Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senator Richards. >> Senator Richards.
• >> Senator<00:33:19.679> Turkey. >> Senator Turkey. >> Senator Turkey.
• you need them in what the senator said. you need them in what the senator said.
• Okay. >> Senator Kan. >> Yes.
• >> Senator<03:03:07.680> Kan. >> Senator Kan. >> Senator Kan.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Yes, Senator Aar. >> Yes, Senator Aar.
• Senator<00:52:36.160> Long. Senator Long. Senator Long.
• >> I just have one small one. >> Senator Avard, then Senator Long. >> Yeah.
• >> Senator Avar, then Senator Long. >> Senator Avar, then Senator Long.
• Senator<01:37:24.880> Long. Senator Long. Senator Long.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Introduced by Senator Booth.
• Senator<00:10:07.279> from<00:10:07.440> Rutland. Senator from Rutland.
• Senator from Washington. Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Finance will meet at 1:30.
• >> Senator from Rutland. >> Senator from Rutland.
• >> Senator from Windham. >> Senator from Windham.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> The resolution is adopted. 2025 legislative session is adjourned. >> The Senate will come to order
• Governor that the Senate is organized and ready to proceed. >> Secretary will read. >> Resolution 1307
• Senator Gianaris. >> Let's take up the resolution appointing a committee of two to inform the Assembly
• that the Senate is assembled and ready to proceed with business. >> Resolution 1306, Stewart-Cousins
• >> LET'S TAKE UP THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING A COMMITTEE OF TWO TO INFORM THE ASSEMBLY THAT THE SENATE

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and briefly closed out the 2025 legislative session by adopting a concurrent resolution on adjournment. The chamber then reopened for the 2026 session with a quorum present, a prayer by Bishop Mark O’Connell, and opening remarks from the Lieutenant Governor, Minority Leader Rob Ortt, and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. The remarks focused on the responsibilities of the new session, the need to listen to constituents, and broad priorities such as affordability, public safety, rights protections, and working across party lines. Governor Kathy Hochul’s message requesting the Senate’s presence for the 2026 State of the State address was read and filed. In their remarks, Ortt emphasized affordability, keeping more money in New Yorkers’ pockets, energy choices, and public safety, while Stewart-Cousins highlighted rising costs for housing, groceries, utilities, health care, and child care, along with defending voting rights, equal rights, and immigrant communities. Both leaders said their conferences were prepared to work with each other and with the Governor. The Senate then adopted two organizational resolutions: one appointing Senators Bynoe and Chan to inform the Governor that the Senate was organized and ready to proceed, and another appointing Senators Ryan and Wildcat to inform the Assembly that the Senate was assembled and ready to proceed. No substantive legislation was debated, and the Senate adjourned until Monday, January 12, at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days designated as legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we have a New Hampshire Senate resolution.
• And we have a Senate resolution.
• Senator Sullivan, no. Senator Bzel, no. Senator Dan, no. Senator Al, yes. And Senator, no. Yes.
• Senator, no. Senator, no. Senator, no. Senator, no. Senator, yes. Yes. Senator Murphy, no.
• Senator Abbis, no. Senator Long, yes. Senator Perkins, yes. Senator, no. Senator, no. Senator, no.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Now the senator from Chitten Central >> Now the senator from Chitten Central District<
• Windsor District, Senator White; the senator from Windsor District, Senator Major; and the senator from
• The senator from Windsor<00:02:46.480> District,<00:02:47.040> Senator<00:02:47.519>
• <00:02:48.400> The Windsor District, Senator White. The Windsor District, Senator White.
• 02:50.480> Senator senator from Windsor District, Senator senator from Windsor District, Senator

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill S210 was introduced on January 7, 2026, by Senators.
• Senator from Chitten. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Senator from Windsor.
• >> Senator from Rutland. >> Senate Government Operations will not meet today. >> Are there any further
• Seeing none, the senator from Chittenden is moved that the Senate stand in adjournment until 1:00 p.m

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• policies, Senate Senate specific policies, Senate compensation<00:02:13.760> procedures<00:02
• Senator Coleman moves to adopt the proposed changes to Senate Policy 1.60 on Senate information systems
• Senator Coleman moves to adopt the proposed changes to Senate Policy 1.60 on Senate information systems
• Senator Coleman moves to adopt the proposed changes to Senate Policy 1.60 on Senate information systems
• > serve<00:21:50.799> on senator, Senator Gustoson, to serve on senator, Senator Gustoson,

