Transcript Highlights:

• the watershed issues in Waco, worked for the city a little over 11 years, and started in our water utilities
• We also acknowledge that small taxing units, such as Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and small cities
• bill does not impose a new tax; it simply allows ESD governance to make a local decision to access utility-based

Bills: HB485, HB1367, HB1370, HB1827, HB1879, HB2032, HB2133, HB2357, HB3581, HB3830, HB4060, HB4085, HB4270, HB4979, HB5217, HB5268, HB5478, HJR96, HJR97, HJR119, HJR195, HJR209, SB4, SB23, SJR2, SJR85, SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code

Bills: SF1959, HF2444, SF2298, HF2445, SF2216, HF2443, HF2130, HF1943, HF2436, HF2442

Keywords: veterans, military affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Military Affairs, omnibus veterans bill, appropriations, National Guard, state active service, armory, State Armory Building Commission, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, county veterans service office, Minnesota GI Bill, Gold Star families, Blue Star families, Secret War in Laos, Hmong veterans, Laos veterans, special guerrilla units

Bills: SF1959, HF2444, SF2298, HF2445, SF2216, HF2443, HF2130, HF1943, HF2436, HF2442

Keywords: veterans, military affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Military Affairs, omnibus veterans bill, appropriations, National Guard, state active service, armory, State Armory Building Commission, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, county veterans service office, Minnesota GI Bill, Gold Star families, Blue Star families, Secret War in Laos, Hmong veterans, Laos veterans, special guerrilla units

Transcript Highlights:

• Allowing us to utilize this compact would allow us to have access to psychology licensed professionals
• Allowing us to utilize this compact would allow us to have access to psychology licensed professionals
• Allowing us to utilize this compact Allowing us to utilize this compact would<00:27:25.800> allow<
• Until that time, compact holders can practice in the state of Hawaii. utilize psychologists, forensic
• And so for me end up being utilized.

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

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:

• So the methodology utilized was 25%, and that was a number that we came up with.
• But I think the other thing is it's the purview of the legislature to allow them to continue to utilize
• But it seems to me, through the number of IGTs that are being utilized, that there's plenty of capacity
• But it seems to me through, you know, the number of IGTs that are being utilized that there's plenty
• we've been taking steps across the board and in different sectors to try to reduce what that tax liability

Summary: The Senate took up the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27, with Chair Hooper and the appropriations chairs walking through the $114.5 billion budget. Major highlights included pay increases for state law enforcement, firefighters, park rangers, and correctional officers; funding for teacher salary increases and K-12 enrollment stabilization; workforce and university funding in higher education; major Medicaid, nursing home, waiver, and opioid-related investments in health and human services; corrections and prison-capacity funding; transportation, housing, and emergency management spending; and large environmental appropriations for Florida Forever, Everglades restoration, and water quality projects. Members then asked detailed questions about specific items. Senators pressed on the Hamilton Center at UF, the difference between assistant state attorney and public defender pay, declining student enrollment funding, private school scholarship vouchers, mental health funding in schools, the lack of preeminence funding, APD’s iBudget waiver wait list and provider rates, ADAP premium assistance and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, prison staffing and air conditioning, Florida Forever land-buying versus easements, SNAP and Sun Bucks funding, Hope Florida, election audit funding, and the IDD managed care program. Chairs generally explained the negotiated compromises, noted where funding was flat or omitted, and in several cases said items would be revisited next year or depended on agency implementation. Several senators used debate to praise the budget while also criticizing major policy choices. Leader Berman argued the state should have expanded Medicaid, invested more in public schools instead of vouchers, and accepted federal summer EBT funds. Other senators highlighted local wins such as Biscayne Bay restoration, Tri-Rail, housing assistance, ADAP funding, and declining enrollment support. The transcript ends with debate remarks thanking Chair Hooper for his work on the budget; no final vote is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• page 20, you've got the matched taxable gross receipts percentage for trade, transportation, and utilities
• think your question is about how much is trade versus the other two in trade, transportation, and utilities
• contracts with an insurance company like Blue Cross Blue Shield or Presbyterian, but the entire liability
• they are actually self-funding this insurance pool, like a localized pool, and they bear all the liability
• So they manage the claims, they manage the network, but they actually don't bear any of the liability

