Transcript Highlights:

• How do we incentivize utilities to upgrade to AMI meters so that there is data for the data platform?
• How do we incentivize utilities to upgrade to AMI meters so that there is data for the data platform?
• How do we incentivize utilities to upgrade to AMI meters so that there is data for the data platform?
• How do we incentivize utilities to upgrade to AMI meters so that there is data for the data platform?
• How do we incentivize utilities to upgrade to AMI meters so that there is data for the data platform?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the only door California has into the missing middle, the 80% to 120% AMI band.
• This is the only door California has into the missing middle, the 80 to 120% AMI banned.
• Above 80% of AMI, no production model works at scale without the exemption.
• The welfare exemption stops at 80% of AMI.
• partner with cities to acquire apartment communities, deed-restrict units to households at 80% to 120% of AMI

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several housing-finance and permitting reforms aimed at making affordable and middle-income housing projects “pencil.” The first panel focused on the welfare property tax exemption, with witnesses arguing that annual recertifications are outdated, burdensome, and costly for both residents and operators. They urged streamlining by aligning eligibility rules with TCAC or HCD monitoring, allowing one-time qualification at occupancy, and preserving exemptions for projects that remain in compliance, especially as insurance costs and operating deficits are rising sharply. A major portion of the meeting centered on social housing and community land trusts under SB 555. HCD described the state’s ongoing study, due by December 31, 2026 and to be included in the 2027 annual report, and outlined public engagement already completed with residents and practitioners. Community land trust and policy witnesses argued that social housing will require legislative action beyond the study, including expanded tax abatements, public land use, soft loans, and simpler capital stacks. They emphasized that the model should include mixed-income and “missing middle” households, and several members discussed the stigma around the term “social housing,” suggesting a rebrand toward generational or multi-generational housing to broaden public support. The committee also discussed a proposed certified professional program modeled on Vancouver, Canada, to speed plan checks and inspections by allowing state-certified private professionals to perform certain code-compliance functions under local oversight. The witness said this would reduce delays, repeated reviews, and cost overruns while preserving local authority over zoning and enforcement. Members raised concerns about local control, infrastructure costs, and political resistance, but expressed interest in exploring a pilot and further recommendations. In the final panel, housing advocates supported allowing HCD loan funds to be disbursed during construction rather than only after completion. They said this would reduce interest costs, improve project feasibility, and could produce additional affordable homes without new appropriations. Members agreed the current system is fragmented and outdated, and several speakers and legislators repeatedly called for streamlined, more flexible financing and permitting tools to support housing production.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I will tell you, Amy is his favorite.
• By far, Amy is his favorite because Amy could get him the vote on any bill she wanted just by batting
• But Charlie respects Amy that much, and they've always had a good relationship.
• Amy, I can't say enough about your work.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate took up a series of House amendments and conference-related actions on multiple bills, mostly concurring with the House and passing the measures. Bills approved included SB 194 on the disabled veteran taxpayer definition, SB 499 on auto accident toxicology testing, SB 672 on Real Estate Commission license discipline, SB 724 on home confinement officers and EMS retirement, SB 897 on alcohol and drug counselor licensure, SB 982 creating the Neighborhood Access Road Program, SB 197 increasing penalties for sex crimes against minors, SB 648 on the Strategic and Critical Resources Act, SB 182 on minor boundary adjustment annexation, SB 5101 on strangulation penalties, SB 4364 on juvenile offender bail/counsel provisions, SB 4412 on age verification for websites, SB 5564 on deputy sheriff vacation carryover, SB 4138 on sex offender registration fees, SB 4951 on continuing education for MDs and DOs, SB 4 on officer protections, and SB 927 on agricultural rulemaking and municipal regulation of beekeeping. In several cases the Senate also adopted effective-date motions, including making SB 724 effective July 1, 2026 and SB 648 effective from passage. The chamber also handled a disagreement on House Bill 4588, refusing to recede from its amendment and appointing a conference committee. On SB 389, the Senate refused to concur in the House amendment and asked the House to recede after the House amendment stripped operative provisions from the historic rehab building credit bill. SB 182 was briefly reconsidered and then passed again after a motion to reconsider the vote. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to adopting Senate Resolution 67 honoring Senator Michael Andrew Woelfel and Senate Resolution 68 honoring Senator Charles Houston Clements. Members from both parties gave extended remarks praising Woelfel’s candor, mentorship, and long service, and Clements’s steadiness, institutional knowledge, and public service. Both resolutions were adopted by roll call vote, and the Senate then recessed briefly to present the honorees with resolutions and flags flown over the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we have Amy Agayani for the legal clinic.
• <00:11:00.480> Next<00:11:00.800> we<00:11:01.120> have<00:11:01.279> Amy
• have one follow-up question perhaps um I have one follow-up question perhaps um for<00:14:12.320> Amy
• <00:14:16.480> You for Amy Aayani or Liza Ryan Gil. You for Amy Aayani or Liza Ryan Gil.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several public safety and emergency-related measures. SB 3192, on emergency healthcare license waivers, drew support from nursing and healthcare advocates who said automatic emergency licensure during a governor-declared emergency would help avoid delays in bringing qualified clinicians to disaster areas, citing the Lahaina wildfire response. The committee reported 13 supportive testimonies, none in opposition, and one comment. It later recommended passage of SB 3192 with technical non-substantive amendments and a defective effective date, and the recommendation was adopted by vote. SB 2121, requiring ASL interpretation and visible picture-in-picture display during official emergency announcements, received supportive testimony from the Disability and Communications Access Board and the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters. DAP demonstrated why captions alone are not sufficient and why an interpreter on screen improves effective communication. Broadcasters supported the bill’s intent but raised practical concerns about implementation and staffing, suggesting amendments. SB 3239, which would appropriate funds to HMA for bilingual resources and services for residents with limited English proficiency, was supported by legal aid and immigrant-rights advocates who emphasized the need for language access during disasters and noted the large LEP population in Hawaii. After discussion, the chair proposed folding the sign-language and multilingual access concepts into SB 21109, a broader emergency preparedness communications bill, and the committee deferred SB 2121 and SB 3239. The committee also heard SB 2645 on fire prevention and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The fire marshal supported the bill’s provisions to modernize the office, create cross-certified assistant fire marshals, shift inspections to a risk-based schedule, establish the state fire code as the baseline, and create a special fund, but DLNR opposed the section changing the marshal selection process from a council-based appointment to gubernatorial appointment. The chair ultimately recommended passage of the proposed SD2 with blank appropriation amounts and committee-report concerns, and the recommendation was adopted. The committee then passed SB 21109 with amendments, incorporating the deferred sign-language and language-access ideas into the broader emergency communications framework. It also later took up measures from the prior day’s agenda, passing SB 2882, SB 3191, and SB 2339 with amendments, including changes to the state buildings, water safety/drowning prevention, and building code council measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amy, is it Keith? Yes, wave and support. Wave and support, I love it.
• Amy Keith. I think it's Letitia Harmon, County.
• Kristen Ellington, and followed by Amy Keith, our K-E-I-T-N, followed by Jonathan Weber. Ms.
• Amy Keith, followed by Jonathan Weber, followed by Brad Ashwell. Hi, good morning.
• My name is Amy Keith from Common Cause, and we ask you to vote no on SB 1334 because it will prevent

