Transcript Highlights:

• up the language in the introduction to make sure that we clear up the bill, because we should be banning
• Um, that is why I spent eight years of my life working to ban it here in the state of Hawaii, and I would
• this um non-therapy for be banning this um non-therapy for everybody<00:39:17.040><c> and</c><00:39:
• spent eight years of my life<00:40:03.839><c> working</c><00:40:04.240><c> to</c><00:40:04.320><c> ban
• here</c><00:40:04.880><c> in</c><00:40:04.960><c> the</c><00:40:05.040><c> state</c> life working to ban

Bills: HB1849 , HB2000 , HB1753 , HB1511 , HB276 , HB1513 , HB2188 , HB1876

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on February 10, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills. HB 1849 relating to licensing drew comments from DCCA’s Professional and Vocational Licensing Division and the Hawaii Real Estate Commission, both of which stood on written testimony. The Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights testified in strong support, emphasizing that some immigrants, including DACA recipients, are already contributing in Hawaii and that the state should help create pathways for them to remain and advance professionally. No vote or final action was taken on HB 1849 during the portion shown. The committee then heard HB 2000, the wheelchair right-to-repair bill. Encart opposed the measure, arguing that repair delays are largely driven by insurance prior authorization and that wheelchair repairs involve FDA-regulated medical devices where improper repairs could create health risks. Peter Fritz testified in support, saying the bill was modeled on similar laws in other states and that he had personal experience through his sister’s use of a wheelchair. Members questioned whether repairs done outside insurer networks might not be reimbursed, and Fritz said that was a concern but that the need for timely repair outweighed it. The committee also discussed HB 1753 on social media, where DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection supported the bill but suggested an amendment to the definition of personal information. On HB 1511 relating to consumer protection, DCCA’s Insurance Division supported the bill, while the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association offered comments seeking to preserve legitimate manufacturer and dealer communications about vehicles, warranties, recalls, and related services. The committee also took up HB 276 HD1 and HB 1513 on condominiums. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission offered comments on HB 276 HD1. For HB 1513, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority supported the bill, but DCCA’s Insurance Division opposed it, warning that diverting HHRF funds could weaken reinsurance arrangements and raise premiums for consumers who rely on the fund. Members questioned whether the proposed condo loan program would need HHRF money and whether the amounts in the bill were necessary, and the division said it opposed using HHRF for that purpose. The committee also heard HB 2188 on housing, where OCP supported the measure and the Hawaii Association of Realtors raised concerns about conflicts with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the use of tenant screening reports, noting that a working group is already addressing landlord-tenant issues. Members asked OCP to research how other states handle similar laws and whether additional language is needed to avoid federal conflict. Finally, on HB 1876 relating to mental health, the Department of Health’s Adult Mental Health Division supported the bill but said it remains opposed to harmful, non-evidence-based treatment modalities; Pride at Work Hawaii also testified in strong support. No final votes or committee decisions were reported in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've banned flame retardants. We have banned PAS use and tried to limit that.
• We've banned flame retardants. We have banned PAS use and tried to limit that.
• We've banned flame retardants. We have banned PAS use and tried to limit that.
• We've banned flame retardants. We have banned PAS use and tried to limit that.
• We've banned flame retardants. We have banned PAS use and tried to limit that.

