Transcript Highlights:

• And so we did get financial estimates on the cost to remodel versus the cost to build.
• those overhead costs.
• those overhead costs.
• What was the rationale for including this as part of the cost or appropriated cost?
• There's operations costs, administrative costs. Is this right totally fair?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The cover the cost of these programs.
• approximately $3 million allocated approximately $3 million allocated specifically<00:10:21.120>
• operating um increase just general cost operating um increase just general cost of<00:32:22.000>
• to keep up with the pace of rising costs to keep up with the pace of rising costs we<00:45:10.800
• <00:58:06.400> uh able to provide those test costs uh able to provide those test costs uh

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• University um understanding cost University um understanding cost structure<00:39:55.839> um<
• budget and understand the actual cost budget and understand the actual cost structure<00:49:36.559
• How would you keep administration costs down? Mr.
• I'm sorry, how would you keep the administrative cost down?
• <01:49:47.679> at<01:49:47.840> the Administration cost at the Administration cost

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• uh lean on Real Property these cost uh lean on Real Property these cost sharing<02:14:00.360>
• <02:25:26.600> of affect the you know per unit cost of affect the you know per unit cost of
• the cost of it a portion of the cost the cost of it a portion of the cost<02:26:52.680> not<02
• c><02:27:52.160> infra of passes on some of the cost of infra of passes on some of the cost of
• administer in terms of just allocating administer in terms of just allocating those<02:45:31.560

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on February 12 at 2 p.m. and heard several measures related to corrections, re-entry, law enforcement, retirement benefits, and gun violence prevention. On HB 10002, which would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify unannounced inspection authority, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it had no objection to the term length or to 24/7 unannounced access. The commission’s chair, Commissioner Mark Patterson, asked for a longer term, saying the commission needs more time and stability to manage reform efforts after years without staff during COVID. Community Alliance on Prisons and Carolyn Eaton also supported a longer term, with both suggesting six years would better insulate the position from politics. The chair noted he had asked Chair Bot for background on the prior committee’s changes and said that could be discussed during decision-making. The committee then heard HB 67, which would require DCR to help inmates obtain civil identification documents such as IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards as soon as practicable, including for people in furlough or community placement programs. DCR said it supported the bill and described ongoing work with the city and county on ID machines and with agencies on certificates and Social Security cards. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Oversight Commission, Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Office of Public Defense all supported the measure, emphasizing that identification is essential for housing, employment, and successful re-entry and noting the disproportionate impact of incarceration on Native Hawaiians. On HB 1183, which would classify certain law enforcement administrators and Department of Law Enforcement employees as Class A members for retirement purposes, the Department of Human Resources Development, the Employees’ Retirement System, and the Department of Law Enforcement all supported the bill. DHRD said it would help recruitment and retention, ERS said it had technical amendments to suggest, and DLE said the change would help with succession planning and allow the governor to appoint the most qualified leader. The committee also heard HB 1045, an emergency appropriation bill to cover payroll fringe benefits for Department of Law Enforcement personnel after salary funding had been shifted to other departments; Budget and Finance and DLE explained the need for the supplemental funding, and no opposition was noted. Finally, the committee took up HB 664, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a grant program, a resource bank, and a special fund. The Attorney General recommended adding standards for grant awards and warned of overlap with the existing Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission, suggesting consolidation and repeal of the older commission to avoid duplication. Supporters included the Brady Campaign, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action Hawaii, a physician, and an Army veteran, who argued the office would centralize data, coordinate prevention efforts, and help secure outside funding. Testimony was mixed, with the chair noting 37 supporters, nine opponents, and three commenters, but no vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• nearly 28 million people in the United States have asthma, and more than 467,000 The total economic cost
• House Bill 1204 by Representative Lyons, the Macon-Track Youth Pilot Program, allocating certain monies
• Speaker, House Bill 968, by Representative Turner, electronic monitoring, payment of costs, duties of
• Speaker, House Bill 968, Per representative Turner, electronic monitoring, payment of costs, duties of
• resources, our children. ...the QR code is going to be part of it, so it's not going to be an extra cost