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration met virtually on January 6, 2026, and took up four administrative policy items. Darren Hoff, Senate Human Resources Director, presented updates to the Legislative Coordinating Commission benefit book, including insurance changes tied to SEGIP, mental health and substance use office visit cost sharing, dental plan updates, dependent eligibility clarifications, a new voluntary legal services benefit, a 17% increase in Medicare premiums, and multiple leave-policy revisions to conform with the new paid leave law and other employment rules. Senator Pappas moved adoption of the benefit book with the LCC’s November 10, 2025 changes and staff technical corrections, and the motion passed. Secretary Tom Bern described a proposed Senate Policy 1.56 allowing written rules of conduct for visitors in Senate spaces, aimed at setting clear expectations for behavior such as not blocking hallways or using shouting and profanity, while being developed with consultation to address First Amendment concerns. Senator Marty moved adoption, and the committee approved the policy. Council Lexi Stangle then presented a change to Senate Policy 2.47 on severe weather emergencies that would allow employees who work remotely on severe weather days to accrue compensatory time with supervisor approval; Senator Johnson moved adoption, and the motion passed. The committee also considered a modernization of the Senate information systems policy. Secretary Bern and staff explained that the policy had not been substantially updated in about 20 years and was being condensed and updated to reflect current technology and practices. The revisions reduced the policy from 29 pages to 10, removed obsolete references, added a purpose statement, clarified email inspection and hardware/software procedures, updated website rules and accessibility guidance, and removed the secondary member page option. Senator Coleman moved adoption of the Senate information systems update, and it was approved. After the Rules Committee adjourned, the Subcommittee on Committees met and approved two appointments: one public member to the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources through December 31, 2030, and Senator Gustafson to the Financial Crimes Advisory Board Task Force. Members asked about the task force’s scope and the public appointee’s background; staff explained the task force advises on identity theft and financial crimes, and identified the public appointee as Sha Lang of Preston, Minnesota. Senator Pappas moved adoption of the appointment list, and the subcommittee approved it before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The question is, shall the Senate adopt the resolution? Are you ready for the question?
• We now have SR 19, Senate resolution relating to electronic participation in Senate sessions.
• is, shall the Senate adopt the resolution?
• Now you've heard the reading of the resolution and the question is, shall the Senate adopt the resolution
• and the question is, shall the Senate adopt the resolution on its part?

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much, Senator Santo Ventura. Um, so um in 1989 um we passed a proposal.
• Thank you very much, Senator Santo >> Good.
• <00:52:24.000> Anoi healthcare act that Senator Anoi healthcare act that Senator Anoi resuscitated
• I know Senator that's of particular interest to your district.
• I know Senator that's of communities.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing by the Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection committees focused on projected impacts to Hawaii consumers from federal changes affecting Med-QUEST and the ACA marketplace, including the loss of ACA premium tax credits, OBVA/HR1-related Medicaid changes, immigrant eligibility restrictions, and new Medicaid work/community engagement requirements. Committee members noted the meeting was being streamed live and emphasized the need to explain potential coverage losses affecting a significant share of the state population. Med-QUEST administrators reported current enrollment at 390,766, about 27% of Hawaii’s population, and broke that down into major groups including roughly 128,000 ACA expansion adults and about 52,000 parent/caretaker relatives. They said the expansion adult population would be most affected by the new federal requirements, which will shorten renewal periods from 12 months to 6 months and impose community engagement rules beginning in late 2026 and 2027. They described the work requirement as 80 hours per month of work, community service, work program participation, or half-time education, with an income-based pathway tied to $580 per month at the federal minimum wage; they also noted a long list of exemptions, but said many details are still awaiting federal guidance and rulemaking. The administrators said federal changes to immigrant eligibility would eliminate Medicaid coverage for certain noncitizen categories, with an estimated 1,200 to 2,400 people affected, though about 200 may remain covered through a state-funded program for otherwise eligible individuals. They also said marketplace subsidies would no longer be available for some immigrants under 100% of the federal poverty level starting January 1, 2026, with further restrictions expected in 2027. For Hawaii overall, they estimated the new Medicaid work and renewal rules could push an additional 19,000 to 38,000 people into uninsured status, with another estimated 6,000 at risk from the six-month renewal process alone. Members asked about how exemptions would be determined, especially for medically frail and seriously mentally ill individuals, and administrators said they were still awaiting detailed federal rules and were working on data-matching and verification processes to reduce coverage losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senator<01:12:55.840> Marty >> Senator Marty >> Senator Marty >> Madam
• >> Senator<01:26:23.199> Coop. >> Senator Coop. >> Senator Coop.
• Senator Aki. comments. Senator Aki.
• Senator Eki, thank you.
• Senator Kubec. >> Thank you, Senator Marty. Senator Kubec.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, very glad to have you, Senator.
• Good afternoon, Chair McKelvey and Senator Moriwaki.
• >> Thank you, Senators. >> Thank you, Senators.
• , papered by the House and the Senate, papered by the House and the Senate, right?
• >> words,<01:25:51.120> Senator? >> words, Senator? >> words, Senator?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Government Operations held an informational briefing with the State Procurement Office on its small business procurement program. SPO staff described the program’s purpose as expanding access to state contracting for small businesses, including veteran-, Native Hawaiian-, and women-owned firms, and said they are seeking to make the current five-year initiative permanent before it ends in June 2027. They reported outreach efforts, a new website and newsletter, statewide surveys, draft administrative rules, and a 38% increase in small business registrations in the HANS database. They also explained that the program is intended to support outreach, education, certification, compliance, and a statewide database to connect agencies with qualified small businesses. Committee members focused heavily on whether the program is producing measurable contract awards, not just registrations. The chair and senators questioned the definition of “small business,” noting that SPO currently relies on SBA standards in HANS and is considering a Hawaii-specific definition based on employees, revenue, and Hawaii residency. Members raised concerns that the data showed only a small number of registered businesses receiving awards and that the database does not yet track awards well enough to evaluate performance. SPO responded that the database has had funding gaps, that the position was only filled in February 2025, and that the agency is still building the system and rules needed to track outcomes accurately. A major theme was how to make the program more effective for very small or “micro” businesses and how to reduce the complexity of state procurement. Members discussed the difference between set-asides and bid preferences, with SPO explaining that set-asides are generally tied to RFPs and preferences to IFBs. The committee suggested that future rules should make participation easier, provide more training and hand-holding, and possibly create pathways for micro businesses or groups of small businesses to bid together. No votes or formal actions were taken; the briefing ended with the committee asking SPO to provide more performance data and clearer information on outreach results and database contents.

Transcript Highlights:

• It takes the Senate. It takes the House. It takes the governor to sign the bill. the budget.
• So we're on a path in the Senate. I believe we'll have support.
• I think it's Senate Bill 1025, but I may be correct on that number. to play.
• What Senate Bill 1025 said, you must put above the ballot language.
• Senator Johnson. Okay.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll just switch this one. >> Um, good afternoon, Senator.
• <00:27:59.120> and Senator Hironu and Senator Shots and Senator Hironu and Senator Shots and
• Thank you >> um, good afternoon, Senator.
• Good afternoon, Senator Rhodess and everyone.
• 24.320> and Good afternoon, Senator Rhodess and Good afternoon, Senator Rhodess and everyone.

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:

• it over to Senator Pratt. it over to Senator Pratt.
• I represent Senate District 54, which is most of Scott County, and I'm the Republican lead on the Senate
• single seat in the house and the senate single seat in the house and the senate is<01:20:36.480>
• 24:58.080> are<01:24:58.239> you >> Senator, just real quick, are you >> Senator
• :28.880> Heather credit, especially to Senator Heather credit, especially to Senator Heather Gustoen

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it being a little later than the appointed time, we'll get an open committee hearing for the Senate
• It's been moved by Senator Donovan, seconded by Senator Rebecca Perkins Boas to move into executive session
• Seconded by Senator Penton, seconded by Senator Perkins Woka.
• Senator Penton, seconded by Senator Senator Penton, seconded by Senator Perkins<00:13:05.279> Woka

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > 6,<00:02:23.440> which I represent Senate District 6, which I represent Senate District
• I appreciate Senator Gray's willingness to listen to us along with Senator Lang and Senator Waters when
• Waters<00:05:07.280> uh with Senator Lang and Senator Waters uh with Senator Lang and Senator
• Senator Lang, Senator Long. [laughter] >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Senate Bill 301 is next up.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I opened the hearing here on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and due to inclement weather, I'm going

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Amy Clolobashar. Senator Amy Clolobashar. >> All<00:04:26.479> right.
• I'm Senator Tina Smith.
• I am State Senator Lindsey Port. I represent Senate District 55 in the South Metro.
• You could do—but you know Senator McConnell is— He is Senator McConnell.
• >> he's Senator McConnell. >> he's Senator McConnell.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for joining us, Senator<00:01:11.119> France. Senator France. Senator France.
• Senator France. you have questions? Senator France.
• >> Senator<00:34:46.399> Coopek. >> Senator Coopek. >> Senator Coopek.
• >> Senator<00:43:21.599> Dibble. >> Senator Dibble. >> Senator Dibble.
• <00:54:37.680> Nelson, Senator France said, “Colleague, Senator Utke, Senator Nelson, Senator

Keywords: 1187, senate, all