Transcript Highlights:

• The biggest, clearly the largest problems are around administrative complexity and waste.
• This is slightly different... ...problems are around administrative complexity and waste.
• That explains about one-third of these wasted... Thank you.
• I wanted to make a very strong delineation between the very specious narrative around waste, fraud, and
• And you mentioned one that is the largest bucket of excess spending here, which is administrative waste

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Senate and Assembly Health Committees focused on the cost of federal instability for California health coverage, access, and affordability. Opening remarks from members of both houses emphasized that California’s coverage gains under the Affordable Care Act are now threatened by federal policy changes, including the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, H.R. 1, and new federal regulatory actions. Members repeatedly cited rising premiums, skipped care, medical debt, and the risk that low-income, immigrant, and working Californians could lose coverage or be pushed into less comprehensive plans. The first panel reviewed the federal landscape and state response. Don Joyce described the ACA’s coverage expansions and warned that H.R. 1, regulatory changes, and broader federal retrenchment could reduce coverage and weaken meaningful benefits. Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman said the loss of enhanced premium tax credits is driving major affordability problems, with average monthly premiums projected to rise sharply and enrollment already down, especially among middle-income consumers. HCAI’s Elizabeth Lansberg explained the Office of Health Care Affordability’s role in slowing spending growth, monitoring consolidation, and setting spending targets, including lower targets for high-cost hospitals and new primary care investment goals. Members asked about bronze plans, high-cost hospitals, administrative burdens, provider taxes, and whether federal advisory changes could affect required benefits such as immunizations. The second panel examined population impacts and cost drivers. UC Berkeley Labor Center’s Miranda Dietz said most Californians get coverage through employers, Medi-Cal, or Covered California, and that affordability problems are widespread across all groups. She projected that California could have up to 2 million more uninsured residents by 2030, largely from Medi-Cal losses, and said higher premiums reduce wages and increase medical debt. Christoph Stremakis of the California Health Care Foundation highlighted survey data showing widespread concern about medical bills, skipped care, and medical debt, and argued that a large share of spending is wasted through administrative complexity, inflated prices, and underinvestment in prevention. Committee members pressed the panel on whether California can sustain coverage without new revenue, how cost-growth targets affect workers and families, how medical debt relief programs like Los Angeles County’s could be expanded, and how OCA can address uncompensated care, consolidation, and prior authorization burdens.

Transcript Highlights:

• time and honesty and I apologize<00:39:47.880><c> if</c><00:39:48.040><c> we</c><00:39:48.160><c> wasted
• /c><00:39:48.599><c> if</c><00:39:48.839><c> you</c><00:39:49.000><c> believe</c> apologize if we wasted
• if you believe apologize if we wasted if you believe you<00:39:49.319><c> wasted</c><00:39:49.599><c
• 39:50.920><c> but</c><00:39:51.040><c> I</c><00:39:51.200><c> also</c><00:39:51.560><c> do</c> you wasted
• your time um but I also do you wasted your time um but I also do believe<00:39:52.440><c> that</c><00

