Transcript Highlights:

• Recommended and certified for placement on the local and un-contested calendars.
• Senate with recommendation that it do pass and be printed. Will the clerk call the roll? In court.
• Full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
• Okay, Senator Bettencourt moves that Senate Bill 1860 be recommended and certified for place.
• Recommended and certified for placement on the local and uncontested calendar. Is there objection?

Bills: SB240, SB1183, SB1184, SB1577, SB2043, SB2051, SCR42, SJR68

Keywords: biological sex, gender identity, public facilities, civil penalties, local government, EBT, electronic benefits transfer, food stamps, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, TANF, temporary assistance for needy families, welfare benefits, benefit card fraud, fraud hotline, card replacement, photo ID, recipient photograph, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:45.440> the two sides and staff has recommended the two sides and staff has recommended
• c> house<00:18:41.919> language Um staff recommends the house language Um staff recommends
• attainment goal and make recommendations attainment goal and make recommendations um<00:35:28.320
• <00:37:09.440> um<00:37:10.079> recommended temporary uh and so on. um recommended
• Uh it was a staff recommendation. recommendation. recommendation.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The conference committee received a nonpartisan walkthrough of the House and Senate side-by-side for higher education-related legislation, with staff identifying Senate-only, House-only, identical, and technical-difference provisions. Topics included paid blood donation leave for Minnesota State employees, a revised higher education attainment goal, athletic fee restrictions, developmental course disclosures, American Indian Scholars Program eligibility, protections and definitions for pregnant and parenting students, online program management contracts, student aid reporting, work-study and dual training grants, private and out-of-state postsecondary education regulation, private career school licensing and data privacy, college savings plan changes, and several University of Minnesota-related provisions. House-only items also included an unemployment insurance aid adjustment, a $1.5 million ongoing appropriation for an identity verification system to combat enrollment fraud, and $5,000 for Bemidji State University reforestation; Senate-only items included Board of Regents appointment language, limits on for-profit control of medical school curriculum, and reporting on for-profit funding in medical education. After the walkthrough, the committee moved to adopt the same and similar provisions and direct staff to make technical corrections. A senator asked about proposed adjustments to the pregnant and parenting student language, and the chair said amendments would be considered after adopting the same and similar provisions. The motion to adopt prevailed. During public testimony, Sydney Spre of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees supported the Senate’s paid blood donation leave language, saying it would create parity for Minnesota State employees and encourage blood and plasma donation. Commissioner Dennis Olsen of the Office of Higher Education thanked the committee for adopting most of the agency’s proposed language and said he was available to help clarify remaining differences. In response to questions, he explained the Senate’s higher education attainment goal proposal, saying it would extend and broaden the existing goal, raise the target from 70% to 75%, expand the age range, and use additional metrics and partner agencies; he also said the overall attainment rate had been 63.5 under the prior goal. The transcript ends as the commissioner was being asked whether the proposal would require additional appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• File item four is SB 1175... ...recommendation to consent calendar.
• Motion is do pass as amended with recommendation to consent calendar.
• Motion is do pass to Appropriations with recommendation to consent.
• Motion is do pass as amended to Appropriations with recommendation to consent.
• Motion is do pass to Appropriations with a recommendation to consent calendar.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OMES may make recommendations to the Long Range Capital Planning Commission for the sale of state-owned
• LOFT found that 11 out of the 20 most recent OMES recommendations for the sale of property stemmed from
• We will always recommend state space when it is available to fill that need.
• , shall and recommend are two different terms in my mind.
• LOFT also had several recommendations for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I move Senate Bill 1010 with a do-pass recommendation. Go ahead and move that amendment too.
• I move Senate Bill 1010 with a do-pass recommendation. Any discussion? Hearing none.
• I move Senate Bill 1077 with a do-pass recommendation. Thank you. Now, please call a roll.
• I move Senate Bill 1093 with a do-pass recommendation.
• You've given it a do-pass recommendation. I still have Rogers, I guess we'll go without her.

