Transcript Highlights:

• And so there's a race to the bottom, it feels like.
• And so there's a<00:41:20.960><c> race</c><00:41:21.200><c> to</c><00:41:21.359><c> the</c><00:41:21.599
• </c><00:41:22.960><c> And</c> a race to the bottom it feels like.
• And a race to the bottom it feels like.

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, the teens, they probably watch like Fast and Furious racing shows.
• :05.199><c> Furious</c> probably watch like Fast and Furious probably watch like Fast and Furious racing
• :06.560><c> the</c><01:22:06.719><c> kids</c><01:22:06.960><c> just</c><01:22:07.120><c> copy</c> racing
• So, the kids just copy racing shows.

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 281 SD1, which would define and prohibit torture as a Class A felony. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, HPD investigators, and other supporters said the bill is needed because existing laws do not adequately capture torture, especially cases involving children and vulnerable persons. Several testifiers emphasized that starvation is a common method of torture that often leaves little visible evidence, and they urged the committee to restore the original starvation language removed from the measure. The Office of the Public Defender said it did not oppose the bill’s purpose but raised concerns that the language was too broad and could create trial issues, particularly around minors and vulnerable people, and suggested narrowing amendments. The chair indicated the testimony had made a strong impression and said the committee would try to move the bill forward. The committee then heard SB 292 SD1, relating to sexual exploitation and safe harbor protections for survivors seeking medical or law enforcement help. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the measure, noting that a prior version raised equal protection concerns that were no longer present, and said survivors should be able to seek help without fear of prosecution. Written support was also noted from several advocacy and state groups. Testimony in support focused on retaliation fears, trafficking, and the need for manpower and resources to address exploitation and related crimes. Finally, the committee took up SB 295 SD1, which would increase penalties for violating temporary restraining orders and orders for protection and treat a violation of one as a second offense for the other. The Public Defender’s Office objected to the mandatory jail component, arguing judges should retain discretion and that there was no clear evidence mandatory jail deters violations. The transcript cuts off before any final committee action or vote on SB 295 was recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• A person can appear to be many things based on race, ethnicity, or even immigration paperwork, but the
• was like a terrible, it was like the National Origins where we just kind of divide the world up by race
• was like a terrible, it was like the National Origins where we just kind of divide the world up by race
• It was like the National Origins where we just kind of divide the world up by race.

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• record of outperforming the districts in which they are located, especially when disaggregating data by race
• especially when disaggregating<00:52:36.599><c> data</c><00:52:36.880><c> by</c><00:52:37.040><c> race
• </c><00:52:37.440><c> ethnicity</c> disaggregating data by race ethnicity disaggregating data by race

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It's strictly for health and safety of any individual; it doesn't matter their race, class, creed, age
• :17:12.239><c> doesn't</c><01:17:12.520><c> matter</c><01:17:12.760><c> their</c><01:17:13.000><c> race
• </c><01:17:13.719><c> class</c><01:17:14.400><c> Creed</c> it doesn't matter their race class Creed it
• doesn't matter their race class Creed age<01:17:16.000><c> Etc</c><01:17:17.000><c> um</c><01:17:17.320

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• African American, 13% Hispanic, 21% Asian, 35% white, 2% American Indian, and 8% identify as two or more races
• as</c><00:04:47.919><c> two</c><00:04:48.120><c> or</c><00:04:48.240><c> more</c><00:04:48.560><c> races
• </c><00:04:49.840><c> 59%</c> identify uh as as two or more races 59% identify uh as as two or more races

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a global race underway to be the first.
• We're among the leaders in the SAF race for three reasons.
• That is great news, but we also know that we are in a global and national race to develop these facilities
• The race is on, and Minnesota cannot lose out on this important economic development opportunity.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Then when they looked by race/ethnicity, Hispanics were 91% more likely to attend a school in the top
• <01:18:27.400><c> by</c> applied and then when they looked by applied and then when they looked by race
• 29.560><c> Hispanics</c><01:18:30.040><c> were</c><01:18:30.239><c> 91%</c><01:18:31.120><c> more</c> race
• ethnicity Hispanics were 91% more race ethnicity Hispanics were 91% more likely<01:18:31.600><c> to<

