Transcript Highlights:

• . $300,000 doesn't necessarily help launch many small businesses.

Committee: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Keywords: SBA, 7A loan program, underwriting standards, loan defaults, Community Advantage Program, small business funding, testimony

Summary: The committee meeting focused on discussions regarding the SBA's 7A loan program and its implementation challenges. Members raised significant concerns about recent changes to the underwriting standards, which have been criticized for leading to an increase in loan defaults. Ranking members expressed a desire for a return to stronger guidelines to protect taxpayers and ensure the program remains a viable source for small businesses struggling to secure funding. Testimonies from community lenders highlighted their efforts to support underserved communities and stressed the importance of the Community Advantage Program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for coming on this day that we launch the Treat Yourself First campaign. My name is Dr.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not telling you the full story; it's being launched at the Tampa Bay Partnership State of the Region

Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee heard a panel discussion focused on how Florida schools and colleges are exposing students to in-demand careers in manufacturing, semiconductors, transportation, and related fields, and how they are building pathways from middle school through postsecondary training. Panelists from Seminole County Public Schools, Lake Technical College/Lake County Schools, and St. Petersburg College described their career academies, dual enrollment options, industry certifications, and partnerships with employers, local governments, and state colleges. They emphasized early career awareness, counseling, and parent outreach as key to helping students understand technical education as a viable and prestigious path. Seminole County highlighted 51 career and professional education academies and new offerings in agricultural biotechnology, global finance, firefighting, and planned aerospace engineering. Lake County described Lake Technical College’s programs, strong completion and placement outcomes, and three partnerships: a flexible-day high school/workforce model at Lincoln Park Education Center, the Lake Works pathway collaboration with Lake Sumter State College, and a Transportation Innovation Hub with the City of Tavares that trains students on municipal vehicles and serves multiple local governments. St. Petersburg College discussed its manufacturing and engineering technology programs, including semiconductor processing, mechatronics, soldering, and clean-room training, along with new grant-funded expansion at its Midtown campus. Members asked about wages, the semiconductor workforce, how to change perceptions of technical education, how parents are engaged, and how Bright Futures CAPE and Gold Seal scholarships are communicated. Witnesses said school counselors, CTE teachers, parent nights, and district communications are used to promote these options, and that many students can earn strong wages through short-term certifications or two-year degrees. Lake Technical College also raised concerns about workforce funding not keeping pace with teacher pay increases and inflation, noting that funding covers only about 80% of what it earns and tuition has remained unchanged for 18 years. The meeting ended with members praising the programs, and the subcommittee adjourned without any vote or formal action beyond rising and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you can see in this graph, the launch of I've got one hotline has helped increase reports of non native

Transcript Highlights:

• As part of our strategic plan, we have launched an organization... ongoing our contractor ground transport
• </c><00:54:15.079><c> an</c><00:54:15.240><c> organization</c> We have launched an organizational alignment
• After that, we'll be launching in March to the public.
• February and after that we'll be February and after that we'll be launching<00:58:55.720><c> in</c><00
• in March to the public so we launching in March to the public so we used<00:58:58.160><c> all</c><00

Summary: The Committee on Education held an informational/budget briefing with presentations from the State Library System, the School Facilities Authority, and the Department of Education. The chair opened the meeting by outlining the order of presentations and noting that members would hold questions until after all three agencies had testified. The discussion focused on each agency’s priorities for the upcoming biennium and their budget requests. State Librarian Stacy Aldridge described library usage and services, emphasizing strong demand for physical and digital materials, internet and Wi-Fi access, programs, Kanopy streaming, and PressReader. She highlighted digital literacy classes, RFID self-check and smart shelving improvements, and the role of libraries as community hubs. The library’s budget request included an additional $1.2 million for security guards, $48.484 million for FY 26-27 to support popup libraries during temporary closures and other needs, $500,000 for repair and maintenance, $2 million for Kap planning and design, and $25 million each year for lump-sum capital funding. Mallerie Fujitani said the lump-sum funding is needed to keep roughly 50 projects moving and to avoid delays in construction. School Facilities Authority Executive Director Ricky Fujitani explained the agency’s startup history and its programs for preschools, Central Maui schools, and workforce housing. He said the authority is using standardized, prefabricated, programmatic approaches to speed delivery and improve maintainability, citing prior preschool renovations as a successful model. He reported that of $389 million appropriated, $106 million was released, with $81 million for preschools, $20 million for Central Maui schools, and $5 million for workforce housing; he also noted the workforce housing program was reduced after Maui fire-related reallocations. He said the pilot workforce housing site at Mililani High School has been awarded and pointed to University of Hawaiʻi student housing projects as a model. Superintendent Hayashi then began the Department of Education presentation, introducing DOE leadership and outlining the department’s mission to support academic achievement, character development, and student well-being. He noted the department serves more than 152,000 students in 258 public schools and employs over 42,000 people, with nearly 54% of students facing significant challenges. He framed the budget request around the department’s strategic plan to prepare graduates for college, careers, or military service. The transcript ends during the DOE presentation, before any committee votes or formal actions are taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> So we're currently, um, the department just launched a Kaipuni priority placement process, or it's
• And so we just launched the first phase in February and we're in the second phase of it.
• And so we just launched the first phase in February and we're in the second phase of it.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education resolutions, beginning with HCR 11 and HR 14, which ask the Board of Education and the State Public Charter School Commission to report on improving access to stable, suitable, and affordable facilities for public charter schools. The Charter School Commission supported the measure, and OHA also supported it while noting long-standing facility challenges, the lack of a dedicated facilities appropriation, and the strain on charter schools that have had to use operating funds for buildings and temporary structures. Kealakehe Academy, Hawaii Technology Academy, and several individuals also testified in support. The committee then took up HCR 181 and HR 171, which seek a shared decision-making committee to develop an action plan for a K-12 Ka Waihona School in Kapolei. The Department of Education said it has already developed a strategic plan for Kaipuni education, has expanded immersion programs over the past decade, and is addressing growth through interim guidance and a new priority placement process. Community witnesses, including representatives of Ke Alo Ever, strongly supported the resolutions, emphasizing the need for a K-12 pathway, the importance of Hawaiian language and culture, and the role of community voice in planning. They argued that teacher shortages, especially for licensed Hawaiian immersion teachers, remain a major barrier and proposed a kumu recruitment and retention program tied to community, UH, and DOE partnerships. The committee also heard HCR 187 and HR 177, which urge the Department of Education to begin initiatives to address teacher retention statewide. DOE and the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education said teacher retention is already being addressed through the Teacher Education Coordinating Committee, a five-year plan focused on building capacity, improving satisfaction, and compensation, and a new DOE human resources plan. In response to questions, DOE said it is seeking better school-level data on why teachers leave, is preparing for contract negotiations, and is working with the standards board and DLIR on an apprenticeship-related grant. TECC representatives said the group has been working since the pandemic era, may narrow its focus to retention as the most actionable area, and expects to provide more concrete recommendations in its annual report. The transcript ends as the committee moves on to the next item, HCR 47 and HR 43, without showing any votes or final actions on the measures heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• We launch pop-up markets in Columbus and Deming.
• We did launch five special audits.
• They're launching a comprehensive public involvement process.

Bills: HB1

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• 56.000><c> if</c><00:27:56.320><c> or</c> Would be a natural next step if we can stabilize or, really, launch
• design decisions that we would need to have discussions on and make decisions on so that we could launch
• design decisions that we would need to have discussions on and make decisions on so that we could launch

Summary: The committee to study long-term managed care met to approve the prior meeting minutes, with a clarification that “OB3” referred to the “one big beautiful bill.” The minutes were then approved. Chair Jim Kofalt outlined the day’s agenda, which included testimony from the Granite State Home Health and Hospice Association, the New Hampshire Association of Counties, and later DHHS. He also noted that future meetings were expected soon and that the meetings were being livestreamed on YouTube. Granite State Home Health and Hospice Association, represented by Kellyanne Totten and Amy Moore, urged inclusive planning and a cautious, phased approach if managed care is considered. They emphasized that home care providers are not uniform, with different licensing and service models, and said any pilot should include varied provider types, rural and southern regions, and agencies of different sizes. They warned that workforce shortages, inflation, and a possible 9% CMS cut to Medicare home health payments could force agencies to reduce service areas or service types. They also said the 2023 Medicaid CFI rate increase has begun to lose its effect. In response to questions, they said the rural health transformation fund may help with planning and telehealth but likely cannot be used directly for rates or recruitment/retention. They also described the New England Home Care Nurse Residency Program, a Department of Labor grant, as a way to bring new registered nurses into home care with added training and school partnerships. The New Hampshire Association of Counties, through county nursing home administrators Craig Labore and David Ross, revisited the earlier Step Two managed care discussions from 2016-2018. They said prior consultants found the long-term services and supports system was underfunded and needed investment to stabilize providers and expand community-based care. They argued the same concerns remain today and said a managed model would jeopardize the Medicaid quality incentive payment program and, for county nursing homes, the proportionate share payment program. Their testimony was generally opposed to moving forward with managed long-term services and supports without significant additional funding and safeguards.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think when we launched the targeted career pathways grant two years ago, the idea was to make investments
• And I think when we launched the targeted career pathways grant two years ago, the idea was to make investments
• I think when we launched the targeted career pathways grant two years ago, the idea was to make investments

Bills: HF2440

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: labor market, employment, economic development, funding, data analysis

Transcript Highlights:

• laboratories on how to test for this product, which we had to do eight years ago when beverages first launched
• They initially launched within dispensary channels in California and Washington State.
• That moment launched the most desperate scavenger hunt of my life.

Bills: HB28 , SB3 , SB 3

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, state health, youth protection, licensing fees, criminal offenses, flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program

Transcript Highlights:

• 31:27.600><c> you</c><01:31:27.800><c> write</c><01:31:28.040><c> it</c><01:31:28.239><c> off</c> launch
• that do you write it off launch that do you write it off obviously<01:31:29.159><c> by</c><01:31:29.320
• </c><01:32:12.920><c> does</c> people on free and reduced launches does people on free and reduced launches
• /c><04:00:12.600><c> for</c><04:00:12.720><c> the</c><04:00:12.800><c> Freel</c><04:00:13.040><c> launch
• </c> qualified for the for the Freel launch qualified for the for the Freel launch program<04:00:13.680

Summary: The committee took up HB 651, a school-funding bill that would raise the base cost of an adequate education and increase differentiated aid for students in poverty, English language learners, and special education. The chair opened with housekeeping notices about parking and eating in committee spaces, and noted a revised fiscal note would be distributed. Representative David Luneau presented the bill as part of a broader package of public school funding measures, explaining that HB 651 builds on HB 550 and is intended to respond to court rulings and the ongoing school-funding litigation by adjusting both the base adequacy amount and equity-based funding factors. Luneau said the bill would raise the state’s adequacy grant from about $4,100 to $7,351 per student and increase differentiated aid, while also updating statutory language so future recalculations include the court-identified resource elements. He argued the measure is about fairness and shifting more of the burden from local property taxpayers to the state, not about increasing overall education spending. He reviewed fiscal-note figures indicating the bill would add roughly $576 million to the state share of school funding, bringing the total state share to about $1.65 billion, and said the note also mentions possible effects on charter schools and vouchers. Committee members asked about the evidence supporting higher costs for low-income and English learner students, how long ESL funding should continue, why free-and-reduced-lunch aid remains higher than special education aid, whether the formula is based on enrollment or average daily membership, and whether the bill is truly equitable across districts of different sizes and needs. Luneau and later witness Zach Shen of the New Hampshire School Funding Fairness Project said the bill is supported by research and court findings, that the current formula relies heavily on local property taxes, and that shifting more funding to the state would reduce property-tax pressure and help address disparities among districts. Shen also cited broad public support for the related HB 550 testimony and said HB 651 is intended as a step toward a more equitable funding system. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through a private grant, we secured funding to launch a first-of-its-kind law enforcement peer support
• , we secured Through a private grant, we secured funding<00:17:36.640><c> to</c><00:17:36.880><c> launch
• ><00:17:37.200><c> a</c><00:17:37.440><c> firstofits-kind</c><00:17:38.640><c> law</c> funding to launch
• a firstofits-kind law funding to launch a firstofits-kind law enforcement<00:17:39.840><c> peer</c><

Committee: Joint Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• administrative rules in place, and then the EIS is not something that was required of us, but something we're launching
• > required of us, but something we're required of us, but something we're we're<01:03:52.680><c> launching
• <c> do,</c><01:03:54.320><c> and</c><01:03:54.560><c> we're</c><01:03:54.760><c> doing</c> we're launching
• to do, and we're doing we're launching to do, and we're doing this<01:03:55.640><c> all</c> this all

Committee: Senate Water, Land, Culture and the Arts

Summary: The committee heard several gubernatorial nominations for confirmation, beginning with GM 788 for Karen Knudsen to the Hawaii Sister State and International Partnerships Commission. DBEDT strongly supported her nomination, describing her decades of Asia-Pacific and East-West Center experience. Senators asked about the new commission structure, confirming that the old committee was abolished and replaced by a five-voting-member commission with two governor appointees before the Senate, other ex officio and legislative appointees, and one OHA vacancy still pending. Knudsen said the commission would help review new sister-state and international partnership proposals, while existing relationships would remain in place. Members also discussed the commission’s lack of a separate budget and its use of DBEDT international relations funding. The committee then moved to GM 789 for Wesley Fong to the same commission; DBEDT supported him based on his military, legal, and international trade background. A concern was raised that he also served on the State Ethics Commission, and Fong stated he had resigned from that post effective the 20th of the month to avoid a conflict. Senators questioned his reasons for leaving ethics, and he explained that his term was ending and he wanted to continue public service in a role aligned with his background in international agreements, education, and Indo-Pacific relations. No votes were taken in the portion provided. The committee next considered GM 769 for Patrick Branco to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The foundation and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters both testified in strong support. Branco appeared by Zoom and said he was currently on temporary military orders on the East Coast, but had prior experience in public diplomacy as cultural attaché in Caracas and had worked on Fulbright and cultural exchange efforts. The committee then took up GM 770 for Makanani Salā to the same board. The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts supported her nomination, and Noe Wong-Wilson testified in person, citing Salā’s work at Windward Community College and her role in organizing the Best Fest festival, saying she would bring Hawaiian cultural perspective to the foundation. Salā said her county experience included arts, culture, and sister-city work, and that she would emphasize public-private partnerships and helping other agencies use the foundation’s expertise. Members briefly discussed FESTPAC and its rotating international location. Finally, the committee heard GM 767 for Miles Miyatso to the Land Use Commission. The Land Use Commission and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters both supported the nomination, and Avalon Development Company was listed but did not appear on Zoom. The discussion in the provided transcript ended during this item, with no vote or final action shown for the nominations covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• imminent, but I think the reason to potentially decouple them, at least in terms of getting things launched
• 00:10:47.600><c> of</c><00:10:47.680><c> getting</c><00:10:47.960><c> things</c><00:10:48.280><c> launched
• ,</c><00:10:48.800><c> is</c><00:10:49.000><c> to</c> terms of getting things launched, is to terms of
• getting things launched, is to facilitate<00:10:49.760><c> folks</c><00:10:49.960><c> being</c><00:10

Bills: HF4560 , HF4559 , HF2317 , HF3179 , HF4880 , HF2862 , HF4374

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: Public Utilities Commission, PUC, energy regulation, utility regulation, electric utility, public utility, rate case, multiyear rate plan, decoupling, rate decoupling, greenhouse gas, social cost of carbon, environmental cost, resource planning, certificate of need, distributed renewable energy, interconnection, budget billing, electronic filing, contested case

Transcript Highlights:

• the Minnesota Department of Health that talks about it is possible that drug manufacturers increase launch
• talks about it is possible that drug manufacturers<00:19:28.159><c> increase</c><00:19:28.760><c> launch
• </c><00:19:29.080><c> prices</c><00:19:30.000><c> in</c> manufacturers increase launch prices in manufacturers
• increase launch prices in response<00:19:30.840><c> to</c><00:19:31.000><c> offering</c><00:19:31.640

Transcript Highlights:

• We are also expanding our service to new cities and intend to launch our service in Denver, Detroit,
• ><01:48:10.800><c> to</c> service to new cities and intend to service to new cities and intend to launch
• <01:48:11.240><c> our</c><01:48:11.360><c> service</c> launch our service launch our service in<01:48

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• This is why in 2025 we launched what may be the only partnership of its kind in the nation with Sanford
• why</c><01:04:49.440><c> in</c><01:04:49.560><c> 2025</c><01:04:50.400><c> we</c><01:04:50.520><c> launched
• </c><01:04:50.880><c> what</c><01:04:51.040><c> may</c> This is why in 2025 we launched what may This
• is why in 2025 we launched what may be<01:04:51.320><c> the</c><01:04:51.560><c> only</c><01:04:51.840

Bills: HF4343

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, advertising tax, taxable services, digital advertising, online marketing, marketing services, search engine marketing, lead generation, internet advertising, ad agency, media buying, campaign planning, Minnesota tax law, service tax, broadening tax base, web advertising, promotional services

Transcript Highlights:

• Our agencies have pioneered microtransit in the Twin Cities, launched Wi-Fi-connected buses, added automatic
• > pioneered microtransit in the Twin pioneered microtransit in the Twin Cities,<01:07:31.280><c> launched
• c><01:07:31.760><c> Wi-Fi</c><01:07:32.319><c> connected</c><01:07:32.720><c> buses,</c> Cities, launched
• Wi-Fi connected buses, Cities, launched Wi-Fi connected buses, added<01:07:33.599><c> automatic</c><

Bills: HF3676 , HF3593 , HF3785 , HF3774 , HF4111 , HF3513

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: Safe at Home, address confidentiality, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, victim privacy, survivor protection, confidential address, protected address, secret address, identity protection, residential confidentiality, program participant, nondiscrimination, court disclosure, protective order, service of process, driver's license, state ID

Transcript Highlights:

• contract forensic examiners, develop a new justice partner system, which is well underway and will be launched
• system, which is well underway and will system, which is well underway and will be<00:04:13.120><c> launched
• </c><00:04:14.640><c> um</c><00:04:14.959><c> covering</c><00:04:15.280><c> the</c> be launched shortly
• . um covering the be launched shortly. um covering the employer<00:04:15.920><c> share</c><00:04:16.079

Bills: HF3874 , HF3875 , HF3378

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I mentioned, um, I'm excited that the vet technician program is going to launch, I think, July 1st
• amended, be laid over. the vet technician program is going to the vet technician program is going to launch
• :33:56.960><c> of</c><01:33:57.120><c> of</c><01:33:57.440><c> this</c><01:33:57.679><c> year</c> launch
• I think July 1st of of this year launch I think July 1st of of this year and<01:33:58.639><c> we</c>

Bills: HF3718

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy