Transcript Highlights:

• assisting clients in attaining Services assisting clients in attaining Services uh<00:18:24.320>
• <00:43:28.240> regain with social services to help them regain with social services to help
• temporary three-year women's Court pilot temporary three-year women's Court pilot program<01:03:
• <01:10:04.120> on have enough Mental Health Services on have enough Mental Health Services
• system that doesn't have enough services system that doesn't have enough services for<01:11:26.280

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard several bills on January 30. SB 286 and SB 287 both concerned supplemental funding for the Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney: SB 286 for the career criminal prosecution unit and SB 287 for the victim witness assistance program. Testimony from the department explained that these bills are filed each year because the Attorney General’s core budget allocation may not be sufficient, though the department said the core had recently been increased and the supplemental request might no longer be necessary. For SB 287, the department also warned of a possible federal Victims of Crime Act funding freeze that could cut about $1.88 million and severely harm victim services. Both bills drew support from county and community witnesses, and members asked about prior-year funding and why the requests were limited to fiscal 2025-26; no votes were taken in the excerpt. SB 289, from the State Ethics Commission, would create a more uniform administrative fine process under the ethics code and lobbyist law. The commission said the measure would not change substantive enforcement but would let it issue a notice and order of fine first, with the respondent able to request a hearing within 20 days, which would speed up cases that are not factually disputed. Members questioned whether the bill would deny due process or function like an automatic parking ticket, and the commission responded that respondents could still challenge the fine and that the process would apply to violations with fines under $1,000. The committee also heard SB 304, which would add 11 positions for the First Circuit Adult Client Services Branch; Judiciary testimony said probation caseloads are high, with an average of 116 cases per officer, and the added staff would help meet national supervision standards and better serve higher-risk clients. Members asked whether the positions were already in the budget and about current staffing ratios; the witness said the positions were not already funded and that the Judiciary supported the bill with amendments. The committee then heard SB 311, a proposed constitutional amendment to exclude spending money to influence elections from protected free speech. Testimony was strongly divided: supporters argued that Citizens United has distorted elections and empowered special interests, while opponents warned the language was too broad and could affect nonprofit advocacy and grassroots groups. Finally, SB 313 would impose a 1% wealth asset tax on individuals with $20 million or more in assets. The Department of Taxation said it had concerns about the bill’s ambiguity and administration and noted it would require annual valuation and likely additional resources; opponents, including family business representatives and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, argued the tax would be difficult and costly to administer, would require sensitive business disclosures, and could force family businesses to pay from company cash. Supporters said wealthy residents should pay a fair share. The committee heard testimony and questions on these bills, but the excerpt does not show final committee votes or actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also working with the Little Rock School District with a pilot project that launched back last
• The Cooperative Extension Service, forage clubs, Future Farmers of America could be involved in that
• Again, this is a pilot project for here in the state.
• It is a high-end pilot project.
• It is a high-end pilot project for doing new tech food growing within inner-city urban areas.

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its October 27 meeting and then heard testimony on the economic and regulatory effects of Arkansas’s raw milk law, Act 698. Clinton Ballard of Milk and Honey Hill Farm said the law helped his family farm expand from 8 to 12 cows and from serving about 75 families to about 150, increasing sales by roughly $50,000 and allowing about $10,000 in raw cheese sales through retail outlets. He argued the law supports small-farm income, food security, and local processing, but said state health agencies still do not inspect raw milk producers unless they sell to a commercial buyer, which he said limits access to USDA grants and other opportunities. He and members discussed safety practices, including rapid chilling, sick-animal removal, sanitation, customer education, and whether any optional state certification or inspection program should be created without adding burdensome regulation. Members asked about herd management, bee production, market channels, and whether raw milk producers should receive training or certification. Ballard said his farm uses Jerseys, removes sick cows from production, sells on-farm and through retail locations, and relies on best-practice guidance from groups such as the Weston A. Price Foundation and the Raw Milk Institute. Several members expressed support for consumer choice but also raised concerns about food safety, especially for children and pregnant women, and about possible “mission creep” if the state creates a voluntary inspection or training system. The discussion ended without any vote or formal action on the raw milk issue. The committee then heard a lengthy presentation from Terrence Bolden of TLB Enterprises on hydroponic and container-based farming as a response to food insecurity, food deserts, and workforce needs. Bolden described a three-year career and technical education model using retrofitted shipping containers to grow food year-round with low water and energy use, paired with training in drones, robotics, agribusiness, and entrepreneurship. He said pilot projects are underway or planned with UAPB, the Little Rock School District, and other partners, and projected that five regional hubs could create significant economic impact and multiple jobs per container. Members asked about costs, target communities, school partnerships, food desert locations, and whether the model could include aquaponics or protein production; Bolden said the program is intended as a public-private partnership and that the committee could tour a container site once it is operational. The meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also working with the Little Rock School District with a pilot project that launched back last
• So that pilot project will prove what we're saying, which is the purpose of it.
• So that pilot project will prove what we're saying, which is the purpose of it.
• Again, this is a pilot project for here in the state.
• It is a high-end pilot project for doing new tech food growing within inner-city urban areas.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee substitute makes these changes a pilot and also makes it permissible.
• So I think the, the, um, committee sub talks about a pilot.
• Well, my, my biggest concern is what I've heard about the pilot program.
• I would be concerned that there would be some counties that would be voting while the pilot programs
• I'm curious, what do you think about, uh, making this a study versus the pilot?