Bills: SB1010, SB1035, SB1058, SB1077, SB1093

Keywords: Charlie Kirk, Loop 202, Arizona highways, transportation, renaming, Arizona Department of Corrections, ADC, corrections, prison, jail, correctional officers, prison guards, staffing, retention, salary increase, pay raise, wage increase, general fund, appropriation, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Bettencourt moves that Senate Bill 1325 be reported to the Senate with a recommendation that
• Senator Bettencourt moves that Senate Bill 604 be recommended for the local calendar.
• Senator Bettencourt moves that Senate Bill 1832 be recommended for the local calendar.
• Senator Bettencourt moves that Senate Bill 2185 be recommended for the local calendar.
• Senator Hinojosa recommends that the bill be moved to local and uncontested. Any objections?

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• And then on lines 313 and 316 are two governor's recommendations that amend previous 2023 appropriations
• We do understand that this bill does not include any of the governor's budget recommendations.
• The governor's revised budget recommendations fund important and necessary work for the state, including
• This bill falls short of the Governor's recommendations.
• The Governor's recommendations are short by $12.1 million for the PCA, $16.8 million for the DNR, and

Bills: HF2439

Keywords: environmental protection, pollution reduction, waste management, climate change, funding allocations

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair's recommendation<01:00:04.079> on<01:00:04.480> SB2475 recommendation on SB2475 recommendation
• Same recommendation. >> for PSM members. Same recommendation.
• Recommendation pass with 2475.
• >> All others vote I and the recommendation >> All others vote I and the recommendation
• Same recommendation. Chair votes I.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on several measures. SB 2723, which would designate April 27 as State Sheriff’s Day, was supported by the Department of Law Enforcement and a long-serving sheriff, who described the historical roots of Hawaii’s sheriffs in the Kingdom of Hawaii and said the bill would recognize that legacy. HGA submitted written comments, and there was no opposition or vote taken on the measure during the excerpt. The committees then heard SB 17 on wildfire mitigation. The Public Utilities Commission, DLNR, the State Fire Council, OPSD, the Attorney General’s office, and Kamehameha Schools all testified, mostly in support of the bill’s intent but with suggested amendments. Several witnesses said the bill should better define the working group’s structure, staffing, and funding, and the Attorney General noted constitutional concerns about placing the group outside a principal department and pointed out possible overlap with Acts 302 and 303 from the prior year. Committee members questioned whether SB 17 duplicated earlier wildfire legislation, and witnesses generally said it did not directly conflict but overlapped with existing efforts. On SB 2358, which would require reimbursement for search-and-rescue costs when people leave trails and enter closed areas, the State Fire Council and the Hawaii SAR Alliance testified in opposition or caution, arguing that reimbursement could deter people from calling for help and that Hawaii’s SAR system still has structural and administrative gaps. A committee member asked whether other jurisdictions had used similar measures without discouraging rescues; the Fire Council said Kauai has a similar law but it has not resulted in invoices being sent. No action was taken in the excerpt. The final measure discussed was SB 2475 on Red Hill remediation funding and reimbursement from the Department of Defense. The Board of Water Supply, DLNR, and other testifiers supported the bill, emphasizing the need for long-term research, monitoring, and cleanup, while also noting the unique groundwater conditions and the importance of keeping the funds focused on Red Hill contamination response. Committee members asked about existing federal and state funding, whether the state had received any direct federal money, and what would happen if reimbursement is not obtained. DLNR said it was still working through the reimbursement mechanism and that some federal funding had gone to the Red Hill registry, but not directly to the state for this purpose.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any opposed or without recommendation? The bill is reported.
• Any negative or without recommendation? Without recommendation.
• Senator Helming is recorded without recommendation.
• Any opposed or without recommendation? The bill is reported.
• Any opposed or without recommendation? The bill is reported.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Insurance met with a quorum present and briefly recognized a departing legal fellow before taking up a six-bill agenda. The committee reported several insurance measures, including bills addressing uncovered mental health services, discrimination based on marital status after a spouse’s death, clarifying insurance prohibitions in New York City, standards for certain examination services, and limits on insurers refusing to renew policies related to volunteer social service transportation. Members noted that one bill had already passed the Assembly and was described as noncontroversial. One bill, relating to a reimbursement program for eligible local educational patients, was advanced but recorded with Senator Helming voting without recommendation and was referred to the Committee on Education. Another bill concerning insurance discrimination tied to marital status was discussed as having been worked out with industry. Most other bills were moved and reported without opposition, with several motions seconded by committee members and approved by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, all conforming bills recommended by conference committees have been published, subject
• Having met and after full and free conference, do recommend to their respective houses as follows.
• I'll briefly walk through a few other projects in various agencies recommended for funding.
• And we're recommending $32 million.
• This committee didn't make recommendations. That decision was decided higher up.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Don Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber announced it would take up 11 budget conference committee reports, with no third-reading bills or special-order calendar items. Members were reminded that conference reports were subject to debate but not amendment, and that the required review periods had been satisfied. The first major action was on HB 7031E, the tax package. Representative Duggan explained that the conference report included a mix of retained, modified, and new tax provisions, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related changes, reductions in certain gaming and carbon-related taxes, changes to child care and documentary stamp tax credits, a new refund process for public works construction tax paid by universities and colleges, and other tax administration changes. Debate focused on the bill’s consumer impact, the reduction of the child tax credit from three years to one, the inclusion of firearm accessories in a sales tax holiday, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the homestead exemption provision for certain deployed diplomatic and foreign service personnel. Critics argued the package favored niche or corporate interests over broad affordability relief, while supporters said it provided targeted tax relief and reflected conference negotiations. The House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began presenting the conference report for HB 501E, the state budget, which totaled $114.5 billion for fiscal year 2026-27 and was described as below the prior year’s spending level while maintaining reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major budget areas: pre-K-12 funding included an increase in FEFP, salary increases for veteran teachers, stabilization funding, and support for declining enrollment; higher education included full Bright Futures funding, workforce programs, college operating support, university initiatives, and school guardian expansion; IT funding focused on Palm, ACCESS, APD’s I-Connect replacement, corrections systems, emergency management systems, and cybersecurity grants; health care funding covered Medicaid, nursing home rates, waiver provider increases, ADAP funding and restructuring, child welfare, and behavioral health; transportation and economic development included housing, cultural grants, jobs and rural infrastructure, Visit Florida, Space Florida, highway patrol equipment, and local transportation projects; justice funding included correctional construction, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement grants, and clerk and due process reimbursements; state administration included fire stations, constrained counties, building maintenance, and Safe Florida Home; and agriculture/natural resources funding emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, land acquisition, Florida Forever, state parks, and citrus research. Members then began questioning the budget details, including school voucher accountability, school funding formulas, public defender parity, prison technology, wastewater monitoring in prisons, ADAP policy, SNAP fraud controls and AI-assisted verification, Florida Forever funding, school lunch funding, and coral reef restoration. No final vote on HB 501E appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• :18.880> putting recommendation when I've been putting recommendation when I've been putting this
• The recommendation on this measure is to adopt the recommended deletion of the qualifying language noted
• > this<00:42:23.839> measure recommendation is to defer this measure recommendation is
• to adopt the re the recommended deletion to adopt the re the recommended deletion of<00:43:26.560
• 00:44:04.160> is<00:44:04.400> to recommendation on this measure is to recommendation on

Bills: SB2004, SB2039, SB2042, SB2043, SB2044, SB2132

Keywords: outdoor advertising, billboards, public safety, penalties, community pollution, elections, campaign finance, business entities, political activity, regulation, liability, non-natural persons, insurance, captives, examination, regulations, policyholders, dormant captive, tax exemption, Hawaii revised statutes