Summary: This joint informational briefing of Senate and House committees focused on restricted use pesticides in Hawaiʻi, with opening remarks framing the issue as one of health, environmental impact, and state-level regulation. The briefing reviewed the history of pesticide disclosure efforts, including prior county actions, a 2016 court ruling that shifted responsibility to the state, and Act 45, which enabled disclosure of restricted use pesticide data. Speakers highlighted 2019 reporting data showing concentrated use in parts of Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, especially near schools and communities, and identified fumigants such as 1,3-dichloropropene and metam sodium as among the heaviest-used products. Concerns were raised about potential links to cancer, respiratory illness, reproductive harms, Parkinson’s disease, and developmental effects, as well as the lack of long-term mixture studies and the need for better buffer zones, reporting, and farmer transition support. The Department of Agriculture’s pesticides program manager described the state’s regulatory framework, explaining the distinction between general use and restricted use pesticides and the department’s role under FIFRA and Hawaiʻi law. He outlined the branch’s enforcement, education/certification, registration, and laboratory functions, including inspections, complaint response, market surveillance, applicator certification, product review, groundwater protection modeling, and special registrations. He also noted staffing and resource limitations, including the absence of an in-house toxicologist and long-term monitoring capacity, and compared Hawaiʻi’s resources to California’s much larger pesticide regulatory program. He said the department supports Act 231, which was passed the previous year and is moving forward this session. A pediatrician speaking for the Hawaiʻi chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasized concerns about chronic low-level pesticide exposure in children, citing AAP policy statements and technical reports that associate exposure with cancer, leukemia, birth defects, neurobehavioral issues, and asthma. Drawing on work with the Kauaʻi Joint Fact Finding Task Force, the speaker said the group found the west side of the island to be an unhealthy community but could not prove causation because of missing drift, geospatial, and biomarker data. The testimony pointed to elevated cancer mortality, pneumonia admissions, obesity, dialysis, and developmental delay indicators, and described concerns about pesticide drift near schools and homes, including reports of children becoming ill after nearby spraying and low levels of chlorpyrifos detected in dust samples. An environmental health scientist from the University of Hawaiʻi described a pilot project using restricted use pesticide data in a public health context. She said the project began after seeing maps of Central Oʻahu pesticide use and aimed to pair GIS data with health and ethnicity data, while also conducting community focus groups. Preliminary focus group themes included calls to action, voting and policymaker awareness, concern about pesticide use near homes and fields, lack of community consent, and a desire to stay engaged. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have no concerns about the substantial race where you do get up and running, but you are required to
• > that I have no concerns about the that I have no concerns about the substantial<01:05:45.880><c> race
• 47.079><c> do</c><01:05:47.240><c> get</c><01:05:47.359><c> up</c><01:05:47.520><c> and</c> substantial race
• where you do get up and substantial race where you do get up and running<01:05:48.119><c> but</c><01

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Summary: The House Municipal and County Government subcommittee met on February 19, 2025 to gather additional information on House Bill 432, which concerns recovery houses. The first witness, State Fire Marshal Sean Tumi, said his office had worked with stakeholders for more than a year on the bill’s definition changes and supported the revised definition. He explained that the bill removes vague language such as “safe, healthy, family” and instead relies on fire-code requirements and certification standards, including a primarily non-transient dwelling unit and living as a single household. He distinguished recovery houses from boarding or rooming houses and from other congregate settings such as group homes or transitional housing, saying those other uses do not currently have the same exemptions. Members questioned Tumi about fire safety, inspections, smoke alarms, egress, and whether sprinklers should be required. He said recovery houses are inspected by the fire marshal’s office and local fire departments, with annual inspections under state fire code provisions, and that operators must work with a certifying body. He described the inspection process as checking alarms, extinguishers, heating systems, cooking equipment, street numbers, and no-smoking rules, and said new houses are generally given time to obtain certification. He also said he would prefer sprinklers everywhere but believed mandating them for these existing structures would likely shut down many recovery houses and significantly harm the recovery community. Bill McKenny of the New Hampshire Building Officials Association then testified in support of HB 432. He said recovery housing is an important step after treatment and that the 2024 code changes and the bill help align state law with federal disability law. He emphasized that certification through a recognized organization gives code officials confidence that standards are being monitored, and warned that if a recovery home loses certification it would lose the waiver from sprinkler requirements and could be treated more like a boarding or rooming house. No vote or final action was taken at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of the program is to encourage teachers, particularly those that belong to a race or ethnicity
• that</c><00:47:24.839><c> belong</c><00:47:25.160><c> to</c><00:47:25.319><c> a</c><00:47:25.440><c> race
• </c><00:47:25.640><c> or</c><00:47:25.800><c> ethnicity</c> those that belong to a race or ethnicity
• those that belong to a race or ethnicity underrepresented<00:47:27.040><c> in</c><00:47:27.119><c> the