Bills: HB311

Keywords: flood hazards, recreational vehicles, temporary dwelling structures, Texas Water Development Board, flood safety standards, emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee substitute makes these changes a pilot and also makes it permissible.
• Well, my biggest concern is what I've heard about the pilot program.
• I'm concerned that there would be some counties that would have voting while the pilot programs haven't
• I'm curious, what do you think about making this a study versus the pilot?
• It's about making government work the way it's supposed to: efficiently, securely, and in service to

Bills: HB311, SB447, SB505, SB2217, SB2753, HB311

Keywords: voter registration, electronic, Texas election law, Signature verification, DPS, internet application, Texas Election Code, signature verification, online application, data security, electronic application, Department of Public Safety, information security, electronic voter registration, voting technology, voter access, state election laws, digital signature, election irregularities, audit

Transcript Highlights:

• To meet the needs of students receiving special education education services, we must attract and retain
• So we are adding a small pilot for our middle school students, so some of our program sites that are
• We have $6 million to pilot this statewide.
• It was the first pilot year of our new school accreditation system and process.
• It's, it was piloted over the course of this last school year, but it is now available to every single

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this is considered kind of a pilot program right now.
• Many of these agencies provided services to children in state custody.
• , outpatient therapy, and wraparound services.
• We provide no out-of-pocket cost services for youth and their families.
• They need support services to make that reunification happen.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Property tax is paid before debt service.
• But yes, I think maybe a social housing pilot on excess land, where...
• And I think it's really upon us to at least authorize a pilot.
• I think it's really imperative upon us to authorize a pilot, whereby we try out...
• I had introduced AB 2094 as a pilot program for social housing.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This one is online education service provider funding and oversight.
• So just as a reminder, the audit was regarding open online education services that are used by LEAs.
• So this pilot program doesn't alter that in any way. So there's no conflict there.
• And we do a pilot program so we can kind of ease into this. And I think it'll be very successful.
• So thank you for your service. We're looking forward to seeing everybody in the general session.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our staff be able to do some administrative side of it, and then also we have some professional services
• And then also we have some professional services dollars and those type of things for resources moving
• So we hope this is a good pilot program. Vessel to kind of allow us to work as a body.
• I've been a pilot for 23 years, and I have been president of NOBER for seven months. Steve Wall.
• of my good friend, Toby, and the roadmap that he set out for us as pilots and the whole state.

Summary: The Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission met on May 14, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the July minutes. Leadership gave opening remarks welcoming new members and noting that the commission is now administratively housed with the Office of Multimodal Commerce, which is expected to provide staff support, resources, and help restart the commission’s strategic planning work. Commissioners said the next major agenda item will likely be consultant support and further work on the strategic plan. The commission then repealed a prior July resolution that had requested a Louisiana Ports Infrastructure and Development Fund and identified critical projects for international trade and economic development. Members said the resolution was well-intentioned but premature because the projects had not been fully vetted, LED had not been sufficiently involved, and there was no clear funding plan. The repeal passed by motion and vote, with commissioners emphasizing that the projects themselves remain supported and will be revisited in a more thorough format through the strategic plan. A major portion of the meeting focused on the collaborative marketing study for the five Lower Mississippi River ports. Joe Toomey and Ken Erickson of Polaris described a regional marketing strategy built from cargo analysis, stakeholder interviews, and port data, aimed at increasing trade, economic growth, foreign direct investment, infrastructure funding support, and long-term coordination. Commissioners and LED representatives said the effort shows stronger cooperation among the ports, will live at LED with a cooperative endeavor agreement, and is already being used in foreign investment outreach and as a possible template for other port regions. The commission also received an update from the navigation and safety task force. Steve Wall, the new NOBER president, said he would continue the work begun by the late Captain Toby Waddington, who was honored with a moment of silence. Commissioners reported that recommendations from the task force are being implemented, including air gap sensors, bridge-related planning, and bundled dredging projects in the current capital outlay process. The meeting ended with no public comment and adjourned after commissioners indicated they would meet again in the next quarter.