Bills: S0460, S0748, S1180, S1334

Keywords: special elections, vacancy, Governor authority, election timeframe, judicial determination, voting rights, felony, sentencing, civil rights, criminal justice, rehabilitation, elections, voter registration, citizenship, provisional ballots, election fraud

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum and took up several election-related bills. CS/SB 1180 by Senator Arrington, which creates a recall framework for elected community development district board members and also addresses synthetic turf regulation and CDD eligibility, was presented briefly and then approved unanimously. SB 460 by Senator Polsky, requiring the governor to call special elections within set deadlines after vacancies and allowing judicial relief if deadlines are not met, also passed unanimously after members discussed flexibility for emergencies and the cost of delayed elections. The committee then heard SB 748 by Senator Bracy Davis, which would add constitutional voting-rights restoration language to the sentencing score sheet given to felony defendants. Supporters said it would improve clarity and notice without changing eligibility, and the bill was favorably reported unanimously. The committee also confirmed several appointees, including Jim Milliken and Alicia McShea to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, Robert P. Estalas as Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and additional gubernatorial appointees listed on the agenda, all by favorable votes. The longest discussion centered on Senator Grall’s strike-all amendment for SB 1334, an elections bill dealing with citizenship verification, Real ID and SAVE database use, paper-ballot voting, candidate qualification rules, and related election administration changes. Supporters argued it would streamline verification and ensure only citizens vote, while opponents warned it would create burdens, disenfranchise eligible voters, and impose costs and administrative confusion. After extensive public testimony both for and against, the committee adopted an amendment to allow supervisors of elections to observe holidays when not otherwise required to be open, then approved the strike-all as amended by a 6-2 vote, with Senators Polsky and Bernard voting no. The meeting then adjourned after members recorded their votes on earlier items.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe, let's see, this is—I think it's Amy Keith. Amy Keith. You're recognized. Good afternoon.
• My name is Amy Keith. I'm the executive director for Common Cause here in Florida.
• Amy McGuire waves in support. Iona Fernandez, AARP, waves in support. Art Woodruff waves against.
• council member of Maldora, waves against, Pam Wessling, Dora waves against Pam Wesseling waves in support Amy

Bills: S0218, S0380, S0936, S0948, S0962, S0984, S1020, S1180, S1434, S1444, S1612

Keywords: land use, disaster recovery, local government, federal assistance, Hurricane relief, legal notices, public accessibility, government transparency, digital publication, government agencies, temporary door locking device, emergency safety, building code, training programs, fire exit security, affordable housing, land development, starter homes, local government regulations, housing shortage

Summary: The committee took up a series of land use, housing, local government, and public notice bills, along with a firefighter cancer bill and a bill on temporary door locking devices. SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits and prevention was explained as clarifying access to death benefits and a one-time cancer payment for firefighters; it was reported favorably. SB 1612 required local governments to accept electronic payments online; it also passed favorably. SB 1180 created a recall framework for elected community development district board members and, through a strike-all amendment, also addressed synthetic turf enforcement and expanded compact urban mixed-use district definitions; the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. SB 936 allowed temporary door locking devices above the finished floor and directed the Building Commission to add standards to the Florida Building Code; it passed favorably. The committee also considered SB 380 on legal notices, which would let certain local government entities publish notices on their own websites or other designated sites instead of relying on newspapers in more cases. The Florida Press Association, Common Cause, and newspaper representatives opposed the bill, arguing it would fragment public notice access and make notices harder to find and verify, while supporters said it would modernize and reduce costs. The bill’s amendment clarified which agencies were covered, and the committee reported the bill favorably. SB 962 on affordable housing narrowed prior zoning preemption language so working farms and farm operations would not be unintentionally captured by Live Local-style rules; it passed favorably. SB 1444 on state preemption and religious expression, private clubs, and minor home construction drew