Bills: HR218, HR219, HR220, HR221, HR222, HCR91, HCR92, HCR93, HR210, HR211, HR212, HR213, HR214, HR215, HR216, SCR29, SCR38, SB100, HR171, HCR49, HCR65, SCR23, HB276, HB508, HB512, HB599, HB632, HB656, HB998, HB1052, HB1084, HB1171, HB1193, HB1194, HB1204, HB1209, HB1250, SB2, SB19, SB24, SB50, SB70, SB96, SB101, SB103, SB104, SB114, SB122, SB159, SB160, SB173, SB180, SB182, SB260, SB412, SB418, SB424, SB442, SB460, SB476, HCR41, HCR76, HCR77, HCR63, HCR69, HCR86, SCR19, SCR3, SCR6, SCR18, HB64, HB68, HB92, HB130, HB167, HB227, HB243, HB321, HB335, HB398, HB492, HB624, HB689, HB708, HB804, HB906, HB926, HB955, HB968, HB969, HB978, HB985, HB1005, HB1029, HB1069, HB1077, HB1095, HB1104, HB1107, HB1187, HB1203, HB1217, HB1220, HB730, HB225, HB175, HB198, HB437, HB457, HB488, HB646, HB763, HB909, HB971, HB981, HB1066, HB1089, HB1125, HB1154, HB1231, HB1246, HB1248, HB1249, SB47, SB82, SB106, SB206, SB210, SB248, SB305, SB376, SB397, SB441, HCR32, HB59, HB617, HB897, HB911, HB1223, HB798, HB824, HB989, HB1140, HB1166, HB1244, HB901, HB79, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB306, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB459, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB996, HB1035, HB1113, HB1180, HB1234, HB1240, SB89

Keywords: EJ Fields, Shreveport, Louisiana, gospel music, commendation, resolution, honorary resolution, Billboard Gospel Airplay, Mediabase Gospel Airplay, Mercy Endureth, music award, ministry, artist recognition, cultural heritage, spiritual heritage, African American gospel, local hero, state commendation, St. Charles Parish, parish day

Summary: The House met with a quorum and began with prayer, the pledge, and routine journal and leave actions. Members then used personal privilege remarks to recognize several Capitol Day events and visiting groups, including St. Bernard Parish Day, Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association Day, local ARPEC members, a retirement tribute to Barney Arsenault, Deaf History Month, Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, Young Farmers and Ranchers, housing advocates, and Louisiana Hospital Day. The chamber also received Senate messages on concurred resolutions, adopted Senate resolutions, and newly passed Senate bills, along with committee and Legislative Bureau reports on various House and Senate measures. The House then considered and passed a series of bills. Among those approved were measures requiring documentation for inmates upon release (HB 167), allowing court filings on letter-sized paper (HB 227), clarifying recusal procedures for district attorneys (HB 243), strengthening safe harbor protections for trafficking victims (HB 321), adding citizenship verification oversight for public benefits (HB 335), capping state travel meal reimbursements to GSA rates for the judiciary (HB 398), establishing a Governor’s Task Force on Impaired Driving (HB 492), updating school emergency operation plans (HB 624), improving coordination of public assistance benefits when children enter or leave foster care (HB 689, later amended and passed), expanding justice of the peace jurisdiction in East Baton Rouge Parish (HB 708), revising election petition and unaffiliated voter rules (HB 906), regulating electronic monitoring device removal (HB 968), renaming and expanding the crime victims’ compensation fund (HB 969), raising the indigent defender contribution threshold for small municipalities (HB 978), requiring QR codes on sex offender licenses (HB 985), reorganizing the state public defender system (HB 1005), extending an alcohol permit moratorium (HB 1029), allowing microbreweries to sell at special events (HB 1077), adding alternative backup power options for nursing facilities (HB 1095), creating a misdemeanor for relay-attack vehicle theft devices (HB 1104), revising capital case procedures for defendants with intellectual disabilities (HB 1107, amended), allowing Citizens Property Insurance to direct certain emergency assessment funds to the Fortify Homes Program (HB 1187), updating medical board membership and vacancy procedures (HB 1220), and several others. Some bills were returned to the calendar or held over, including HB 804, HB 926, HB 955, HB 1069, HB 1203, and HB 1217. The chamber also revisited a previously failed airport surveillance bill, HB 730, and used a successful motion to suspend the rules to reconsider it, as well as a motion to reconsider HB 225 after it had failed twice. The Speaker explained the two-thirds threshold for suspending the rules, and after debate on procedure, the House adopted the motion to suspend the rules and then the motion to reconsider, setting HB 225 up for further action the following Tuesday. Throughout the session, many bills were adopted with little or no opposition, while a few drew questions about scope, costs, or policy effects before passing by recorded vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• increase reserves, but the intent of that extra bump in reserves is entirely for disasters, and you're allocating
• Chair and guys, is that we are, did you say, Adrian, we are allocating in this like $60 million or something
• It kind of gets to your point of the opportunity cost of tying up, you know, pre-transferring the money
• How much does that cost that particular item? Or the public... 1% is about $62 million.

Bills: SB190, HB247, HB8

Keywords: cancer treatment, revenue bonds, Gila Regional Medical Center, Nor-Lea General Hospital, healthcare funding, capital outlay, capital projects, appropriations, reversion, encumbrance, reauthorization, reappropriation, general fund, capital development and reserve fund, tribal infrastructure project fund, Department of Finance and Administration, DFA, state board of finance, severance tax bonds, tax-exempt bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• cost to the state. cost to the state. Very<00:09:54.320> good.
• doesn't have a cost or is negligible. doesn't have a cost or is negligible.
• So, no cost, low-cost items from Senate, House GOP, and government.
• So, no cost, low-cost items from Senate, House GOP, and government. Yeah, you can see what, uh, Mr.
• >> on no cost items, non-controversial. >> on no cost items, non-controversial.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• NO COST TO THE FAMILIES OF OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE WOULD GIVE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A HIGH
• AGAIN, NO COST TO THE FAMILIES OF THE STATE.
• WHILE THESE PROGRAMS DO OFFER INVALUABLE TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE COST OF EDUCATION
• OUR CURRENT COSTS ARE FOR CERTIFIED NURSING $800 CVD CLASS AA FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVING CLASS A.
• HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? THAT IS WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state has not reimbursed these costs in over 20 years.
• Regional transportation costs have also risen sharply.
• Our health insurance costs alone went up $450,000.
• Three, our transportation costs and many other suburban and rural transportation costs have been increasing
• That is not a cost-saving measure; if anything, it will increase costs on the DESE line item.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides. Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• and that community costs $18 million. and that community costs $18 million.
• ,<02:49:13.600> but cost that it's not a startup cost, but cost that it's not a startup cost
• What is the cost to the housing provider? What is the cost to the other tenants?
• cost during that time? What is the cost cost during that time?
• All of that is taxpayer cost.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The cost of disaster recovery, as the mayor just described, is a...
• The cost of disaster recovery, as the mayor just described, is orders of magnitude higher than the cost
• And it simply doesn't, so there's been no cost-of-living escalator.
• And it simply doesn't, so there's been no, there's no cost of living escalator.
• This adds time and cost to the state and to partners like the League.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several natural resources and water-related bills. SB 224 by Senator Hurtado would require the Department of Water Resources to implement audit recommendations, improve climate-informed water supply forecasting, and provide annual updates to the Legislature; supporters emphasized the need for better transparency and more accurate water planning, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 556, also by Senator Hurtado, would fund floodplain restoration in the Tulare Basin to reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, and provide habitat and other community benefits; local officials and conservation groups supported it, some initial concerns about Proposition 4 were resolved, and the bill passed as amended. SB 630 by Senator Allen would streamline State Parks and other state real property acquisitions by raising review thresholds and reducing duplicative approvals; conservation groups and park advocates supported the measure, while some members raised oversight and fiscal concerns, and it passed as amended. SB 718 by Senator Allen would reduce hunting and fishing license costs for low-income Californians, framed as helping subsistence users and disabled veterans and seniors, and it passed as amended. The committee also approved SB 427 by Senator Blakespear, which extends the sunset of the Habitat Conservation Fund from 2030 to 2035. Supporters said the fund has protected more than 1.2 million acres, leverages other funding, and supports habitat, recreation, and climate resilience; members highlighted its importance for areas like the Salton Sea and the need to protect the funding stream from future sweeps. SB 586 by Senator Jones, an e-moto off-highway vehicle bill, was taken up with little discussion and passed as amended. SB 639 by Senator Ashby would extend the deadline for Sacramento-area flood protection projects in the Natomas Basin and Beach Lake subareas from 2025 to 2030 to allow completion of remaining work and avoid delays to infill housing; city, county, and flood agency representatives supported it, and it passed as amended. Throughout the hearing, witnesses and members repeatedly emphasized water reliability, flood protection, conservation funding, and reducing bureaucratic delays. Several bills drew broad support from local governments, water agencies, tribes, and conservation organizations, and multiple members requested to be added as coauthors. All of the measures discussed were reported out of committee, generally with amendments and with some items left open for add-on votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• But anyway, if you could address kind of how that plays in with the costs of the various institutions
• of the various institutions, it' costs of the various institutions, it' be<00:25:49.200> helpful<
• <00:26:16.159> On of those higher costs are recognized.
• On of those higher costs are recognized.
• cost of that<00:47:15.599> to<00:47:15.839> the<00:47:16.000> taxpayers?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd love to just start with a couple of questions about low-cost tickets.
• You mentioned 95% of the low-cost tickets have gone out.
• excited there will be an underwriting opportunity where we will help underwrite, excuse me, ticket costs
• or eliminate the cost of tickets to make sure that cultural opportunities are widely accessible for
• We've heard a lot of, sometimes we hear feedback that we might be able to absorb the costs of running

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no rain, the cost of fuel. What more do you expect them all to go through?
• <00:11:26.560> What<00:11:26.839> more rain, the cost of fuel.
• What more rain, the cost of fuel.
• significant cost. significant cost.
• c> going<00:43:22.080> through We've seen costs really going through We've seen costs really

Keywords: Continuation of today's legislative session, beginning at 7:45 pm., 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hospital costs are ballooning.
• You know, we had a big hearing on private health insurance cost, or insurance health cost, rising cost
• cost that we don't pick up.
• Do you have any idea of what it's costing our local law enforcement, or what it would cost our local
• Our average cost per diem is $58.64.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Preservation costs around $6,000 to $7,000 and will get us three to five years, again, if this is the
• Our bridge work costs have increased significantly over the years.
• The average cost to build a bridge in 2020 was approximately $400.
• 75% of our costs.
• a benefit-cost analysis to determine if that's a sound investment.

Transcript Highlights:

• These current situations result in duplication of efforts and costs to the public.
• true in many of the rural areas... ...land development costs are hard to come by.
• Stable homeownership helps us achieve better results at a lower cost.
• Second, it'll address inflation and rising costs.
• Third, it will support better resource allocation.

Bills: SB208, SB628, SB777, SB1042, SB2354, SB2477, SB2521, SB2523, SB2608, SB2703, SB2778, SB2835, SB2965, SB2367, SB3044

Keywords: workforce housing, capital investment fund, affordable housing, housing development, Texas housing laws, loan programs, community development, Texas housing, zero-interest loans, low-income housing, nonprofit organizations, construction, economic stability, housing affordability, capital investment, Texas housing policy, county fire code, fire marshal, local government code, interlocal agreement