Bills: HF2354 , HF3407 , HF4359 , HF4192 , HF3356 , HF3695 , HF1597 , HF3155 , HF3871 , HF4437 , HF4446 , HF3990

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:11.520><c> the</c> the Victoria Generals, or leading the the Victoria Generals, or leading
• Additionally, junior Andy Kauvic added a 21-yard field goal, extending the Lancers' lead.
• Rulli, the bill's co-lead. Three minutes. &gt;&gt; The gentleman reserves.
• Rulie, the bill's co-lead. Three Mr. Rulie, the bill's co-lead. Three minutes.
• We must ban no due process.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not going to try to ban it and make it illegal.
• So that that they can't—" ban it and make it illegal. We're just ban it and make it illegal.
• </c> &gt;&gt; You want to ban the machines? &gt;&gt; You want to ban the machines?
• </c> whether these machines should be banned whether these machines should be banned or<01:51:52.639>
• Um we we had banned them under 7-Eleven.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Summary: The subcommittee focused primarily on a bill concerning long-term care insurance rate increases and consumer notice. Members and staff discussed replacing or supplementing a proposed public hearing requirement with annual reporting, website updates, and consumer-facing disclosures about approved rate increases, carriers writing the products, and how the products work. Several participants emphasized that long-term care policies are long-term products, that rate increases can be spread over many years for actuarial reasons, and that consumers need better information about trends and the impact of increases. A major point of disagreement was whether the bill should try to cap premium increases. One member argued the real problem is unexpected increases of 15% to 20% and urged a statutory cap to protect consumers. Insurance department representatives and others responded that hard caps had been struck down in prior case law, that the department’s core responsibility is solvency, and that carriers need sufficient premium to pay future claims. They also said the market is struggling because many carriers stopped selling the product, leaving in-force policies to bear the cost, and that overly restrictive caps could cause insurers to withdraw from the state. The discussion then shifted toward a compromise requiring carriers to notify policyholders before a rate increase is approved and allowing a 60-day comment period. Participants debated whether the notice should come from the carrier, how confidentiality rules would apply before approval, and what the department should do with public comments. The department said it already reviews filings carefully and that submitted rates are often adjusted before approval; lawmakers noted that prior commissioners had pushed back on increases in some cases, including a seven-year moratorium. No final vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair repeatedly tried to move the subcommittee along to other bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• statewide framework ensuring homeowners can construct accessory dwelling units and prevent cities from banning
• The bill's language prohibits bans, preventing cities with populations over 5,000 from banning accessory
• off-street or guest parking for ADUs, and while associations may still regulate parking, a state-level ban

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• They would be constitutionally banned from receiving any of these funds, while many, many districts with
• David Roth, who is leading that Raise the Base Coalition, and we oppose AB 1204. Thank you.
• As a leading public higher education institution in California, meaningful representation of our students

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations heard SCA 5, the Education Equalization Act, which would create an Equalization Reserve in the General Fund funded only in strong budget years with non-Prop 98 dollars. Senator Cortese and supporters argued it would provide a stable, ongoing stream of funding to reduce per-pupil disparities between basic-aid and non-basic-aid districts without reducing the Prop 98 minimum guarantee. Supporters included education foundation, school board, administrator, employee, and business representatives. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, argued the measure unfairly excludes charter and county school students and could worsen inequities; some committee members also raised concerns about its fiscal effects and constitutional structure. The committee ultimately voted 4-0 to adopt SCA 5, with the measure kept on call for additional members. The committee then took up a series of Assembly bills, most of which were suspense-file candidates and were moved without objection after brief or waived presentations and no opposition testimony. AB 402, AB 708, AB 1080, AB 1126, AB 1235, AB 1555, AB 1641, ACA 7, AB 1672, AB 1943, AB 2565, and AB 2571 were all sent to suspense. AB 1204 drew testimony from school district leaders and coalition members who said it would worsen LCFF funding disparities by shifting future growth away from the base grant; the bill was opposed and moved to suspense. AB 1672 received support from CalPACE. The Department of Finance did not attend and had no comments on the measures. Finally, ACA 18 was presented as a constitutional amendment to double student voting seats on the UC Board of Regents, creating separate undergraduate and graduate student representation. The author and UC student witnesses said the change would strengthen student voice on issues such as tuition, housing, basic needs, and free speech, and would align UC with CSU and community college governance. There was no opposition testimony, but the committee treated ACA 18 as a suspense-file candidate and moved it to suspense without objection. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will also lead to more cost-effective conservation efforts, which are more important now than ever
• It will also lead to more cost-effective conservation efforts, which are more important now than ever
• And they were very important because it wasn't an absolute ban.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee heard several measures focused on conservation, wildlife access, and coastal protection. SB 1108 would create the Grasslands Ecological Area Conservancy in Merced County to coordinate land, water, habitat, and wildlife corridor protection in the largest remaining wetland/grassland complex west of the Mississippi. Supporters, including the Grasslands Water District and Audubon California, emphasized the area’s importance to migratory birds, groundwater sustainability, and voluntary conservation easements; there was no opposition. The committee members generally praised the bill’s regional coordination and ecological significance. The committee also heard SB 1021, which would direct the Fish and Game Commission to create a program allowing youth with physician-certified life-threatening illnesses to participate in hunting and fishing opportunities under structured supervision. The author and supporters described it as a compassionate, tightly limited program with conservation safeguards, hunter education requirements, reporting, and a sunset. There was no opposition, and members expressed support for the bill’s intent. SB 949 would designate the Santa Cruz Mountains as a resource of statewide significance, with an emphasis on biodiversity, watershed protection, wildfire resilience, public access, working lands, and collaboration with tribes and private landowners. Support came from Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Sempervirens Fund, and several local and conservation organizations; no opposition was heard. The committee also considered SJR 12, which urges the federal government to remove California from proposed offshore oil and gas leasing plans and calls for stronger environmental review and public engagement. Supporters cited spill risks, coastal economic harm, and prior local and state opposition to offshore drilling. All measures were approved by the committee, with the bills and resolution moving forward on recorded votes, and the consent calendar items were also adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will also lead to more cost-effective conservation efforts, which are more important now than ever
• It will also lead to more cost-effective conservation efforts, which are more important now than ever
• And they were very important because it wasn't an absolute ban.