support from religious freedom advocates and opposition from cities and counties, which warned of vague terms and overbroad preemption; it was reported favorably. The committee then approved SB 218, which would limit the reach of last session’s hurricane recovery land-use preemption to counties actually damaged by hurricanes and restore normal local land-use authority in unaffected counties. SB 1434 on infill redevelopment would streamline zoning and subdivision approvals for environmentally impacted parcels in certain urban counties to encourage housing on contaminated or underused land; counties and local-government groups opposed it as an overbroad preemption and raised concerns about the environmental threshold and density provisions, but the bill was reported favorably. SB 1020 on chickees prohibited local ordinances from blocking chickee construction if setback requirements are met and made unauthorized attempts to circumvent the building code a misdemeanor; it passed favorably. Finally, SB 948 on local government land development regulations and orders, as amended, proposed a statewide starter-home framework with lot-split and zoning changes to increase housing supply; local-government and planning groups warned it would function as a rigid statewide zoning code and could drive overdevelopment, while housing advocates supported it as necessary state action. The committee reported the bill favorably after extensive debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why is the state economist removed from the financial impact estimating process, who is Amy Baker, who
• Next, we'll hear from Jackson Oberlinck, and on deck is Amy Keith. Jackson Oberlinck?
• Amy Keith, Amy Keith, and on deck is Jonathan Weber. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
• My name's Amy Keith. I'm the executive director of Common Cause Florida.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections heard SPB 7016, a bill revising Florida’s citizen initiative petition process to address fraud, voter information, and ballot integrity. The bill and its amendments would add sponsor bonds and deposit requirements, require more identifying information from signers and circulators, bar certain felons and non-citizens from circulating petitions, require circulator training, shorten the time to submit signed petitions, require notices to voters whose signatures are verified, and change how financial impact statements are handled. Several amendments were adopted, including a $1 million bond framework, 10-point font and page limits for petition forms, a ban on incentive-based pay tied to petition counts or speed, removal of a requirement that fraud be proven by criminal conviction before administrative fines, county deposit and payment procedures for supervisors of elections, invalidation of petitions gathered by ineligible circulators, training requirements within 30 days, and a prohibition on public funds being used to advocate for or against constitutional amendments. Committee discussion focused heavily on implementation and fairness. Supporters, including the sponsor and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, argued the bill was needed to deter fraud, protect voter information, and ensure sponsors—not taxpayers—bear the costs of the initiative process. Supervisors of elections testified that county taxpayers should not subsidize petition verification, but also warned that some provisions would be difficult to implement quickly because of software and operational constraints. Senators raised questions about the bond cost, the 10-day submission deadline, notice to voters whose petitions are invalidated, the effect on returning citizens, and whether the bill could disenfranchise voters who sign petitions in good faith. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed. Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, NAACP Florida, Florida Rising, Equality Florida, All Voting Is Local, and other advocates said the bill would suppress grassroots participation, criminalize volunteers, create costly barriers, and favor wealthy or corporate interests. They objected especially to the bond, the new signer identification requirements, the shorter submission window, and the lack of notice when a petition is invalidated. A few supporters, including the Florida Chamber, backed the measure as a safeguard against fraud and outside influence. After debate, the committee did not reach a final vote on the bill in the portion provided, but the bill remained before the committee as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• most of the funding that you're using is for really people that are between 51 percent and 60 percent AMI
• Still, the significant need is for, in most households in need, those at 80% AMI and below.
• Now, for home ownership programs, that AMI will be higher, where we're reaching higher-income households
• So hopefully that helps to kind of give a point of reference regarding AMI. Thank you.
• And it goes into up to 80% of the AMI. That number has not increased the amount of it since 1995.

