Transcript Highlights:

• chair for the vote. chair for the vote.
• No votes, reservations. amendments. No votes, reservations.
• No votes, reservations. amendments. No votes, reservations.
• Are there any no votes? amendments. Are there any no votes?
• No votes, reservations. as is. No votes, reservations.

Bills: SB3082, SB3110, SB3251

Keywords: military families, family leave, qualifying military exigency, Hawaii Revised Statutes, financial support, Hawaii National Guard, civil-military program, education, collective bargaining, exemption, SB3251, Hawaii public safety, ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, law enforcement hiring, state employment ban, police powers, Department of Law Enforcement, DLNR

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any no votes? Bill 1133. Are there any no votes?
• Are there any no votes? Whole report. Are there any no votes?
• I'd ask for your eye<01:10:27.400> votes. eye votes. eye votes.
• I ask for your I<01:21:14.640> vote. I vote. I vote. Senator<01:21:16.120> Bryant.
• Are there any any any no<01:29:50.480> votes? no votes? no votes?

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, approved the journal, and recognized Girls Inc. of Metro Denver in a personal privilege presentation. Senators highlighted the organization’s history, its work serving youth through programs focused on healthy living, academic success, and leadership, and its STEM outreach. Senator Danielson also noted a free science box program available through Girls Inc. and praised the group’s work. On third reading, the Senate laid over Senate Bill 66 and then passed House Bill 1339, which renames the March 31 voluntary holiday from Cesar Chavez Day to Farm Workers Day. Supporters said the change was prompted by reports of abuse by Cesar Chavez and emphasized continued respect for farm workers and the movement. Senator Benavidez later corrected earlier remarks about Colorado farm worker history, noting a unionized farm in Center, Colorado and describing the broader legacy of farm worker organizing in the state. The Senate also passed House Bill 1144, prohibiting the use of 3D printing to manufacture firearms, and Senate Bill 48, which removes the exception allowing minors 16 or older to marry with judicial approval; both bills were reconsidered and repassed after initial votes. The chamber also passed House Bill 1200 on vehicle registration payments for military members serving outside the state, House Bill 1011 on the transfer of certain pet animals, and House Bill 1133 regarding an environmental education program under the Traveling Animal Protection Act. House Bill 1011 and House Bill 1133 drew more divided votes than the other measures. The Senate then granted leave for the Joint Budget Committee to meet while the Senate was in session. In Committee of the Whole, members adopted the consent calendar and advanced House Bills 1257, 1095, 1089, 1277, and 1198 on second reading. The Senate also took up Senate Bill 40 on the Affordable Home Ownership Program; supporters described it as a response to Prop 123 workforce housing issues, especially AMI restrictions affecting teachers and first responders. An amendment removed the proposed loan program from the bill, and the amended bill was adopted. Finally, the Senate adopted House Bill 1134, which requires municipal court defendants to be subject to conditions similar to state court defendants, including sentencing rules, transparency, and access to counsel.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not voting. Patterson, not voting. Burner. Calderon? Aye. Calderon, aye. Chen? Chen, not voting.
• Not voting. Zabur? Aye. Wallace? Not voting. Zibur? Aye. All right, 10-1.
• Not voting. Taw? Not voting. Wallace? Aye. Okay, 14-0.
• Ta, not voting. Taw, not voting. Wallace? Wallace, aye. Okay, 14.
• Not voting. Ta? Not voting. Wallace? Zibur? Taw, not voting. Wallace? Zibur?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not voting. Patterson, not voting. Burner. Calderon? Aye. Calderon, aye. Chen? Chen, not voting.
• Ta, not voting. Taw, not voting. Wallace? Wallace, aye. Okay, 14.
• Chen, not voting. Davies, not voting. I'm sorry, repeating, this is 913? Yes. Davies, not voting.
• Chen, not voting. Davies? Not voting. Davies, not voting. Harabedian? Aye. Harabedian, aye.
• Not voting. Calderon, not voting. Chen? 1245? No. Not voting. Calderon, not voting. Chen? No.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 804, the Hydrogen Pipeline Safety Act, from Senator Arreguín. He said the bill would designate the State Fire Marshal as the safety regulator for intrastate hydrogen pipelines and require hydrogen-specific standards, while not mandating any pipeline construction or bypassing environmental review. Supporters included labor groups, utility employees, and the City of Burbank, while Air Products opposed unless amended, citing concerns about the bill’s specificity, fee structure, and the need for a hydrogen-specific rulemaking process. The committee discussed safety, fees, and regulatory certainty, and later passed SB 804 on a 9-0 vote to Emergency Management with commitment to take amendments. The committee then took up SB 905 by Senator Becker, aimed at reducing electricity rates by changing utility incentives. The bill would tie part of executive compensation to keeping rates below inflation, require more performance metrics, and