Transcript Highlights:

• Health and Human Services Commission.
• I know we want to have job services or mental health services because we don't want them panhandling.
• Last session SB 24 created family support services the family Support Services Division at the Health
• the Department of Family and Protective Services. and combine them with other services offered to pregnant
• and Human Services Commission program.

Bills: SJR 12, SCR 39, SB 7, SB 8, SB 27, SB 29, SB 125, SB 241, SB 371, SB 396, SB 406, SB 464, SB 568, SB 578, SB 608, SB 617, SB 660, SB 689, SB 693, SB 707, SB 731, SB 732, SB 763, SB 779, SB 836, SB 854, SB 857, SB 875, SB 878, SB 879, SB 906, SB 920, SB 921, SB 922, SB 942, SB 965, SB 985, SB 996, SB 1029, SB 1035, SB 1036, SB 1059, SB 1084, SB 1098, SB 1101, SB 1185, SB 1188, SB 1321, SB 1332, SB 1366, SB 1388, SB 1396, SB 1453, SB 1484, SB 1494, SB 1536, SB 1563, SB 1596, SB 1610, SB 1619, SB 1737, SB 1738, SB 1741, SB 1816, SB 1822, SB 1841, SB 1939, SB 2155, SB 2188, SB 2230

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border, National Guard, state guard, border wall, border barriers

Summary: In this meeting, significant discussions revolved around the passage and modification of various Senate Bills, including SB1388, which pertains to family support services under the Health and Human Services Commission. Senator Kolkhorst advocated for the bill, emphasizing its focus on pro-life, family-centered care. The committee passed the bill after thorough examination, showcasing a collaborative effort among the members to ensure its alignment with successful past initiatives. In another session, Senator Hughes presented SB942, aimed at retroactive child support linked to prenatal care, which sparked a constructive dialogue reflecting bipartisan support for maternal and child welfare.

Transcript Highlights:

• external entity decide to cease providing this service.
• The initial bill was a pilot, and the good thing about a pilot is that it tests whether a program or
• This particular pilot succeeded beautifully.
• it<00:41:43.000> tests thing about a pilot is that it tests thing about a pilot is that it
• we have I mean the nature of the pilot we have I mean the nature of the pilot project<00:52:26.640

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I’m Pong Jang, Director of the Driver and Vehicle Services Division.
• Chair, I’m Pong Jang, Director of the Driver and Vehicle Services Division.
• <00:53:26.079> division service division service division um<00:53:27.960> so<00:53:28.359
• Lieutenant Craig Benz, chief pilot of the Minnesota State Patrol Flight Section Air Wing, was invited
• <01:30:38.360> oh equipment personnel and services oh equipment personnel and services oh

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members, Texans rely on municipally owned systems for services like water and wastewater.
• Texans rely on municipally owned systems for services like water, wastewater, and electricity.
• The pilots seemed to work real well. The food truck operators responded positively.
• We were the subject of the pilot. It does work really well.
• This bill would... ...expand the pilot program to all counties with populations over a million.

Bills: HB103

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re piloting this at... We’re piloting this at two locations here on campus.
• So an example would be the USDA Summer Food Service Program, an after-school snack program, which is
• For California, the state's ecosystem of research and development and innovation hubs, pilot assets,
• That surge created adoption across mainstream retail and food service.
• That was a one-year pilot program, so it ended.