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We treat online poker as table games only, not slot machines and not historic horse racing.
• 19.560><c> horse</c> so not slot machines not historic horse so not slot machines not historic horse racing
• c> is</c><01:44:20.440><c> strictly</c><01:44:20.880><c> poker</c><01:44:21.199><c> Blackjack</c> racing
• this is strictly poker Blackjack racing this is strictly poker Blackjack roulette<01:44:22.159><c> those

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• It didn't matter what party they were, because we were canvassing for a nonpartisan race, and we were
• Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency, having under consideration SB 1671 relating to gaming, racing
• Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency, having had under consideration SB 1671 relating to gaming, racing

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the journal and received House messages and first-read bills. The chamber moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, considering a range of measures on solar energy, public safety, insurance, health care, agriculture, gaming, education, child welfare, and real property. Several bills were retained on calendar, while many others were advanced with committee amendments and floor amendments. On Calendar 2, SB 1419 on solar energy inspection contractors drew the most debate. A floor amendment by Sen. Sundareshan sought to require utilities to protect ratepayers from costs associated with large energy users such as data centers; supporters argued it would help keep electricity affordable, while opponents called it a hostile amendment. After a division vote, the amendment failed 12-15, and SB 1419 was reported do pass as amended. SB 1498 (DPS appropriation) and SB 1502 (unlawful flight/reckless endangerment) also advanced. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, but a later attempt to add the failed Sundareshan amendment to the report on SB 1419 was defeated 13-14. On Calendar 1, the Senate advanced SB 1165, SB 1206, SB 1212, SB 1215, SB 1290, SB 1291, and SB 1347, mostly with committee amendments. SB 1178 on naturopathic physicians and prescription drug pricing saw a contested Sears floor amendment aimed at stopping price gouging on essential generic drugs; supporters said it would lower drug costs, while the sponsor objected that it was not germane. The amendment failed, and the bill passed as amended. SB 1186 on document retention and donations also drew a Sundareshan amendment on transparency and implementation; it failed, and the bill passed as amended. SB 1286 on veterinary visits and electronic prescriptions advanced after a proposed Kavanagh floor amendment was defeated on division. The Senate then adopted the Committee of the Whole reports and moved on to additional calendars. On Calendar 4, the chamber passed SB 1004 on ESA students and interscholastic activities, SB 1116 on AHCCCS access/behavioral health, SB 1162 on health care institution licensing complaints, SB 1179 on developmental disability/health monitoring, SB 1475 on school district governing boards and eligibility, SB 1821 on DCS training and child placement, and SCR 1012. A request to hold SB 1475 for a reinstatement process was rejected. The Senate also took up an additional Committee of the Whole for SB 1077, SB 1479, and SB 1566; SB 1077 advanced with a Payne floor amendment, SB 1479 advanced with a Carroll amendment classifying certain forged real-property recordings as a class five felony, and SB 1566 began consideration with a Petersen amendment to remove part of a prior amendment. Throughout, the chamber repeatedly adopted committee reports and advanced the bills for further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• immigration status, who are disproportionately Latino, and otherwise don't have particular breakdowns by race
• The Department of Finance doesn't have a breakout by gender or race.
• Studies show that Medi-Cal expansion resulted in reduced disparities across race, ethnicity, income,

