Transcript Highlights:

• I'm calling to order the House Committee on Labor. It is Tuesday, January 28th, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
• Just a housekeeping, uh, we will, in order to allow as many people to testify as possible, there will
• Recess. e e e e e e e e e e e e e e Calling back to order the House Committee on Labor.
• I also agree with BNF testimony that the director of a department should have the authority to manage
• to manage Personnel uh within authority to manage Personnel uh within an<01:00:30.440> attached

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee is called to order.
• Our first official order of business is the adoption of the committee rules.
• Chair, and I would I would love for you to be a co-author, yes. Wonderful. Thank you.
• AB 238 also has 11 principal co-authors and was jointly authored by Assemblymember Jackie Irwin, whose
• I just want to also thank the author. for bringing this piece of legislation.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I recognize the author. The report is addressed to the honorable Lisa M.
• I now recognize the author of the bill, Representative Noatne, who will explain the report.
• We also had another provision that relates to guardianship if you were in a hospital, and a temporary
• guardianship is um um and a temporary guardianship is um awarded<00:09:17.040> because<00:09:
• I<00:36:48.480> recognize<00:36:48.960> the<00:36:49.200> author<00:36:49.440>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our first official order of business is the adoption of the committee rules.
• They ask why 130 executive orders haven't been passed for them.
• Katherine Charles on behalf of Housing Action Coalition. to work with the author.
• Yes, love this bill and I'm a co-author so thank you for letting me join.
• I would love to be added as a principal co-author and allow you to close.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• more detail today uh it's authorization more detail today uh it's authorization to<00:03:32.799>
• It has condemnation authority.
• <00:20:47.159> in uh it it has condemnation Authority in uh it it has condemnation Authority
• memo um or the the memo but the order memo um or the the memo but the order stands<00:38:01.280>
• Again, thanks for Dom's service, and he will be missed. authorization which is a small Levy to authorization

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee met on January 29, 2025, to hear the Metropolitan Council’s presentation on the Governor’s proposed agency budget requests. The Council outlined three main budget items: authorization to advance funds to MnDOT to help coordinate a highway project with arterial bus rapid transit construction; a proposal to make free regular-route transit rides permanent for eligible Metro Mobility riders, after a successful pilot that produced nearly 75,000 rides; and a reduction in general fund support for rail operations, which the Council said it could absorb in the near term. The Council also noted it was seeking $15 million in the bonding bill for bus rapid transit, including support for the H Line, and described other capital requests for an infill/infiltration program and regional parks. Council leadership said the advance-funds proposal would let two projects move together more efficiently, reduce disruption, and potentially lower costs by avoiding repeated reconstruction and maintenance. On the Metro Mobility fare pilot, they said the lower fare increased rider freedom and spontaneity while saving state money because fixed-route service is cheaper than individual Metro Mobility trips. On the general fund reduction, they said the agency is expanding service, opening the Gold Line, B Line, and E Line, and can manage the cut because of its diversified revenue sources, though it could affect future expansion. Senator Nelson raised concerns about the proposal to expand the Right-of-Way Acquisition Loan Fund to include regional parks and trails, warning that the legislation should clearly avoid creating condemnation authority for park or trail projects, especially where they are adjacent to MnDOT projects. Council staff responded that the program would finance local acquisitions rather than give the Met Council condemnation power, and said they would take the concern under advisement and ensure the legislation is carefully drafted. Members also discussed federal funding uncertainty; Council officials said federal transit operating support is about $30 million and that a pause or cut could affect future capital projects and some existing awards, while the region’s diversified funding base would help cushion operations. No votes or formal actions were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The hope on this one was to make sure that we could get the counties the authority to move forward with
• to move forward with this the authority to move forward with this road<00:05:23.720> user<00:
• And in order to do that, then we need to have communities that support being able to gather and being
• <00:58:30.640> and uh kind of get back in order and uh kind of get back in order and refreshed
• <00:59:36.880> of include those from the Aloha order of include those from the Aloha order