Transcript Highlights:

• program is consistently over-subscribed, we anticipate that this increase in credits will be fully utilized
• And then there's also conversations about the percentage in which you can present utilization.
• I look— at the, you know, different companies like Amazon, Disney, and stuff that zero their tax liability
• studios, not enough entities could participate, because they already were able to zero their tax liability
• They were already able to zero their tax liability, so we opened— opened this tax credit up for these

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• feasibility costs liability feasibility costs liability environmental<01:39:44.159> impacts
• <01:40:16.280> concerns<01:40:16.800> that maintenance and liability concerns that
• The county said it did not want to risk taking on the liability of owning the project, and there were
• The county said it did not want to risk taking on the liability of owning the project, and DLNR also
• of owning right the the liability of owning right the project<01:46:52.679> and<01:46:52.960>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 13, 2025, and first announced that SB 1456 would be deferred to the end of the agenda and ultimately worked on later, with the chair indicating the bill would be deferred and revisited in a future measure. The committee then heard SB 841 on marine life conservation districts. DLNR supported the bill, saying it would fund carrying capacity studies to inform rules and policies. Testimony noted a pilot study already underway at the Puka Marine Life Conservation District and another nearing completion at the old Kona Airport MLCD. Members discussed costs, with DLNR estimating about $300,000 per year for one user-experience study, potentially more for ecological analysis, and also discussed possible funding from the Mālama Kai special fund. DLNR said it had no objection to consulting current operators and other users, and explained the program would be a new, ongoing adaptive-management tool. The committee next heard SB 411 on capital improvement projects at small boat harbors. DLNR supported the intent, saying the bill would help expedite use of special funds for CIP work, while the Department of Budget and Finance opposed it, arguing the draft could conflict with constitutional limits on appropriations. Public testimony from an industry representative supported the bill and urged more collaboration with commercial operators, while committee discussion focused on whether DLNR could already use special funds for repairs, how much engineering and bidding work is required before projects go out to bid, and whether the current process creates bottlenecks when bids exceed initial estimates. DLNR said it can do some repairs and maintenance within existing authority and funding ceilings, but that the bill as drafted could be too broad. The committee also heard SB 5 on historic preservation, where DLNR supported the measure and NAOP Hawaii opposed it, saying the bill’s broader definition could expand the scope beyond the stated goal of narrowing reviews and reducing backlog. The committee then took up SB 1462 on the state historic preservation income tax credit. The Department of Taxation said the revenue estimate assumes the cap would be reached each year the credit is available, and DLNR supported the bill. SHPD said the prior credit had sunset, outreach had previously been done in targeted communities such as Chinatown, and owners of eligible historic properties are notified during review. Finally, the committee heard SB 268 on island burial councils. DLNR supported the bill, and OHA strongly supported it, saying the councils have struggled with quorum and expertise and that the measure would restore the original intent of having lineal descendants and cultural practitioners as decision makers, while still allowing landowners and developers to testify and participate. OHA also said it would help provide technical support and urged continued involvement from SHPD and the Attorney General’s office.

Transcript Highlights:

• How you transition to that, given that the current year budget includes the liabilities for last year
• for last year and you'd be liabilities for last year and you'd be doubling<00:41:04.560> up<00
• I think one of the things that's it's a leap into the unknown, and it's going to add liability to the
• <01:08:00.319> to and uh it's going to add liability to and uh it's going to add liability
• <02:21:35.920> the in any way obligated to utilize the in any way obligated to utilize the

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have responsibilities in the Central Valley where the state has a liability and responsibility to
• How will the money be utilized?
• How do you anticipate that money flowing or being utilized?
• In a position to forgive a third of a billion dollars to this utility whose ratepayers have dealt with
• Andrea Avergell with the California Municipal Utilities Association here echoing Brenda's comments.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• debt, adjusted pension liabilities, and adjusted OPEB and other liabilities compared to revenue.
• And so you have pension liabilities, OPEB liabilities, debt liabilities, lease liabilities.
• <01:27:31.600> opep<01:27:31.960> liabilities pension liabilities opep liabilities
• pension liabilities opep liabilities debt<01:27:33.199> liabilities<01:27:34.199> lease
• <01:27:34.600> liabilities<01:27:35.440> and debt liabilities lease liabilities and debt