Summary: The Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation held its second informational hearing at UCLA, focusing on California’s alternative protein sector and the role of public institutions in expanding plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated protein options. Chair Ash Kalra opened by highlighting prior state investments in UC research centers, the importance of student engagement, and the hearing’s three panels: reducing the carbon footprint of institutional meals, addressing market challenges to scaling alternative proteins, and advancing future food research and workforce development. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan also briefly praised the committee’s work and its relevance to climate and health goals. The first panel featured Friends of the Earth, UCLA Dining, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Megan Jones described California school food efforts, including technical assistance and microgrants that helped districts expand plant-based meals, reduce water and carbon footprints, and improve student satisfaction. Pete Angelese explained how UCLA Dining uses concept-driven venues, sustainable purchasing, and marketing nudges to increase plant-forward choices, while Dr. Michelle Wood outlined Los Angeles County’s 2024–2025 board motions to expand plant-based options in county food venues and programs, including joining the World Resources Institute’s Cool Food Pledge. Committee members asked about costs, procurement, and how student and consumer behavior can be influenced. The second panel addressed market barriers to scaling alternative proteins. Zach Weston and Daniel Gertner emphasized that the sector faces a cost-and-scale trap, high capital needs, and financing gaps, and they recommended grants, tax credits, loan guarantees, procurement commitments, and workforce development. T.K. Pillen of Beyond Meat argued that the category has faced a recent downturn due to consumer skepticism, industry attacks on “fake meat,” and pricing pressures, and said the key to renewed growth is increasing demand through better taste, health, pricing, and messaging around “plant protein.” Panelists also discussed hidden subsidies and structural advantages for conventional animal agriculture, and committee members raised questions about iBank loan guarantees and supply chain challenges. The final panel highlighted UCLA’s research and training efforts. Dr. Amy Roet described the Future Food Fellows program, which trains students across disciplines in science, communication, leadership, and community-building, and supports research on scalable, safe, and nutritious alternative proteins. Corinne Smith shared her cultivated meat research and student leadership in the Alternative Proteins Project at UCLA. Dr. Janet Tomiyama presented consumer psychology findings showing that disgust, gender norms, and terminology strongly affect acceptance, with “plant protein” and “complementary proteins” testing better than “fake meat.” The hearing concluded with support for continued public investment, clearer messaging, and expanded education and workforce pipelines to help California remain a leader in alternative protein innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Island Energy Services with comment and one individual in opposition.
• And out of respect, former council members, Albert G. comments, it service. >> Thank you.
• >> There's a pilot program that was run several years ago. It's completed.
• So this actually then provides that default option and starting with state workers as a pilot.
• Department of Transportation Services in support. UPW in support. Emmoa Alliance in support.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1694, which would create a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, and HB 1695, which would expand the state’s renewable fuels production tax credit. For HB 1694, supporters from the airlines, renewable fuels industry, business groups, and some environmental and youth representatives said sustainable aviation fuel is a practical near-term way to cut emissions in aviation, a hard-to-decarbonize sector, and argued the credit would send a market signal, support local production, and help meet state climate goals. Opponents, including Energy Justice Network and a taxpayer-focused testifier, argued the bill could subsidize expensive fuels that may not be truly clean, could duplicate benefits available under other tax provisions, and should not support transpacific aviation or technologies they said are unproven or harmful. The Department of Taxation stood on written testimony, and the chair later asked that all verbal testimony on remaining bills be limited to one minute because of time constraints. HB 1695 drew similar support and opposition, but focused more broadly on renewable fuels for transportation, trucking, shipping, and other sectors. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Energy Office, airlines, PAR Hawaii, the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, Pacific Biodiesel, and the RNG Coalition, said the bill would help scale local fuel production, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support jobs and agriculture, and advance the state’s climate and energy goals. Several supporters emphasized that the credit would help build a local industry and that life-cycle accounting should be used to measure emissions benefits. Opponents repeated concerns that some biofuels and waste-based fuels may not be climate-beneficial, may rely on flawed modeling, and could create costly infrastructure that would need to be replaced later. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:05:16.720> demonstration certification is a pilot demonstration certification is a pilot
• <01:08:24.199> period 19 by creating a 2-year pilot period 19 by creating a 2-year pilot period
• So creating a 2-year pilot amount.
• So I'm hoping and the pilot will end.