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 1480 on transportation and road usage charging. Supporters included the Department of Transportation, the Hawaii State Energy Office, county representatives, and the Tax Foundation, while an automotive industry witness opposed the bill, arguing it would be unfair to rural drivers and those with longer commutes. Committee discussion focused on equity, rural impacts, and whether the measure should be tied to future rail funding. The committees ultimately recommended SB 1480 pass with amendments, including broadening allowable uses of funds, clarifying language on infrastructure and safety, addressing motor scooters, and striking a proposed new subaccount; the recommendation was adopted by both committees, with one no vote in TCA. For SB 970 on taxation, the Tax Foundation said the employer transit tax credit would be more efficient as a direct subsidy program, and the Department of Taxation recommended several changes, including a sunset date of December 31, 2030, anti-double-benefit language, deletion of certain reporting requirements, and an effective date of December 31, 2025. The department estimated the bill would reduce revenues by about $11.6 million over the four-year period it would be in effect. The committees moved SB 970 forward with amendments to include bike share in the credit and add a defective date, leaving the department’s suggested changes for later consideration; the recommendation was adopted. The committees also advanced SB 1008 on parking and SB 1088 on electric vehicle charging infrastructure without amendments. DCAB strongly supported SB 1008, saying it would help counties enforce accessible parking design requirements, and noted a related bill without the EV portion. SB 1088 drew broad support from the Public Utilities Commission, State Energy Office, county and advocacy groups, and individuals; one question raised whether the bill should sunset, but the response was that Hawaii still lacks sufficient EV charging infrastructure and the measure expands eligibility for affordable housing. Both bills were recommended to pass unamended and the recommendations were adopted. The Transportation and Culture and Arts committee then heard SB 1011 on the Hawaii Leadership Awards Program, with testimony in strong support from individuals and the State Archivist, who suggested preserving award recipients’ archives, photos, oral histories, and clippings. The committee also heard SB 441 on the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, with support from the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, the Hawaii Theatre Center, musicians, and others emphasizing cultural value, workforce stability, and statewide access to the arts. The transcript then moved to SB 1581 on the Hawaii Japan Pacific Peace Monument and SB 1577 relating to the State Foundation on the Arts; on SB 1577, the Attorney General warned that using the Works of Special Art Fund for operating purposes could jeopardize the tax-exempt status of related bonds and recommended deleting section five, while also pointing to the Performing Arts Special Fund as an alternative.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll go order.
• So, this bill would allow our local tax assessors offices in each county to give that veteran a temporary
• to give that offices in each county to give that veteran<00:18:57.760> a<00:18:58.240> temporary
• <00:18:59.120> certificate veteran a temporary certificate veteran a temporary certificate

Bills: HB131, HB77, HB131, HB77

Keywords: Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers, diversity, government oversight, Sunset Law, congressional districts, HB77, absentee voting, absentee ballot, disabled voter, disability accommodation, voter assistance, ballot delivery, ballot application, designee, caregiver, election manager, vote by mail, mail ballot, ballot harvesting, voter access

Transcript Highlights:

• is a double wide trailer with temporary is a double wide trailer with temporary movable<00:15:23.680
• director of Minnesota Public Authority director of Minnesota Public Authority um<00:39:22.160>
• is a multi-agency facilities Authority is a multi-agency Authority<00:40:36.040> providing<00
• So do you have current authority to do so, or do you need authority from us at the Legislature to make
• to do so or do you need authority to do so or do you need Authority<01:09:43.679> from<01:09:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Hawaii pring Authority we have the Hawaii pring Authority we have the administrator<00:00:58.160>
• That’s due to a temporary surge.
• We will have that authority, yes. You have that authority, correct? Right, right.
• DOD has a total of 504 authorized positions: 292 permanent and 212 temporary.
• positions 292 permanent and authorized positions 292 permanent and 212<01:15:33.400> temporary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony first from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Director Tommy Johnson outlined short-term goals to reduce overcrowding, improve living and working conditions, fill vacancies, expand mental health services, and update the correctional master plan. He said the department is still dealing with severe overcrowding at facilities such as OCCC and HCCC, with 947 people at OCCC against a design capacity of 628, and noted 938 inmates are currently housed on the mainland because of temporary repairs at Halawa. He also reported progress on staffing, saying the correctional officer vacancy rate has dropped from 34.3% to 24% through expanded recruitment. The department’s major budget request was $30 million for planning and design for a new Old Triple C project, along with other requests for re-entry services, identification documents, security systems, radios, sink-toilet modules, and trauma-informed care. Members asked about the timing and scope of the OCCC project, courtroom space in new facilities, and the department’s plan to use the funding to improve re-entry and reduce recidivism. The committee then heard from the Department of Law Enforcement on a wide range of priorities. The department described requests to expand agricultural crime enforcement, traffic enforcement, illegal fireworks enforcement, and facilities such as a police building at the DKI airport, a state training center, and new police facilities in central and Leeward Oahu. It also discussed a major IT request for a statewide law enforcement and critical infrastructure notification platform, plus funding for grants management, the Wahiawa Civic Center and court complex, the prescription monitoring program, narcotics enforcement operations, and the narcotics lab. A significant portion of the discussion focused on a proposed traffic enforcement program for commercial vehicle inspections, speeding, and DUI enforcement, which the department said would be funded with federal dollars and would operate concurrently with county police. Committee members questioned whether the effort duplicated county jurisdiction and how the program would be trained and staffed. Members also pressed the department on salary disparities for deputy sheriffs and related vacancies, and the department said the administration was working on a supplemental agreement and placeholder funding to address the issue. Additional discussion covered agricultural crime staffing, the Silver Alert program, and expansion of the forensic lab to handle explosives, firearms, and related evidence. No votes were taken in the portion provided, and the meeting moved from the corrections presentation to the law enforcement budget review with questions and answers throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, members, the Senate Committee on Education K-16 will come to order.
• So ordered. The Chair lays out House Bill 3126.
• None, so ordered.
• Hearing none, so ordered.
• Hearing none, so ordered.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, a board may delegate change order authority to a county engineer or other officer to order and
• Under the current law, change orders require two-thirds authority by the Board of Supervisors to approve
• Current law change orders require a two-thirds authority by the Board of Supervisors to approve change
• In summary, AB 1658 makes permanent the existing change order authority that we've been using under the
• temporary authority, and we thank you for having me here today.

