Transcript Highlights:

• We create a more organized, balanced system without taking access away from our communities.
• House Bill 183 by Representative McMakin provides relative to the use of cellular devices in courts and
• ...cellular devices in courts and courthouses, and we do have a set of amendments.

Bills: HR2, HR37, HR61, HCR11, HCR64, HB89, HB183, HB341, HB371, HB451, HB480, HB520, HB541, HB579, HB597, HB816, HB1004, HB1064, HB1165, SB44

Keywords: transparency, accountability, Justice Department, FBI, Jeffrey Epstein, victim protection, investigation, public trust, HR37, House Resolution 37, Honduras veterans, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, military medal, veteran recognition, Congress memorialization, U.S. veterans, foreign deployment, 1981 to 1992, military service awards, combat support

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:13:38.440><c> the</c> the medical community, the the medical community, the psychiatrists,<00
• </c> Kauai Community Mental Health Center. Kauai Community Mental Health Center.
• ,</c> this is one micro community, this is one micro community, why<00:47:48.240><c> aren't</c><00:47
• </c> communities need to kind of collaborate. communities need to kind of collaborate.
• </c> we've heard from the medical community. we've heard from the medical community.

Bills: HB1626, HB1643, HB1668, HB1550, HB1974, HB1858, HB1871, HB1966, HB1972, HB1973

Keywords: youth penalties, juvenile justice, community service, fees and fines, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, reform, court costs, cultural connection, pharmacy, pharmacist, pharmacy audit, audit reform, pharmacy benefit manager, PBM, recoupment, extrapolation, claims audit, pharmacy reimbursement, dispensing fee

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 847, which would create a Kauai pilot program allowing qualified psychologists limited authority to prescribe psychotropic medications. The Board of Psychology supported the bill’s intent but asked for amendments to delay the effective date or extend the pilot so rules could be written first, and to clarify the education/training language. Supporters, including the Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Mental Health Coalition, and several psychologists, argued that prescribing psychologists have long safety records in other jurisdictions and that the pilot could improve access to care on Kauai, especially amid ongoing mental health needs and storm-related stress. They cited studies and examples from New Mexico, Louisiana, the Department of Defense, and other places. Opponents, including the Hawaii Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Queen’s Medical Center, and a Department of Health representative, said the bill needed substantial work, raised concerns about training, liability, and workforce impacts, and urged a team-based model with psychiatrist oversight rather than independent prescribing. Some testimony also referenced a GAO report, with witnesses disagreeing over its meaning and cost-effectiveness. No vote was taken during the discussion, and members asked questions about how the bill would address the workforce shortage and whether a psychiatrist on Kauai could already meet the need. The committee then moved to SB 2271 on hospital licensing and SB 2272 on home health care licensing. The Department of Health, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported both measures, which were described as streamlining and clarifying licensing oversight by relying on accreditation or certification reports. A member asked whether the bill language on hospital accreditation reports was duplicative, and the response was that the second provision was intended to strengthen enforcement by requiring hospitals to provide the actual report to DOH. The committee did not take final action in the portion of the hearing provided, and the chair noted that all bills on the agenda would later be considered for decision-making.

Transcript Highlights:

• No, no community anchor institutions.
• An additional $1 million of dedicated emergency communication service revenue for prepaid wireless service
• Yeah, the prepaid wireless services, so you buy those in advance.
• Communications, I know, went flawlessly from a siren perspective.
• And we also maintain a statewide community directory of resources.