allow the CPUC to consider lower returns on equity for certain lower-risk investments and alternative financing options. Support came from consumer, environmental, agricultural, and large energy user groups, while Southern California Edison, CalChamber, PG&E, and utility labor groups raised concerns that the bill could reduce investment, create regulatory uncertainty, and raise borrowing costs. After extensive discussion about utility affordability, wildfire costs, and capital markets, the committee passed SB 905 on a 7-1 vote to Appropriations. SB 913, also by Senator Becker, would create a clearer pathway for distributed energy resources such as batteries and smart thermostats to participate in the resource adequacy market and compete with utility-scale resources. Supporters said the bill would better use existing grid capacity, lower costs, and build on the state’s Demand Side Grid Support Program; PG&E opposed unless amended, saying the use case was not yet proven and was already being addressed in other rulemakings. After the committee accepted amendments, one opposition group moved to neutral and another said it might do so after reviewing the changes. The bill passed 8-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call. Several other measures were heard and advanced, including SB 1196 on faster utility hookups for small energization projects such as ADUs and EV chargers, SB 931 reauthorizing the Diablo Canyon Essential Services Mitigation Fund through 2028, SB 1158 reducing the frequency of joint reliability assessments from quarterly to twice yearly, and SB 1245 directing further study of California’s gasoline market and potential use of non-CARBOB fuel during supply disruptions. SB 1196 and SB 931 both passed with broad support and no opposition after amendments, SB 1158 passed without testimony, and SB 1245 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates but opposition from fuel industry and business groups concerned about costs, confidentiality, and fuel standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• AS I SAID I DID VOTE UP ON THIS BILL IN THE LAST COMMITTEE BUT TODAY I AM GOING TO VOTE DOWN BECAUSE
• HAD TO VOTE NO ON IT LAST TIME AND IT WILL BE A DELIGHT TO VOTE YES ON IT TODAY.
• I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE BILL BUT THE REASON I WILL VOTE AGAINST THE BILL IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE
• YOUR VOTES FOR CS FOR CS FOR YOUR VOTES FOR CS FOR CS FOR SB 1270 IS CONSIDERED FAVORABLE.
• , 15, 16, 17, 18 AND VOTING NO ON TAB 20 AND VOTING YES ON TABS 23 AND 26.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• hundreds of thousands of dollars<01:39:44.000> for<01:39:44.120> taxpayer<01:39:44.720> mail
• <01:39:45.120> meals<01:39:45.520> she dollars for taxpayer mail meals she dollars
• for taxpayer mail meals she never<01:39:46.040> provided<01:39:46.640> to<01:39:46.760>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met on March 2 and approved the February 23 minutes after a quorum was reached. The main presentation was from the Department of Human Services on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), a federally required Medicaid benefit that helps Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees get to medically necessary appointments. DHS said the program served more than 250,000 people in 2025 at a cost of $127 million, with participation up about 14% over five years, and described the seven transportation modes, provider enrollment requirements, STS certification, background checks, prior authorization rules, and planned transitions to a single administrator for parts of the program in 2026 and 2027. DHS officials emphasized fraud prevention efforts, saying NEMT is one of the agency’s high-risk Medicaid services. They described enhanced prepayment review, provider revalidation and site visits, removal of inactive providers, and a provider moratorium in metro counties. Inspector General James Clark said the governor’s anti-fraud proposal would add pre-enrollment risk assessments, more staffing and technology, and electronic visit verification. He also noted that about 80% of NEMT spending is in managed care and that managed care organizations have their own compliance and special investigations units. Committee members raised concerns about fraud, oversight, and privatization. Chair Robbins questioned DHS about the absence of the commissioner and the program’s use of brokers, citing past concerns and asking about the vendor MTM’s history; DHS said the RFP for the new broker had closed and the vendor selection was still underway. Representative Pinto questioned why oversight is outsourced to managed care organizations and suggested bringing more oversight back in house. MTM representative Phil Stahlberger defended the company’s record, said the Missouri dispute was about contract terms from about 15 years ago, and said MTM currently works in Minnesota counties and many other states, with on-site reviews, trip verification, and complaint review processes. No further votes or final actions on the NEMT policy were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Operating across multiple counties and cities, our team has to manually prepare, mail, and track separate
• And ultimately cost me $350 in postage to mail.
• the ones that are cutting checks for sometimes 60 cents, then putting an envelope and a stamp in the mail

