Transcript Highlights:

• > actually only person in this room that actually only person in this room that actually supervised
• 52:29.119> past<00:52:29.680> in<00:52:29.839> the<00:52:30.000> 23 supervised
• cases in the past in the 23 supervised cases in the past in the 23 years<00:52:30.559> I've<00

Bills: HB1769

Keywords: criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, private prisons, racial equity, Native Hawaiians, community well-being, mass incarceration, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1769, which would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally reduce the number of people incarcerated in private out-of-state correctional institutions. The DCR director opposed the bill, saying the department does not control overall prison population levels because courts determine admissions, and arguing that Hawaiʻi’s in-state facilities are already over capacity, especially Halawa, which he said is 165% over design capacity. He said only a small portion of the population is under departmental control through furlough programs and argued that bringing people home would require building a new medium-security prison. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Public Defender’s office, and several individuals, argued the bill creates a phased, accountable path to reduce reliance on mainland prisons and bring people home. Supporters emphasized the harms of separating incarcerated people from ʻohana and culture, the disproportionate impact on Native Hawaiians, and the need for diversion, treatment, re-entry support, and fair sentencing. Several testifiers also said the department has more control than it claimed, pointing to underused furlough options, reclassification, and empty beds at some in-state facilities, while others urged clearer statutory language and guardrails. Members questioned the director about whether people could be reclassified or moved to available beds at facilities such as Kulani and Waiawa, and about whether the department could do more through staffing and contract changes. The director said some proposals had been sent to the Department of Human Resource Development, but that major facility changes would be costly and that minimum-security facilities would need substantial upgrades to house medium-security inmates. After discussion, the chair said the committee would defer HB 1769 to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for decision-making and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• psychologists, And so we had school psychologists, speech professionals, the dispensing of medication, and supervision
• change that we made, was consistent with law that the medication administration that the nurse could supervise
• change that we made, was consistent with law that the medication administration that the nurse could supervise

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission to study special education costs under SB 57 met for its second meeting, with members introducing themselves and reviewing background materials on New Hampshire special education identification rates, NAEP results, and a Wall Street Journal article about the rise in autism diagnoses. The chair explained that the commission is examining special education aid formulas, including how New Hampshire’s current catastrophic aid threshold works and how changes to that threshold might affect school districts, but noted that the needed data on how many students would shift into the aid system at lower thresholds is not yet available. The main testimony came from Henry Litman of HHS on Medicaid reimbursement in schools. He explained that school-based Medicaid funding is tied to health-related services, not all special education services, and that federal rules are changing in state fiscal year 2027. Under the new approach, schools will move away from an in-kind methodology to a certified public expenditure model that may also allow recovery of some overhead costs, such as support staff time. He said the state won a federal grant to help build the new system, hired a vendor, and is setting up training and a help center for districts. Members asked about why Medicaid claims have declined and whether districts are leaving money on the table. Litman said claims are down about 25% from pre-pandemic levels, with declines tied to federal and state rule changes, documentation requirements, provider qualification rules, and the end of temporary pandemic flexibilities. He said some districts adapted better than others depending on local medical-provider access and administrative capacity. He also said the new federal legislation does not directly affect schools, while New Hampshire’s return to pre-pandemic eligibility rules has reduced enrollment somewhat. No votes were taken, and the discussion ended with agreement that the commission needs better data to determine how much special education spending is truly Medicaid-eligible and whether additional legislation is needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's also allowances for practitioners, clinical trainees under certain supervision. 245I is an updated
• There's also allowances for practitioners, clinical trainees under certain supervision. 245I is an updated
• So if it's a supervised release or probation, depending on what that recommendation was made, that would

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• 59.199> 5:1 The ratio of 8 to 1, or dental hygiene 5:1, radiologic programs—again, the close supervision
• technology; it is healthcare, and that's for a reason, because that's how you get the clinical supervision
• technology; it is healthcare, and that's for a reason, because that's how you get the clinical supervision