Summary: The Information Technology Committee approved the March 26 minutes and received a series of reports from NDIT on major IT projects, the annual report, mainframe modernization, and cybersecurity services. The project portfolio was reported at 116 major projects with a baseline cost of $546 million, overall under budget but modestly behind schedule. Several projects that had been in variance status last quarter were said to have closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning. New startup reports were mostly HHS efforts tied to refugee data management, technical debt cleanup, and legacy application decommissioning, while closeouts included HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT projects with mixed budget and schedule results. In the annual report discussion, NDIT described its service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management reporting, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how revenues and grants flow through the service fund, how NDIT charges agencies for services, and whether customer satisfaction or CSAT scores are tracked and could be reported more regularly. NDIT said it does track service-team CSAT and survey data, and committee members encouraged more regular reporting of those metrics. The committee also discussed application portfolio management, statewide IT planning, and whether agencies should slow new system replacements while the state pursues an ERP system. The mainframe update focused on the state’s ongoing effort to retire legacy systems by about 2030. NDIT and HHS said the work is being managed as a tech-debt program, but progress is slowed by data cleanup, integration complexity, staff retirements, vendor capacity, and federal requirements. Members asked whether there is a coordinated commitment and whether additional vendor support or consultants are needed; NDIT said it is working jointly with HHS and is seeking an RFP to help accelerate modernization. The cybersecurity presentation then shifted to statewide maturity assessments and services. NDIT said it provides endpoint protection, vulnerability scanning, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that assessments are based on CIS controls. Members raised concerns about low participation in the self-assessment process, the lack of mandatory reporting or audit authority, and whether insurance incentives through Enderf or possible State Auditor involvement could improve compliance. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program is having a real impact in communities across the state.
• What is your plan to communicate with us? Great question.
• between fiber and fixed wireless?
• And for wireless is for main providers.
• For wireless, it includes providing Wi-Fi hotspots in areas where the community is gathering, but also

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe we also—we didn't have community anchor institutions.
• No, no community anchor institutions.
• An additional $1 million of dedicated emergency communication service revenue for prepaid wireless service
• Yeah, the prepaid wireless services, so you buy those in advance.
• We also maintain a statewide community directory of resources.

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then received a quarterly update on major IT projects from NDIT. Staff reported the portfolio included 116 major projects totaling about $546 million, with the overall portfolio under budget but slightly behind schedule. They reviewed projects over the 20% variance threshold, including an Industrial Commission grants management system and DOT’s roadway pre-construction replacement, and then heard startup and closeout reports from HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT. Several previously troubled projects were closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning; some projects finished under budget and ahead of schedule, while others were significantly behind schedule or over budget but were now closed or being remediated. The committee also reviewed NDIT’s annual report, including service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how service-fund revenue and grant administrative charges are accounted for, how chargebacks work, and whether NDIT tracks customer satisfaction scores. NDIT said it does track CSAT-type measures in some service areas and has survey data, but it is not planning another customer survey this summer. Members encouraged more regular reporting of customer satisfaction, service-level metrics, and performance data to help guide future improvements. A major portion of the meeting focused on the state’s mainframe modernization effort. NDIT said the overall effort is still targeting about 2030, with multiple HHS and DOT projects underway and a $15 million tech-debt appropriation already removing some components. Staff described the main obstacles as data cleanup, complex integrations, limited staff capacity, retirements, and vendor constraints, and said they are seeking a vendor with modernization support in the next contract cycle. Members pressed for clearer accountability and faster progress, and NDIT and HHS emphasized that they are working jointly but need continued support and better tools. The committee then heard a cybersecurity update on NDIT’s statewide services and maturity assessments. NDIT explained that it provides vulnerability scanning, endpoint protection, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that these services are tied to a cybersecurity maturity assessment based on CIS controls. Members questioned the sharp drop in participation since 2020 and whether the self-assessment should be mandatory or tied more strongly to StageNet access or insurance incentives. NDIT said participation is voluntary, but Enderf is now requiring annual assessments to keep a 4% insurance discount, and members discussed whether stronger requirements or audit authority may be needed. The meeting ended as the committee began a follow-up discussion on BEAD broadband connection costs and why some locations are much more expensive to connect than others.

