Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:41:15.119><c> ICE</c> administrations that limited ICE administrations that limited ICE activity
• So, that was a very, very limited.
• So that can also impact. limited they have access to attorneys, limited they have access to attorneys
• :44:31.119><c> certain</c> limiting due process for certain limiting due process for certain individuals
• So bond hearings if I'm not mistaken.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the impact and legality of federal immigration enforcement efforts in Hawaii, with Chair Carl Rhodes framing it as the sixth and final interim briefing in a series on the rule of law and local effects of federal actions. He said the discussion would focus on due process concerns, questioning and detention of citizens and lawful immigrants, free speech issues, and pressure on state and local law enforcement, and noted the issues may be revisited in the 2026 regular session. There was no public testimony or committee vote; only invited speakers presented. Dr. Amy Agayani opened by arguing that immigrants are integral to Hawaii’s history, economy, and communities, and contrasted that with what she described as harmful narratives portraying immigrants as criminals. She cited figures that one in five Hawaii residents is foreign-born, that immigrants make up about 20% of the labor force and over 27% of entrepreneurs, and that roughly 40,000 people in Hawaii are undocumented, many of whom may have pathways to legal status but face language, information, and court barriers. She also said federal enforcement has expanded beyond undocumented immigrants to include citizens and lawful residents, and warned that attacks on birthright citizenship and visa categories could affect many families. Matina Mock of the legal clinic emphasized the complexity of immigration law and the severe lack of legal representation, noting a nationwide backlog of 11.3 million immigration-related applications and 3.4 million court cases, plus about 1,400 pending immigration cases in Honolulu with only two immigration judges. She said Hawaii has only six or seven nonprofit immigration legal service providers, and that represented clients are far more likely to obtain relief. Mock described a recent case involving a lawful student visa holder who was transferred among multiple federal facilities before being brought to Honolulu without clear notice, which she said illustrated due process violations. She also said ICE activity in Hawaii has sharply increased, with about 150 arrests from January to July 2025, a 380% increase over the same period in 2024, and that many detainees have no criminal record. Stephanie Haro Sevilla and another clinic fellow described 2025 enforcement as a major shift driven by a January executive order, the end of prior limits on arrests in sensitive locations, and arrest quotas they said require 3,000 arrests per day nationwide. They said this has led to arrests without warrants or probable cause, broader targeting of people with minor offenses or no criminal history, and the use of resources from other federal agencies and local law enforcement for civilian immigration enforcement. They also said the federal detention center in Honolulu is holding roughly 40 to 80 civilian detainees on any given day, often in conditions they characterized as prison-like, and warned that the current escalation could eventually affect lawful permanent residents and naturalized citizens. The speakers urged the public to support immigrant-rights advocates and local protective policies and funding measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• The callable bonds outstanding, basis. The callable bonds outstanding, right? right? right?
• &gt;&gt; Uh<00:43:22.240><c> bond.</c> &gt;&gt; Uh bond. &gt;&gt; Uh bond.
• 02:50.000><c> oversight</c> capital projects and bonds oversight capital projects and bonds oversight
• </c> as the bonds are outstanding. as the bonds are outstanding.
• Starkweather talked about with typical bonds, but it also had, um, there was a portion of the bonds,

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first received several information items, including University of Kentucky reports on medical and research equipment purchases, five school districts’ planned bond issues, and a School Facilities Construction Commission list of prior debt issues. Members then heard and approved an appropriation increase for a federally funded University of Kentucky project at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport in Richmond. The project will construct a terminal building and is tied to EKU’s airport operations and planned flight school; members asked about the public funding, the role of EKU, and possible aviation expansion, and the item was approved by roll call. The committee next approved a University of Kentucky lease purchase for an 85,000-square-foot facility at 415 West Sun Street in Morehead for $6.4 million. UK said the property, formerly the Rowan County Board of Education site, is directly across from UK St. Clair and will be used for multiple purposes; members questioned the quarterly payment structure and why the county preferred not to receive the full amount upfront, but the item was approved. The committee then heard three appropriation increases in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet: a Fish and Wildlife pump project at Ballard Wildlife Management Area and two Lake Barkley State Resort Park repair projects. Finance staff explained the Lake Barkley increases were mainly to cover construction contingencies after bids came in close to available funding, and the committee approved the action items. Janice Thomas then presented four pool projects requiring no action: HVAC upgrades at the Future Farmers of America Leadership Training Center in Hardinsburg, geothermal and HVAC work at the Kentucky School for the Blind, a Brady Hall HVAC project at the Kentucky School for the Blind, and a renovation of Shanti Hall at Kentucky State University for the School of Engineering Technology. Members asked no substantive questions on those items. Finally, Natalie Broner presented a new CHFS lease in Wayne County and a Transportation Cabinet lease modification in Christian County. The Wayne County lease drew the most discussion, with members questioning the rent, the lack of other bids, and whether another county location might be preferable; CHFS said it maintains county-seat offices statewide and that the Wayne County site would replace an existing office. The Christian County item was described as a replacement site for driver licensing services with renovation costs largely absorbed by the lessor. Both lease items were presented for action after the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll put a limit on it of just three years.
• Ryan: The majority of prescriptions have a legal limit of 12 months.
• , and it really maxes out our bonding capacity.
• got apparatus you've got to buy that you usually bond for, police cars that you have to bond for, and
• other things that you have to bond for, roads.