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee opened its first hearing of the year with remarks from Chair Jared Kohole outlining hearing procedures, a two-minute testimony limit, rules for remote testimony and decorum, and a revised testimony-publication pilot that keeps 96-hour notice but returns to a standard 24-hour testimony deadline. He then moved through the agenda, beginning with SB 2004 on outdoor advertising, which would increase penalties for violations of billboard and outdoor advertising laws. Testimony on that measure was limited; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land was first up, and written support was noted from Hawaiian Electric and the Outdoor Circle. The committee then heard SB 2039 on election campaign finance, which would prohibit certain business entities from engaging in campaign finance activities. The Attorney General’s office offered comments and did not take a formal position at the hearing. Several proponents testified in support, including Josh Frost, Tom Moore of the Center for American Progress, Hapa/Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, and Common Cause Hawaiʻi, all arguing the bill would curb corporate and dark-money influence and return elections to the people. Moore distinguished between regulating corporate “rights” and limiting corporate “powers,” and said the state can redefine the powers it grants corporations. In questions, Senator McKelvey asked whether the bill could be expanded to include unions; the Attorney General said he would need to get back with legal analysis, while Moore said his preferred approach would include all entities and that leaving out nonprofits or unions would create problems. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect PACs, and Moore explained that the proposal would prohibit corporate and dark-money flows into PACs while leaving individual political giving and existing political committees in place. The committee then moved on to the next measure. SB 2042, relating to insurance, was heard next. The bill would reduce the unimpaired minimum capital and surplus required of class 4 sponsored captive insurance companies under certain circumstances. The DCCA Insurance Division said it stood on its written testimony, and the Hawaii Captive Insurance Council testified in support, describing the change as a narrow, risk-based adjustment that would not affect the commissioner’s authority where actual risk resides and would help keep Hawaii competitive. The committee noted additional written support and proceeded without a vote or final action in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we'll accept that recommendation. Will you get with Mr.
• I recommend that you get that. I'm sure you're familiar with it, sir.
• Chairman, I move that HCR 2001 be returned with a due pass recommendation.
• That would be one thing that we would recommend of this bill.
• Madam Secretary... ...and to be returned with a do pass recommendation.

Bills: HB2009, HB2022, HCM2001, HCM2002, HCM2004, HCR2001, HM2001, HM2004

Keywords: campaign contributions, foreign contributions, constitutional amendments, public disclosure, Arizona Revised Statutes, elections, voter registration, provisional ballots, primary election, voter participation, Muslim Brotherhood, terrorism, foreign terrorist organization, national security, Islamist extremism, Congress, Arizona, domestic security, CAIR, terrorist organization

Transcript Highlights:

• result in a series of recommendations. result in a series of recommendations.
• <00:14:41.280> to on to all of you as recommendations to on to all of you as recommendations
• So, we strongly recommend education.
• And with that, Senator Umuverben moves that SF 4481 be recommended to pass and be recommended to the
• So, candidates that were recommended.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The recommendation will be to move it as is.
• >> I. >> Chair, my recommendation. >> Thank you, members. >> Thank you, everyone.
• Same recommendation um is to Affairs.
• Same recommendation um is to pass<00:12:48.560> un<00:12:48.800> amended.
• My recommendation. >> Chair. My recommendation.

Bills: SB2596, SB3002, SB3067

Keywords: government leases, state entities, real property, affordable leasing, budget impact, green infrastructure, urban development, sustainability, environment, climate change, public health, Hawaii State Planning Act, land records, registration, surveys, subdivision, Hawaii Revised Statutes, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Water and Culture and the Arts and on Hawaiian Affairs heard SB 3173, which would create a cultural training pilot program in the Department of Land and Natural Resources, administered by DOBOR, for commercial permit holders operating in Lahaina Harbor. Testimony was largely supportive from Lahaina Strong, which said the bill responds to community concerns and would help commercial operators return with greater cultural understanding and respect. Supporters framed the measure as a way to rebuild Lahaina intentionally and strengthen relationships between industry and community. Opposition came from Trilogy Excursions and the Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaii. They said they already provide or encourage cultural education, but argued the bill as written is too broad, potentially mandatory, and could create hiring and operational problems for businesses trying to restart after the fire. They asked that any program be voluntary, collaborative, and practical, with clearer details on who must take the training, how often it would be offered, and how it would be coordinated. In response to questions, a witness said most operators would likely participate if the training were accessible and well-marketed, but that the harbor’s limited current operations and staggered rebuilding make timing important. After testimony and questions, the chairs said they appreciated the comments but wanted to move the bill forward without amendments because of a filing deadline, noting that timing and other issues could be worked out in later committees with DLNR, OHA, and stakeholders. Both committees then voted to pass SB 3173 unamended, with one member excused in each committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Representative Talley, we'll recommend your bill as a due pass and recommend it for the
• Thank you, committee. ...recommend your bill as a due pass and recommend it for the next committee.
• We'll recommend your bill to pass and recommend it to the next committee.
• We'll recommend your bill to pass and recommend it to the next committee. All right.
• committee. ...and we will recommend it for the next committee.