Transcript Highlights:

• So a community like Brockton really suffers a lot more than other, more affluent communities.
• and providers to deliver meaningful communications access to communities.
• Thank you. ...deliver meaningful communications access to communities and just reducing those barriers
• I filed this legislation based on numerous communications I have had with those living in the community
• and neighborhood communities.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy opened its hearing with testimony on several broadband, towing, and rideshare-related bills. The first major issue was H. 3470/S. 2259, which would add data privacy and integrity protections for transportation network driver information. Rideshare drivers and labor advocates strongly opposed the bill, saying it would delay implementation of Question 3, which Massachusetts voters approved to give rideshare drivers a path to unionize. Drivers described low pay, deactivations, harassment, safety risks, and the need for a union to negotiate fairer working conditions. Legal and labor experts testified that the bill was largely duplicative of existing law and regulations and would unnecessarily postpone drivers’ organizing rights. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard extensive testimony on broadband affordability and access bills, including S. 2318/H. 3527 and related measures. Supporters, including legislators, digital equity advocates, senior advocates, and service providers, said low-income households need a permanent affordable broadband option after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program ended. They argued that internet access is now essential for jobs, school, health care, housing, and daily life, and supported a flat-rate low-income plan around $15 per month with protections such as no installation fees or termination fees. Opponents from cable and wireless industry groups argued the bills would impose artificial price mandates, discourage investment, and reduce consumer choice, noting that providers already offer discounted programs. The committee also heard support for broadband deployment and pole-attachment streamlining bills, with providers and municipal broadband advocates saying permitting delays and pole access bottlenecks slow expansion and raise costs. Additional testimony covered H. 3566, which would exempt municipal broadband projects from surety bond requirements, and towing-related bills including S. 2235, H. 3507, H. 3516, and H. 3482. Insurance and anti-fraud witnesses supported stronger towing protections, saying some towers charge excessive fees and hold vehicles hostage, while one witness urged broader consumer safeguards. The hearing ended after the chairs shortened testimony to fit the room schedule, asked for final comments on remaining bills, and then adjourned by motion and voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• communication device and a handheld manner finds key terms, including handheld manner, handsfree accessory
• , wireless communication, and provides penalties for using a wireless communication, and provides penalties
• for using a wireless communication device in a helping hand health handheld manner in a work zone.
• This amendment provides enhanced penalties for using the wireless communications device and a handheld
• He was a pillar of his community.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The PUC oversees the communications industry in California. Californians.
• The PUC oversees the communications industry in California. Californians.
• This program is having a real Impact in communities across the state.
• What is your plan to communicate with us? Great question.
• And for wireless, it's four main providers.

Summary: The Communications and Conveyance Committee held an oversight hearing on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), focused on telecommunications, broadband deployment, resiliency, and the California Teleconnect Fund. Chair Tasha Boerner said the hearing was intended to examine structural issues at the CPUC, including whether telecommunications oversight should remain within the commission, while also reviewing major programs such as Last Mile, BEAD, carrier of last resort, and emergency preparedness. CPUC President John Reynolds and Deputy Executive Director Anna Maria Johnson described the commission’s work on public safety, universal service, broadband grants, Lifeline modernization, and network resiliency, including the 72-hour backup power requirement and merger review. Members questioned CPUC officials about the pace and metrics for Last Mile and BEAD projects, the relationship between middle-mile and last-mile buildout, and how the commission balances carrier obligations with the risk of driving providers out of high-cost areas. They also pressed the CPUC on the California Lifeline home broadband pilot, asking when enrollment would be available, which providers were participating, how much of the state would be covered, and what the surcharge impact would be. CPUC said 15 providers had been approved, one was already serving customers, and the rest were still onboarding, and it committed to provide follow-up information on timelines, coverage, and costs. A major portion of the hearing centered on the California Teleconnect Fund and proposed changes to how schools would access the program. Superintendent Tony Thurmond argued strongly against shifting administration from county offices of education and districts to individual schools, saying it would add burden, worsen inequities, and risk underuse of a valuable broadband subsidy. Committee members echoed concerns that smaller schools and districts may lack the staff to manage direct applications and reporting. In public comment, the Los Angeles County Office of Education supported the CDE’s position and urged changes that would align the program more closely with E-Rate and reduce administrative burdens. No formal vote was taken, and Chair Boerner closed by saying she remained committed to pursuing reforms to the CPUC and referenced her bills AB 2289 and ACA 9.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please make sure all electronic devices are turned off or are on silent mode.
• Moving on to HB 949, wireless devices on school grounds, by Representative Bousada.
• This bill prohibits students from using wireless communication devices during the school day rather than
• So how does the bill define wireless communication devices?
• there was a young lady in our community.