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was the first session of a newly created House Education Funding Committee, which also handles career technical education and higher education legislation. The chair explained that the committee was split off from the larger education committee because of the high volume of bills in the prior biennium, and said its focus would be on education funding policy and related fiscal issues. He noted that the committee had already reviewed major topics with the Department of Education, including the foundation formula, building aid, career technical education, special education aid, catastrophic aid, and higher education funding, and that chancellors from the university and community college systems were scheduled to appear later that morning. The bulk of the meeting was an orientation on committee procedures and decorum. The chair reviewed attendance and replacement rules, hearing procedures, time limits for testimony, and how the committee would handle crowded hearings, early bills, and fiscal notes. He emphasized that hearings are not debates, that sponsors and co-sponsors may present but should not use their position to dominate questioning, and that the chair controls whether additional technical questions are asked of witnesses. He also stressed neutrality, saying members should not display buttons or placards or engage in running debates with testifiers, and that the committee should treat all testimony respectfully regardless of party or viewpoint. Additional housekeeping guidance covered security procedures, use of cell phones and computers during hearings, breaks and hydration in the dry hearing rooms, and courtesy toward the clerk and other staff. The chair also asked members to notify leadership in advance of absences and explained that some bills may require larger rooms or overflow arrangements. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• confinement in the Alabama Department of Corrections, the defendant shall be immediately removed from the supervision
• immediately removed defendant shall be immediately removed from<02:24:29.520> the<02:24:29.680> supervision
• <02:24:30.240> of<02:24:30.399> the<02:24:30.720> community from the supervision
• of the community from the supervision of the community punishment<02:24:31.680> and<02:24:31.920

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum. Senators then adopted the prior day’s journal and excused absent members. A lengthy point of personal privilege followed, in which Senator Smith criticized the prior day’s handling of the special order calendar and argued that minority-party senators were denied the chance to speak, while Senator Coleman said Senate Bill 318 had been removed from the calendar and tied that to Child Abuse Prevention Month; she also noted Senate Bill 43, which would provide civil recourse for child sex assault survivors, had not advanced. The presiding officer also recognized guests in the gallery, including staff from the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The Senate then received multiple committee reports, largely on a unanimous or near-unanimous basis. Finance and Taxation Education reported favorably on House Bills 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 565, 517, and 98, and Senate Bill 380, with some substitutes or amendments; Finance and Taxation General Fund reported Senate Bill 378 favorably; County and Municipal Government reported House Bills 568, 499, and 433; Education Policy reported House Bills 8 and 380; Banking and Insurance reported House Bill 545; Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development reported House Bill 586 with two nays; Healthcare reported House Bills 533 and 605; Tourism and Marketing reported House Bills 513 and 626 and Senate Bill 357; and local legislation committees reported several Mobile County and Madison County bills, including Senate Bill 379 relating to Madison County and various House bills, all advancing to the next legislative day. In motions and resolutions, the Senate agreed to allow committee reports to be received at any time during the day. Several resolutions were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee, including Senate Joint Resolution 100 honoring Presley Skelton, SJR 101 commending Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, SJR 102 establishing the Alabama Forest Products Retention and Pulp and Paper Mill Stability Study Commission, SJR 103 mourning Norman Wendell Arnold, and SJR 104 designating Alabama as the river state. The chamber also suspended the rules to take up Senate Joint Resolution 105, commending Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth for his service; the resolution included a lengthy recitation of his background and accomplishments and was read for immediate consideration with all senators added as sponsors.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's kind of a middle line of medical mental health, but anybody who needs that additional supervision
• health, but anybody who needs that health, but anybody who needs that additional<00:14:47.360> supervision
• <00:14:48.720> um,<00:14:49.120> and additional supervision um, and additional supervision