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:07 Roll Call 00:00:13 Approval of Minutes from August Meeting 00:01:55 Discussion of County Jails 00:03:31 Discussion of Centralized Collection of Net Profits and Occupational License Taxes 01:02:12 Adjournment 01:54:56, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the August 26 minutes, and then took up a discussion of county jail funding. KACO representatives and county officials said jail operations are an ongoing strain for counties because they must pay for inmate care, facilities, and mandated standards, while many counties also rely on jail revenue to offset costs. They described Kentucky’s jail system, including 77 jails, 43 closed counties without jails, and the mix of county, state, federal, and controlled-intake inmates. KACO emphasized that counties remain financially responsible for inmates even when they must contract with other jails, often at costs above the state’s per diem rate, and said it is developing a broader proposal to present later. The testimony focused on rising expenses and shrinking revenue. KACO said counties spent about $374 million on jail operations in FY24, up 24% from FY19, and about $41 million on jail medical costs, up 40%. General fund support for jails was said to total $147 million in FY24, more than double pre-COVID levels. Speakers also noted that state inmate populations in county jails have fallen from about 11,500 in 2019 to 7,212 in 2025, while federal inmates have increased because they are more lucrative for counties. The state jail per diem of $35.34 was described as insufficient to cover actual costs, especially medical care. County judges from Webster, Knox, and Hardin counties gave examples of local budget pressure. Webster County said it now houses 114 state prisoners, 47 county prisoners, and 24 out-of-county prisoners, and that it transferred $512,000 from its general fund to the jail last year, about $77 per taxpayer. Knox County said its jail budget has grown from an initial $2.8 million projection to $5.7 million, with $3 million coming from occupational tax revenue. Hardin County said its jail has an approximate $11 million expense budget against $5 million in revenue, creating a $6 million deficit, driven by higher payroll, medical, and insurance costs and a 29% drop in state prisoner revenue. The judge said the county has responded with property tax increases and an expanded occupational tax district, but still uses reserves to cover other county services. A Grant County magistrate then began speaking from the perspective of magistrates and commissioners, describing her background working at a local jail before serving in county government. The discussion remained centered on the fiscal burden of jails and the need for counties and the legislature to work together on a long-term solution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Respectfully ask for your aye vote. Would you like to close? Respectfully ask for your aye vote.
• As they say, a picture's worth a thousand words, and I hope it earns your vote—your aye vote.
• The current vote is 4 to 0. File item number 1, AB 1155. The current vote is 4 to 0.
• Vote 7 to 0; we will replace the call. Thank you. Vote 7 to 0. We will replace the call.
• The current vote is four to zero. Senator... 12, AB 1609. The current vote is four to zero.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Alexander: Yes, I can vote this time.
• It's unconstitutional, and I would ask you to vote against it. I thank you.
• It's unconstitutional, and I would ask you to vote against it. I thank you.
• NHAR would urge you to vote inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 623.
• <05:12:12.000> in um NH would urge you to vote in um NH would urge you to vote in expedient

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not voting. Hoover? Quirk-Silva? Hart, not voting. Quirk-Silva, not voting. Ransom, aye.
• Senator Cervantes is not voting. Cortese? Does he not vote? That audit fails.
• Not voting? Valadares? Valadares not voting. Thank you. Valadares not voting. Thank you.
• Cortese, not voting. Senator Dahle? Not voting. Senator Dahle not voting? Valadares, no.
• Vote not voting? On call?

Summary: The committee heard several audit requests and related testimony. The first major item was an audit of Coachella Valley Unified School District’s contract and fiscal management. The author and supporters described long-standing fiscal mismanagement, large budget shortfalls, layoffs, contracting concerns, and questions about the district’s foundation and use of public funds. District representatives and the Riverside County Office of Education said the district is already under fiscal oversight, has a stabilization plan, and is working to reduce deficits and improve student outcomes. After extensive debate and public comment, the motion to approve the audit was put on call because the committee did not have the required votes from both houses at that moment. The committee then approved an audit of East Bay transit agencies in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Senator Wahab argued the region’s many overlapping transit agencies create fragmentation, duplication, and inefficiency, especially amid a fiscal cliff and possible future tax increases. Transit agencies and labor representatives opposed the audit, saying the agencies already undergo multiple audits, serve distinct local needs, and are implementing regional coordination efforts. After testimony from agency leaders and public commenters, the committee voted to approve the audit. The next item was an audit of California Community Colleges’ unrestricted reserves. Senator Archuleta and supporting faculty representatives said reserves have grown substantially and may be diverting resources from student services, instruction, and workforce programs. They argued there is little oversight when reserves become too high. The Chancellor’s Office and Calbright College were invited to respond, and the audit objectives focused on reserve growth, reasons for high balances, oversight by the Chancellor’s Office, and effects on students and staff. The transcript cuts off during the Chancellor’s Office response, so the final committee action on this item is not shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• You may, like I have, even have received hate mail and death threats for putting forth the idea that
• 01:37:21.040> even<01:37:21.280> received<01:37:21.679> hate<01:37:22.080> mail
• <01:37:22.400> and<01:37:22.719> death I have even received hate mail and death I have
• even received hate mail and death threats<01:37:23.440> for<01:37:24.000> putting<01:37

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I like people coming back from the mail and getting people that are qualified on our home list that's
• people coming back good I like I like people coming back from<01:20:10.880> the<01:20:11.000> mail
• and<01:20:12.000> getting<01:20:12.320> people<01:20:12.600> that from the mail
• and getting people that from the mail and getting people that are<01:20:12.920> qualified<01:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Hawaiian Affairs committee heard a budget presentation from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on its biennium requests for critical projects, repairs and maintenance, and operations. DHHL described its role in administering the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust, noted the large beneficiary wait list, and said prior funding, including Act 279, has helped the department accelerate land development and reduce vacancies. Officials said they have about 47,219 applications involving 29,548 Native Hawaiians, roughly 28 projects underway, and that about $471 million of a $600 million appropriation has been encumbered, with the remaining lapse-fix funds expected to be resolved before the June 30, 2026 deadline. DHHL emphasized that its current request would support additional lot development and could help produce roughly 6,000 units from the existing project pipeline, with another phase of requests potentially adding about 2,000 more units. The department said it is prioritizing shovel-ready projects, accelerating lease awards and orientations, and using a mix of approaches including paper leases, rental-with-option-to-purchase, owner-builder, and loan programs. Officials also discussed a shift toward denser urban development, citing projects in West Oahu and Honolulu, and said the department is working to reduce its vacancy rate and move beneficiaries onto the land more quickly. Members questioned why Oahu, despite having the largest wait list, was receiving comparatively lower amounts, and DHHL responded that land availability and cost drive those decisions, with Oahu having limited developable land and very high acquisition costs. The department pointed to land acquisition on Kauai and other islands, and to urban high-rise projects that can yield far more units on small parcels. Members also raised long-term maintenance and wildfire risk, asking whether current acquisition and development choices account for future infrastructure costs; DHHL said maintenance is a growing concern, especially on large unused or isolated lands, and that it is pursuing Firewise planning, federal funds, and partnerships to reduce risk. The discussion also touched on mixed-use and community-led development, with DHHL explaining that it leases land to nonprofit homestead associations under general leases with milestones, business-plan requirements, and land-use restrictions to support local services and community goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:28.080> PL uh the voting PL uh the voting PL spot<00:22:30.200> which<00:22:
• in or voted out.
• The vote on Amendment 2025-2770?
• The clerk votes yes.
• If you're in favor of that motion, you'll vote yes. If you are opposed, you will vote no.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the past, they might have been directed to send the cash in the mail, or they might have been directed
• H. 1112 expands the Massachusetts corporation law to prevent these closed-end funds from voting their