Summary: The committee heard eight bills, mostly on local government, housing, and public agency contracting. AB 1658 would make permanent higher change-order authority for Santa Clara and Los Angeles counties on large construction projects; supporters said it would reduce delays and save money on major projects, and the bill passed 6-0. AB 2263 would authorize the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to develop employee-preference affordable housing; supporters said it would help with workforce retention and long commutes, and it also passed 6-0. AB 2134 would require city councils to allow parental leave without forcing members to seek public approval or risk losing their seats; supporters described the bill as necessary to protect new parents in local office, and it passed 6-0. AB 2188 would raise Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s contracting authority to $250,000, with supporters citing administrative savings and faster project delivery; after committee amendments, it passed 6-0. AB 2033 would let general law cities use job order contracting for repair and maintenance work, with safeguards against employee displacement; supporters called it an efficiency tool, while AFSCME opposed it over workforce impacts, and it passed 8-0 after amendments. AB 1768 would authorize Los Angeles County and Contra Costa County to ask voters to approve a temporary transactions and use tax to help offset major federal health care cuts and preserve clinics and public health services. Supporters from community clinics, Planned Parenthood, labor groups, counties, and health organizations said the measure would let voters decide how to respond to funding losses; opponents, including CalTax and some cities, raised affordability and tax-burden concerns. Members also discussed equity concerns within Los Angeles County and the importance of local control. The bill was moved out on a 5-2 vote and left on call. AB 2415 would allow the city of Folsom to shift housing obligations away from its historic district and toward other transit-oriented sites; supporters said it would preserve the historic district while still meeting housing goals, and it passed 10-0. AB 2741, heard at the end of the meeting, would give cities a grace period to fix housing elements that were certified by HCD but later found noncompliant by a court, especially where cities relied on overlay zones. Supporters from the League of California Cities, Redondo Beach, and real estate groups said cities acted in good faith and should not be immediately subjected to builder’s remedy; opponents from California YIMBY and legal aid groups argued the bill would weaken housing accountability and reward noncompliance. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 2741, before a final vote is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call the Minnesota Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee to order
• They often face prior authorization and insurance challenges.
• Senate File 1173 be recommended to pass and be placed on General Orders.
• Senate File 1173 be recommended to pass and be placed on General Orders.
• Senate File 1173 be recommended to pass and be placed on General Orders.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll call the Appropriations Committee to order and ask the clerk to take the roll.
• So the temporary staff and salaries and operating: that's $62,000. $10,225 in general fund will be used
• for operating costs to add two additional FTE positions for temporary, for NAGPRA. $52,11 in federal
• funding will be used for the temporary historic preservation specialist from NRCS funds.
• We're paying temporary employees now to help that 24-7.

Bills: HB1603

Keywords: Native American, grave protection, repatriation, cultural heritage, tribal compliance, 908, all

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and announced it would begin meeting at 8 a.m. for the rest of the week to work through a growing bill list. The committee first approved House Bill 1603, a companion to the Historical Society budget dealing with NAGPRA, including a $500,000 matching grant to be divided among North Dakota’s five tribes and a committee to address repatriation of human remains and cultural items. The vote was unanimous, 15-0. The committee then considered House Bill 1225, which would increase penalties for reckless endangerment involving a firearm and create a mandatory prison term. After debate over public safety concerns versus the bill’s fiscal note and prison costs, the committee adopted a do not pass recommendation by a 9-6-1 vote. Members also discussed House Bill 1018, the State Historical Society budget, and approved an amendment that adjusted one-time funding items, including NAGPRA compliance, museum exhibits, military gallery funding, local historic grants, and line-of-credit repayment. The amended bill then received a due pass recommendation by a 14-2 vote. The committee next approved House Bill 1468, a behavioral health facility grant for St. Hayes, which supporters said would expand in-state access to acute and adolescent behavioral health care and reduce the need to send patients out of state. The bill passed 14-1. It then amended and passed House Bill 1485, increasing the personal needs allowance for certain Medicaid recipients by $15 and indexing it to inflation; the amendment and the bill as amended both passed 14-2. Finally, the committee approved House Bill 1016, the Adjutant General/National Guard budget, after adopting an amendment that funded disaster relief, response equipment, IT and website costs, and staffing changes for the watch center; the amended bill passed 14-2. The committee adjourned after completing six bills and planned to resume the next morning at 8 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please sign your order. Welcome, everyone. Please sign your cell phones.
• Lord, thank you for this opportunity we have to meet together in order to serve the people of the state
• So what this bill is going to do is create a temporary solution, and then it's going to sunset in 2030
• So in order to address that issue today, we created a grandfather's clause saying it effected 1st of
• So in order to address that issue today.