• anything and the pilot will go away. anything and the pilot will go away.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first revisited HB 781, the cell phone bill, after previously retaining it. On reconsideration, members moved to OTP the bill, and it passed unanimously. The committee then moved into the budget tracking packet and adopted an amendment to HB 2 to add the same cell phone policy language, also unanimously, and separately reduced HB 1 by $1 million to match the policy change. Members noted the cell phone language had already been stripped of grant funding language in the House version and that the policy and funding pieces were being aligned across the budget bills. The committee then took up a Department of Education technical amendment to HB 2 on charter school grants, which made timing and administrative changes without altering grant amounts, and adopted it unanimously. Members also discussed but held other education-related items, including adequacy grants, pending broader decisions on overall education funding. Another HB 2 item concerning E-911/state police radio communications prompted a longer discussion about whether E-911 surcharge funds were being used for purposes that should instead be general-funded. After debate over whether to leave the current practice in place or split the funding 50/50 between E-911 and general funds, the committee adopted a joint HB 1/HB 2 change to shift the funding source to a 50/50 split and delete the HB 2 language authorizing the prior use; the motion passed 7-0. The committee also discussed but did not act on several lottery-related provisions, including the video lottery terminal amendment, the increase in maximum ticket price from $30 to $50, and related tax split changes, with members planning to hear from the Lottery Commission on Monday. The meeting ended with the committee beginning review of new amendments in the tracking packet, including a Department of Education request related to Public School Infrastructure Commission grant administration, but no action was taken on that item in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Health Services Act through the behavioral health services and supports component.
• So not just doing one-off pilots.
• It was a pilot program investment. I don't think it's a pilot program. It was investment.
• these life-saving services.
• ...not call out any services specifically, or very few are calling out specific services.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), the Commission for Behavioral Health, and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) on budget proposals and implementation updates. DSH outlined its proposed 2026-27 budget, including funding for patient operating expenses, IST solutions savings, conditional release program costs, LPS bed allocation changes, electrical infrastructure projects at Napa and Patton, SB 380 transitional housing feasibility work, and expanded dental services at Metropolitan and Patton. DSH also reported that it has met court-ordered IST treatment benchmarks in the Stiavedi v. Clinton case, with average time to initiate treatment down to about five days and pending placements reduced to roughly 250, while noting that Proposition 36 could increase referrals and SB 1323 may divert some individuals earlier into community-based treatment. Members asked about rising outside hospitalization costs, Medicare enrollment, the timing and structure of capital projects, and whether IST solution funds are being fully used; DSH said the savings reflect slower-than-expected ramp-up of community programs and that the Central California FACT replacement program is still on track for January 2027 activation. The Commission for Behavioral Health described its role under the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), including data, evaluation, grantmaking, technical assistance, and transparency work. It highlighted the new statewide Innovation Partnership Fund, a five-year, $20 million-per-year program with small and large grant categories; the first RFA drew strong interest, with more than 400 questions and over 1,000 bidders’ conference participants. The Commission also discussed a proposed extension to spend down about $4.1 million remaining for the Alcove Youth Drop-in Center grants so sites can finish implementation and Stanford can complete the final evaluation. Members asked about grant duration, whether projects can be renewed, what qualifies as innovation, and whether the fund could support service delivery rather than awareness campaigns or training; the Commission said awards are expected to be three-year contracts and that proposals must be new or meaningfully expanded approaches that support BHSA priority populations. DHCS reviewed major behavioral health changes under CalAIM and BH Connect, including peer support, mobile crisis, contingency management, traditional health care practices for tribal members, updated specialty mental health access criteria, and new substance use treatment standards based on ASAM’s fourth edition. DHCS reported strong contingency management results, with more than 13,000 members served and 95% testing negative for stimulant use during treatment, and said 21 Indian health care providers have been approved to offer traditional health care practices. It also described BH Connect initiatives such as the $1.9 billion access reform and outcomes incentive program, workforce investments, evidence-based practice expansion, IMD participation by four counties, and transitional rent services. On BHSA implementation, DHCS said it is not tracking individual county contract cuts but is monitoring county plans and statewide outcomes, while stakeholders raised concerns about local prevention and service gaps. DHCS also outlined its H.R. 1 implementation strategy, including outreach, streamlined renewals, exemptions for disabled, substance use, and medically frail individuals, and proposed clinic navigator and outreach funding; it said it has not yet produced a focused estimate of H.R. 1 impacts on behavioral health populations. The discussion ended with DHCS noting that B-CHIP bond funding has supported 437 infrastructure projects, creating 546 new or expanded facilities and more than 9,500 residential beds across the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• We operate statewide services.
• And so the property pilot.
• General Services Department. This is going to be Agency Code 350.
• The next slide is Transportation Services.
• Thank you for that service. And thank you to all of our state workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:15:05.280> um accounting and general Services um accounting and general Services um anybody
• <01:16:32.040> and like voting and community service and like voting and community service
• The road pilot was not in the contract. Now the DOE is calling this program a pilot.
• <01:26:18.679> using it with programs like this pilot using it with programs like this pilot
• think um we would learn from the pilot think um we would learn from the pilot um<01:34:59.159>

Keywords: 910, house, all