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee heard several conservation and wildlife-related measures. SB 1108 by Senator Caballero would create the Grasslands Ecological Area Conservancy in the California Natural Resources Agency to coordinate protection and restoration of the Grasslands Ecological Area in Merced County. Supporters, including the Grasslands Water District, Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, California Waterfowl Association, The Nature Conservancy, and others, said the area is a major wetland and wildlife corridor facing groundwater-driven land retirement and needs a coordinated, voluntary, incentive-based framework. Senator Laird noted the bill followed prior conservancy models and moved it forward. The committee later approved SB 1108 on a 7-0 vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 1021 by Senator Choi, which would direct the Fish and Game Commission to create a narrowly tailored program expanding hunting and fishing opportunities for youth with life-threatening illnesses. The author and supporters from Field of Dreams and the Angling Hunting Conservation Coalition described it as a compassionate, supervised program that would create meaningful experiences for families while maintaining hunter education and conservation safeguards. No opposition was presented, and the bill was approved 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 949 by Senator Becker would designate the Santa Cruz Mountains as a resource of statewide significance, with supporters from Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Sempervirens Fund, Green Foothills, and others citing biodiversity, watershed protection, wildfire resilience, public access, and coordination across public and private lands. Some committee members raised questions about working lands, property rights, and fire responsibility, but the bill was moved forward and passed 5-0 to Appropriations. The committee also adopted SJR 12 by Senator Laird, which opposes the federal offshore oil and gas leasing plan for California waters; supporters emphasized spill risks, coastal economic impacts, and public opposition, and the resolution passed 5-1. File item 3, SB 1085, was pulled, and the remaining consent calendar items were adopted 7-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also leading advocacy efforts with AZHPE, which is Arizona's Professional Association for Physical
• I'm also leading advocacy efforts with AZHPE, which is Arizona's Professional Association for Physical
• This is a slippery slope to government censorship, and book bans are antithetical to free speech and

Bills: HB2008 , HB2075 , HB2203 , HB2395 , HB2409

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Keywords: school libraries, public school libraries, library funding, professional associations, library associations, librarians, information services, dues, membership fees, public monies, school governing body, county free library district, municipal library, library contracts, library services, books and programs, Arizona education, Title 15, Library Freedom Act, school district transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• We need only to look at Texas for where bills like this lead.
• Repeated attempts to ban abortion in this state by dogged introduction of bills like this, which go against
• in which the fetus is found to have fatal abnormalities or any number of other scenarios that might lead

Bills: HB0117 , HB0126

Committee: House Labor, Health & Social Services

Transcript Highlights:

• First, that water and sewer districts do not categorically ban grinder pumps.
• Counties should lead the way. Cities.
• Counties should lead the way. Cities. All right, seeing no further questions.