Summary: The Education and Employment Committee met with a quorum and took up seven bills, all of which were reported favorably. First, HB 1367 on school attendance was presented as a response to rising chronic absenteeism; it would standardize attendance definitions and reporting statewide, and it passed 18-0 after supportive testimony from education and business groups. HB 949 would prohibit student use of wireless devices during the school day, while allowing district policies for designated use areas and existing medical/disability exceptions; members discussed classroom disruption, bullying, public safety, and accommodations, and the bill passed favorably. The committee also approved PCS for CS for HB 1135, requiring ECGs for student athletes in grades 9-12, with exemptions for religious objections and provisions on cost, liability, and medical clearance; the bill drew extensive emotional testimony from parents and advocates who described children lost to sudden cardiac arrest and was reported favorably after unanimous support. Members then approved CS for CS for HB 597 on diabetes management in schools, which would allow schools to keep glucagon pens and authorize trained personnel to administer them in emergencies; an amendment clarified charter schools are included as public schools. HB 1309 on reading interventions and instruction would expand reading support and training for grades 4-12 and require district reading plans to include evidence-based interventions; it also passed without opposition. CS for HB 981 on athlete representation and compensation would cap certain NIL agent fees, allow some high school athletes to earn NIL compensation, and create a framework for registered advisors; members raised concerns about predatory practices and coach involvement, but the bill passed favorably after amendment. Finally, HB 1111 would eliminate the certificate of completion option for students who do not meet graduation requirements, with the sponsor arguing it would better motivate students to earn a standard diploma and improve postsecondary and workforce opportunities. Members discussed the need for stronger supports to help students meet graduation standards, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee adjourned after completing all agenda items.

Transcript Highlights:

• SENATOR MCCLAIN, MANY JURISDICTIONS HAVE MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDERS.
• Ingoglia: I THINK THE FUNCTIONALITY IN SOME OF THEIR DEVICES WOULD FALL UNDER THAT. >> Sen.
• COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN SCHOOLS. >> Chair Passidomo: THERE ARE FOUR AMENDMENTS, WE WILL DO THEM ONE
• DON'T PREEMPT US INSTEAD ALLOW US TO HAVE A SAY IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.
• AS A FLORIDIAN I WANT THE FUTURE WITH CLEAN AIR SAFE COMMUNITIES AND A HEALTHY PLANET.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to ask everyone to please silence all electronic devices. Good morning.
• Yeager, I didn't get a chance to communicate with you.
• Okay, next up we will hear House Bill 949, wireless communication devices on school grounds by Representative
• This bill prohibits students from using wireless communication Thank you, Chair.
• Members of the committee, this bill prohibits students from using wireless communication devices during

