that when we wrote in the original exemption bill, that we wrote in project labor agreements

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Representative, I have something that I have written.
• Is this complex in the way that it’s written, Madam Chair?
• And it’s written that way because each tribe has the sovereign right to create what type of form that
• “But one of the four, and it’s written that way because each tribe has the sovereign right to create
• I just caution you on that because this is, I mean, we know how to read the written language here, and

Summary: The committee first heard House Memorial 54, which would create a stakeholder working group to study utility-service problems in manufactured and mobile home parks and recommend solutions. The sponsor described repeated water and utility outages in large parks, said current law places maintenance responsibility on park owners, and argued that the state needs clearer standards and alternatives to costly attorney general lawsuits. Supporters from PNM and the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty backed the memorial as a step toward better oversight and protections for residents. The committee asked about existing landlord obligations and whether rent withholding is available; the sponsor said current law does not clearly provide that remedy. HM 54 was reported out with a due pass. The committee then considered House Bill 166, which would create a statewide permitting framework for battery-charged electric fences used by commercial businesses while preserving local zoning authority. The sponsor and an industry witness said businesses face inconsistent local permitting, delays, and added costs, and that the bill would provide uniform standards and security options. Several members raised concerns that the bill appeared to favor a specific product type, could override local code differences, and might not address mixed-use areas, historic districts, or homeowners associations. After debate, the bill passed on a 4-3 vote, with one member explaining support but urging further work with local government experts before floor consideration. House Bill 20, a bipartisan measure, would allow Native American applicants to request a voluntary Native American designation on state driver’s licenses and ID cards, without naming a specific tribe, and with documentation requirements tied to tribal cards, certificates of Indian blood, or affidavits of birth. Supporters said it would recognize tribal political status, help with law enforcement and Turquoise Alert verification, and assist with education, health, and child welfare matters; tribal representatives and State Police testified in favor. Several members expressed concern about racial profiling, privacy, and possible unintended consequences of marking IDs, while others noted the designation is optional and tied to political status rather than race. Members also flagged drafting language that appeared to require multiple documents, and the sponsor agreed to clarify it. The bill ultimately passed, with some members explaining their votes and asking for continued discussion with tribes. The committee also approved Senate Joint Resolution 1, which would amend the state constitution to allow school bond and mill levy questions to appear on the general election ballot rather than being limited to separate school elections. Sponsors said the change would reduce special-election costs, increase turnout, and remove outdated language dating to 1910; school board and education groups supported it. Members asked about ballot crowding and local election timing, and sponsors emphasized that the measure gives school districts a choice rather than a mandate. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 295, which would create an Office of Accessibility to centralize reporting, provide technical assistance, and produce annual reports on accessibility of state buildings and websites. Disability advocates largely supported the bill as a way to improve compliance and consistency, while one webcast commenter opposed it, arguing that without enforcement authority it would not produce meaningful change. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 295, before final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We met the settlement agreement requirements for workload.
• When the settlement agreement was negotiated, everyone kind of thought we were going to bottom out.
• So here, in 2021, there was a settlement agreement in that litigation.
• Bottom line, agreement terms not made.
• So the agreement has now been extended to 2028.

Committee: House Government