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s safety net, focusing on Medi-Cal and CalFresh. The chair and vice chair framed the discussion around major federal changes to work requirements, eligibility redeterminations, immigrant eligibility, and financing rules, while noting the state’s own structural budget deficit and the need for a second hearing later in March on county and safety-net impacts. The first panel included the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Department of Finance, the UC Berkeley Labor Center, and the Food Research and Action Center. LAO and Finance described H.R. 1 as driving major enrollment losses and cost shifts. LAO estimated that Medi-Cal work requirements and six-month redeterminations could affect 3.5 million people, with 1 to 2 million potentially disenrolled, while CalFresh changes could subject more than 800,000 people to work requirements and cause over 600,000 to lose food assistance. They also highlighted new ineligibility for certain non-citizens, reduced federal matching for emergency Medi-Cal services, tighter provider tax rules, and higher state and county administrative costs for CalFresh. Finance said the governor’s budget reflects about $1.4 billion in new General Fund costs in 2026-27 and a $2.4 billion reduction in federal funds, with larger out-year impacts and up to 2 million Medi-Cal disenrollments by 2029-30. The UC Berkeley Labor Center projected up to 3 million Californians could lose full-scope Medi-Cal by 2028 when H.R. 1 is combined with state budget changes, though it said the state could limit losses by choosing not to apply some new requirements to state-funded populations and by keeping some immigrants in full-scope state-funded coverage. The Food Research and Action Center argued that CalFresh cuts and time limits would increase hunger, homelessness risk, and health costs, while also hurting local economies and increasing administrative burden. Committee members from both parties questioned the fiscal sustainability of Medi-Cal growth, the 11% CalFresh error rate and possible $2 billion penalty, county indigent care costs, and the effect of work requirements; several Democratic members argued the federal changes and state cuts would disproportionately harm low-income Californians, immigrants, and communities of color, while Republican members emphasized program growth, work incentives, and the need for budget restraint. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• DEIA programs are much more than race.
• already recognized, with multiple subgroup categories on the California Department of Human Resources race
• Fourteen-year-old Sewell Setzer, who loved Formula racing and Fortnite, took his own life in February

Summary: The Assembly convened after initially lacking a quorum, completed the roll call, and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then moved through a long daily file and concurrence calendar, with many items passed without debate and several bills taken up for final votes. The chamber also handled procedural motions, including re-referring AB 1152 to the Public Safety Committee, suspending rules for guest introductions, and later a roll-call vote on a motion to print a journal letter, which passed 41-16. Among the major Senate bills considered on third reading, SB 385, SB 753, SB 838, SB 643, SB 645, SB 761, SB 774, SB 400, SB 24, SB 37, SB 258, SB 364, SB 403, SB 770, and SB 22 all passed, with debate focused on topics such as shopping cart recovery, housing and land use, carbon removal grants, jury selection rules in civil cases, student CalFresh access, real estate licensing sunsets, renewable energy tax incentives, utility spending transparency, attorney advertising ethics, spousal rape protections for disabled spouses, freeway advertising placement, medical aid in dying, EV charging access in HOAs, and gift certificate redemption values. SB 596 on hospital nurse staffing drew the most extended debate, with supporters arguing it enforces existing law and protects patient safety, while opponents warned it could worsen rural hospital closures; the bill ultimately passed 59-0. The Assembly also concurred in numerous Senate amendments to Assembly bills, including measures on service of process, firearms, workers’ compensation, family leave for crime survivors, solid waste, water reporting for data centers, student information privacy, Diwali recognition, wildfire workforce recovery, educational equity, civic education, office-to-housing conversions, cannabis tax relief, browser privacy, housing element transparency, landlord-tenant appliances, code enforcement, homelessness, DEIA in state government, inmate firefighter wages, children’s health, real estate, rehiring protections for laid-off hospitality workers, hazardous materials, housing covenants, aging, care facilities, species protection, CalWORKs modernization, cannabis access for seriously ill patients, foreign labor contractors, and downtown revitalization financing. Most of these concurred with broad bipartisan margins; AB 247 on inmate firefighter wages drew especially extensive bipartisan support and passed 74-0, while AB 93 on data center water reporting and AB 766 on state DEIA planning drew some opposition but still passed concurrence.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so basically. you're you're saying that and when was it when was the planned race structure supposed
• These programs are not programs that are based on race, that are based on creed, that are based on party
• double down on our promise to ensure that all children and family regardless of their zip code their race