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee heard and approved four bills focused on school safety, student health, and classroom environment. HB 1403, Safety of Students, would expand Guardian program participation to child care facilities, require substitute teachers to receive campus safety protocols, and allow limited exceptions for certain CTE classrooms; it drew supportive testimony from school safety and education groups and passed 16-0. PCS for HB 907, the Sunshine Genetics Act, would create the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and launch an opt-in newborn whole-genome screening program funded with $20 million; supporters said it could speed diagnosis, save lives, and reduce health care costs, and it passed 17-0. HB 949 would prohibit student use of wireless communication devices during the full school day, while allowing districts flexibility in implementation and medical exceptions; supporters cited distraction and bullying data, and the bill passed 17-0. The committee also approved HB 723, the Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection Program, which requires the Department of Health to provide school-based informational materials to parents and guardians about early warning signs, risk factors, and screening for type 1 diabetes. An amendment broadened the notification to include voluntary pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade and shifted the annual notice to September 30. Testimony in support came from diabetes advocates and pediatric groups, and members spoke about personal experiences with diabetes and the value of earlier education. The bill passed 17-0 after the amendment was adopted. Across the meeting, members from both parties generally praised the bills as bipartisan efforts to improve student safety, health, and learning conditions. Several members raised questions or concerns about implementation details, including school guardian tracking, cell phone pouches and emergency access, and how the diabetes notice would be distributed, but no bill faced opposition in committee. All four measures were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• It'll hurt our immigrant community for sure.
• It'll hurt our immigrant community for sure.
• Members, HB 2173, property tax errors, electronic communications, allows an assessor to accept communications
• Costco has absolutely held strong with their DEI commitment to uplift the DEI community.
• DEI community. So yes, thank you. Love Costco. Don't take my membership.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long minority calendar covering a wide range of bills, with sponsors giving brief descriptions and members frequently raising concerns about constitutionality, cost, federal preemption, and policy impacts. Topics included medical intervention and vaccination/mask prohibitions, state treasurer investment rules, vacant state positions reporting, shooting range closure limits, congressional term limits, audit penalties, cellphone use while driving, procurement restrictions tied to China, air ambulance regulation, hospital immigration-status reporting, SNAP purchase restrictions, school assessment changes, school contract transparency, religious excusals from school, student contact information, fitness reporting, and several property tax, water, and agriculture measures. Members also discussed bills on AI-generated sexual material consent verification, DEI liability, hate-crime sentencing, commercial driver forfeiture tied to immigration status, speed-limiting devices for repeat speeding offenses, PFAS firefighting foam, name changes for sex offenders, abortion-inducing drugs, prisoner transition services, sexual extortion penalties, solar radiation management bans, and cultivated-cell food labeling and sales bans. Several bills drew explicit opposition or requests to pull them from consent, especially those affecting abortion access, immigration-related hospital reporting, school testing, religious release programs, DEI policies, and cultivated-cell foods. Members noted that some measures appeared duplicative, overly broad, or likely unconstitutional, and in multiple cases referenced prior vetoes or prior-year versions of the same bills. Supportive comments were also made on selected bills, including the PFAS foam prohibition, the assistive technology study committee, the digital goods consumer protection bill, and the prisoner transition services extension. The caucus also considered water and infrastructure measures, including brackish groundwater funding and studies, water augmentation authority bonds, Pima County water rates, groundwater transport rules, and HOA drought watering limits. Toward the end, members reviewed election-related memorials and resolutions, including a proposal to limit voting centers, a memorial urging withdrawal from the United Nations, and another urging defunding the IMF; all three were noted as being on consent and were pulled for further discussion. The meeting closed with announcements, including a note about a local missing-person concern and a caucus recognition program called the Affordable Arizona Award.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are also joined by Emilio Perez, the chief consultant. of the Communications Committee, and Elizabeth
• Further, according to the Federal Communications Commission, 70% of those who are connected are paying
• Currently it's being funded on the back of wireless consumers through a surcharge tax for everyone to
• My main job is to run With all due respect to the men and women in the wireless industry, I love them
• It is not just the wireless customers who are contributing to today. Today's lifeline program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Communications and Conveyance Committee is now called to order.
• the Alliance for a Better Community in strong opposition.
• The rural community, as I said before.
• Or you could get wireless, that's well served.
• It is two wireless and one wireless.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So Corey uses law new says law will bring meaningful lasting change to the boating community community
• It expands the current prohibition of texting and driving to include a use of wireless communication
• device and a handheld mike manner.
• Wireless communication device removes redundant provisions from the previous law since we're going to
• handsfree provides penalties and requires law enforcement officers to know the type of wireless device

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Portable cooling devices are allowed if the window is a necessary egress and the device would interfere
• The window-mounted portable cooling devices are defined to exclude saddle-mounted or U-shaped portable
• Portable cooling devices are often the only feasible option to reduce indoor temperatures.
• We're not opposed to portable cooling devices and our residents using other devices.
• The definition of portable cooling devices means an air conditioning unit, portable heat pump, or evaporative