Bills: HB245, HB138, HB151, HB152, HB245, HB138, HB151, HB152

Keywords: inhalants, controlled substances, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, health, public safety, pregnancy, pregnant defendant, incarceration, jail intake, pregnancy test, bail, pre-incarceration probation, supervised probation, electronic monitoring, electronic supervision, perinatal care, prenatal care, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call to order the House Committee on Housing public hearing for Wednesday, January 29th.
• <00:20:56.080> to<00:20:56.240> become<00:20:56.480> a commission act in order
• to become a commission act in order to become a state<00:20:56.799> of<00:20:56.919> the
• Hi, Hakeim Oan Safi, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, in support. Thank you.
• a sort of a hopefully a temporary a sort of a hopefully a temporary contraction<02:09:43.960>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing and moved quickly through a long agenda, beginning with HB 606 on the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. DHHL and several community testifiers strongly supported the bill, describing it as a way to fulfill long-standing promises to Native Hawaiians, reduce the DHHL waitlist, keep families in Hawaii, and support housing production and the broader economy. Testifiers emphasized the cultural and economic importance of stable housing and noted the large number of people still waiting for DHHL homes. The committee then heard HB 1086, also relating to DHHL, which would allow the department to use a $75 million appropriation from the dwelling unit revolving fund as collateral for loans. DHHL, HHFDC, and other supporters said the measure would help DHHL obtain better loan terms and preserve trust funds for other uses. Members asked detailed questions about how the collateral would work, whether other agencies use similar structures, and what would happen if the collateral were drawn upon; staff explained that the funds would be encumbered for the loan and that a similar model had been used for a HUD-backed project. The committee also heard HB 739, which would create the COM homes program to fund counties to buy voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or buyers. Supporters said the program could help keep local workers in Hawaii by using existing housing stock and cited examples from places like Aspen and Vail. The Attorney General’s office recommended amendments to remove duration requirements to avoid right-to-travel concerns, and the Tax Foundation suggested clarifying the conveyance tax exemption so it also covers the instrument imposing the restriction. Members asked whether tax dollars would be used to buy homes, who would be eligible, and how enforcement would work; supporters said the program is voluntary and income-blind, with restrictions tied to living and working in the state. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Standing Committee on Education will come to order. Please call the roll.
• Joe Carol Ellis, director of Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority. Floor is yours.
• He commended the superintendent of Cloverport for offering a solution, at least a temporary one, and
• <00:38:11.359> He's<00:38:11.680> saying at least a temporary one.
• He's saying at least a temporary one.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard House Bill 132, which would change home and hospital instruction funding so schools can be reimbursed sooner when students miss school for short-term mental health-related stays. Representative Nick Wilson said current law requires a student to be out five days before funding begins, leaving schools unpaid when they provide instruction during 2- to 4-day absences. The committee gave HB 132 favorable expression unanimously. The committee then heard House Bill 193, a cleanup bill on dual credit scholarships. Representative J.T. Payne and KHEAA’s director explained that the bill consolidates academic and CTE dual credit scholarships into one statute to reduce administrative confusion, since the programs have been funded together in recent budgets. HB 193 passed unanimously with favorable expression. House Bill 241 drew the most discussion. The committee first adopted a substitute, which members said changed the bill to give the Commissioner of Education discretion, rather than a mandate, to grant calamity days. The bill and substitute centered on virtual instruction and Cloverport Virtual Academy: supporters said the school was a pilot project that needed more time and that a prior agency effort to cap virtual instruction would have effectively shut it down, while opponents argued the substitute would reward a low-performing virtual model and extend NTI/virtual learning too broadly. Testimony from an Oldham County parent criticized NTI quality and opposed adding more virtual days. No final vote on HB 241 was included in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call the meeting to order.
• Thank you for the opportunity to testify today and for taking me out of order.
• The shelter is only meant to be a temporary safety net.
• income between 400 and 600% in order to stay in that unit.
• Thank you for taking me out of order.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on a broad slate of housing and homelessness bills. Chairs Rich Haggerty and Julian Cyr opened by noting the committee’s focus on EOHLC programs such as RAFT, MRVP, and HomeBASE, and several members and advocates emphasized the urgency of the state’s homelessness crisis, including rising family homelessness and the need for earlier intervention, more stable subsidies, and stronger long-term housing tools. A major theme was homelessness prevention and rehousing. Multiple witnesses supported bills to codify and strengthen RAFT and HomeBASE, arguing that assistance should be available earlier in a crisis rather than only after a notice to quit or imminent loss of housing. Testimony from legal services, homelessness coalitions, social workers, municipal housing staff, and tenant advocates said the programs help families avoid eviction and shelter, but need more flexibility, higher benefit caps, and permanent statutory protection. Several speakers also urged support for codifying the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), describing it as a critical long-term subsidy for low-income households and older adults, and warning that codification would protect the program from future budget or policy changes. The committee also heard testimony on housing stability for older adults, affordable homes for people with disabilities, supportive housing, housing cooperatives, home sharing, local preference, and reentry housing for returning citizens. Advocates for older adults described a Somerville bridge subsidy pilot that helped stabilize seniors while they waited for permanent housing, and urged statewide expansion. Supporters of supportive housing called for an interagency board to streamline funding and development, while cooperative housing proponents backed creation of a Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives and a dedicated funding reserve. A bill to secure housing for returning citizens drew support from reentry providers and Senator Adam Gomez, who said stable housing is essential to successful reintegration. No votes were taken during the hearing; witnesses generally asked the committee to report the bills favorably, and some members asked follow-up questions on data and program details.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, a board may delegate change-order authority to a county engineer or other officer to order and
• Under the current law, change orders require two-thirds authority by the Board of Supervisors.
• In summary, AB 1658 makes permanent the existing change-order authority that we've been using under the
• temporary authority, and we thank you for having me here today.
• Today I'm presenting AB 2033, which would authorize general law cities to use job order contracts, or