Transcript Highlights:

• events where participants block roads or parking lots to perform dangerous vehicle stunts and drag races
• events where participants block roads or parking lots to perform dangerous vehicle stunts and drag races
• These are to perform dangerous vehicle stunts and drag races.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety and criminal justice bills. AB 837 by Assemblymember Davies would add ketamine transportation to existing drug trafficking law; supporters, including district attorneys and peace officer groups, said it would address a growing and dangerous drug trend, while opponents argued increased penalties do not reduce drug supply and can worsen health harms. The bill was approved on a due-pass-as-amended vote and sent to Appropriations. AB 352 by Assemblymember Pacheco would make threats against judges and court commissioners an aggravating factor in sentencing; judicial and law enforcement groups supported it as a response to rising threats, while ACLU and criminal justice advocates said existing law already covers threats and the bill is unnecessary. It also passed to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 938 by Assemblymember Bonta, which expands vacatur and affirmative-defense relief for survivors of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence, including for some violent offenses. Survivors and advocates testified that the bill would allow people coerced into crimes to tell their full stories and seek relief, while district attorneys and sheriffs warned it could sweep too broadly and affect public safety. The chair and several members strongly supported the measure, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 475 by Assemblymember Wilson would make prison work assignments voluntary and is tied to a broader effort to remove involuntary servitude language from the state constitution; supporters framed it as a rehabilitation and dignity issue, while one member objected to the premise and cited the defeat of a related ballot measure. The bill was voted out to Appropriations but left on call pending additional votes. Assemblymember Lowenthal presented AB 704, which would allow people convicted of low-level offenses before age 26 to petition to seal and destroy records after a waiting period. Supporters said the bill addresses the limits of expungement in the digital age and recognizes young adult brain development; prosecutors and police groups raised Brady/disclosure concerns and objected to treating 18- to 25-year-olds like children. The committee debated those issues at length before sending the bill to Appropriations. Lowenthal also presented AB 812, which would expand resentencing opportunities for incarcerated firefighters who serve on conservation fire crews; supporters emphasized rehabilitation, wildfire response, and reduced recidivism, and the hearing continued with support testimony and the start of opposition testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota that there should be freedom from discrimination in housing and real property because of race
• Minnesota that there should be freedom from discrimination in housing and real property because of race
• We believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to thrive regardless of their background, race

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• the funds to open that second location so that I can help other kids and people, regardless of their race
• granular level, with some of these demographics and characteristics that we see on this, on page 13: race
• Even though we're saying racial equity, your point was well made that DEI is just not about race.

Transcript Highlights:

• on the Congress, the president, and all of us to return to leadership in reversing the arms control race
• </c> control race. I yield back, Mr. Speaker. control race. I yield back, Mr. Speaker.
• This comes at an important time as we race to connect base-load energy to the grid to ensure that we
• :17.520><c> base</c><05:35:17.840><c> load</c><05:35:18.160><c> energy</c><05:35:18.480><c> to</c> race
• to to connect base load energy to race to to connect base load energy to the<05:35:18.878><c> grid</

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't have a particular horse in that race about how we do it, but knowing that a number of states
• I don't have a particular uh horse in I don't have a particular uh horse in that<00:17:54.160><c> race
• 17:54.720><c> we</c><00:17:54.960><c> do</c><00:17:55.039><c> it,</c><00:17:55.520><c> but</c> that race
• about how we do it, but that race about how we do it, but knowing<00:17:56.799><c> that</c><00:17:57.039
• , race, color, marital status,<04:20:01.120><c> familial</c><04:20:01.680><c> status,</c><04:20:02.399

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration