Transcript Highlights:

• Ripe for predatory litigation.
• It's predatory. I would ask...
• They are reactions to lawsuits and they're predatory in nature.
• Every single one that I've seen is predatory in nature. I would ask...
• Every single one that I've seen is predatory in nature.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to make a statement, which is that conversion therapy is predatory and it's fraudulent. >
• We got to move on though. >> The definition of conversion therapy isn't predatory if it's based on the
• therapy is predatory and it's fraudulent. fraudulent. fraudulent.
• <00:56:12.640> if conversion therapy isn't predatory if conversion therapy isn't predatory
• conversion therapy, it's not predatory conversion therapy, it's not predatory if<00:56:22.400>

Bills: HB1849, HB2000, HB1753, HB1511, HB276, HB1513, HB2188, HB1876

Keywords: licensing, professional license, individual taxpayer identification number, immigration, state residency, right to repair, wheelchairs, consumer protection, repair providers, device documentation, HB1753, Hawaii Social Media Data Deletion Act, social media, account deletion, data deletion, privacy, consumer privacy, personal information, sensitive personal information, data retention

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on February 10, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills. HB 1849 relating to licensing drew comments from DCCA’s Professional and Vocational Licensing Division and the Hawaii Real Estate Commission, both of which stood on written testimony. The Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights testified in strong support, emphasizing that some immigrants, including DACA recipients, are already contributing in Hawaii and that the state should help create pathways for them to remain and advance professionally. No vote or final action was taken on HB 1849 during the portion shown. The committee then heard HB 2000, the wheelchair right-to-repair bill. Encart opposed the measure, arguing that repair delays are largely driven by insurance prior authorization and that wheelchair repairs involve FDA-regulated medical devices where improper repairs could create health risks. Peter Fritz testified in support, saying the bill was modeled on similar laws in other states and that he had personal experience through his sister’s use of a wheelchair. Members questioned whether repairs done outside insurer networks might not be reimbursed, and Fritz said that was a concern but that the need for timely repair outweighed it. The committee also discussed HB 1753 on social media, where DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection supported the bill but suggested an amendment to the definition of personal information. On HB 1511 relating to consumer protection, DCCA’s Insurance Division supported the bill, while the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association offered comments seeking to preserve legitimate manufacturer and dealer communications about vehicles, warranties, recalls, and related services. The committee also took up HB 276 HD1 and HB 1513 on condominiums. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission offered comments on HB 276 HD1. For HB 1513, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority supported the bill, but DCCA’s Insurance Division opposed it, warning that diverting HHRF funds could weaken reinsurance arrangements and raise premiums for consumers who rely on the fund. Members questioned whether the proposed condo loan program would need HHRF money and whether the amounts in the bill were necessary, and the division said it opposed using HHRF for that purpose. The committee also heard HB 2188 on housing, where OCP supported the measure and the Hawaii Association of Realtors raised concerns about conflicts with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the use of tenant screening reports, noting that a working group is already addressing landlord-tenant issues. Members asked OCP to research how other states handle similar laws and whether additional language is needed to avoid federal conflict. Finally, on HB 1876 relating to mental health, the Department of Health’s Adult Mental Health Division supported the bill but said it remains opposed to harmful, non-evidence-based treatment modalities; Pride at Work Hawaii also testified in strong support. No final votes or committee decisions were reported in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Koenig led a lab studying the evolution and development of visual systems across animals.
• But when we have unfair trade deals, it's predatory.
• instrumental in studies examining the effects of grazing, fire, and restoration on plants, water, soil, and animals

Summary: The Assembly met on July 17, 2025, after a quorum call and prayer, then moved through a long ceremonial and floor session. The chamber recognized the 2025 Science and Technology Policy Fellows, the 2024-25 Jesse Marvin Unruh Assembly Fellows, and the 2025 Assembly Fellows, and also heard guest introductions honoring Brad Webb of Legislative Counsel, youth advocates supporting AB 1231, the Live Oak Lady Lions softball team, the new UC President J.B. Milliken, the Rohnert Park 11-and-under Cal Ripken All-Star team, and arts leaders from Auburn. The Assembly also took up several procedural motions, including removing some bills from the consent calendar and noting absences. On the floor, members adopted ACR 12 designating November 1 as Fernando Valenzuela Day, with broad support and 66 co-authors, and later adopted H.R. 56 recognizing August 2025 as Chicano Heritage Month, with 65 co-authors. The Assembly also adopted ACR 101 naming a portion of State Highway Route 46 the James Dean Memorial Highway, and H.R. 50 proclaiming November 25, 2025, as Elimination of Violence Against Women Day, with members emphasizing survivor support and prevention. In each case, authors and supporters highlighted the cultural, historical, or public-safety significance of the measures. The chamber also concurred in Senate amendments on several bills, including AB 359 on the Political Reform Act, AB 594 on student health insurance protections, AB 1085 banning license plate obstruction devices and penalizing sellers, AB 1286 on public employment transparency, and AB 1505, the Agriculture Committee omnibus bill. AJR 14, urging federal attention to the impact of tariffs on California ports, passed 44-1 after debate over trade policy and port jobs. AJR 17, calling for modernization of immigration law and a pathway to lawful status for long-term undocumented residents, passed 47-7 after extensive debate focused on immigrant families, the economy, and federal enforcement actions. The Assembly also adopted the resolutions by voice vote where required and recorded the roll-call results for the joint resolutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I just, I'm very. animated about this. We need to tap this all down.
• Chairman, you know while I'll restrain my animation as for my colleague, but I share her passion for
• power generation, but this positive development is being overshadowed by a rise in fraudulent and predatory

Bills: SB264, SB542, SB924, SB1008, SB1029, SB1036, SB1057, SB1058, SB1185, SB1202, SB1358, SB1364, SB1376, SB1569, SB1664, SB1697, SJR50

Keywords: SB 264, Texas Workers' Compensation Act, group self-insurance, self-insured groups, workers' compensation, Texas Department of Insurance, commissioner of insurance, certificate of approval, guaranty fund, trust fund, wind down, dissolution, labor code, insurance regulation, employer coverage, risk pool, business and commerce, trade workforce economic development, property owners' association, water conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:05:39.520> Um<01:05:39.920> stop<01:05:40.240> predatory<01:05:40.799>
• Um stop predatory gambling and support on Zoom.
• I'm the national director for Stop Predatory Gambling.
• Hawaii delegation of stop predatory Hawaii delegation of stop predatory gambling.<01:06:05.520><
• <01:08:52.560> gambling the institution of predatory gambling the institution of predatory

Bills: HB2227, HB1775, HB1560, HB1642, HB1647, HB2003, HB1640, HB2198

Keywords: eviction, housing stability, tenant screening, court records, writ of possession, foreclosures, public sale, eligible bidders, housing, downpayment, judicial foreclosure, digital financial assets, consumer protection, financial kiosks, refunds, transaction security, HB1642, Hawaii, cryptocurrency ATM, crypto ATM

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on February 5, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills, beginning with HB 227 relating to eviction records. Supporters, including the Public First Law Center and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, argued the bill would help people who prevail in eviction cases avoid long-term housing harm from online court records, while the Public First Law Center said keeping records off eCourt Kokua would not violate the First Amendment because the records would still be available in person. Members discussed access-to-justice concerns, and a witness said legal aid attorneys could still access the records through the attorney-only Jeff’s system and the court’s access-to-justice room. The chair also asked about precedent, and a witness cited a Hawaii Supreme Court case as supporting removal from the online database rather than sealing records entirely. The committee then took up HP 1775 relating to foreclosures, but the transcript only shows in-person opposition comments from the Hawaii State Bar Association Collection Law Section, the Hawaii Credit Union League, and the Hawaii Bankers Association. The credit union and banking groups said they had concerns about broader negative impacts on mortgage lending and other requirements, but no detailed discussion or action was captured before the committee moved on. The next measure, HB 1560 relating to consumer protection, drew support from the Office of Consumer Protection and cryptocurrency companies including Coinflip and America Digital, which said they already use wallet-pinning and other safeguards to prevent fraud. AARP Hawaii did not take a formal position but said the bill addressed a real problem, noting that Hawaii residents, especially in Kona, had lost more than $920,000 in 2024 to cryptocurrency ATM scams and arguing that stronger oversight was needed. The committee also heard HB 1642, which would ban cryptocurrency kiosks. The Office of Consumer Protection supported the ban as the best way to protect consumers from fraud, while Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, and America Digital opposed it, arguing kiosks provide cash-based access to crypto, especially for unbanked or underbanked consumers, and that targeted regulation would be better than an outright ban. AARP Hawaii took no formal position but strongly emphasized the harm caused by scams, saying victims are often frightened into acting quickly and that kiosk transactions currently lack enough friction or intervention. Finally, HB 1647, also on consumer protection, would impose liability on host businesses that provide space for crypto kiosks. The Office of Consumer Protection warned small businesses might not understand the liability, while Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, and America Digital opposed the bill, saying it would unfairly shift enforcement duties to host stores and could discourage businesses from hosting kiosks, effectively creating a de facto ban. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 12 is as absurd as it is predatory.
• The biggest threats to women and girls are predatory men.
• Predatory men who brag about sexual assault and yet get elected to president.
• Predatory men who are found liable by a jury for sexual abuse, who have dozens of accusers, who have
• Predatory men who remove sexual abuse from military training.

Transcript Highlights:

• leadership on this issue, having had the experience of serving vets who have been ripped off by this predatory
• Now, with these predatory practices, we're able to most likely get things resolved in a quick manner
• <00:18:12.320> and<00:18:12.880> within this now with these predatory and within this
• now with these predatory and within that<00:18:13.679> we're<00:18:14.000> able<00:18:
• We stand with this predatory players.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• staff attorneys take everything through SOA and then, um, you, you're right, it's a very different animal
• one-time criminal history background check for all licensees, a critical step towards eliminating predatory
• with protecting the public by ensuring the best and highest of veterinary care for the people and animals
• for your support of our exceptional item requests to ensure the best protection of the people and animals
• Um, you know, protect the public, protect animals, protect human beings.

Transcript Highlights:

• people that run livestock on their property to be responsible for the liability that comes when those animals
• get out of the property. ...for the liability that comes when those animals get out of the fence, but
• trying to fix that problem, to make sure that everybody is able to cohabitate together and keep the animals
• It's a pattern of predatory behavior, enabled by an environment that removed clear boundaries.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House first established a quorum and then moved through several bills on perfection and printing. House Bill 2297, a “fence bill,” was debated as a fix for livestock owners who are responsible for maintaining fences but may need legal access onto neighboring property to repair storm-damaged or broken fences. Supporters said it addresses a long-standing rural problem and public safety concerns; the bill was adopted and perfected and printed after discussion about property rights, access limits, and liability protections. House Bills 2142 and 2058, dealing with Missouri’s film tax incentive program, were also advanced. Sponsors said the program has generated jobs and spending, and the bill would modernize the incentive by combining separate film and TV buckets; an amendment removed the sunset extension, and the substitute was adopted and perfected and printed. House Bill 3004, a truth-in-labeling measure for hardwood products, was advanced as well, with supporters saying it would protect Missouri’s timber industry from misleading “wood” labels on laminate or plastic products; it too was adopted and perfected and printed. The House also took up House Bills 3283 and 3306, which create a structured timeline for public-sector collective bargaining disputes, including negotiation, mediation, and arbitration, and define “good faith” in bargaining. An amendment clarified that the bill applies only to certain public employee unions under the State Board of Mediation and excludes teachers and law enforcement. Supporters said the measure would reduce prolonged disputes and save taxpayer money, while one member raised concerns that it could alter existing authority of public bodies over final contract terms. The substitute and amendment were adopted and the bills were perfected and printed. Finally, House Bill 2536, which requires sex-designated multi-occupancy private spaces in certain government-controlled settings, drew extensive debate. The sponsor argued it is intended to protect privacy and safety in restrooms, changing rooms, and sleeping quarters in places such as schools, airports, correctional facilities, and public buildings, citing incidents involving voyeurism and unclear policies. An amendment clarified exceptions for corrections officers and public safety duties. Opponents argued the bill could be used to police restroom use, harm transgender people, and overreact to isolated incidents, while supporters said it creates clearer boundaries and accountability for facilities. The amendment was adopted, and debate continued on the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• federal standards and includes critical consumer protections around outsourcing instruction, cost, and predatory
• He would tell us that we were animals, that if we looked for help, we could get deported, and that we

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• federal standards and includes critical consumer protections around outsourcing instruction, cost, and predatory
• He would tell us that we were animals, that if we looked for help, we could get deported, and that we

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard and advanced a series of bills, mostly on worker safety, wages, workforce training, and retirement savings. AB 2137 (Chen) would strengthen safety rules and certification for artificial stone fabrication shops to reduce silica exposure; AB 2499 (Gibson) would require Cal/OSHA to develop heat-illness protections for incarcerated workers and staff in correctional facilities; AB 2300 (Arambula) would streamline the disbursement of state and federal workforce funds; AB 2646 (Krell) would establish a minimum wage floor for certain agricultural workers; AB 2227 (Connolly) would tighten licensing and bond requirements for farm labor contractors and add default-judgment procedures for wage claims; AB 1869 (Haney) would create a reporting process for alleged REIT interference in hotel operations; AB 2650 (Pellerin) would expand CalSavers with emergency savings accounts and other updates; AB 2634 (Zbur) would prioritize labor-management partnerships in High Road Training Partnership grants; and AB 1888 would require skilled-and-trained workforce and prevailing wage standards for work under the Safe Home Grant Program. AB 1534 (Irwin) would create California’s approval process for short-term Pell-eligible workforce programs. The committee also took up several consent items, including AB 1904, AB 1980, AB 2550, AB 2078, and AB 2682. Most bills were described as aligning state programs with federal law or improving worker protections and program quality, while opponents generally raised concerns about costs, administrative burden, regulatory uncertainty, or reduced oversight. Testimony was largely split along labor and industry lines. Supporters included labor unions, legal aid groups, workforce boards, and affected workers or family members, who emphasized heat illness, wage theft, silica exposure, poor prison conditions, and the need for higher-quality training and retirement access. Opponents on several bills, especially those affecting agriculture, REITs, and workforce administration, argued the measures would increase costs, create uncertainty, or duplicate existing law. On AB 2227, committee members engaged in extended discussion about Labor Commissioner delays and whether the bill’s default-judgment and bond provisions would meaningfully help workers. On AB 1869, members and witnesses debated whether the bill created new standards or simply improved enforcement of existing REIT rules. The committee voted to pass all of the measures heard, generally with motions to do pass and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations. Several bills were held open for absent members during the meeting, and later add-on roll calls recorded additional ayes, moving the bills out of committee. The meeting concluded after the consent calendar was approved and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the next 90 days you got all these people basically hanging out there in a state of suspended animation
• So, I have a bill with Senator Warnock, it would be the Stop Predatory Investing Act, and this would

Keywords: Commerce, International Trade, Tax Policy, Nominees, Inflation, Middle-class, Trade Practices, Economic Concerns

Summary: The committee convened to discuss various bills and nominees, including the critical nominations of William Kimmett for Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade and Ken Keyes for Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the Treasury Department. Discussions highlighted the nominees' roles in managing critical trade and tax policies amidst rising economic concerns, particularly focusing on inflation and its impact on American families. Members expressed both support and skepticism, emphasizing the significance of fostering fair trade practices and ensuring tax policies that benefit the middle-class amidst claims of an agenda favoring affluent individuals and corporations.

Transcript Highlights:

• sponsors of H. 3534 and S. 2255 for their commitment to protecting Massachusetts consumers from predatory
• In Boston, we've heard numerous stories from residents and small business owners about the predatory
• No Massachusetts ratepayers should be exposed to these types of predatory business practices, much less
• So there was an insulating layer in case of accusations of predatory practice while we were sent to the
• It's proven to be a predatory practice and scams people who are just trying to get the best rate they

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several energy-related bills, with the main focus on H. 3534/S. 2255, which would ban or sharply restrict residential third-party electric suppliers, and on related reform proposals. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, municipal and regional planning officials, environmental justice groups, consumer advocates, and city officials from Boston and Chelsea. They argued that the residential competitive supply market has produced higher bills, deceptive sales tactics, auto-renewals into higher rates, and disproportionate harm to low-income residents, seniors, communities of color, and people with limited English. Witnesses cited AG reports estimating hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges over time, described door-to-door and storefront marketing abuses, and said municipal aggregation programs have saved residents money while offering more stable rates. Several supporters said the Legislature should either ban residential competitive supply or adopt strong guardrails such as ending automatic renewals, banning incentive-based commissions, and capping rates relative to basic service. Opponents or industry representatives from the Retail Energy Advancement League, Vistra, and Constellation argued that the market can provide savings, longer-term price stability, and value-added products such as renewable options and time-of-use offerings. They said Massachusetts has already improved consumer protections through DPU proceedings, that complaints are relatively few compared with the size of the market, and that a ban would eliminate consumer choice. They also defended direct sales and commissions as normal features of a retail market, while saying they would support additional protections, licensing, bonding, and stronger oversight of bad actors. Committee members pressed both sides on whether the market truly saves money, whether automatic renewals should be banned, and whether the AG’s proposed reforms would be enough. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3972, a bill to extend utility shutoff protections during extreme heat, with Rep. Mindy Domb arguing that Massachusetts should treat extreme heat like extreme cold and protect customers facing financial hardship. Rep. Barrett also testified for H. 3450, a municipal broadband/right-of-way bill, arguing that communities need easier and cheaper access to utility poles and public rights of way to build municipal broadband. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Creem testified for S. 2239, which would bar utilities from recovering ratepayer funds for lobbying, promotions, trade association dues, and similar expenses. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, this is a different animal, though. So I'm looking for some solutions right now.
• So again, you're either a victim, a criminal, or you're a victim of predatory business practices.
• United States that cooperate with U.S. law enforcement and that are not predatory on the people that
• And then there's networks overseas that are completely predatory or they're intended for nothing more

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• standing alongside our constituents to push back against big corporations engaging in negligent or predatory
• standing alongside our constituents to push back against big corporations engaging in negligent or predatory
• standing alongside our constituents to push back against big corporations engaging in negligent or predatory
• standing alongside our constituents to push back against big corporations engaging in negligent and predatory
• standing alongside our constituents to push back against big corporations engaging in negligent and predatory

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Too often, a gauntlet of premeditated predatory lawsuits.
• Too often, a gauntlet of premeditated predatory lawsuits.
• Too often, a gauntlet of premeditated predatory lawsuits.
• It is currently a source of waste, abuse, and predatory litigation.
• source of waste, abuse, and predatory source of waste, abuse, and predatory litigation.<01:29:15.679

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, December 18, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Predatory lenders target these very individuals with products that promise a lifeline, but often act
• We believe public service workers deserve respect and real financial security, not predatory traps.
• We should not allow these predatory practices back into our state under a new name.
• We should not allow these predatory practices back into our state under a new name.
• Thanks. ...manage short-term liquidity challenges and avoid high-cost predatory financial products.

Bills: HB2118, HB2181, HB2308, HB2309, HB2402, HB2476, HB2682, HB2698, HB2875, HB2877, HB2903, HB2910

Keywords: mobile food vendors, licensure, food safety, statewide regulations, health standards, zoning, temporary vendors, HB2181, death certificate, death certificates, vital records, funeral establishment, funeral home, human remains, medical certification of death, death registration, state registrar, local registrar, county medical examiner, alternate medical examiner

Transcript Highlights:

• In a post-traumatic world, what abortion industry predatory abortion practices look like is that she
• tube two months ago, and she had no legal recourse under current law because these are out-of-state predatory
• give these women, their loved ones, and these unborn children legal recourse under the law to hold predatory
• I think that's predatory, frankly, to see that happen.
• greater than morphine, but also, more importantly, in preclinical models... ...we see that non-human animals

Bills: SB31, SB33, SB510, SB871, SB1868, SB2024, SB2166, SB2309, SB2880, SJR27, SJR39, SJR40, SB 31, SB 33

Keywords: SB 31, Life of the Mother Act, Texas abortion law, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, unborn child, abortion exception, abortion ban, physician liability, health care liability claim, aiding and abetting, Texas Medical Board, State Bar of Texas, continuing medical education

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we have National Director of Stop Predatory Gambling in support.
• 27:02.000> Predator National Director of Stop Predator National Director of Stop Predator Predatory
• <00:27:03.679> Gambling Predatory Gambling Predatory Gambling >> in<00:27:06.159> support
• I'm the national director for Stop Predatory Gambling.
• The institution of predatory gambling as a revenue source is the ultimate budget gimmick.

Bills: HB1527, HB1823, HB2490, HB2223, HB2325, HB2104, HB2593, HB2592, HB1927, HB1553, HB1964, HB1918, HB1990

Keywords: gambling prohibition, Aloha Stadium, University of Hawaii, amateur athletics, state lands, coastal resilience, Maui, Mantokuji Bay, coastal erosion, environmental protection, Native Hawaiian, spiritual sites, historic preservation, economic development, burial sites, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, cultural history, archaeology, Hawaii Revised Statutes, civil service

Summary: The committee first heard HB 1527 relating to gambling. The chair outlined hearing rules, including a two-minute limit and a warning that bills not heard would die. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from a prosecutor, Honolulu Police Department, and Stop Predatory Gambling, all arguing that casinos and sports betting increase crime, sex trafficking, harassment of athletes, and broader social harm. No opposition testimony was presented, and the committee moved on without questions or action taken on the bill. The committee then heard HB 1823 relating to coastal zone management and HB 2490 relating to coastal resilience. For HB 1823, DLNR, the Office of Planning, and Maui County testified, with Maui County supporting the measure and its proposed amendments. For HB 2490, DLNR expressed concern about exempting a proposed Mokuji Bay pilot project from permits and regulation before a long-term plan is finalized, while the County of Maui, the Mokuji Soto Zen Mission, and the Office of Planning supported the bill as a coastal resilience pilot. The mission described severe erosion, sea-level rise impacts, and years of unsuccessful efforts to stabilize the shoreline; its consultant said the study is leaning toward nature-based and hybrid solutions. In questioning, members and DLNR discussed whether the bill should say the project “shall” or “may” be exempt, and the chair indicated the language would be adjusted to preserve DLNR discretion and to change the lead agency reference to OPSD. No vote was taken in the transcript. Finally, the committee took up HB 2223 relating to historic preservation reviews. SHPD said it stood on its written comments, while OPSD and DHHL supported the bill. DHHL argued the measure would streamline reviews, improve transparency, and help address long wait times for its projects, saying it could alleviate burden on SHPD and better serve beneficiaries. Representative Shimizu questioned whether the bill would create redundancy and expand government rather than strengthen SHPD, noting a separate staffing bill already exists. SHPD responded that DHHL is uniquely subject to 6E review and that the bill would not waive federal or state historic review requirements; the discussion also touched on possible federal-style grant support and the existing memorandum of agreement between SHPD and DHHL. The transcript ends during questioning, with no final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our students deserve to learn in an environment free from predatory behavior, and this legislation is
• Our students deserve to learn in an environment free from predatory behavior, and this legislation is
• Our students deserve to learn in an environment free from predatory behavior, and this legislation is
• Our students deserve to learn in an environment free from predatory behavior, and this legislation is
• practices um um from these um predatory practices um I<00:21:40.840> would<00:21:41.039> like

Keywords: Roll Call – 00:11 Discussion on SB 181 – 01:05 Vote on SB 181 – 24:16 Discussion on HB 242 – 31:00 Vote on HB 242 – 32:14 Discussion on HB 164 – 33:26 Vote on HB 164 – 39:55, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Families and Children heard Senate Bill 181, which would require school districts to use only traceable forms of communication for staff, coaches, and volunteers when contacting students, require reporting of known private direct communication, notify parents, protect minors’ anonymity in EPSB investigations, and extend the investigation period for sexual misconduct cases to 120 days. Senator Lindsay Tichenor said the bill is meant to restore safeguards for children and families and address inappropriate private communications between school personnel and students. The committee also heard testimony from Stacy and Brad Brisco, who described allegations that an Anderson County guidance counselor had communicated privately with their daughter, encouraged her to pursue emancipation and CPS involvement, and used school channels to facilitate contact; they said the resulting abuse report was unsubstantiated and that the school system and EPSB had not acted promptly. Ashley Nation also testified in support as a survivor of educator sexual abuse, arguing that traceable communication policies are needed to prevent grooming and misconduct and that the bill does not stop communication, only makes it transparent and accountable. Members asked questions about what counts as traceable communication and whether schools already have policies. Tichenor said traceable communication could include paper notes, email, and apps such as ClassDojo or Google Classroom, and said the bill requires a trail parents can access. She also said some districts have ethical standards but they are not consistently followed, and that state-level action is needed. Senator Denine suggested the bill should allow districts more flexibility to choose among trackable platforms, noting that some systems already use tools like Dojo and Remind; Tichenor said a floor amendment would address that concern. Senators Williams, Meredith, Mills, Wise, and others voiced support, emphasizing child safety and the need for timely EPSB action. The committee then voted 9-0 to pass SB 181 with a favorable recommendation to the Senate floor. Afterward, the committee took up House Bill 242, sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin, which would increase transparency in the child welfare system by making Kentucky child welfare data available to researchers while preserving privacy protections. With no questions, the committee approved HB 242 as well, also by a favorable vote, and members briefly noted support for the bill and the need for better data to inform child welfare policy.