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and limited public testimony to two minutes per person. The committee heard Senate Bill 628 by Senator Zaffirini, which would clarify that counties may enter interlocal agreements with emergency service districts to administer and enforce county fire codes, including for multi-county ESDs in the committee substitute. Witnesses from Travis County ESD-11, the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office, and a member of the public supported the bill as a way to reduce duplication, costs, and jurisdictional confusion. Public testimony was closed and the committee substitute was left pending. The committee then heard several housing-related bills. Senate Bill 208 by Senator West would create a Workforce Housing Capital Investment Fund to provide zero-interest loans to nonprofit builders for workforce housing; Habitat for Humanity representatives, a Brownsville nonprofit developer, and housing advocates supported it as a way to finance infrastructure and land development for affordable homes. Senate Bill 2835 by Senator Johnson would allow cities to opt into single-stair apartment buildings for small-scale, multi-story housing; supporters said the design is safe and could expand housing supply, while the Texas APA expressed qualified opposition over code-process concerns and fire-safety questions. Both bills were left pending after testimony. Additional bills heard included SB 1042 updating the Kimble County Hospital District’s enabling law; SB 1708, a committee substitute protecting familial property divisions from platting requirements; SB 2778 raising the ESD expenditure threshold requiring board approval from $2,000 to up to $50,000; SB 2608 expanding LIHTC eligibility for certain public housing projects; SB 3044 adding board representation for Marfa and Presidio on the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District and adjusting an exemption; SB 2367 extending park board authority to Waller County; SB 2523 clarifying ETJ reduction procedures and owner opt-out rights; SB 2521 requiring death-certificate reporting to appraisal districts to help address squatting and homestead exemption issues; and SB 2477 easing office-to-residential conversions in larger cities. In each case, the bills were laid out, testimony was taken, and the measures were left pending subject to call of the chair. The committee then recessed until 15 to 30 minutes after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• including revenue generation and costs including revenue generation and costs including<00:09:34.320
• gaming or the cost of revenue that<00:15:37.360> like<00:15:37.760> what<00:15:38.079>
• It's a cost of doing business.
• We should reach out to each administration on how much they actually allocate for illegal gaming.
• That way, allocate for illegal gaming.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What is the estimated cost for the program?
• and hope that um you will also allocate and hope that um you will also allocate um<00:15:29.519>
• are going to be the normal tuition cost are going to be the normal tuition cost that<00:16:22.880
• And why does the cost double for fiscal year 27?
• <00:44:11.480> and degree due to perceived high costs and degree due to perceived high costs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The hearing covered Senate Bill 426, which would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the City and County of Honolulu, the Department of Human Services, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education, the Attorney General’s office, the Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, the University of Hawaiʻi’s early childhood educator project, and a Zoom testifier who described the importance of investing in high-quality early childhood education. Committee discussion focused on the program’s estimated cost, with figures of about $14.5 million in 2025-26 and $15 million in 2026-27, and on whether the program would require ongoing base-budget funding. The committee recommended technical, non-substantive amendments, including a statewide-concern amendment and a deferred effective date, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1622, which would appropriate funds to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute within the University of Hawaiʻi to support statewide artificial intelligence initiatives. University representatives described the proposal as the product of campus-wide input and outlined five pillars: governance and policy, outreach and engagement, research and development, workforce development, and AI tools for key sectors such as health care, creative industries, manufacturing, data science, astronomy, and climate change. Members questioned staffing distribution, tuition, enrollment timing, housing, campus placement, and whether positions would be permanent or temporary; the university said it planned about 10 positions across campuses, would start with internal resources, and would house the effort under the Vice President for Research and Innovation initially. The committees recommended an SD1 with the appropriation amounts blanked out, a July 31, 2050 effective date, and committee-report language on housing and West Oʻahu, and the higher education and labor/technology committees adopted the amended recommendation. Finally, the Higher Education Committee took up Senate Bill 1488, a housekeeping measure to consolidate existing University of Hawaiʻi conference center statutes into a single revolving fund structure, and Senate Bill 636, which would fund retention and internship coordinator positions and broader enrollment management efforts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. SB 1488 drew university support and no opposition. SB 636 prompted substantial questioning about Hilo’s declining enrollment, current retention rate of 72.8 percent, and the scope of the request, which includes not only two named positions but also about $432,000 for enrollment management initiatives such as data analysis, IT support, and other student services. Hilo said it is targeting 3 to 5 percent annual enrollment growth and that the positions would support recruitment, retention, internships, and data-driven enrollment strategy. The committee pressed for a clearer broader plan, but the discussion in the transcript ended before a final vote on SB 636 was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also omits funding for legal costs, which will force costs to be paid for from programs and
• costs to be paid costs which will force costs to be paid for<00:38:30.560> from<00:38:30.960>
• also um uh the inflation and and uh cost also um uh the inflation and and uh cost of<00:51:54.800
• <01:38:59.440> These<01:38:59.679> are cost. Lines 21.29 to 2130. These are cost.
• but don't cost money. but don't cost money.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all