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• if they were more prevalent in utilized if they were more prevalent in the<01:17:51.920> state
• Nurses chased into the waiting area, um, by a couple of kids, and there's liability.
• I mean, these facilities are concerned about their liability.
• <01:26:43.000> I<01:26:43.080> mean<01:26:44.000> these and there's liability
• I mean these and there's liability I mean these facilities<01:26:44.719> are<01:26:44.920>

Keywords: 00:00:00 Introductions 00:00:22 Roll Call 00:01:56 Discussion on SB 85 00:14:03 Vote on SB 85 00:16:15 Explanation of Agency Amendment 00:19:04 Voice Vote on Amendment 00:19:33 Discussion on Kentucky Foster Children Housing, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 85, sponsored by Senator Meredith, which would move the Office of the Ombudsman from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the State Auditor’s office and make related cleanup changes. Meredith said the bill grew out of a prior task force and a two-year transition from Senate Bill 48, and he argued the move would create independence, improve access to the ITWIST database, ensure complaints are not lost in the handoff, and add confidentiality protections for whistleblowers. Auditor Allison Ball and her staff said the bill would codify access and procedures after earlier disputes and a court-mediated settlement, and they described the measure as necessary to make the new structure work effectively. Members asked how the Ombudsman would handle complaints and verify services in cases involving waiver recipients and other cabinet services. Ball and her staff said the Ombudsman would investigate complaints, make inquiries, and provide accountability outside the cabinet structure, with timelines and procedures similar to the Auditor’s office. The committee also discussed staffing and whether the office would need more personnel; Ball said the office already had about 100 people but could use more. The bill passed 10-0 with favorable expression. The committee then approved an agency amendment to administrative regulation 922 KAR 1:001490 concerning foster parent background checks. Cabinet staff explained the amendment corrected a drafting error by removing references to civil determinations in a second section of the regulation because the system cannot search those determinations, while still allowing the required checks under state and federal law. Senator Herron asked what a civil determination meant, and staff said it could involve a court finding in a custody or abuse case, though such findings are now typically handled through the child abuse and neglect registry. The amendment was adopted. Afterward, the committee began a discussion on Kentucky foster children housing and related issues. Ball and Ombudsman staff presented a preliminary assessment of children placed in office buildings, saying the review covered 49 children placed over a four-month period and showed a different picture than the public narrative of only older, high-acuity youth. They reported that some children had no documented behavioral or disability issues, many came directly from home, the average age was 13, the average stay was four nights, and placements were spread across several regions rather than centered only in Louisville. Members raised concerns about the lack of formal policies and procedures, staff safety, and how to ensure children are treated appropriately, and Ball said the Ombudsman was continuing a deeper review. No final action was taken on that discussion in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• deregulation with the p Public Utilities deregulation with the p Public Utilities Commission<00:
• Utilities Utilities Commission<00:03:23.959> so<00:03:24.159> we'll<00:03:24.360> begin
• Commission. cases at the Public Utilities Commission cases at the Public Utilities Commission but<02
• The PUC exists to serve as the arbiter of the interests of utility shareholders and utility customers
• Arbiter of the interests of the utility Arbiter of the interests of the utility shareholders<02:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not meant to introduce liability for the manufacturer.
• So there are secondary externalities if you allowed people to have that kind of liability on their own
• It's not meant to introduce liability for the manufacturer.
• <00:10:18.640> Um, liability on their own. Um, liability on their own.
• I have had no complaints, not all of them have utilized the codes.

Bills: SF0052, SF0024

Keywords: wildlife management, environmental restoration, funding, invasive species, aquatic ecosystems, native fish, habitat conservation, lottery, debit card payments, gambling regulations, state revenue, financial transactions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a reason as to why it's not being utilized right now?
• waiver and we've included liability waiver and we've included language<00:29:56.240> in<00:29
• I want to add a section that says, uh, that ensures some sort of general liability assurance language
• um some sort of general liability um some sort of general liability Assurance<01:18:41.159> language
• coverage with regards to gross liability coverage with regards to gross negligence<01:18:54.280>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Education met on January 30 and heard testimony on several bills, beginning with an announcement asking testifiers and members to keep remarks brief because of weather. The vice chair also explained that HB 440, relating to immigration issues in schools and state hospitals, was removed from the agenda because the proposal would not create meaningful legal protections and immigration policy is governed by federal law. The committee then moved through a series of education-related measures, with testimony largely from the Department of Education, the School Facilities Authority, the Attorney General’s office, unions, advocacy groups, and individual testifiers. On HB 330, concerning school impact fees, the School Facilities Authority supported the bill as aligning policy with implementation, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii said the fee accounts have accumulated large balances, including more than $20 million in impact fee funds and nearly $9 million from predecessor fair-share contributions, and urged that collected money be used rather than left idle. DOE said it would follow up on the balance and why it was not being used. On HB 1188, dealing with workforce housing, DOE and the Charter School Commission offered comments or support, the Attorney General suggested clarifying the phrase “within commuting distance” by using a mileage standard and adding repayment language, and HSTA, HGEA, and others supported the bill, with HSTA saying teachers need housing to be able to live and work in Hawaii. On HB 624 and HB 625, both related to school psychologists, DOE said it would participate in a work group on the pathway bill and supported the incentive program bill; school psychologists and related groups supported the measures, while one testifier said DOE should not lead the work group alone because school psychologists may work in many education settings beyond DOE schools. The committee also heard HB 1314 on youth mental health in schools. DOE described its student support process, universal screening tools, and behavioral health services, saying schools already identify and respond to concerns and that staff are trained to report issues, while the Attorney General warned the bill could expose schools to liability and recommended a broad liability waiver. Testimony was mixed, with several supporters and one opponent. On HB 616, concerning school safety and harassment protections for educational workers, the Attorney General sought clarifying amendments on harassment definitions, temporary restraining order costs, and paid leave, while HSTA, HGEA, and individual teachers strongly supported the bill, describing harassment incidents and arguing for a standardized statewide response. DOE said it already has reporting pathways, visitor codes of conduct, trespass notices, and an ethics hotline, but acknowledged implementation varies by school and that staff can escalate concerns if needed. The committee also began hearing HB 88 on a three-year pilot program for athletic travel, but the transcript cuts off before that bill’s testimony is completed or any votes are taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• 348 by Senator Edmonds provides for third-party service providers and enforcement of motor vehicle liability
• And so this bill would allow us to further utilize... ...of that nature.
• And so this bill would allow us to further utilize private contractors on things that are not actually
• including roads and bridges, drainage and stormwater, infrastructure, flood protection, water, sewer, utility

Bills: SB348, SB444, SB485

Keywords: motor vehicles, enforcement, administrative support, law enforcement, private service provider, regulatory compliance, expropriation, public purpose, property rights, compensation, city governance, St. George, insurance premium tax, city of St. George, municipal authority, local taxation, East Baton Rouge Parish, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 348 by Senator Edmonds provides for third-party service providers and enforcement of motor vehicle liability
• And so this bill would allow us to further utilize... ...of that nature.
• And so this bill would allow us to further utilize private contractors on things that are not actually
• including roads and bridges, drainage and stormwater, infrastructure, flood protection, water, sewer, utility

Summary: The Municipal Program of Cultural Affairs Committee met with a quorum and took up three Senate bills by Senator Edmonds, all related to the new City of St. George. The first bill, SB 348, would allow a local enforcement agency to contract with third-party vendors for administrative support in motor vehicle liability enforcement, such as plate processing, insurance verification, and notices, while making clear the vendors would not have police powers. Members raised concerns that the bill as drafted appeared statewide rather than local to St. George, and discussed how to limit it properly. After debate, the committee adopted amendments to narrow SB 348 to cities incorporated after October 1, 2019 and to sunset the authority on July 31, 2028, with the understanding that St. George could return later with a properly advertised local bill. The bill then received favorable action. The committee then considered SB 485, which transfers authority to levy and collect the insurance premium tax within St. George to the city beginning January 1, 2027; it was reported favorably without objection. Finally, the committee heard SB 444, which gives St. George expropriation authority for public infrastructure projects such as roads, drainage, flood protection, water, sewer, and utilities, using procedures similar to other Louisiana municipalities and DOTD. Members asked about the process and confirmed it was standard municipal authority and not related to private industry. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The meeting ended with thanks to staff and members and a reminder that this was the committee’s last meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Witt, members, House Bill 2389 permits a utility to replace an existing electrical generating plant
• House Bill 2389 permits a utility to replace an existing electrical generating plant or to construct
• Additionally, the bill requires licensed midwives to disclose their professional liability insurance
• Right now, they're being utilized as a medical transport for individuals that have been petitioned by