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by author with the four bills authored by the state sorry by the Senate policy committees listed at
• SB 704 Aragine firearm barrels do pass with author amendments to add exemptions and authorize DOJ to
• SB 306 Becker, healthcare prior authorization do pass with author amendments related to treatment modifications
• Do pass with author amendments to among other things modify regulatory fee and enforcement provisions
• SB 596 Menjivar, nursing staff ratio penalties do pass with author amendments to remove timelines.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are various temporary appropriation requests.
• These are various temporary appropriation requests.
• This was for $90,000 of spending authority. This is to cover cost increases in contracts.
• This is for $90,000 of spending authority. This is to cover cost increases in contracts.
• It's for $750,000 of spending authority.

Summary: The committee met to consider a series of appropriation, reserve transfer, and grant requests. Early items included temporary appropriations for the Department of Education’s Educational Freedom Account program ($32 million), the State Crime Lab ($476,000), and DFA Assessment Coordination ($90,000), along with a $1 ARPA return from the Department of Health. The committee approved these items after brief questions, including a discussion about contract cost increases at Assessment Coordination and a clarification that the $1 ARPA item was simply an unused-funds return. The most extensive discussion centered on the Department of Education’s EFA funding. Members questioned the growth in participation, the use of one-time funds and restricted reserves, and safeguards against fraud or improper purchases. Agency officials said about 44,000 students were being funded, that purchases are reviewed and flagged for unusual activity, and that homeschool students are not required to buy a curriculum so long as purchases are eligible and approved. The committee approved the EFA appropriation and related reserve transfer, and officials said the governor’s proposed budget would include the program in the RSA going forward. The committee also approved a DHS reallocation request and reviewed a building authority loan for a data center power supply replacement. In the federal grant section, members discussed a Department of Agriculture request for Central Arkansas Water to acquire land in the Maumelle watershed. Debate focused on the environmental benefits versus local property-tax and development concerns in Perry County, with testimony from the agency, Central Arkansas Water, and Potlatch about watershed protection, public access, and potential development impacts. After extended discussion, the committee adopted a motion to defer the item to the full Legislative Council and asked the department to remove the Perry County portion from the request, limiting the grant-funded purchase to Pulaski County property. The committee then reviewed remaining items, including a Veterans Affairs pay-plan appropriation, and adjourned.