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Summary: The committees heard advice-and-consent testimony on several gubernatorial nominations, beginning with GM 644 for Steven Logan to serve as Adjutant General of the Department of Defense through December 7, 2026. Testimony from multiple state officials and others was strongly supportive, citing Logan’s military leadership, service during the COVID-19 period, and coordination during the fireworks-related patient transfer. Logan described his 44 years of military service, 22 years with the Honolulu Police Department, and his approach of “unity of effort,” including how he would help operationalize the Office of the State Fire Marshal by coordinating with county fire chiefs, the State Fire Council, and emergency management to pursue funding and implement recommendations. The committee then took up GM 621 and GM 623 for the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee. Shante Asuda of Hawaii Correctional Industries supported both nominees and said the board is important for evaluating private-sector joint ventures that can provide work skills for incarcerated people. Carla Kashiwa said she wanted to help improve outcomes through public-private partnerships and vocational rehabilitation opportunities for people reentering society. Lee Shinato, however, gave a less prepared presentation, offering broad ideas such as crafts, lunch wagons, and ukulele-making, and acknowledged he was not fully clear on the board’s scope or goals. Committee members expressed concern about the lack of preparation and clarity around the board’s mission, and the administrator later explained that the board’s role is to review business plans for viability, return on investment, sustainability, and whether they provide marketable skills for inmates. The final item discussed was GM 568 for Aris Banag to serve on the Advisory Board of Veteran Services. Supporters described him as community-minded and deeply committed to veterans. Banag said he has over 30 years of service, has worked as a mental health therapist and veterans resource coordinator at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, and helped create the first veteran service center there. In response to questions about federal VA cutbacks and veterans nearing retirement, he said the board must be a strong independent voice for veterans, advocate against reductions in benefits, and help service members plan for post-military life, including disability benefits, retirement, and financial planning. No votes or final committee actions were stated in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• we see a transition down there and starting to see new industries come in here, particularly with nuclear
• we see a transition down there and starting to see new industries come in here, particularly with nuclear
• industries come in here, particularly industries come in here, particularly with<00:30:30.799><c> nuclear
• 31.600><c> some</c><00:30:31.760><c> of</c><00:30:31.919><c> this</c><00:30:32.080><c> other</c> with nuclear
• and some of this other with nuclear and some of this other stuff.<00:30:33.600><c> Um,</c><00:30:34.000

Transcript Highlights:

• know folks love to use the word waste Fraud<00:16:22.839><c> and</c><00:16:23.000><c> Abuse</c><00:16
• :15.279><c> um</c> we are working to root out fraud and um we are working to root out fraud and um waste
• 21:17.320><c> every</c><00:21:17.640><c> area</c><00:21:18.240><c> of</c><00:21:19.240><c> our</c> waste
• Another lesser-known but very active role for counties is managing our solid waste and recycling.
• </c><01:30:37.679><c> and</c> counties is managing our solid waste and counties is managing our solid

Bills: HF25 , HF4

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• We lead the nation in waste, fraud, and abuse, and that is not something we should be proud of.
• ,</c><01:09:54.800><c> fraud,</c><01:09:55.120><c> and</c> We lead the nation in waste, fraud, and We
• This is about attacking fraud, waste, This is about attacking fraud, waste, and<01:11:41.440><c> abuse
• to prioritize waste water and clean<01:35:15.199><c> water.
• ,</c> accountable to prevent that waste, accountable to prevent that waste, fraud,<04:45:13.760><c> and

Transcript Highlights:

• House Concurrent Resolution Number 4 by Representative McCormick suspends rules relative to chronic wasting
• This HCR 4 is a resolution to suspend the rules when it comes to chronic wasting disease on the baiting
• This HCR 4 is a resolution to suspend the rules when it comes to chronic wasting disease on the baiting
• cervid family, which include native deer to North America, have all shown to be susceptible to chronic wasting
• There’s been no link between chronic wasting disease and human illness.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 706 by Representative Riser, which would set a more detailed process for commercial saltwater disposal wells, including site-specific modeling and pressure review. Riser and industry witnesses argued the bill would provide clearer, more predictable rules for operators who have faced long delays and changing requirements, while Department of Conservation and Energy officials said they are already developing guidance and that any pressure standard must remain site-specific to avoid fracturing confining layers, protecting drinking water, and staying within EPA primacy requirements. The department emphasized that geology varies widely across Louisiana and that a fixed pressure number in statute could be unsafe in some locations. Members also discussed the fiscal note, the need for additional staff, and whether the bill would tie the department’s hands or force approvals; witnesses said the bill’s modeling requirements were conservative, but opponents warned the statutory pressure ranges could conflict with site-specific safety determinations. After a technical amendment was adopted, the committee voted on the bill and it failed on a 6-6 tie. The committee then took up House Concurrent Resolution 4 by Representative McCormick, which would suspend Louisiana’s deer baiting ban for 18 months in areas affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD). McCormick and Hunter Nation representatives argued that baiting bans have not stopped CWD in other states, that deer feeders and food plots are part of hunting culture, and that Louisiana should rely on science and a more flexible approach. They cited Wisconsin as an example where CWD spread despite long-standing feed bans and said there has been no proven human transmission. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries officials said bait bans are one of the few tools available to reduce artificial congregation of deer and help limit disease spread, and they explained that the department is also working with a CWD task force and another proposal that would tie restrictions to a 1.5% prevalence threshold rather than an across-the-board suspension. The discussion ended with the department providing information on the impacts of both measures, but no final action on HCR 4 was recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Concurrent Resolution Number 4 by Representative McCormick suspends rules relative to chronic wasting
• This HCR 4 is a resolution to suspend the rules when it comes to chronic wasting disease on the baiting
• This House concurrent resolution suspends the rules when it comes to chronic wasting disease and the
• cervid family, which include native deer to North America, have all shown to be susceptible to chronic wasting
• There’s been no link between chronic wasting disease and human illness.”

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• The fact that the auditor is sitting here, having to waste time on this—if you want to play politics,
• It's a waste of resources when they're not operating in a manner that can stand up to public scrutiny
• decide to issue an audit when the community gets to decide policy in elections, then we're going to be wasting
• And if they continue to litigate and waste money and lose court cases, then the voters ultimately, I
• And if they continue to litigate and waste money and lose court cases, then the voters ultimately, I

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee because it initially lacked a quorum, heard a status update from State Auditor Grant Parks, and reviewed several new audit requests. Parks reported that 10 previously requested audits were underway, with most expected to be released in spring/summer and one pesticide audit still pending; he also noted ongoing litigation with Huntington Beach over a 2024 audit. He said the office had grown to just over 200 employees and could start about five new JALAC audits between April and July. The committee also noted that one Prop. 28 request was being held and one PUC-related request was moved off consent to the regular calendar. Senator Cervantes presented an audit request on California fusion centers, arguing they operate with little public oversight and may collect, share, and store sensitive information without adequate transparency or safeguards. Supporters, including former FBI agent Mike German and ACLU California Action, said fusion centers function as secretive intelligence-sharing hubs that can produce inaccurate or biased reports and may undermine privacy and civil liberties. Parks said the audit would examine the State Threat Assessment Center and two local fusion centers, focusing on oversight, legal authority, data quality, unauthorized disclosure controls, use of private vendors, funding, and performance metrics, while warning of likely access and public-disclosure limitations. The request drew sharp opposition from Assembly Member DeMaio, who called it a politicized “witch hunt,” but public comment included support from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Senator Allen then presented an audit of the Public Utilities Commission’s enforcement of Rule 21 interconnection timelines for customer-sited solar and storage projects. He and witnesses said utilities have repeatedly missed deadlines, causing long delays and added costs for schools, nonprofits, and other customers; CPUC staff responded that the commission adopted timelines and compliance benchmarks in 2020, publishes quarterly data, and is already pursuing the issue through workshops and an open proceeding. Parks said the audit would assess CPUC monitoring, enforcement tools, and reasons for utility noncompliance. Public comment was mixed, with solar advocates supporting the request and PG&E objecting on process grounds and arguing the commission’s ongoing proceeding should address the issue. Senator Perez, with Senator Fong, requested an audit of Caltrans’ administration of the former SR 710 corridor property sales and affordable housing program. They described tenant complaints about mold, pests, deferred maintenance, inconsistent pricing and eligibility information, and possible failures to inform residents of purchase rights; Caltrans said it is working to complete sales and has already closed 59 properties since fiscal year 2024-25. Parks said the audit would examine compliance with the Roberti Act, pricing, appraisals, communications, rent accounting, property maintenance, and follow-up on prior recommendations. Finally, Senator Umberg requested an audit of the Orange County Board of Education, citing transparency, litigation spending, charter authorization, procurement, and whistleblower concerns; after quorum was established, Parks said the audit would review Brown Act and Public Records Act compliance, public resource use, contracting, litigation costs, charter oversight, and retaliation complaints.

Transcript Highlights:

• very vulnerable and very small group of our fellow Kentuckians, and it's a disappointment and it's a waste
• very vulnerable and very small group of our fellow Kentuckians, and it's a disappointment and it's a waste
• very vulnerable and very small group of our fellow Kentuckians, and it's a disappointment and it's a waste
• very vulnerable and very small group of our fellow Kentuckians, and it's a disappointment and it's a waste
• It's a disappointment, and it's a waste of our taxpayer-mandated duty. Thank you.

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee first took up Senate Bill 169, which would expand the Attorney General’s and Kentucky State Police’s authority to use administrative subpoenas in child exploitation investigations. Senator Danny Carroll and Attorney General’s office staff said the bill updates existing law to reflect modern online platforms, adding social networking companies, mobile payment services, and cloud storage services so investigators can obtain limited account-holder information tied to online child exploitation cases. Members raised no opposition, and the committee approved SB 169 17-0 with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2, which would prohibit the use of public funds for certain cosmetic or elective procedures in correctional facilities, including gender-affirming surgeries, and would also affect some hormone-related treatment. Senator Mike Wilson and supporters said the bill was intended to stop such procedures from being authorized by memo rather than regulation and to ensure taxpayer money is not used for elective care. Several members asked whether any such surgeries had occurred in Kentucky; Wilson said none had been approved, and he emphasized the bill was about public funding, not general medical care. Supporters argued the state should not pay for elective procedures, while opponents said the bill targeted a tiny population and could create constitutional problems. Opponents included incarcerated and advocacy voices, a psychologist, and legal advocates, who said gender-affirming care is medically necessary for some patients, that withholding it can cause serious mental health harm, and that similar restrictions have faced court challenges. One speaker described personal harm from being denied hormone therapy while incarcerated. Another warned the bill could violate the Eighth Amendment and lead to costly litigation. After debate, the committee moved to vote on SB 2, with members giving explanations both for and against, but the transcript cuts off before the final roll call result is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• superconductivity, as you know, the University of Houston has a name in that, and leading that into nuclear

Summary: The Senate Committee on Higher Education met to review interim charges on the Permanent University Fund (PUF), the Available University Fund (AUF), the Higher Education Fund (HEAF), and the Texas University Fund (TUF). Legislative Budget Board staff outlined how each fund works, including PUF’s constitutional role for UT and Texas A&M, HEAF’s capital support for institutions outside those systems, and TUF’s research funding for eligible universities. They also described TUF’s growing corpus and distribution changes, and noted which institutions are nearing eligibility. Committee members asked about distribution formulas, comparisons to other states, and how funds are allocated among system institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a waste of time and finite public safety dollars.
• Locals are regularly updating our franchise agreements to add bulky waste pickup opportunities, but those
• Dylan Hoffman, on behalf of the Solid Waste Association of North America's Legislative Task Force, in
• On behalf of the Solid Waste Association of North America's Legislative Task Force, in support.
• I will be taking that TA seriously once I get TA from DOJ so that we don't waste anyone's time, and this

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• at mental illness in this state, we constantly say we can't afford it, but we can come up here and waste
• not been favorable for us, it's<01:18:23.880><c> just</c><01:18:24.080><c> a</c><01:18:24.160><c> waste
• </c><01:18:25.640><c> And</c><01:18:25.840><c> as</c><01:18:26.040><c> I</c> it's just a waste of money
• And as I it's just a waste of money.
• </c> but we can come up here and waste but we can come up here and waste millions<01:18:40.920><c> of

Bills: SB1

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Transcript Highlights:

• that's nowhere near my district, but I'm still really excited about what we can learn about solid waste
• c><00:32:24.120><c> management</c><00:32:24.800><c> to</c><00:32:24.880><c> be</c> how they manage waste
• management to be how they manage waste management to be more<00:32:25.720><c> um</c><00:32:26.280><c
• /c><00:32:31.480><c> about</c><00:32:32.440><c> uh</c><00:32:32.600><c> solid</c><00:32:33.000><c> waste
• ,</c><00:32:33.400><c> which</c> can learn about uh solid waste, which can learn about uh solid waste

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, it limits the ability of corporate defendants to waste their time, taxpayer money, and really
• the ability of corporate<00:52:38.360><c> defendants</c><00:52:38.880><c> to</c><00:52:39.040><c> waste
• </c><00:52:39.720><c> their</c> corporate defendants to waste their corporate defendants to waste their
• taxpayer</c><00:54:20.600><c> resources,</c><00:54:21.800><c> and</c><00:54:22.000><c> we</c> not waste
• taxpayer resources, and we not waste taxpayer resources, and we don't<00:54:22.440><c> want</c><00:54

Bills: HF3455 , HF3936 , HF3860 , HF3656 , HF4060

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• t want to say unfettered, but an increased facilities, machines being um built and a little bit of waste
• ,</c><00:33:00.159><c> fraud,</c> built and a little bit of waste, fraud, built and a little bit of waste
• I would not say waste, fraud, and abuse at all.
• Uh, but I don't consider that to be fraudulent or wasteful in terms of how those words are used.
• Uh, but I don't consider that to be fraudulent or wasteful in terms of how those words are used.

Committee: House Health Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been very vocal in making sure that I'm going to do everything I can to find waste elsewhere in
• I'm going to do everything I can to find waste elsewhere in the budget before we ever touch anything
• And we're not seeing a lot of waste... ...it's just such a great program, and we're not seeing a lot
• of waste, abuse, and fraud in this program because it is so tightly monitored.
• Now, listen, I'm a budget hawk and all waste, I don't care where it's at.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee first heard the State Auditor’s fiscal year 2027 budget request. Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick described rebuilding the office after staffing had fallen to a historic low, explaining that the office has grown from 92.5 to 119 FTE but still needs several years to reach full staffing, especially at the manager level. He said most of the budget is payroll, noted the office’s use of lapsing general revenue while staffing is rebuilt, and outlined requests including core operating funds, a small sports betting audit NDI, and a $290,000 increase to the CPA stipend to address recruitment and retention problems. Members also discussed the auditor’s authority to audit state agencies and subrecipients, the office’s role in performance audits, and the meaning of “E” appropriations and the auditor’s recent general revenue conditions report. The committee then moved to public testimony on House Bill 10, focusing on Department of Health and Senior Services and Department of Mental Health issues. One witness from the American Heart Association supported continued funding for cardiac emergency response planning in schools, citing AEDs, CPR training, and about 480 schools served. Another witness from the Alzheimer’s Association urged rejection of a proposed $1 million reduction to the Missouri caregiver program, arguing it supports families caring for people with dementia and helps avoid more expensive institutional care. Most of the testimony concerned proposed cuts to developmental disability services, especially day habilitation and self-directed supports (SDS). Providers, family members, and workers said the proposed reductions would force service cuts, reduce wages, and threaten community-based care that keeps people at home and out of more costly facilities. They argued the cuts would shift costs to emergency, residential, or institutional settings and asked the committee to preserve current funding levels. Several members asked questions about provider rates, the share of services delivered by private providers, and the cost difference between SDS and institutional care. The hearing ended with the chair apologizing for earlier tension, explaining the schedule, and recessing the committee to return later because of House floor obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• So now you understand where signing the nuclear deal with Iran came from and why Obama was all over himself

Committee: House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee convened with roll call, member and staff introductions, and a review of amendment deadlines and decorum rules. Members also suspended the committee rule on late-distributed amendments to allow consideration of a Kolodin amendment. The chair then moved to the agenda bills, beginning with HCM 2001, a memorial urging Congress and the President to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization and asking Arizona agencies to monitor related organizations. Testimony on HCM 2001 was sharply divided, with supporters arguing the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR are linked to terrorism and Sharia law, and opponents calling the memorial discriminatory, unsupported by evidence, and an attack on Muslim civil rights organizations and free speech. The committee voted 4-3 to pass HCM 2001 out of committee. The committee then heard HCM 2002, which urges a federal review of CAIR for possible foreign terrorist organization designation and supports related congressional action. Testimony again split along similar lines: opponents, including CAIR representatives, a veteran, and community members, said the measure was scapegoating, lacked legal basis, and would stigmatize Muslim communities; supporters cited the Holy Land Foundation case, FBI concerns, and alleged ties between CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Hamas. After debate, the committee voted 4-3 to pass HCM 2002 out of committee. Following a brief recess, the committee took up HB 2009, which would prohibit committees primarily organized to influence constitutional amendments from accepting foreign national contributions and require disclosure of out-of-state funding. The sponsor said the bill was intended to improve transparency and keep constitutional initiatives focused on Arizona voters; members discussed whether the measure should apply to all ballot initiatives and how donor verification would work. HB 2009 was also approved 4-3. The committee then began HCR 2001, a proposed constitutional amendment on election procedures, including citizenship requirements for voting, limits on foreign contributions to candidate and ballot measure campaigns, government-issued ID requirements, and changes to early voting and mail ballot rules. The committee adopted a late amendment after procedural discussion, and the sponsor described the resolution as a broad election-security reform modeled on Florida. Members raised concerns that the proposal could reduce access, increase lines, and create confusion for mail voters, while the sponsor argued it would improve security and voter confidence. The transcript cuts off during this bill’s discussion, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• If one party is not going to settle, mediation is going to be a waste of time.
• You also need adequate discovery because if you don't have adequate discovery, mediation is a waste of
• 51.119><c> um</c><00:52:51.520><c> you</c><00:52:51.680><c> know,</c><00:52:51.839><c> one</c> be a waste
• And um you know, one be a waste of time.
• One of the things that waste of time.

Summary: The subcommittee on Family Court reviewed several previously distributed reports, including a comparison of family court structures in other states and a report on improving New Hampshire family court pre-trial and mediation practices. The main new topic was a report on the intersection of domestic violence and family courts in New Hampshire, with members discussing how domestic violence cases in superior or district court can overlap with custody matters in family court and how courts may not be aware of related proceedings in other venues. Members discussed RSA 490-D:2 and related statutes, noting that family courts have original jurisdiction over certain abuse, neglect, and domestic violence matters, with concurrent jurisdiction in some protective-order cases. The discussion focused on practical problems such as confidentiality in domestic violence cases, limited access to case information by nonparties, and the need for courts to better communicate about companion cases. Suggestions included a shared or unified database, expanded lethality assessments for law enforcement, and a requirement that criminal courts report domestic violence convictions or protective-order violations to family court so judges are aware of the full case context. The subcommittee also discussed ways to help self-represented litigants, including better education at first appearance, clearer guidance about raising protective orders or criminal charges at hearings, daily docket review by clerks, and a possible “lawyer for the day” program modeled on Massachusetts. One member raised the idea of a family safety docket, while another noted that New Hampshire already has a complex case docket for high-conflict matters and that cases generally stay with one judge when possible. No votes were taken, and the chair said the subcommittee would continue reviewing materials and could return to work next year, with possible bill amendments to follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the last bill of the day, Tab 29, C.S. for S.B. 1822 on waste management by Senator Martin.
• For S.B. 1822 on waste management by Senator Martin, you're recognized to explain the bill.
• makes us go backwards as a whole, and we need to make sure corporations are held accountable for the waste
• For example, one Miami-Dade resident produces double the amount of waste as the average American. ...
• produces double the amount of waste as the average American, so it might make sense for cities closer

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The committee took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1422 on unmanned aircraft systems. The bill increases penalties for flying drones over critical infrastructure, prohibits drones equipped with weapons or explosives, creates a first-degree felony for drones carrying a weapon of mass destruction, and includes a law enforcement exception. A lay-filed amendment by Senator Pizzo warning against the use of force to shoot down drones was debated but failed, and the bill was then reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SB 846 addressing notary public fraud in immigration-related services, SB 650 on hazardous walking conditions for school transportation, SB 922 on employment agreements including non-compete and garden leave provisions, and SB 1820 on motor vehicle manufacturer and dealer relations, covering performance measures, retaliation, and franchise termination standards. Several bills focused on education, health care, and disability issues. SB 540, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, would require disability history and awareness instruction across grade levels; it drew emotional testimony from the bill sponsor, family members, and supporters, and was reported favorably. SB 998 would allow advanced practice registered nurses to certify deaths and file death certificates in hospice settings under physician protocol, and SB 1412 would modernize home health agency rules by expanding administrative flexibility and contract service use; both passed. SB 1736 would allow direct support professionals and relatives to administer insulin in group home settings for individuals with developmental disabilities, and it was also reported favorably. The committee also advanced several regulatory and court-related measures. SB 1650 expands Florida’s vexatious litigant law, including allowing designation based on conduct in a single case and extending the look-back period, while SB 1652 creates a public records exemption for certain stricken non-criminal court filings; both were approved. SB 1076 on roofing contractors was amended to require continuing education for roof-to-wall connections and then passed, and SB 1078 on fire prevention was amended with stakeholder-agreed language before being reported favorably. SB 1080 on local government land regulations, after multiple amendments and significant debate over agricultural enclaves and local control, was also approved. Other major measures included SB 818 on utility relocation, which creates a relocation fund funded by a portion of communications services tax revenue and was supported by multiple industry and local-government groups after a compromise amendment; SB 868 on social media use by minors, which would require a decryption mechanism for law enforcement access under subpoena and prohibit disappearing messages for minors, remained under discussion as the transcript ended. The committee also heard SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers against the City of Gainesville, and reported it favorably after testimony that the city would pay the settlement amount.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:09:03.279><c> because</c><00:09:03.600><c> you</c><00:09:03.720><c> don't</c> um with uh less waste
• because you don't um with uh less waste because you don't have<00:09:04.079><c> to</c><00:09:04.320>
• We usually ... it's not just to avoid any waste or abuse issues.
• any</c><00:10:00.959><c> any</c><00:10:01.399><c> uh</c><00:10:01.640><c> uh</c><00:10:01.800><c> waste
• </c><00:10:02.120><c> or</c><00:10:02.600><c> abuse</c> avoid any any uh uh waste or abuse avoid any

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 1480 on transportation and road usage charging. Supporters included the Department of Transportation, the Hawaii State Energy Office, county representatives, and the Tax Foundation, while an automotive industry witness opposed the bill, arguing it would be unfair to rural drivers and those with longer commutes. Committee discussion focused on equity, rural impacts, and whether the measure should be tied to future rail funding. The committees ultimately recommended SB 1480 pass with amendments, including broadening allowable uses of funds, clarifying language on infrastructure and safety, addressing motor scooters, and striking a proposed new subaccount; the recommendation was adopted by both committees, with one no vote in TCA. For SB 970 on taxation, the Tax Foundation said the employer transit tax credit would be more efficient as a direct subsidy program, and the Department of Taxation recommended several changes, including a sunset date of December 31, 2030, anti-double-benefit language, deletion of certain reporting requirements, and an effective date of December 31, 2025. The department estimated the bill would reduce revenues by about $11.6 million over the four-year period it would be in effect. The committees moved SB 970 forward with amendments to include bike share in the credit and add a defective date, leaving the department’s suggested changes for later consideration; the recommendation was adopted. The committees also advanced SB 1008 on parking and SB 1088 on electric vehicle charging infrastructure without amendments. DCAB strongly supported SB 1008, saying it would help counties enforce accessible parking design requirements, and noted a related bill without the EV portion. SB 1088 drew broad support from the Public Utilities Commission, State Energy Office, county and advocacy groups, and individuals; one question raised whether the bill should sunset, but the response was that Hawaii still lacks sufficient EV charging infrastructure and the measure expands eligibility for affordable housing. Both bills were recommended to pass unamended and the recommendations were adopted. The Transportation and Culture and Arts committee then heard SB 1011 on the Hawaii Leadership Awards Program, with testimony in strong support from individuals and the State Archivist, who suggested preserving award recipients’ archives, photos, oral histories, and clippings. The committee also heard SB 441 on the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, with support from the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, the Hawaii Theatre Center, musicians, and others emphasizing cultural value, workforce stability, and statewide access to the arts. The transcript then moved to SB 1581 on the Hawaii Japan Pacific Peace Monument and SB 1577 relating to the State Foundation on the Arts; on SB 1577, the Attorney General warned that using the Works of Special Art Fund for operating purposes could jeopardize the tax-exempt status of related bonds and recommended deleting section five, while also pointing to the Performing Arts Special Fund as an alternative.