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several financial services bills, with the main focus on cryptocurrency kiosk regulation, financial literacy, and earned wage access. Legislators and witnesses described widespread crypto-related scams targeting older adults, often involving impersonation, urgency, spoofed phone numbers, and rapid transfers through kiosks that are difficult to trace or recover. Supporters of the kiosk bills said Massachusetts needs licensing, registration, transaction limits, warning notices, receipts, refund protections, and other safeguards; some also urged a “pause” or hold on transactions to give victims time to reconsider and allow law enforcement to intervene. The Attorney General’s office, AARP, local law enforcement, and several prosecutors and sheriffs backed the consumer-protection approach, while Bitcoin Depot supported a narrower regulatory framework but opposed low fee caps and strict daily limits, arguing they would function like a ban and reduce legitimate use. Witnesses from Waltham police, Middlesex and Essex County law enforcement, and the AG’s office said crypto scams are growing quickly, losses are often unrecoverable once funds move, and current tools are limited. They described cases involving elderly victims losing thousands of dollars, and said warnings alone are not enough because scammers keep victims on the phone and guide them through the process. Some witnesses said a temporary hold or refund mechanism has worked in at least one case, while others emphasized that transaction limits and visible disclosures could reduce harm even if they do not stop fraud entirely. The AG’s office also said it would submit written opposition to separate earned wage advance legislation, while DailyPay testified in support of that bill, saying earned wage access helps workers bridge short-term gaps without debt or credit reporting. The committee also heard support for mandatory financial literacy education from Representative Jim Hawkins, who said high school students need instruction on credit, debt, and inflation before they enter adulthood. In addition, the committee took testimony on litigation financing bills from insurance industry representatives, who argued for disclosure and regulation of predatory litigation lending and warned about foreign interference and reduced plaintiff recoveries. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; members asked questions throughout, and the chair noted the need to move testimony along because of time constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• And just the last thing that I'll say is, you know, I want to vote for these pilot programs, be it the
• I mean, it's not uncommon to get letters in the mail.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair then called for a vote on the bill.
• need to develop the collection canisters, if you will, and we need to have a place for those to be mailed

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The polling votes are available on the website. If you have any difficulties, please do contact us.
• They are the people who vote for you, and they're the people you need to serve, not multibillion-dollar
• For these reasons, I respectfully request that the committee vote favorably on these two bills.
• As an 18-year veteran of the park, I strongly urge this committee to vote yes on these bills to protect
• Please vote yes on the bill S-225 for public safety, for accountability, and against unchecked corporate

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 452, a right-to-repair bill for agricultural equipment. Farm Bureau and several manufacturers’ representatives opposed the bill, arguing that existing memorandums of understanding already provide farmers access to parts, diagnostics, and repair information, and warning that broader software access could increase emissions tampering and safety risks. Supporters, including repair advocates, a legislator, and a farmer representative, argued that the MOUs are not binding, that farmers need enforceable repair rights to avoid costly delays during critical harvest periods, and that owners should be able to repair equipment they bought without dealer lock-in. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on bills to limit or eliminate “grab-and-go” alcohol sales at large venues, including House Bill 325 and Senate Bill 225. Union workers from Fenway Park and the TD Garden described self-checkout alcohol kiosks as creating public safety and compliance problems, including underage access, over-serving, theft, and difficulty monitoring intoxication in crowded settings. They said workers are often understaffed and bear discipline when violations occur. In contrast, the Boston Red Sox and Aramark defended the supervised self-checkout model, saying it speeds service, is widely used, and operates with multiple layers of supervision, training, and regulatory oversight; they said they had not received violation notices and that any incidents are isolated. Senator Edwards also testified in support of House Bill 369, aimed at restricting marketing of certain harsh cosmetic products to children, and in support of the grab-and-go bill. She argued that children should not be targeted with products containing toxic chemicals and that alcohol service should remain supervised by trained staff to protect consumers and jobs. Senator Collins and other legislators also spoke in favor of restricting grab-and-go alcohol service, citing concerns about underage drinking and overconsumption. The hearing additionally included a separate bill on Sunday morning alcohol service, with Representatives Scanlon and Lewis arguing for allowing sales beginning at 8 a.m. on Sundays rather than 10 a.m., but that bill was only discussed briefly and no action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20.
• The first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20.
• Again, time on this vote, the ayes are 423, the nays are ... come on, y'all. Voted.
• [inaudible] All members voted.
• On this vote, the ayes are 218, the nays are 206, and one voted present. The bill is passed.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• squished absolutely squished and voted squished absolutely squished and voted down<01:26:55.400>
• When they don't respond, we do a certified mail. When they don't respond, we do a certified mail.
• I just want to explain why I'm voting no.
• But we will be voting on absolutely, yes. Yeah, the ultimate decision lies with this committee.
• You thank you for but we will be voting on absolutely, yes.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you a voting sheet give you a voting you a voting sheet give you a voting sheet<00:10:00.240>
• So, you're voting with it, or were you going to vote no? >> No. No. I voted with it. >> Okay.
• I will vote<03:43:27.920> yes. vote yes. vote yes. >> Thank<03:43:28.720> you.
• Did you vote? Yes. Pardon me. Did you vote for yourself? I did. Okay. Vote is 15 to zip.
• >> Vote again. Do we vote? >> Vote again. Do we vote?

Keywords: 1189, house, all