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a caucus-style review of two packets of bills, with staff reading summaries and members briefly explaining several measures. Topics included appropriations for pregnancy resource centers, home- and community-based services for the elderly and people with disabilities, veteran specialty courts, child care grants and infrastructure, language acquisition services for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, ambulance service regulation, short-term rental rules, tourism improvement areas, manufactured home installer licensure, CPR/AED training in schools, veterans’ park fee exemptions, and multiple child welfare and family-court bills. Several Senate bills were also reviewed, including optometry standards, behavior analyst licensure transfer, virtual mental health hearings, and assisted-living residency rules. Members speaking for bills emphasized themes such as supporting aging in place, improving rural ambulance access and reporting, protecting children in DCS cases, preventing poverty alone from being treated as neglect, and expanding access to health screenings and services. Other sponsors described measures to help veterans, strengthen school safety, and create local funding or improvement mechanisms for tourism and child care. Some bills were described as technical or administrative changes, such as post-nuptial agreement rules, tax lien procedures, and local government contract posting requirements. No formal votes were taken in the transcript excerpt, but many bills were noted as being on the consent calendar or third-read consent calendar, while a few had been removed from consent or were not yet on a calendar. The meeting concluded after the final bill on the second packet, HB 4025, was summarized as creating a study committee on gasoline and petroleum refinery feasibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second reading of bills: HB 2016 Utility Relocation; 2800 Ignition and Interlock Devices; 2815 Misconduct
• legislature, quote, rejects the notion that a woman should be exempt from all civil or criminal liability
• that our constituents want us to be working on are lowering the cost of housing and health care and utilities
• House Bill 2074 ...are lowering the cost of housing and health care and utilities.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And you're saying utility and non-utility property tax.
• <01:08:28.719> and And you you're saying utility and And you you're saying utility and non-utility
• Uh uh uh my they are utilities.
• So I assume utility property tax.
• and non-utility utility taxpayers and non-utility taxpayers,<01:08:58.880> I'm<01:08:59.120><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on HB 302, which would add precious metals and digital assets as potential investment options. State Treasurer Monica Misipelli said she took no position on the bill and did not see an immediate fiscal impact or operational problem, but explained that the state’s operating funds and rainy day fund require liquidity and stability, so they would not be suitable for volatile assets like precious metals or digital assets. She said the only funds that might potentially use such investments would be certain trust funds held in perpetuity, which are managed by an outside investment advisor under a contract and investment policy. Members asked about the treasurer’s current investment practices, including the types of funds managed, the role and discretion of the investment advisor, the state’s risk profile, and whether the bill would affect existing authority. Misipelli said the office follows RSA 11 and related statutes, with different objectives ranging from conservative to aggressive depending on the fund, and that the advisor meets with the office regularly, with formal performance reviews on a quarterly basis. She also said the office recently centralized management of about 40 trust accounts totaling roughly $60 million into five combined portfolios under a five-year contract with an RFP-selected vendor. When asked whether precious metals or digital assets are already indirectly available through mutual funds, she said that was possible for some mutual funds, but she was not certain about digital assets. Representative Ammon, the bill’s sponsor, said similar legislation had passed the Oklahoma House, the Texas House and Senate, and had advanced in Arizona. He argued the bill was intended to give the treasurer more tools to help balance portfolios and hedge inflation, noting concerns about federal debt and inflation. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair ended the questioning after thanking the treasurer and asking her to remain available in case further questions arose.