Summary: The Housing Committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5496, which would limit certain business and investment entities from buying additional single-family homes after reaching 100 holdings, with exemptions for banks, nonprofits making affordability-related improvements, and some development/foreclosure situations. Senator Alvarado said the bill is intended to curb speculation and help Washington families compete for homes, while opponents argued it would interfere with the market, reduce rental supply, and could affect REITs and retirement investments. Supporters, including Habitat for Humanity, said institutional buying has made homeownership harder and that the bill would create needed guardrails; opponents from the building and rental housing industries said the data did not justify the restriction and asked for clearer exemptions or data on impacts. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6200, which would prohibit landlords under the residential and manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant laws from banning tenants from installing portable cooling devices, subject to safety, code, egress, insurance, and damage-related exceptions. Senator Slatter and supporters framed the bill as a public health response to deadly heat events, especially the 2021 heat dome, and said it would help renters, seniors, and people with disabilities stay safe during extreme heat. Landlord and property management representatives were generally neutral or cautiously supportive, but asked for changes on notice, lease language, insurance, and window-unit safety; one testifier raised concerns about evaporative coolers and potential moisture damage. In executive session, the committee acted on several bills. It adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 5156 on elevator standards in smaller apartment buildings and reported the bill out with a due pass recommendation. It rejected amendments to Senate Bill 5938 on the foreclosure prevention fee, adopted an amendment removing a study requirement, and then reported the bill out as amended with a due pass recommendation. It also adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 6054 on fire-hardened building materials and reported that bill out as amended with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee reported out Senate Bill 6237B on flood disclosure with a due pass recommendation. After those votes, the committee reopened public hearing on SB 6200 and SB 5496 to hear additional testimony, then adjourned for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., to order the Federal Communications Commission, that's
• </c> It needs to be involving more community It needs to be involving more community input<00:10:13.240
• </c> electronic device. electronic device.
• ,</c><01:05:13.400><c> um</c> from the law enforcement community, um from the law enforcement community
• The ayes do have it. these devices. I think it's the least we these devices.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , prohibit, or restrict window-mounted portable cooling devices.
• It also removes evaporative coolers from the definition of portable cooling devices.
• So all of those window-mounted portable cooling device restrictions are removed.
• prohibit or restrict window-mounted portable cooling devices.
• It also removes evaporative coolers from the definition of portable cooling devices.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill prohibits landlords under both the and its ability to install portable cooling devices.
• The window-mounted portable cooling devices are defined to exclude saddle-mounted or U-shaped portable
• Portable cooling devices are often the only feasible option to reduce indoor temperatures.
• We're not opposed to portable cooling devices and our residents using other devices.
• The definition of portable cooling devices means an air conditioning unit, portable heat pump, or evaporative

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Communications and Conveyance Committee is now called to order.
• I've brought up to a number of folks in my community.
• We're the trade association for the wireless industry, and we respectfully oppose.
• It is not just the wireless customers who are contributing to today's Lifeline program.
• It is not just the wireless customers who are contributing to today's Lifeline program.

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee heard three bills. SB 371 by Senator Cabaldon would reduce uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage requirements for transportation network companies from $1 million to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, with committee amendments adding findings and declarations, higher limits than originally proposed, and a joint study on UM/UIM impacts. Supporters, including Uber, Lyft, business groups, and some consumer advocates, argued the bill would lower fares and increase driver earnings by reducing insurance costs. Opponents, including consumer attorneys, labor groups, and consumer watchdog organizations, warned it would cut protections for riders and drivers and might not guarantee savings would be passed through. The committee approved SB 371 on a due-pass basis and re-referred it to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote. The committee then heard SB 716 by Senator Durazo, which would create a Home Internet Lifeline Program to let eligible low-income households apply Lifeline subsidies to home broadband service. Proponents said the bill addresses broadband affordability after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program expired, and that it would help students, workers, and families access reliable internet. Opponents from the wireless industry objected to the funding mechanism, arguing the surcharge would fall unfairly on wireless consumers, while one broadband group moved to neutral after amendments. The bill was approved on a due-pass basis and sent to Appropriations, but the roll was held open and later completed with the bill passing 7-1. The committee also took up SB 480 by Senator Archuleta relating to autonomous vehicles as a consent item, with no presentation or debate. It was approved on a due-pass basis and re-referred to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly focused on affordability, consumer protection, and whether savings from the bills would actually reach riders, drivers, or households.