Bills: HB3048, HB3259, HB3646, HB3696, HB3780, HB3781, HB3802, HB3818, HB4294, HB4488, HB2929

Keywords: insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, insurance regulation, Oklahoma, health insurance, contracting entities, medical providers, enrollment, beneficiary rights, property and casualty, rates, filing, Insurance Commissioner, regulation, property, regulations, actuary, rate filing, independent review

Transcript Highlights:

• After consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the following: Senate Bill 10 be referred
• to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation and with the recommendation that it be placed
• and with the favorable recommendation and with the recommendation<00:36:08.400> that<00:36:08.560
• that be placed on the recommendation that be placed on the consent<00:36:09.520> calendar.
• <00:36:12.480> the the merits, the committee recommends the the merits, the committee recommends

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been able to come up with some great, great recommendations.
• Discussion and great recommendations.
• We've asked that some of the key findings and recommendations be put on paper.
• So we're recommending a best practice.
• Do you guys want to make that recommendation? I think so.

Transcript Highlights:

• But that you're recommending delaying the rescinding. Would that be?
• So, that's the subcommittee recommendation.
• I think we're prepared to approve the recommendation today.
• If we approve the project today as recommended. Thank you, Chairman.
• When do you think you'll have the report or recommendations? Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Paxton moves that Senate Bill 2786 be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that
• Senator Menendez moves that Senate Bill 646 be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that
• The Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but the committee substitute adopted in lieu
• Vice Chair Campbell moves that Senate Bill 1998 be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation
• Senator Bettencourt moves that Senate Bill 1998 be recommended for the local calendar.

Summary: The Committee on Education K-16 heard testimony on SB 1635, which would give certain coastal, recapture-paying school districts a credit against recapture payments for mandatory windstorm and hail insurance costs. Senator Hinojosa said the bill is intended to offset unusually high insurance expenses for districts in Tier 1 or Tier 2 coastal zones, and he estimated about a $12 million impact to state revenue. Witnesses from Port Aransas ISD and Gregory-Portland ISD described sharp premium increases, reduced coverage, higher deductibles, and the effect on teacher pay and classroom spending. Senators asked about the number of affected districts, the accuracy of the fiscal estimate, and whether the bill might encourage districts to maintain coverage. Public testimony was closed and SB 1635 was left pending. The committee then took up several other bills and committee substitutes, adopting and reporting favorably SB 2786, SB 2623, SB 646, SB 843, SB 2392, SB 1998, SB 1418, SB 2788, and SB 2076, with most votes unanimous or near-unanimous. SB 2392 was amended to add improper relationship between educator and student to mandatory reporting offenses and to authorize an attorney general civil penalty for failure to report. SB 2623 was revised to clarify duties and exemptions related to the Safe Schools and Neighborhood Task Force and school proximity restrictions. SB 843 would create a TEA database of school district bonds and related projects, and SB 2788 would exempt certain PSAT scorers from the Texas Success Initiative assessment. The committee also heard SB 2929, which would allow referees and other officials at school athletic events to immediately eject disruptive spectators. The Texas Association of Sports Officials testified in support, citing abusive spectator behavior and a shortage of officials. SB 2929 was left pending. Finally, the committee heard a substitute for SB 2927 on 1882 partnerships and a substitute for SB 2619, which would require more transparency and accountability for failing school districts, superintendent hiring, trustee training, and takeover timelines. Testimony on SB 2619 was mixed, with one witness from Texas 2036 supporting parts of the bill’s accountability provisions. The committee adopted the substitute for SB 2619, left it pending, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need a group to convene to make recommendations.
• I think the biggest recommendations.
• Recommendation is to Resolution 192 HD1.
• <00:29:25.840> Okay, your recommendation is adopted.
• Okay, your recommendation is adopted.

Keywords: 910, house, all