Transcript Highlights:

• </c><03:30:53.120><c> to</c> to create a comprehensive plan to to create a comprehensive plan to upgrade
• I've known EMTT since he managed my opponent's campaign for Congress. I had to get that in.
• I've known EMTT since he managed my opponent's campaign for Congress. I had to get that in.
• ><c> erase</c><07:42:55.520><c> black</c> Republican campaign to erase black Republican campaign to erase
• . a plan to affordable housing crisis. a plan to unravel<07:48:08.080><c> Social</c><07:48:08.478><c>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, May 19, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, not all of our experiments are going to go as planned.
• You and Ashley did that because you had extra campaign money and wanted vests, and now everybody's got
• You and Ashley did that because you had extra campaign money and wanted best, and now everybody's got
• know this can be a very rewarding job, but especially this time of year after filing and going into campaign

Bills: SB1287 , SB1983 , SB1796 , SB1806 , SB1558 , SB2135 , SB483 , SB1198 , SB1265 , SB2154 , SB2139 , SB1552 , SB2118 , SB1775 , SB259 , SB1344 , SB1380 , SB2007 , SB1572 , SB2074 , SB1423 , SB1425 , SB1502 , SB1503 , SB1833 , SB1561 , SB1555 , SB2044 , SB1749 , SB904 , SB1565 , SB1500 , SB667 , SB1484 , SB1562 , SB1644 , HR1045 , SB227 , SB1627 , SB1475 , SB1966 , SB2049 , SB1531 , SB80 , SB1734 , SB1630 , SB1894 , SB1975 , SB1432 , SB1437 , SB1812 , SB346 , SB710 , SB1489 , SB1614 , SB2045 , SB1250 , SB1304 , SB1501 , SB1946 , SB592 , SB65 , SB1257 , SB444 , SB640 , SB2178 , SB1242 , SB1642

Keywords: abstraction, licensing, Oklahoma Abstractors Board, criminal background, good moral character, SB1983, foster care, resource family partner, resource family partners, Department of Human Services, DHS, child welfare, foster homes, foster children, placement data, data sharing, de-identified data, aggregated data, sibling groups, placement disruptions

Summary: The House convened with a roll call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then heard several introductions and special recognitions, including students and civic groups in the galleries, the Morris Eagles High School Academic Team, Calumet state champion teams, and Cherokee Nation Day at the Capitol. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. delivered extended remarks focused on tribal investments in public education, health care, housing, child care, rural infrastructure, and workforce development, and he urged lawmakers to preserve Medicaid expansion, saying it has brought major health-system revenue, jobs, and broader economic benefits to Oklahoma. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Abby Woods, and Nurse of the Day, Kara Delapena. Members made personal remarks about the Pauls Valley High School incident and a trooper accident, with prayers offered for those affected. Representative Rowe highlighted the courage of school officials and first responders in Pauls Valley and tied the event to the Legislature’s recurring school safety funding. On legislation, the House adopted House Resolution 1045 designating the second week of April as Lung Cancer Action Week. Senate Bill 227, dealing with gross production tax and ad valorem taxation of oil and gas production equipment and flow lines, drew extensive debate over alleged double taxation and fiscal impacts; it passed 76-14. Senate Bill 1627, a criminal statutes cleanup measure addressing duplicate sections from modernization, passed 89-0 and its emergency clause also passed 89-0. The House also approved motions to request further conference on House Bills 2155 and 2157, and then adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> bill this was a bipartisan campaign bill this was a bipartisan campaign promise<01:10:36.120><c>
• Is that part of the plan, or are you just wanting that one study reported back?
• But with this, we have heard today, um, that there is, uh, a plan for how this will move forward.
• But with this, we have heard today, um, that there is, uh, a plan for how this will move forward.
• But with this, we have heard today, um, that there is, uh, a plan for how this will move forward.

Bills: HF5

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: tax modification, transportation funding, electric vehicle tax, Social Security subtraction, retail delivery fee, motor vehicle registration, state budget, transportation policy, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Just as importantly, it provides fire departments the advanced knowledge necessary to pre-plan emergency
• People seem to campaign against these bills thinking that it is the actual increase.
• People seem to campaign against these bills thinking that it is the actual increase.
• Local alternative plans were supposed to give cities the ability to take... Nobody? Okay.
• Local alternative plans were supposed to give cities the ability to tailor this upzoning in a way that

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have also built state-of-the-art wastewater treatment. for our master plan development area and our
• I think we'll circle back to our original plan. We have a couple more stories.
• Planning has not considered our workers with disabilities, and there has been a sort of dismissal of
• My job is to research and write emergency plans for any threat or hazard that might impact the health
• With the emergency operation plan comes nearly 30 annexes, all of which I have some responsibility.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Services that include individual case management, development of individual employment plans, upskilling
• To that end, we are set to complete regional planning area designation by the end of this fiscal year
• What marketing and awareness campaigns does CareerSource do? Thank you so much for that question.
• And that plan is filed in the case management system.
• And that plan is, it's filed in the case management system.

Summary: The subcommittee met to receive an informational presentation from CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrian Johnson, joined by Anthony Gagliano of CareerSource Suncoast, on the structure, funding, and services of Florida’s workforce development system. Johnson explained that CareerSource serves job seekers and businesses through 21 local workforce development boards and nearly 100 career centers, using federal and state funding streams such as WIOA, Wagner-Peyser, SNAP Employment and Training, and TANF. She described services including case management, training, wraparound supports, job matching, rapid response for layoffs and disasters, and business services such as recruitment, customized training, and on-the-job training. She also highlighted the REACH Act’s role in consolidating local boards from 24 to 21, creating the Master Credential List and Credential Review Committee, and implementing performance-based letter grades for local boards. Members asked detailed questions about funding formulas, letter grade metrics, apprenticeships, youth services, small business access, and the demand occupation list. Johnson said federal allocations are driven largely by unemployment and poverty formulas, which has reduced Florida’s WIOA funding by about $27 million over four years because of the state’s low unemployment rate. She explained the letter grades measure outcomes such as increased earnings, reduced public assistance, employment and training outcomes, work-based learning, business engagement, and service to individuals in certain programs, and said the system is being reviewed for possible changes, including removing extra credit and adjusting weights. On youth services, she said Florida has a waiver allowing a 50/50 split between in-school and out-of-school youth funding, and that local partnerships drive outreach. On the demand occupation list, she said it is based on state labor market data and projections, but local boards can submit evidence of local demand when data does not reflect conditions in their area. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on apprenticeships and workforce training grants. Johnson and Gagliano described apprenticeship navigators funded by the $7.75 million apprenticeship expansion allocation, which help employers navigate registration and expand apprenticeships into nontraditional fields such as IT, health care, education, and hospitality. Gagliano gave examples from CareerSource Suncoast and said navigators helped employers move faster through registration and develop programs with local education providers. Johnson also discussed Incumbent Worker Training Grants and Quick Response Training Grants, noting recent awards of nearly $3 million to 69 businesses and $6.5 million to 24 businesses, respectively, and said these programs are targeted toward high-skill, high-wage occupations and priority industries. The meeting ended with no votes or formal action; the chair thanked the presenters, invited follow-up questions, and adjourned the meeting without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, what kind of conversations do you plan on having with some of your Republican colleagues?
• I plan to have—thank you for the question.
• :19:32.640><c> conversations</c><00:19:33.240><c> do</c><00:19:33.360><c> you</c><00:19:33.679><c> plan
• </c> what kind of conversations do you plan what kind of conversations do you plan on<00:19:34.120><c
• some of your Republican colleagues<00:19:37.159><c> I</c><00:19:37.360><c> I</c><00:19:37.520><c> plan

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we have a 90-day plan.
• We have a 90-day plan and a six-month plan in terms of shoring up vacancies to make sure we are staffed
• Plan. And there are amendments. Thank you.
• So the plan, the medical waiver plan is due to the governor and back to the legislature by September
• 2025 as far as what that plan, that impasse.

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The Health Policy Committee met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of health care, Medicaid, and patient-access measures, along with confirmation votes. The committee first reconsidered and amended SB 1606 on patient access to records, clarifying portal obligations, deleting a section affecting nursing home facility records, and setting a January 1, 2026 effective date; the bill then passed favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of appointees and separately confirmed Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after Harris testified about priorities including financial accountability, managed care oversight, transparency, and quality improvement. Senators asked about audit findings and Medicaid managed care performance, and several witnesses and committee members voiced support for her appointment. The committee then advanced a series of bills, most of them with amendments, including claims bills SB 28 and SB 22 for South Broward Hospital District settlements, SB 772 on undesignated glucagon in schools, SB 998 on death certification by physician assistants and APRNs, SB 1412 on home health administration flexibility, SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF, SB 306 on managed care network access during holidays and after hours, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies by physicians, SB 1602 on pediatric readiness in emergency departments, SB 1156 on the home health aide program for medically fragile children, SB 1490 on Children’s Medical Services and managed care administration, and SB 1182 on Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors. Most of these bills received support from industry, advocacy, or provider groups and were reported favorably as committee substitutes. The most debated measure was SB 1270, a broad strike-all amendment combining provisions on mRNA vaccine documentation, vaccination-status protections in the Patient Bill of Rights, medical marijuana reporting and background-screening definitions, compact language, and volunteer immunity. The committee heard extensive testimony both for and against the vaccine-related provisions, including concerns about discrimination, patient safety, provider discretion, and medical liability. After additional technical amendments and a time-certain motion, the bill passed favorably as a committee substitute, with Senators Davis and Osgood voting no and Senator Harrell expressing a weak yes. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded their votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of us campaigned on this, and let's make this possible for them.
• a lot of us campaigned on this and<00:25:50.919><c> let's</c><00:25:51.159><c> make</c><00:25:51.360
• It does beg the question: you'll campaign and blame, but you vote to Preston.
• and blame but you V to you'll campaign and blame but you V to Preston<00:36:19.240><c> I'm</c><00:36
• Excuse me, there's a plan out there. What's the number?

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Uh all the campaigns I've run from county commissioner till now, five campaigns, been successful in
• I guess &gt;&gt; uh<00:05:16.479><c> all</c><00:05:16.639><c> the</c><00:05:16.800><c> campaigns</c><
• 00:05:17.280><c> I've</c><00:05:17.600><c> run</c><00:05:17.840><c> from</c> &gt;&gt; uh all the campaigns
• I've run from &gt;&gt; uh all the campaigns I've run from county<00:05:18.479><c> commissioner</c><00
• been successful in all five of campaigns been successful in all five of them<00:05:22.560><c> uh</c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here representing the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in support of AB 248.
• I'm here representing the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in support of AB 248.
• One, Planned Parenthood, and two, Equality California.
• I was planning to do that.
• Back in the evening, so please plan accordingly on July 15th.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills, with testimony split between supporters who framed the measures as targeted fixes and opponents who warned about overcriminalization and unintended consequences. SB 701, by Senator Wahab, drew support from law enforcement and local government groups, who said state law lacks a tool to address the conduct at issue; the ACLU opposed it as duplicative of existing law, while public defenders said they may withdraw opposition after amendments. Because there was no quorum at that point, the bill was held open without a vote. SB 834, by Senator DeRazzo, was presented as a technical cleanup bill to improve California’s automatic record clearance system by preventing outdated “pending” charges from blocking relief, requiring local court records to match DOJ records, and creating a way for people to obtain proof of relief. It received broad support from criminal justice reform and defense organizations, with no opposition, and the chair indicated support, but no final action was taken during the hearing. SB 248, by Senator Rubio, would require DOJ to send new gun purchasers educational materials during the waiting period about safe storage, suicide prevention, domestic violence, and related resources; supporters called it common-sense education, while one opponent argued the information is already available. The committee voted the bill out on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, but it remained on call pending one additional vote. Senator Rubio’s SB 19, the Safe Schools and Places of Worship Act, would create a new offense for credible threats against schools or houses of worship even when no specific individual is named. Supporters, including law enforcement and Jewish community advocates, said current law leaves a loophole and that the bill would help prevent panic and resource-draining lockdowns; opponents from civil liberties and youth justice groups argued existing law already covers threats and that the bill would worsen the school-to-prison pipeline. After a motion and second, the committee voted due pass to Appropriations, with the measure also left on call. Later, SB 759 by Senator Archuleta, prompted by the killing of Whittier Officer Keith Boyer, would require a court hearing after a third supervision violation or new offense for people on post-release community supervision; supporters said it adds accountability, while opponents said it removes probation discretion and could increase jail and court burdens. The bill passed due pass to Appropriations and was reported as passing. The committee also heard SB 6 by Senator Ashby, which would schedule xylazine as a controlled substance while preserving veterinary use. Supporters, including veterinarians, law enforcement, and a parent who lost a son to a drug-related death, said the drug is increasingly present in fentanyl mixtures and needs to be controlled; opponents from drug policy and civil liberties groups argued scheduling would criminalize users, hinder research, and repeat failed drug-war policies. After extensive debate, the committee voted the bill out due pass to Appropriations, and it passed. Finally, SB 11, the AI Abuse Protection Act, was introduced to regulate AI-generated voice, image, and video replicas, with supporters emphasizing protection against deepfakes and nonconsensual images; the California Chamber of Commerce opposed unless amended, seeking narrower definitions and limits on consumer warnings. The hearing ended while SB 11 was still under discussion, with no final vote reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank the Lord that his plan was intercepted and thwarted by the FBI and United States Attorney Russ
• I had the opportunity to campaign<02:05:47.920><c> for</c><02:05:48.159><c> him</c><02:05:48.639><c>
• </c><02:13:52.960><c> donations</c> billion dollars in campaign donations billion dollars in campaign
• </c> forecast before school and planning forecast before school and planning weekends<03:05:20.160><c
• poor planning and program management. management. management.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, January 9, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First up is Kristen Isumi, Executive Director of the Campaign Spending Commission. 369 it's relating
• to campaign 369 it's relating to campaign contributions<00:12:11.040><c> and</c><00:12:11.200><c> amend
• fund if not the Hawaii election campaign fund if not return<00:12:23.760><c> the</c><00:12:23.959><c
• commission good campaign spinning commission good morning<00:12:35.199><c> morning</c><00:12:35.720>
• </c> Kristen Isumi, Executive Director of the Campaign Spending Commission, said the commission provided

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills covering criminal justice, elections, and wildfire-related settlement funding. HB 103 would raise the age cutoff for life-without-parole eligibility from 18 to 21; supporters included the Public Defender and others, while prosecutors and some others opposed it. HB 11 would allow civil claims against people or businesses profiting from sexual exploitation or sex trafficking; it drew mostly support but was not ready for a vote and was deferred for further questions. HB 132 would expand a state-initiated expungement pilot to include possession of any Schedule V substance; the Public Defender, ACLU, and oversight groups supported it, with one opponent, and committee questions focused on what substances and how many cases would be affected. HB 145 would require the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center to transmit expungement orders to the Judiciary to implement Act 159; the Judiciary and Public Defender supported it, and members discussed technical issues involving multiple defendants and multiple charges. HB 369, a campaign finance housekeeping bill on excess cash contributions, and HB 408, which aligns voter registration-by-mail deadlines with current law, both received support and no opposition of note. The committee also heard HB 1175, which creates appropriations and a trust fund for Maui wildfire settlement claims; the Attorney General’s office, Maui County Council, and Tax Foundation supported it, while one senator said he would vote no because of concerns about House leadership. HB 386, which conforms drug possession thresholds for methamphetamine, heroin, morphine, and cocaine, was supported by law enforcement and prosecutors. HB 134 would require electronic filing of nomination papers; the Elections Office supported it but asked that any convenience fee be authorized in statute, while one witness opposed it over security and cost concerns. After testimony and questions, the committee took up decision-making and passed HB 103 with amendments, deferred HB 11, and passed HB 132, HB 145, HB 369, HB 408, HB 1175, HB 386, and HB 134, with HB 134 amended to clarify no additional charge for electronic filing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we have a 90-day plan.
• And so we have a 90-day plan and a six-month plan in terms of shoring up vacancies to make sure we are
• So the plan, the medical waiver plan, is due to the Governor and back to the Legislature by September
• 2025 as far as what that plan, that implementation looks like.
• Every managed care plan now will be under AHCA. Additional questions?

Summary: The Health Policy Committee met for its final meeting of the session and handled a very full agenda, beginning with a few housekeeping items and a brief thank-you to staff. Senate Bill 596 was temporarily postponed. The committee then reconsidered and amended SB 1606 on patient access to records, clarifying portal access obligations and deleting a section that would have improperly affected nursing home facility records; the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of appointees and separately confirmed Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after testimony focused on transparency, financial oversight, Medicaid managed care accountability, and internal controls at AHCA. Harris said she would prioritize staffing, monitoring, and improved reporting, and several health care groups waived in support. The committee next heard and passed several bills, including claims bills SB 28 and SB 22 for South Broward Hospital District settlements, both reported favorably. It also approved SB 772 on undesignated glucagon in schools, SB 998 on allowing physician assistants and APRNs to complete death certificates under hospice/palliative protocols, SB 1412 on home health agency administration and staffing flexibility, SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF, SB 306 on Medicaid managed care network access during holidays and after hours, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies and informed consent, SB 1602 on pediatric readiness standards in emergency departments, SB 1156 on the home health aide program for medically fragile children, SB 1490 on Children’s Medical Services and Medicaid managed care administration, and SB 1182 on Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors. Most of these bills were amended, generally to narrow scope, align with the House, or make technical changes, and most received support from provider associations, advocacy groups, or affected institutions. The most debated measure was SB 1270, which combined several health freedom and medical marijuana provisions. The strike-all amendment retained language prohibiting discrimination based solely on vaccination status, added protections related to mRNA vaccine documentation requirements, and included medical marijuana regulatory and background-screening language. The committee heard extensive testimony both in support and opposition, including concerns from senators about whether the bill would force providers to treat patients contrary to medical judgment, and support from witnesses arguing it protected patient autonomy and access to care. After a time-certain motion, the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded their votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a matter of fact, right now we have a campaign—Toma Regalado has a campaign—to make sure that everybody
• It's relief now, a plan later. And really, it's just a future undesignated backfill.
• To get support for this reckless and irresponsible plan.
• Is this the perfect plan?
• It's in the long-range plan.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, the proposed constitutional amendment on property tax relief, which would reduce assessment growth on non-homestead property, expand homestead exemptions, create a new exemption for new homesteaders, and direct counties, cities, and school districts to use property tax revenues for specified core services. Senator Avila presented the measure as the governor’s plan to provide historic relief and argued that local governments should tighten budgets and prioritize core functions. Senators raised concerns about the lack of fiscal scoring, the breadth and ambiguity of the permitted uses, the effect on special districts and local services, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. The committee adopted several amendments, including Avila’s amendment clarifying that ad valorem revenues could be used for county and municipal operations and administration and other expenditures not prohibited by law, and Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal. Other amendments failed, including proposals to allow user fees and non-ad valorem assessments, add a sunset, redirect tourism development taxes, narrow the small-business provision, and change the ballot title to reference local service reductions. Grall’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund requirement was adopted, while the committee also rejected Berman’s title-change amendment and Smith’s sunset and tourism-tax amendments. The committee then returned to the bill as amended for questions, including extended debate over whether the proposal would affect noncitizen residents, the impact on local government finances, and whether local governments would respond with higher fees or special assessments. The meeting ended with the bill still under discussion after the final round of questions, with Avila saying he would continue working with the governor’s office on the language before the next vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's the plan on that? The Plan is by working directly with the employers.
• I'm pretty positive the health plans aren't suffering at all under the health plans.
• I mean, OGB group health plans...
• Say health plans, I mean OGB group health plans are the ones who are suffering.
• The contracts with the health plans?

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met on May 18, 2026, with eight members present and began by noting the state’s projected REC budget deficit and the need to consider fiscal impacts carefully. The committee first advanced HB 12, which extends the $250,000 surviving spouse benefit to reserve officers killed in the line of duty. Members noted the bill is prospective and that it draws from the same capped fund as other related bills, but it was reported favorable without opposition. The committee also adopted an amendment and reported HB 874 favorable as amended; the bill allows colleges, technical schools, the Louisiana Bar Association, and additional credentials to be added to LA Wallet, with the amendment changing mandatory language to permissive language. HB 951 was then reported favorable, creating an employer-facing workforce unit within Louisiana Works, to be funded through repurposed state and federal funds and existing staff, with a floor amendment expected to rename the unit. The committee also reported HB 979 favorable with amendments after reducing the proposed increase in survivor benefits because members learned several bills were drawing from the same $5 million fund, and HB 1193 favorable as amended, after striking a section that would have extended IDIQ authority to supply contracts for CPR. The committee then heard HB 909, which would require commercial payers to cover behavioral health crisis services. Representative Spell and LDH officials said the measure is intended to support crisis response centers and steer patients away from emergency rooms when appropriate, and they testified that it should be cost-neutral or absorbed within existing funding. Despite concerns raised by Senator Andrews about premiums, the bill was reported favorable after discussion of its potential savings and a possible pilot in Acadiana. HB 222, requiring Medicaid to cover dental procedures when needed to complete another medically covered procedure, was also reported favorable; LDH said it would absorb the cost within its existing budget and draw down federal matching funds. HB 291, which prevents health plans from penalizing hospitals when an out-of-network physician is involved in an otherwise covered hospital service, generated extensive debate over a disputed fiscal note and the No Surprises Act. OGB officials said any network “leakage” could cost the plan money, while supporters argued the policy is preventative and that the fiscal estimates were speculative. The committee adopted amendment 3941 to exempt OGB from the bill, then reported HB 291 favorable as amended. Later, the committee took up HB 145, which expands the authority of the law enforcement and firefighter survivor benefit board to cover extraordinary medical and dental expenses. Because members learned it also draws from the same fund as HB 12 and HB 979, an amendment reduced the amount from $50,000 to $25,000, and the bill was reported favorable as amended. HB 430, a local bill for Lafayette to continue paying health insurance costs for surviving families of fallen officers until Medicare eligibility, was reported favorable. Finally, HB 821, which establishes the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools within the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement Administration and transfers related duties from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, was introduced and discussed as a move with a one-time general fund expenditure already included in HB 1. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• State Health Planning and Development Agency in support.
• State Health Planning and Development Agency in support.
• Hawaii Association of Health Plans in support.
• </c><00:33:37.760><c> in</c> Hawaii Association of Health Plans in Hawaii Association of Health Plans
• State Health Planning and Thank you.

Bills: HB2614 , HB1660 , HB1704 , HB1563 , HB1573 , HB1777 , HB1749

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: cosmetics, returns, refunds, consumer protection, high-pressure sales, transparency, accountability, HB1660, Hawaii, county labor standards, counties, contractors, building permits, permit denial, permit suspension, permit revocation, wage theft, wages, benefits, hours

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2614, which would require merchants selling cosmetics to accept returns of newer unopened goods within specified time frames and expand signage requirements for return and refund policies. DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection strongly supported the bill, citing updated figures of 180 cosmetic complaints from 2020 to 2025, 54 still under investigation, 148 referred to class action litigation, and more than $1.3 million in consumer losses. Members questioned whether the bill was needed given the pending lawsuit and whether bad actors would comply, while the office responded that clearer signage would improve consumer awareness and could reduce complaints without limiting other remedies. No vote was taken. The committee then heard HB 1660 HD1, which would allow counties to require contractors to disclose wage, benefit, hour, and employment-status information and to deny, revoke, or suspend permits for certain labor-law violations. DLIR, the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, Operating Engineers Local 3, and Pacific Resource Partnership testified in support, arguing the measure would help deter cheating contractors, protect law-abiding employers, and keep bad actors from undercutting wages and taxes. One member raised concerns about possible delays to affordable housing projects and whether owners should be held responsible for contractors’ misconduct; supporters replied that compliance is a minimum standard, that county action would be discretionary rather than automatic, and that the bill would not bar counties from working with affordable housing developers. No action was reported. Finally, the committee took up HB 1704, adopting the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to allow telepsychology and temporary in-person practice across state lines. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the State Health Planning and Development Agency, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans supported the measure, saying it would help fill major staffing gaps, especially for forensic evaluations and services in rural and neighbor-island communities. The Board of Psychology raised concerns about the compact’s scope, the need for a study focused specifically on psychologists, background-check requirements, possible loss of regulatory authority and revenue, and the need to update older statutory provisions. Hawaii Association for Justice opposed the immunity language in the compact, and Shawn Scanlon opposed the bill, arguing it could weaken cultural responsiveness and local control and suggesting the state instead improve temporary licensing and other in-state pathways. The committee also questioned the Department of Corrections about its vacancies and whether telehealth could be filled by local providers; no vote was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know overall response was incredible, whether it be through social media campaign or, you know, other
• So on the next slide we have the detailed planned spending for 2026 and 2027.
• That scholarship level is held consistent with scholarship awards at the other two campuses. planned
• spending for 2026 and detailed plan spending for 2026 and 2027<01:33:44.560><c> the</c><01:33:44.719
• <01:33:59.840><c> spend</c><01:34:00.280><c> in</c> planned spend in planned spend in 2026<01:34:01.960

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Substitute House Bill 2397 relates to the state fire service resource mobilization plan, or plan.
• Substitute House Bill 2397 relates to the state fire service resource mobilization plan or plan.
• That strategic plan was developed last year and is called the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan, which
• We need a statewide plan.
• We need a statewide plan.

Bills: HB2675 , HB2681 , HB2714 , HB2688 , HB2481 , HB2116 , HB1408

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: accounts, finance, business regulation, transparency, audits, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, HB 2714, caseload forecasting, food assistance, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, state food assistance, budget forecasting, caseload forecast council, caseload forecast supervisor, Washington State

Transcript Highlights:

• Then it also says that if we loan ourselves any money into our campaign account over $1,000.
• $50,000 in there, and you loaned yourself that money, but then you pull it out, it is still your campaign
• funds that you would put into a CD or whatnot, and it would be in the name of your campaign, not you
• So that's whether it's a political committee or whether it's us personally in our own campaigns.
• So that's whether it's a political committee or whether it's us personally in our own campaigns.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met at 8:11 a.m. and first approved minutes from prior meetings, including March 9, March 12, March 13, and later March 16. The committee then considered several RS measures, most of them replacements for bills that had already received hearings or floor action, and in each case took action to introduce them and generally advance them to the Second Reading Calendar. Representative Cannon presented RS 33763, a community infrastructure district bill that would extend to counties a tool currently available to cities to help ensure growth pays for growth; it was introduced and sent to Second Reading. Representative Raymond presented RS 33766, a rules-approval measure for the Agriculture Committee, and it was also introduced and advanced. Representative Sauter presented RS 33736, a public safety bill restoring driver’s license suspension for unpaid traffic infractions; the committee introduced it. Representative Hostetler presented RS 33759, the Merit-based Health Care Act, which would restrict Medicaid-related bias or DEI training requirements for providers; the measure drew the most debate, with Representative Rubel arguing it needed a real hearing and objecting to the substantive policy change, but after motions and recorded nays from Rubel, Burtz, and Church, the committee voted to introduce it and send it to Second Reading. The committee also advanced RS 33754, a cleanup measure related to insurance contract language, and RS 33756, which would require separate campaign accounts, report candidate loans over $1,000, and clarify campaign investment rules. Representative Monks presented RS 33734, a trailer bill to the portable benefits legislation that removed language suggesting the Department of Insurance should promulgate rules, and it was introduced and advanced. He also presented RS 33738, an advisory ballot measure to designate a state gun for the America 250 celebration; Representative Church argued it would add ballot cost and conflict with recent efforts to reduce county election expenses, and moved to return it to the sponsor, but that motion failed and the committee ultimately voted to introduce the measure and send it to Second Reading.