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The working group on restrictive housing met with a quorum present, approved the August 21, 2025 minutes, and adopted a procedure to take public testimony on each agenda item with a two-minute limit per testifier, with some flexibility for follow-up questions. The main presentation came from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on restrictive housing policies and a recent outside assessment of mental health care practices at HSCF and OOTC. DCR said the assessment found strengths such as consistent medication administration and staff commitment, but also identified major problems including outdated workflows, staffing shortages, inadequate physical plant conditions, overuse of suicide/safety watch for personal safety issues, and a need for more individualized treatment plans. DCR described several corrective steps already underway: filling a long-vacant high-level mental health administrator position, adjusting evening medication passes, working with DOH on transfer and referral workflows, planning a new electronic medical records system and revised screening tools, and pursuing additional training for ACOs and mental health staff. For OOTC, DCR said the facility is overcrowded and decrepit, needs a better screening tool, and requires more mental health-specific training and staffing. For HCF, DCR said the layout limits confidential assessments and provider access, and that the proposed consolidated healthcare unit would add 43 beds, private exam rooms, and a de-escalation room. DCR also said the new unit could serve acute and chronic suicide/safety watch needs and possibly some inmates with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or significant cognitive impairment. The discussion then focused on Act 292, which DCR said is difficult to implement as written. DCR said the bill aligns with DOJ, NCCHC, and ACA guidance in defining restrictive housing, limiting duration, requiring reviews, identifying vulnerable populations, and using step-down units, but raised two major concerns: a requirement to refer vulnerable people to DOH for confinement, and a requirement for clinical assessments every 12 hours by a provider. Members responded that the law should be matched with funding and staffing, and asked what resources are needed. DCR said it submitted a request for 35 positions at a cost of about $8.6 million, and also said funding may be needed for community-based beds and contracted medical services. Members also asked about the current MOA/MOU between DOH and DCR, the working group membership, and the timeline for revisions. DCR said the group includes DCR, DOH, and governor’s office medical advisors, that a first draft is complete, and that the revised agreement should be in place by the end of the year. On staffing, DCR said ACO recruitment classes increased from five to eight, vacancy rates dropped from 34% to 24%, but OOTC still faces a projected $7.1 million shortfall and heavy overtime costs, forcing post closures and program reductions. The meeting ended with continued discussion of screening tools, including DCR’s explanation that current broad questions may over-identify people with substance-use-related symptoms as having serious mental illness, and that a more discrete tool is needed to better identify those with acute needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And quite frankly, the way that the system works is it's a state-supervised, county-administered system
• c><00:59:38.480> state the system works is it's a state the system works is it's a state supervised
• supervised, county administered. supervised, county administered.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• When I first started supervising her case, she was in the hospital experiencing a mental health crisis
• 56.440> started last three years when I first started last three years when I first started supervising
• 20:57.880> she<01:20:58.040> was<01:20:58.159> in<01:20:58.320> the supervising
• her case she was in the supervising her case she was in the hospital<01:20:59.000> experiencing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• situation of trying to move forward with the policy. we'd be sending kindergartners home with no supervision
• I currently supervise and support 16 of our 46 elementary schools.
• willingness, I mean we can't force them to take off work, but the parent would have to take off work to supervise
• Yeah, so in my role I also... supervise reading academies.

Bills: HB6, HB27, HB 123, HB210, HB213, HB222, HB610, HB 1085, HB1481, HB6, HB27, HB123, HB210, HB213, HB222

Keywords: mental health, telehealth, public schools, discipline management, behavioral interventions, financial literacy, high school education, curriculum requirements, economics, personal finance, HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• And then supervision and facilities, vehicles, all the tools, and that's part of the budget ask that
• c><00:44:33.359> and<00:44:33.640> and<00:44:33.760> then<00:44:34.000> supervision
• Kawai yes okay and and then supervision Kawai yes okay and and then supervision and<00:44:36.240

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to produce doctors, lawyers, but I also want to produce someone that's going to supervise the
• want to produce someone that's<01:18:24.280> going<01:18:24.480> to<01:18:24.880> supervise
• <01:18:25.840> the<01:18:26.240> the<01:18:26.360> Blue that's going to supervise
• the the Blue that's going to supervise the the Blue Sky<01:18:26.800> Hall.
• So, we are the county's, um, diversion level supervision is what we provide.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would be difficult for us to have oversight or observation or direct supervision over that particular
• have oversight or observation<00:21:04.400> or<00:21:04.720> direct<00:21:05.200> supervision
• <00:21:06.480> over observation or direct supervision over observation or direct supervision
• Our members have policies specifically supporting creating a veterinary technician under the supervision

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These new pathways to licensure allow IMGs to practice on time-limited provisional licenses under supervision
• on time-limited provisional licenses on time-limited provisional licenses under<00:16:13.280> supervision
• /c><00:16:14.320> of<00:16:14.520> licensed<00:16:15.080> physicians under supervision
• of licensed physicians under supervision of licensed physicians with<00:16:16.520> the<00:16:
• My question would be: under the supervision of a licensed physician, could that be an MD, a DO, whatever

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These treatments are post-FDA phase one trials, physician supervised and consented, consent-based for
• These treatments are post-FDA phase one trials, physician supervised and consented, consent-based for
• post FDA phase one trials,<01:57:05.720> physician<01:57:06.720> uh<01:57:06.800> supervised
• <01:57:07.440> and trials, physician uh supervised and trials, physician uh supervised and

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I get the parent to sign a piece of paper, I have hold of this child without any supervision.
• child piece of paper I have hold of this child without<01:51:25.679> any<01:51:26.080> supervision
• without any supervision without any supervision I<01:51:29.119> mean,<01:51:29.440> I'm
• And I supervise our domestic violence advocacy project.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the increased field supervision effectiveness.
• The goal is to really provide adequate field supervision and increase supervisor presence during the
• adequate<02:58:15.480> field really provide adequate field really provide adequate field supervision
• <02:58:17.040> and<02:58:17.560> increase<02:58:18.760> supervisor supervision and
• increase supervisor supervision and increase supervisor presence<02:58:20.320> during<02:58:20.640