Bills: SB20 , SB111 , SB211 , SB218 , SB14

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• Therefore, in 2024, the legislature carved out a limited exemption from counting electric sales to cryptobased
• legislature<00:04:11.040><c> carved</c><00:04:11.360><c> out</c><00:04:11.920><c> a</c><00:04:12.159><c> limited
• </c> legislature carved out a limited legislature carved out a limited exemption<00:04:13.760><c> from
• </c><01:23:53.040><c> of</c><01:23:53.280><c> the</c><01:23:53.520><c> demand</c> we take an aggregate
• of the demand we take an aggregate of the demand forecasts<01:23:54.639><c> the</c><01:23:54.960><c>

Bills: HF3296 , HF3802

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: energy conservation, data centers, electric sales, energy optimization, utility regulations, energy regulation, certificate of need, renewable energy, power production, energy efficiency, Minnesota statutes, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There will be no public testimony and limited member discussion because we already did hear these bills
• There will be no public testimony<01:02:50.160><c> and</c><01:02:50.400><c> limited</c><01:02:50.880>
• <c> member</c><01:02:51.280><c> discussion</c> testimony and limited member discussion testimony and
• limited member discussion because<01:02:52.240><c> we</c><01:02:52.480><c> already</c><01:02:52.799><
• existing structure is when school districts are reporting their attendance to us, it is reported as an aggregate

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of outstanding bonds.
• the system. outstanding bonds.
• Authority should be outstanding bonds.
• </c><00:19:24.880><c> market</c> favorably received by the bond market favorably received by the bond
• </c><00:20:13.600><c> using</c> authority refinancing bonds using authority refinancing bonds using supplemental

Committee: Joint Energy

Keywords: Energy - Room 210, 2 February, 2026; 4:15 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there's no character limit, is there a limitation on where you can send the email from?
• The $1 million bond is very reasonable. And for most bonds, what you have to put up is 1% to 5%.
• Limiting sponsors to only one amendment per election, requiring a million-dollar bond before even a single
• This bill adjusts the corporate limits.
• It reduces the corporate limits of Coral Springs and adds to Parkland's corporate limits by approximately

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Walton County Deputy Will May, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. The Rules and Ethics Committee’s special order report for April 3, 2025 was adopted, and CS/HB 947 was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee. The chamber then moved through a series of bills, mostly reviser and technical measures, with several companion Senate bills substituted and passed: SB 36 (Florida statutes adoption act), SB 42 (general reviser’s bill), SB 40 (deleting inoperative statutory provisions), and SB 38 (renaming references from the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services to the Division of Criminal Investigations). All of those passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The House also passed HB 513 on electronic transmittal of court orders, requiring clerks to electronically send certain petitions, notices, summonses, and orders within six hours, including Baker Act, Marchman Act, and risk protection order documents. Members discussed whether judges needed to direct transmission and whether there were fail-safes if clerks did not comply. HB 615, on electronic delivery of notices between landlords and tenants, was amended to strengthen tenant protections and passed 108-0. HB 655 establishing a regulatory framework for pet insurance, HB 299 on elevator accessibility requirements, and HB 1145 on workforce education also passed, with HB 1145 receiving 100 yeas and 4 nays. HB 649, removing the paper supervised protocol for certified registered nurse anesthetists, passed 77-30 after structured debate. A major portion of the meeting focused on CS/HB 1205, which would significantly revise Florida’s citizen initiative process. The bill adds a $1 million bond requirement after 25% of required signatures are collected, requires petition handlers to be Florida residents and U.S. citizens, imposes background checks and training for paid circulators, shortens petition turn-in deadlines to 10 days, increases penalties, adds signature revocation notices, and creates additional criminal penalties and enforcement provisions. Supporters argued the changes were needed to address fraud and protect petition integrity; opponents said the bill would burden First Amendment activity and make citizen-led amendments much harder to qualify. Numerous amendments were offered, including proposals to remove sensitive personal information from petition forms, soften deadlines and penalties, change validation thresholds, and alter the estimating conference process; most failed, though one amendment clarifying who pays for background checks was adopted. The transcript ends during continued debate on an amendment to strike most of the bill and prohibit public funds from being used to advocate for or against constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> assumption about future bonding assumption about future bonding authorizations.<00:20:49.919><c>
• </c><00:20:55.280><c> bills</c> assumption about future bonding bills assumption about future bonding
• </c> legislative session, future bonding legislative session, future bonding bills<00:21:04.400><c> will
• The bonding element—so, one, do you know how, like, why the bond sale was smaller than anticipated?
• </c> do bonding that's not reflected here. do bonding that's not reflected here. Right?

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Aaron Campbell, State Economist Dr. Tony Becker, and State Budget Director Anna Mingi presented the November 2025 budget and economic forecast. Campbell said the state now projects a nearly $2.5 billion surplus at the end of the 2026-27 biennium, about $575 million better than the end-of-session estimate, but also a projected negative balance of about $2.9 billion in FY 2028-29, reflecting a worsening structural imbalance. He said the budget reserve stands at $3.4 billion, with cash flow and budget reserves totaling $3.8 billion after a $244 million addition, and emphasized that Minnesota’s AAA bond rating and reserve policy remain strengths even as future sessions will need to address the long-term gap. Becker said the national economic outlook has changed only modestly since February, but growth remains below trend through the forecast horizon. He cited slower consumer spending, weak private investment, continued tariff uncertainty, lower projected immigration, and modest inflation that stays near 3% through 2026 before easing. Revenue forecasts for the next biennium were revised up to $66.3 billion, driven mainly by higher individual income tax receipts and other revenue, partly offset by lower sales and corporate tax forecasts. He also noted risks from federal policy changes, the recent shutdown’s effect on data availability, and possible equity market volatility. Mingi said general fund spending is projected to rise sharply, with current biennium spending up $3.4 billion from end-of-session estimates and planning-year spending up $1.9 billion. She attributed much of the increase to carryforward from prior one-time appropriations, discretionary inflation, and especially Medical Assistance. MA costs are projected to be about $2.5 billion higher over 2025-29, largely because managed care rates rose more than expected due to higher utilization and higher-cost services, including pharmacy costs, while long-term care and disability waiver costs also increased. In response to questions, officials said the federal reconciliation bill had only a relatively small effect on the health care changes, and that the carryforward amounts reflect unspent prior appropriations that now show up in later years rather than new spending.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have to provide certain registration, bonding, and reserve requirements in reporting.
• It talks about bonding or a dishonesty insurance. Is there a difference between those two things?
• So the preference is the bonding.
• The coverage is more expensive than actually having the bond, so the preference is the bonding.
• Chairman and Representative Berch, it is not limited.

Committee: House Business

Summary: The committee first took up a series of Idaho Department of Insurance rule dockets, all presented by Director Dean Cameron as part of a five-year negotiated rule review. The rules covered self-funded health care plans for government entities, joint public agency self-funded plans, long-term care insurance, small employer and individual health insurance availability, coordination of benefits, short-term health plans, and managing general agents. Cameron repeatedly said the changes were mostly clarifications, deletions of duplicative statutory language, and reduced filing burdens, with a few notable policy points including Medicare coordination for seniors, adding generic prescription coverage language, and revising short-term plan rules to allow both traditional and enhanced plans through the end of the calendar year. The committee asked several questions, but no opposition was raised, and each docket was approved by motion. For the short-term plan docket, the committee also approved making the pending rule effective on the Legislature’s 2026 sine die date to avoid a gap after the temporary rule expires. The committee then heard House Bill 563 from Representative Jeff Ehlers, which would change CPA licensure requirements in Idaho. Ehlers said the bill is intended to address a CPA shortage by creating additional pathways to licensure: a bachelor’s degree plus the CPA exam and two years of supervised experience, or a master’s degree/150 hours with the existing experience requirements. He also said the bill would expand reciprocity for out-of-state CPAs in good standing. During questioning, members explored whether the bill lowered barriers too much, whether Idaho-specific knowledge was needed, and whether the residency language for taking the exam should be removed. Public testimony included support from Ken McClure of the Idaho Society of CPAs, who said the bill reflects a national model and that supervised experience is a quality-control measure that can be satisfied through peer or mentor arrangements, not just direct employment. Rachel Misnick, a state employee, testified in opposition to one supervision phrase, saying it could make it harder for government accountants without access to an active CPA supervisor to qualify. Laura Lance, executive director of the Idaho Society of CPAs, supported the bill and said it adds flexibility for candidates with different learning styles and helps rural areas where supervision is harder to find. The committee ultimately voted to send House Bill 563 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet the system has its limits.
• Yet the system has its limits.
• Yet the system has its limits.
• Yet the system has its limits.
• </c> Public Safety budget and bonding Public Safety budget and bonding presentation<00:48:19.720><c>

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:29:43.360><c> to</c><00:29:43.600><c> a</c> is limited to a is limited to a $325<00:29:45.279
• on the EMT aspect uh criteria is limited on the EMT aspect uh is<00:31:42.320><c> limited</c><00:31:
• </c><01:16:33.440><c> bill</c> gets cut in the bonding bill gets cut in the bonding bill development.
• </c> had been as much as 50% of the bonding had been as much as 50% of the bonding bill,<01:27:21.280
• Um because my bonding amount.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have a legitimate bonding process here.
• Yeah, a question on the bonding.
• Yeah, a question on the bonding.
• So what would happen with the bonding?
• I don't understand fully the bonding process.

Committee: House Utilities

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number one, SB 623, Archuleta, the Veteran Bond Act.
• Bonds are repaid through the veteran's monthly mortgage payments.
• It's imperative that this bond get on the ballot and get passed.
• And if not, we're hoping that the housing bond can be a backstop.
• So we have to do bonds, and we have to do little baby steps like this.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs heard several veteran-focused measures, with extensive testimony in support from veterans’ organizations and individual veterans. SB 888 would exclude VA service-connected disability compensation from household income calculations for the low-income disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, addressing a situation where disability benefits can disqualify veterans from tax relief. SB 1354 would prohibit military personnel from another state, territory, or district from entering California to perform military or law enforcement functions without the Governor’s express permission, while preserving Title X activity, training, and mutual aid arrangements. SB 623 would place the Veterans Bond Act of 2026 on the ballot to authorize a $1.25 billion general obligation bond for the CalVet Home Loan Program, which supporters said is nearing depletion of bond authority and remains a critical path to homeownership for veterans and military families. SB 1407 would increase the state income tax exclusion for military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefits to the first $40,000, subject to income caps, as a retention measure to keep military retirees in California. Supporters for the bills emphasized housing stability, affordability, retention of veterans in California, and the economic benefits of keeping military retirees and their income in the state. SB 888 and SB 623 drew broad support from veterans’ groups, county veterans service officers, and related organizations, with no opposition testimony. SB 1354 also received support from veterans’ advocates, while committee members sought clarification on training, mutual aid, and the bill’s scope, and the author agreed to work on amendments. SB 1407 drew strong support from veterans and military organizations, but also formal opposition from the California Tax Reform Association, which argued the state already provides generous veteran benefits and that the tax break would be unfair to other public servants. The committee voted to advance all four measures. SB 888 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation; SB 1354 was approved as amended and re-referred to Public Safety; SB 623 was approved as amended, given urgency, and re-referred to Housing and Community Development; and SB 1407 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation. The consent item, SCR 143, was adopted unanimously. After the initial votes, the committee later took add-on votes to confirm passage of SB 888 and SB 1354, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number one, SB 623, Archiletta, the Veteran Bond Act.
• Bonds are repaid through the veteran's monthly mortgage payments.
• It's imperative that this bond get on the ballot and get passed.
• And if not, we're hoping that the housing bond can be a backstop.
• So we have to do bonds, and we have to do little baby steps like this.

Committee: House Military and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Property tax is limited to head of household.
• It's limited to veterans, 100% disabled, or variations.
• It has bonding capacity up to a half a billion dollars.
• It has issued bonds, just under $100 million.
• It's important on these bonds because by the statute that you passed, this district has to issue bonds

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I asked him to serve on bond bill.
• So on bond, that has been, I think that's the best job here at Leg Hall, but being chair of bond.
• It's the FY27 bond bill, House Bill 500.
• A limited volume, again, presents limited risk to check valves.
• A limited volume, again, presents limited risk to check valves.

Summary: The House convened with Girl State participants presiding for part of the session, including introductions of the student leadership and a unanimous voice vote passing House Concurrent Resolution 152 honoring the young women participating in Delaware Girl State. The chamber also welcomed congressional interns and other guests, accepted the prior day’s minutes, and observed a moment of silence for Nathan Cynix and Kara Feeley before prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to tributes for Representative Ron Gray, who was recognized for his 14 years of service and his work on issues such as bond bills, dredging, bike paths, small business, constituent service, and agriculture-related funding. Multiple members from both parties praised his humor, honesty, mentorship, and dedication to the House and his district. Gray responded with extended remarks reflecting on his family legacy, legislative service, and appreciation for colleagues and staff, and the chamber later sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at his request. The House then received communications, including Senate messages returning several bills and informing the chamber of Senate passage of additional measures. Members were also told that the FY27 bond bill, House Bill 500, had been placed on desks as a gift for review. The House read in Consent Agenda S, which included House Bill 476, House Joint Resolution 13, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 168, Senate Bill 297, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 319, and Senate Joint Resolution 21, and began a roll call vote on the consent agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chairman, am I right in understanding there's a six-year limit on how long people have in total
• </c> understanding there's a six-year limit understanding there's a six-year limit on<00:30:40.480><c
• It’s going to include dyslexia but not limited to dyslexia and developmental language disorders.
• </c> received aggregated on the website. received aggregated on the website.
• and so it's not limited to just one<01:41:48.560><c> and</c><01:41:48.800><c> then</c><01:41:48.960>

Bills: HB0076 , HB0102 , HB0115

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: annexation, landowner rights, municipal law, city planning, property, local government, artificial intelligence, synthetic sexual material, child protection, self-harm, criminal liability, cardiac emergency, defibrillator, school safety, training, public health, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, we want to thank Chair or Vice Chair Kupec for leading a bill to renew bonding authority for
• opportunities for cattle are limiting opportunities for cattle producers.<00:20:40.159><c> Increased
• </c><00:26:54.559><c> The</c><00:26:54.799><c> limiting</c> broaden our outreach.
• The limiting broaden our outreach.
• Um, and then of course limited worth it.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The pay as you go limit has capacity of $11.6 billion.
• The tax spending limit has capacity of $4.8 billion and the consolidated general revenue limit has a
• At the moment, the controlling limit is the tax spending limit with $4.8 billion although these amounts
• We've limited cities and counties on what they putting caps on them and what they can do.
• Let's move on to bonds here quickly.

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to try to limit everyone to three minutes. You're recognized, sir. To limit everyone.
• Again, please, let's limit this to 90 seconds. Before, after Mr.
• If you do a new borrowing, a new bond issue, like we do tax-exempt bond issues, we first have to clear
• If we have to create a second reserve for bond payments, it would result. reserve for bond payments,
• If you do a new borrowing, a new bond issue, like we do tax-exit bond issues, we first have to clear

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several insurance, financial regulation, and public safety bills. The most extensive discussion centered on SB 1656, a major Office of Insurance Regulation bill covering reciprocal insurers, rate transparency, data calls, cybersecurity notification, and stronger oversight of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). The sponsor and OIR described the bill as aimed at transparency and preventing insolvencies, especially after recent CCRC failures. CCRC residents and industry representatives testified both in support and in opposition, with supporters emphasizing resident protection and opponents warning about liens, reserve requirements, management-company regulation, and higher costs. After debate and assurances that problematic provisions would be refined, the committee adopted a delete-all amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 1658, which creates a public records framework for the uniform mitigation verification of inspection form database while protecting policyholders’ personal information; a clarifying amendment was adopted before the bill was reported favorably. SB 1612 on financial institutions was approved after a substitute amendment restored current limits on credit union investments and kept only reimbursement, not salary, authority for certain board members and officers. SB 1740, an insurance bill intended to reduce premiums and insurer insolvency risk, was amended to prioritize rate-decrease filings and prohibit claim denials based solely on AI, then reported favorably. Two public-safety bills also moved forward. SB 1212 on firefighter health and safety would update OSHA-related protections, address toxic exposure in gear, encourage safer replacement equipment, and support best practices and mental health resources; an amendment refined terminology and added related provisions, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1184 on residual market insurers was amended to preserve existing consumer protections and disclosure rules for excess and surplus lines and to clarify Citizens-related appointment requirements before being reported favorably. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly noted ongoing stakeholder negotiations and intent to refine several bills further in later committee stops.