Summary: The committee met to hear a panel on workforce and attainable housing, with presentations from Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, Wendover Housing Partners, the City of Tallahassee, and Escambia County. Speakers described how state and local tools such as SHIP, the Live Local Act, land trusts, accessory dwelling units, infill development, and public-private partnerships are being used to expand housing supply and preserve long-term affordability. Several panelists emphasized that housing demand is rising across income levels, that workforce households often need subsidy to buy or rent, and that housing location, transportation access, and proximity to jobs and services are critical. They also highlighted challenges including rising construction costs, limited land, insurance, NIMBY opposition, and the need for more flexible financing tools and employer participation. Members asked about area median income thresholds, whether current programs are reaching the households most in need, and what additional tools might help. Florida Housing said its traditional rental programs generally serve households at or below 60% AMI, while need is increasingly reaching up to 80% AMI statewide and higher in some regions; staff also provided examples of AMI levels by county. Other discussion focused on the impact of local government opt-outs, tax abatements, corporate ownership of single-family homes, insurance costs, Fortified construction standards, and whether bonuses or other income calculations can unintentionally disqualify applicants. Panelists urged more political will, more local flexibility, and additional incentives for employers and landowners to support housing near jobs. The committee also used an anonymous interactive polling exercise, and members identified partnerships, SHIP funding, local government action, cost, and insurance as key issues. In closing, the chair said the committee would continue a member-driven process and likely hold a workshop on housing-related topics. No formal votes or bills were taken up in the meeting, and the session adjourned after the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Michael Curry, Amy Shea, Amy Rosenthal, and Rassan Hall. Welcome back.
• ally and friend Amy Rosenthal, to speak to the urgency of an act to advance health equity.
• ally and friend Amy Rosenthal to speak to the urgency of an act to advance health equity.
• My name is Amy Shea, and I'm the President and CEO of the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts
• My name is Amy Rosenthal, and I'm the Executive Director of Health Care for All.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a large docket of bills focused on MassHealth benefits and reimbursement, health equity, behavioral health, public health, dental access, 340B drug pricing, tobacco cessation, and coverage for children. The chairs emphasized rising health care costs, provider shortages, administrative burdens, and persistent inequities by income, race, geography, and immigration status. Much of the testimony centered on H.1416/S.901, an act to advance health equity, with legislators and members of the Health Equity Compact arguing for statewide benchmarks, stronger health equity leadership, reimbursement for interpreter services, community health workers and patient navigation, Medicaid graduate medical education support, and a health equity zone trust fund. Witnesses described disparities in life expectancy, maternal mortality, access to primary care, and the impact of federal Medicaid and social service cuts, and urged the committee to report the bill favorably. The committee also heard strong support for H.1368/S.847 on rapid whole genome sequencing for critically ill MassHealth children. Testifiers from industry, academia, hospitals, and families said early sequencing can end long diagnostic odysseys, improve treatment decisions, shorten hospital stays, and save money, while also providing emotional relief and information for families. The hearing then moved to H.1407 on MassHealth rate parity for inpatient behavioral health providers, where Rep. Scanlan and the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems said the bill would codify existing administrative parity so managed care plans cannot pay less than the MassHealth fee-for-service rate. On H.1392/S.853 to preserve and protect public health, witnesses supported higher vaccine administration fees to improve provider participation and immunization rates. The committee also heard testimony on H.770/845 to protect 340B providers in MassHealth, and on S.848 to require reporting and transparency around 340B revenues and outside administrative costs. Additional bills drew testimony on tobacco cessation coverage for MassHealth members, with advocates supporting broader access to counseling and medications through medical, behavioral health, and dental providers. On H.1409, a nursing home operator asked for more flexibility in a MassHealth staffing-related penalty tied to patient days per resident. On H.1401/S.888, supporters of the “Take 10” dental access proposal said adult MassHealth dental coverage is underused because too few dentists accept MassHealth, leading to long travel times and avoidable emergency room visits; they urged incentive payments for dentists serving new adult MassHealth patients. Finally, on H.1403/S.855, “Cover All Kids,” advocates and immigrant community members urged removal of immigration status as a barrier to full MassHealth coverage for children, while also backing a related bill to ensure 12 months of continuous coverage for children. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and asked questions on costs, reimbursement levels, and implementation details.

Transcript Highlights:

• rental units while providing crucial financial support to middle-class families within the 60 to 140% AMI
• > 60<00:04:08.000> um<00:04:08.959> to<00:04:09.360> 140%<00:04:10.600> AMI
• <00:04:11.520> range<00:04:12.080> for the 60 um to 140% AMI range for the 60 um to
• 140% AMI range for purchasing<00:04:12.880> units.
• levels to meet demand statewide in AMI levels to meet demand statewide in the<00:48:58.880> most<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Housing, meeting jointly with the Committee on Health and Human Services, heard testimony on Senate Bill 2787, which would expand use of the rental housing revolving fund to provide loans or grants for purchasing rental units, and Senate Bill 2957, which addresses tenant displacement and relocation protections, as well as Senate Bill 2866, which would make the state rent supplement program for kupuna permanent and appropriate funds for it. Testimony on SB 2787 included support from DHHL, HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, and others, while the Attorney General recommended clarifying language and standards for grants, and the Tax Foundation questioned whether grants fit the revolving-fund structure. On SB 2957, supporters including OHA, PACT, medical-legal advocates, and tenant representatives emphasized relocation hardships from the KPT redevelopment, language access, and the need for clearer minimum safeguards; the Attorney General suggested defining “comparable units” and correcting a drafting error. On SB 2866, HPHA, Catholic Charities, AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the kupuna rent supplement program permanent to prevent homelessness among low-income seniors. During discussion on SB 2957, members questioned HPHA and tenant counsel about the KPT low-rise relocation process and what “comparable housing” meant in practice. HPHA said all tenants were relocated, but counsel described disputes over comparability, disability and family-size issues, and at least one offered unit that was not livable. For SB 2787, members questioned DHHL about why it sought funding from the rental housing revolving fund rather than other sources; DHHL said it was still exploring options and had mostly used its funds for infrastructure, with only a small portion used as revolving funds. The chair expressed concern about relying on scarce housing funds and urged more efficient use of DHHL’s existing resources. In decision-making, the committees voted to pass SB 2957 with amendments and SB 2866 with amendments. For SB 2957, the amendments would replace the bill with a working group on tenant displacement and relocation, include a blank appropriation and defective date, and request $75,000 for the working group; the motion was adopted unanimously by the members present, with Senator Favela excused. For SB 2866, the amended version would include a blank appropriation, defective date, and committee report language noting requests for $110,160 for two HPHA public housing specialist positions and $2.16 million for the state rent supplement program; this motion was also adopted, with Senator Favela excused. After the joint hearing adjourned, the committee returned to the housing-only agenda and continued discussion of SB 2787 before moving on to SB 3089, which would amend the down payment loan assistance program for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers; testimony on SB 3089 was beginning when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so in Bernallio County, for example, a household, um, at 150% of AMI, a two-person household will
• and search by your county, and you can find information about how many houses are missing for every AMI
• Um, you referred to, um, AMI and a source that we could go to to look up and see statewide, um.
• You know, where housing has been built and based on AMI, is it also broken down by census tract?
• Representing on the map, that is the rental gap for people who are earning below 30% of AMI.

Transcript Highlights:

• And um, you know, I think technically that county the 90% AMI is an algorithm of sorts.
• And um, you know, I think technically that county the 90% AMI is an algorithm of sorts.
• I mean, they're typically under 80% AMI. That is what the market rent would be. >> Thank you.
• the population that really is at AMI the population that really is at risk<02:20:00.080> for<
• And so um income range of 60 to 140 AMI.

Bills: HB2611, HB2102, HB1710, HB1868, HB1920, HB1812, HB1733, HB1715, HB1723, HB1724, HB1727, HB1711

Keywords: HB2611, Hawaii antitrust, rental housing, rent price-fixing, algorithmic pricing, algorithmic rent-setting, property management software, pricing algorithms, rent coordination, price-fixing, collusion, cartel, multifamily housing, landlord software, occupancy levels, lease terms, Attorney General, public education program, consumer protection, housing affordability

Summary: The committee first took up HB 2611, which would prohibit algorithmic price-setting in Hawaii’s rental market, require public education by the Attorney General, and establish fines and penalties. The Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill, saying its language was too unclear and could expose landlords and agents to criminal and civil liability for ordinary rent-setting practices based on public information or assistance from property professionals. Members asked about antitrust standards, tacit agreement, and whether using county-published affordable-rent schedules would be unlawful; the AG said that would not be unlawful if based on public information and without collusion. Testimony was mixed, with the chair noting support from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Realtors with comments, 50501 Hawaii and General Strike Hawaii, Haloha Project, 13 individuals, and one opponent. The committee then heard HB 2102, which clarifies that residential projects involving ground disturbance in high-risk areas remain subject to state historic preservation review and removes an exemption for lands presumed nominally sensitive. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and the Department of Planning and Permitting supported the measure, saying it would improve clarity and ensure review focuses on projects most likely to affect historic properties or iwi kupuna, while also urging language refinements to better define sensitive sandy-soil areas and balance preservation with housing timelines. NAP Hawaii opposed the bill, arguing it would undo progress made last session and that the current process already includes protections for inadvertent discoveries and efficiency for lower-risk areas. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs strongly supported HB 2102, explaining it was responding to beneficiary complaints about late-added language in last year’s law and saying the nominally sensitive-area language should be removed because it was adopted without sufficient stakeholder input and could be harmful to iwi kupuna protections. Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation and several individuals also supported the bill. Committee discussion focused on how “nominally sensitive” areas are determined, whether project proponents could self-certify areas as exempt, and how high-density residential projects should be treated; SHPD said it uses survey and monitoring data to map sensitivity, that highly sensitive areas like Kīauea are not nominally sensitive, and that some high-density projects should remain exempt if they do not involve new ground disturbance. The hearing included no final vote in the portion provided, but the chair noted 48 individuals in support and continued questioning on the bill’s definitions and implementation.

Transcript Highlights:

• me today is Amy Newbery our director<04:09:42.800> of<04:09:42.920> administ director
• <04:10:34.640> good happy to answer any questions Amy good happy to answer any questions Amy
• Chairman and apologized, asking Amy for her last name.
• <04:23:28.040> can I'll let I'll jump in before Amy can I'll let I'll jump in before Amy can
• He directed me to Amy Newberry. She was exceptionally helpful, and you sent me a letter, email...