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or parolees, there's a certain level of trust that they try to build up with folks that they're supervising
• spent some time in our drug unit, overseeing the drug unit as well as, for the last several years, supervising
• 06:29.559> last<02:06:29.760> several<02:06:30.079> years<02:06:30.400> supervising
• <02:06:31.040> all the last several years supervising all the last several years supervising

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• protections for religious, traditional, cultural practitioners and birth attendants who do attend, supervise
• attendants<00:11:55.440> who<00:11:55.639> do<00:11:56.040> attend<00:11:56.600> supervise
• <00:11:57.279> and attendants who do attend supervise and attendants who do attend supervise
• but further requires mandatory data collection and an excess amount of additional restrictions on supervision

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Committee on Health and Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce heard two midwifery bills, with testimony focused primarily on HB 1194. Committee chairs opened the hearing with rules for Zoom testimony and noted the bills relate to midwives. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said it supported the intent of HB 1194 and offered comments. Supporters of the bill, including the Midwives Alliance of Hawaii, argued that midwifery should remain subject to mandatory licensure to protect consumer safety, citing the state’s regulatory licensing standards and a 2025 state auditor sunset analysis. They said the bill would strengthen educational standards and public protection, and some offered clarifying amendments. Opponents argued HB 1194 would restrict access to care and fail to protect traditional, cultural, and community-based birth practices. Testifiers from the Hawaii Home Birth Task Force, the Hawaii Home Birth Collective, the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Pacific Birth Collective, and Papa Ola Lōkahi said the bill would limit licensure pathways, reduce access in rural and underserved areas, and burden Native Hawaiian and traditional practitioners. Several speakers said the measure could worsen Hawaii’s maternal health shortages, especially on Maui, and urged lawmakers to defer HB 1194 or instead advance HB 1328, which they said better protects practitioner access and cultural practices. The Hawaii affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives said it opposed HB 1194 because it did not align with national or state standards for certified midwives and could create conflicts with Medicaid reimbursement and prescriptive authority. The ACLU also opposed the measure, emphasizing reproductive rights, privacy, and the need to preserve apprenticeship pathways to licensure. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• establish a patient access pilot program so that veterans and others in need can receive care in a supervised
• establish a patient access pilot program so that veterans and others in need can receive care in a supervised
• establish a patient access pilot program so that veterans and others in need can receive care in a supervised
• establish a patient access pilot program so that veterans and others in need can receive care in a supervised
• establish a patient access pilot program so that veterans and others in need can receive care in a supervised

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• kind on each island and allow children caught in abuse or conflict between their parents to have supervised
• 01:53:37.320> parents<01:53:37.719> to<01:53:37.960> have<01:53:38.159> supervised
• <01:53:39.040> visits their parents to have supervised visits their parents to have supervised
• We hire and provide the required two years of supervised direct service hours necessary for licensure
• We hire and provide the required two years of supervised direct service hours necessary for licensure

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Finance informational briefing on grants and aids was held February 14 and was organized as a high-volume public testimony session with strict procedures: no Q&A, one representative per applicant, one minute per testimony, in-person testimony first, and then Zoom participants. The chairs also announced a recess at 11:00 a.m. for floor sessions and a reconvening at 1:00 p.m. Testimony was heard first from neighbor island applicants, then Oʻahu applicants, with members repeatedly directing speakers to line up and keep remarks brief. Neighbor island testimony focused on a wide range of capital and operating requests. Health and community projects included Hawaii Island Community Health Center’s workforce housing in Kau, Wuli Hawaiian Homestead Association’s learning center and predevelopment work, Rescue Tube Foundation’s beach rescue tube expansion, Puna Community Medical Center’s planned hospital/ER campus, Maui Humane Society’s free veterinary care after the wildfires, Hawaiʻi Care Choices’ palliative care readiness, and the Lyman Museum’s HVAC replacement. Other requests included the Maui Advanced Manufacturing Alliance’s Pāʻia Mill redevelopment, Laua 2020’s preschool and learning lab, Mālama Aina’s USDA-compliant meat processing facility, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association’s water safety programs, Kaha P Organization’s agriculture education support, Ohana Arts’ youth performance project, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center’s emergency closet, EOA Pacific’s Marshall Islands teacher training, and the Central Pacific Youth Athletic Club’s new facility. Oʻahu testimony included the YWCA Oʻahu/Pythink Center’s renovation of Juliet M. Atherton Hall and its community kitchen, West Oʻahu Community Health Center’s wildfire protection and security needs, the Early School’s playground improvements, Surfing the Nations’ food distribution center expansion, and Sounding Joy Music Therapy’s weekly services for people with disabilities. Speakers generally emphasized community benefit, workforce development, health access, food security, disaster recovery, and support for children, seniors, and underserved populations. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.