Bills: SB6211 , SB6234 , SB6242

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: real estate, excise tax, growth management, uniformity, local government, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, shared stewardship, counties authority, land management, environmental agreements, local governance

Transcript Highlights:

• First, that water and sewer districts do not categorically ban grinder pumps.
• Counties should lead the way. Cities.
• Counties should lead the way. Cities. All right, seeing no further questions.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard staff briefings, sponsor testimony, and public testimony on three bills. Senate Bill 6242 would require counties to enter shared stewardship agreements with federal land managers, such as the U.S. Forest Service, to maintain fuel breaks along roads on federally owned land and include revenue-sharing for timber sales. Sponsor Senator Braun said the bill is intended to improve wildfire prevention, protect transportation corridors, and create a possible funding source for rural counties. County representatives supported the concept but noted concerns about the bill’s timber-revenue condition and whether it could be enforced if a federal agency declined to agree. Senate Bill 6211 would remove the voter-approval requirement for real estate excise tax 2 (REET 2) in counties and cities that voluntarily plan under the Growth Management Act, aligning them with jurisdictions that are required to fully plan. Supporters, including the City of Walla Walla and the Association of Washington Cities, said the bill would create fairness and consistency and provide local governments with more tools for capital projects such as sidewalks, ADA improvements, transportation, and utilities. Opponents from Washington Realtors and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes argued the bill would raise housing costs and eliminate voter approval for a tax increase. The committee also heard concerns about property values and whether the bill would affect home prices or local tax burdens. Senate Bill 6234 would prohibit cities, counties, and water-sewer districts from banning sewage grinder pumps for new residential buildings in certain situations where gravity sewer is impractical, such as steep terrain, low-lying lots, or long distances from sewer lines. The sponsor said the bill is meant to help infill development and housing production in urban growth areas by making a lower-cost sewer connection option available. Cities and sewer districts testified that grinder pumps are already allowed in many cases, but they opposed the bill’s prescriptive language and preemption of local standards, citing long-term maintenance, operational, and ratepayer concerns. No votes or final committee actions were taken on any of the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• emergency regulations by the California Department of Public Health in October 2024, which clearly ban
• Alanis did good by your lead. Amazing. Let's follow your lead. Keep that momentum going. Yeah.

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several measures, including SB 402 by Senator Valadares, which would move existing qualification requirements for qualified autism service providers and related professionals from the Health and Safety Code and Insurance Code into the Business and Professions Code without changing the standards. Supporters said it was a technical cleanup that would improve consistency and legislative oversight, while an opponent argued the bill was unnecessary and could create access issues; another witness urged inclusion of the QABA credentialing board. The committee approved SB 402 on a due pass motion to the Committee on Health. The committee also heard SB 378 by Senator Wiener, aimed at online platforms that facilitate sales of illicit cannabis and intoxicating hemp products. Supporters, including labor, local government, and cannabis industry representatives, said the bill would help protect consumers, minors, legal businesses, and tax revenue by creating accountability for online marketplaces. Opponents from the hemp industry and TechNet argued the bill was overly broad, could sweep in legitimate platforms and payment services, and should better distinguish bad actors from compliant hemp businesses; members discussed implementation, enforcement through a private right of action, and coordination with AB 8. The committee passed SB 378 to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. Senator Arreguín presented SB 779, which would establish minimum enforcement fines for Contractors State License Board citations where minimums are currently very low or absent, and would raise the board’s reserve cap from six months to 12 months. The sponsor said the changes would better match penalties to violations and help support consumer protection and board operations during economic downturns. There was no opposition, and the committee approved SB 779 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar, which included SB 344 and AB 652, both sent to Appropriations. SB 508 was not heard because it had been pulled by the author.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eligibility is determined. ...governing body or municipality that establishes the board, leading to a
• Third, Dallas is leading the nation with Prop S.
• Assuming there's an initiative to ban fracking, for example.

Bills: SB250 , SB375 , SB536 , SB845 , SB1633 , SB1944 , SB1957 , SB2081 , SB2137 , SB2262 , SB2299 , SB2419 , SB2452 , SB2522 , SB2549 , SB2594 , SB2605 , SB2631 , SB2639 , SB2675 , SB3029 , SJR60 , HB22 , HB1392 , HB2525 , HB22

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• And I was even opposed to it for the cell phone ban throwing in non-public schools personally anyway.
• Senator Bame, I'll chair bill, I'll let you lead with that. I just wrote a few things down here.
• Senator Bame, I'll chair bill, I'll let you lead with that.

Summary: The Senate conference committee on Senate Bill 2330 met to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill, which concerns human trafficking and exploitation prevention and awareness education in schools. House members explained their amendments, including adding non-public schools, narrowing some statutory language, removing the appropriation section because funding had been moved into the Attorney General’s budget, and changing the bill’s structure to reduce what they viewed as an overly broad mandate. Senators and House members then debated whether the education should be required for all grades or limited to specific grades, and whether it should be delivered every year or every other year. Testimony from Amy Boyd-Bomey of YouthWorks and Stacey Schaefer of the 31A Project supported focusing the program on grades 6 and 10, with later discussion adding grade 12. They said sixth grade is a key entry point into junior high and social media exposure, tenth grade is important because of dropout risk, and twelfth grade would be the last opportunity to reach students before adulthood. They also said repeating the same material every year could dilute the message, that the curriculum should be thoughtful and trauma-informed, and that “best practices” may be preferable to the bill’s “evidence-based” language because of cost and feasibility. They emphasized that presenters must be prepared for disclosures from students after the training. Committee members also discussed logistics and funding. The witnesses said the Attorney General’s budget line for the program would fund third-party organizations through a grant process, with reporting requirements, and that the proposed amount was based on their cost estimates. Members raised concerns about whether the funding would cover all schools and grades, especially if non-public schools were included. Several members argued against mandating the program in non-public schools at this time, citing uncertainty about related legislation and the need to maximize available funds, while others said private school students also face trafficking risks and should not be excluded. The committee did not take final action on the bill; instead, members agreed to continue working on amendments, including grade levels, annual versus biennial implementation, the “may include” language, the “evidence-based” standard, and the non-public school issue, and to reconvene at a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• violation is a secondary offense creates within FWC a 5 year safety inspection decal prevents local bans
• And we realized that the problems we're having with lead and other things are being tracked and with
• Follow my lead on how we're introducing our fellow senators.

Transcript Highlights:

• The lack of sleep causes emotional dysregulation leading to abnormal behavior.
• kids had a streak bedtime and it really, really work that even when they got to where I remove the ban
• This bill will lead us in a better place and then the decision is made locally let the local school district

Transcript Highlights:

• constituents, for some of us, it's sometimes an opportunity to have a conversation with someone that leads
• Massachusetts joined many other states, including Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and California, in banning

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, welcomed several guests and birthday celebrants, and adopted a resolution honoring the Jeller family for 100 years of service to Plymouth. Members also suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow consideration of a petition authorizing a lease for Pilgrim Memorial Park in Plymouth. The chamber then took up Senate No. 3028, the omnibus animal welfare bill titled “An act promoting pet equity, treatment, and safety,” which Ways and Means recommended ought to pass with a House amendment and an emergency preamble. During debate on S. 3028, members described the bill as a package of animal welfare reforms covering veterinary technician regulation, expanded oversight of veterinary medicine, pet insurance disclosures and cancellation rights, changes to the Beagle Bill adoption process, a ban on animal testing for household products when alternatives exist, requirements for reporting found dogs to law enforcement, protections for service dogs in transportation, stronger kennel licensing enforcement, and limits on discrimination against companion animals in public and senior housing. Several members spoke in support, especially of Section 25, which creates a civil process for animal neglect cases so authorities can seek care or removal without relying solely on felony prosecution; supporters said it better balances animal protection with due process and human crises. The House rejected two proposed amendments, adopted two others, and then passed the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 151-1. The House also passed Senate No. 2577, increasing parking fees in the town of Scituate, and House No. 2250, dissolving the Whately Water District, by roll call vote of 150-0. In addition, the House declined to concur with Senate amendments to House No. 4361, a bill concerning benefits for teachers, and instead ordered a Committee of Conference, appointing Representatives Ryan of Boston, Gonzales of Springfield, and Ferguson of Holden. Finally, the House passed House No. 5492, authorizing Billerica to transfer land for the Yankee Doodle Bike Path, and then adjourned to meet the next day in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• constituents, for some of us, it's sometimes an opportunity to have a conversation with someone that leads
• Massachusetts joined many other states, including Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and California, in banning

Transcript Highlights:

• Finchem is going to lead us in a moment of silence for him in just a moment here.
• SB 1432, central bank digital currency ban. Government.