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented its capital budget process and priorities, explaining that it maintains and operates 96 state buildings and uses annual facility walkthroughs, condition assessments, and rough cost estimates to rank projects for the governor’s capital budget. Officials described how requests are triaged, how the governor’s office and Public Works refine estimates, and how the resulting capital budget book serves as legislative intent for approved projects. They also noted that this year the governor’s office asked for estimates on all selected projects, which increased workload but reduced detail. The department highlighted several requested projects, including $1.5 million for the ERP system sustainability fund, which officials said is critical because the state is upgrading its core financial, HR, and budget system to the cloud. Other priorities included courthouse HVAC and boiler work, brick repointing at the State House annex/main building, window replacement at the Spalding building, and elevator replacement on the hospital campus. Officials also said the governor’s proposed capital budget included fewer DAS projects than in past years and asked the committee to consider funding closer to historic levels. The committee then reviewed lapse and reallocation items. DAS said most older projects are still in design, bid, or construction because projects now take four to six years rather than two to three, in part due to ARPA-related workload and post-COVID construction backlogs. Members discussed lapsing $81,000 from the completed Spalding roof project and redirecting small remaining balances from several 2019 projects toward the Hillsboro County South cell block project through the Capital Project Overview Committee. Officials also confirmed ARPA-funded projects are expected to be completed before the December 2026 deadline and explained that the ERP system is the main state IT exception outside DOIT’s usual centralized control, though it still requires DOIT consultation and approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> MY NAME IS AMY. , RESIDENT AND A PROUD PARENT OF A GRADUATE STUDENT FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC
• DOCTOR AMY, INTERFAITH ALLIANCE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS A PROPONENT OF THE BILL AND WISHES TO OF YEAR
• AMY KEITH REPRESENTING COMMON CAUSE WAIVING IN OPPOSITION.
• BARBARA DID AMY REPRESENTING FLORIDA NOW WAIVING IN OPPOSITION.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our next witness is Amy Lee Owen Clossel.
• The first witness I have registered is Amy Lee Owen Klossel. Thank you.
• The name I have here is Amy Lee Owen Clossel. I'm trying to pronounce Clossel correctly.
• The first witness I have lined up to register to testify is Amy Lee Owen-Plessel, testifying here on

Bills: HB809, HB 1193, HB1916, HB2558, HB1973, HB2350, HB2399, HB2340, HB 116, HB330, HB2496, HB116

Keywords: digitized signature, waiver of citation, marriage dissolution, electronic notarization, family law, HB 1193, informal marriage, common-law marriage, declaration of informal marriage, confidentiality, privacy, county clerk, vital statistics unit, Family Code, Health and Safety Code, marriage records, public records, personally identifying information, PII, legal representative

Transcript Highlights:

• rightly and truly prepared for final passage: House 4647, an act establishing a sick leave bank for Amy
• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Amy Tangway, an employee of the Trial Court of the Commonwealth

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House took up a series of Rules Committee reports and adopted multiple orders extending committee reporting deadlines. These included extensions for the Education Committee, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, Public Service Committee, and Revenue Committee, as well as an order setting March 31, 2026, as the date for a special election to fill the 5th Essex District vacancy. The House also suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow a joint petition concerning survivors and holders of abuse or harassment prevention orders to go to the Judiciary Committee. The Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee reported several bills for consideration, and the House suspended Rule 7A to advance them. Those bills included a Senate bill amending the charter of the town of Sandwich, a House bill on dark money in local government, a bill on police certification, and a bill providing for recall elections in Dalton. All were ordered to third reading. The House then approved several measures on final passage, including a sick leave bank for Amy Tangway, removal of the residency requirement for the Dalton town manager, and a revenue bond bill for telecommunications facilities in Quincy. On third reading, the House passed several local and special bills to engrossment, including Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day, changes to the police chief appointment process in Fall River, amendments to the Arlington town manager act, and a Bridgewater town manager appointment bill. Senate Bill 2716 on the Rockland charter was amended with text from House Document 4866 and then passed to engrossment. The House later enacted the Amy Tangway sick leave bank bill again after a recess, adopted an order to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m., and adjourned to that informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rocha, Bianca Arvin Eagle, Octavio Manzano, and Amy Donche.
• Again, Jesus Moreno, Deanna Maldonado Rocha, Bianca Arvin Eagle, Octavio Manzano, and Amy Donche.
• Chair calls Amy Donce. Amy, if you'll just unmute, we'll be able to hear you.
• And Amy, are you ready to go? Were you able to unmute? Yeah, I got that. Thank you. That's great.
• My name's Amy. Please try to hold your testimony to two minutes. Yes. My name's Amy Donchie.

Summary: The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting met virtually for its West Texas regional hearing, established a quorum, and explained that the hearing was part of a series of statewide information-gathering sessions before any map was filed. The chair outlined the Zoom procedures, the two-minute testimony limit, and the availability of written comments through the committee’s public portal. Senators also discussed the logistics and transparency of the process, including the expectation that any proposed map or amendment would be made public once filed and that additional hearings would follow. Senator Blanco, whose district includes West Texas and the border region, said the area’s communities of interest should be kept together and warned against repeating the loss of representation that followed the last redistricting cycle. Senators Alvarado, Hinojosa, Miles, and others debated the value of virtual hearings versus in-person hearings, the number of people who had testified, and whether the committee could subpoena witnesses after the regional hearings ended. The chair said he was awaiting legal guidance and would consider a subpoena motion at a formal meeting the next day. A lengthy exchange also occurred over the tone of public testimony and the chair’s view that some comments directed at Republicans and the president had been offensive or historically inaccurate. Invited witnesses and public commenters largely opposed mid-decade redistricting and argued that any new map should reflect population growth, especially among Latino and other minority communities, and comply with the Voting Rights Act. Nina Perales of MALDEF said the hearings were not meaningful without a draft map and testified that Texas has a long history of discriminatory redistricting; senators questioned her about litigation, DOJ’s July 7 letter, and the 2021 congressional map. Tania Chavez Camacho, Luis Figueroa, and several El Paso residents emphasized that maps should preserve communities of interest, avoid cracking and packing, and be transparent and participatory. A smaller number of witnesses supported redistricting, including one El Paso resident who said the current districting leaves the area underrepresented and another who argued that some communities want to return to a map closer to the earlier District 16 configuration. Several witnesses also criticized the DOJ letter as inconsistent with the state’s position that the 2021 maps were drawn race-blind, while others said the current process was too rushed and lacked sufficient public input.

Transcript Highlights:

• Molly is joined here by her family, Amy and Jamie Gahan, as well as Northbridge Selectman Michael Wilkes
• Molly is joined here by her family, Amy and Jamie Gahan, as well as Northbridge Selectman Michael Wilkes

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House convened briefly, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several visiting groups and individual honorees, including students from France and Northbridge High School basketball standout Molly Gahan. The House also received a gubernatorial supplemental appropriations message for fiscal year 2025, which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and a message validating the results of a special election in Hardwick, referred to the Committee on Election Laws. The Committee on Rules reported several resolutions for adoption, including commendations for Richard T. Herody, the IBS patient support group’s recognition of World IBS Day, and Anticoagulation Forum, Inc.’s recognition of Hypertension Awareness Month. The House suspended the rules and adopted those resolutions. The Rules Committee of the two branches also recommended suspending Joint Rule 12 on several petitions, including bills on pet shop sales of certain animals, spouses serving as MassHealth caregivers, and utility services; the House agreed to suspend the rule and referred the petitions to the appropriate committees. After a brief recess, the House adopted an order to adjourn to meet again Monday at 11:30 a.m. in informal session, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of myself and Amy Bresnan, I've asked to have two things passed out, not for your consideration
• Today, one of them is an amicus letter that Amy Bresnan and I sent to the Third Court of Appeals and

Bills: HB16

Keywords: judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the low-income housing tax credit program, the developer plans to have those units at or below 50% of AMI
• the low-income housing tax credit program, the developer plans to have those units at or below 50% of AMI
• below<00:13:41.920> 50%<00:13:42.560> of<00:13:42.720> the<00:13:42.959> AMI
• <00:13:43.839> which<00:13:44.000> is<00:13:44.160> an or below 50% of the AMI
• , which is an or below 50% of the AMI, which is an extremely<00:13:45.200> uh<00:13:45.360>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all