Transcript Highlights:

• </c> non-public data from the legislative non-public data from the legislative auditor<00:32:22.679><
• </c><00:37:19.640><c> from</c> uh which again getting good input from uh which again getting good input
• really to restrict to the least amount of data necessary to prevent abuse, to prevent that data from
• abuse to prevent um that data prevent abuse to prevent um that data from<01:04:29.960><c> falling</c>
• <01:30:37.320><c> is</c> data is data is there<01:30:40.040><c> okay</c><01:30:40.239><c> represent</

Bills: HF1 , HF2

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We can and must regulate A.I. Madam Mr.
• WE CAN AND MUST REGULATE A.I. MADAM, Mr.
• that companies are starting to use through the use of artificial intelligence and big data.
• Of artificial intelligence and big data.
• Not because of supply or demand, but simply because the algorithmic data has decided that one person

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the journal, and took up a series of motions to discharge identical Assembly bills to the Third Reading Calendar, along with committee reports and amendments. The chamber also received an introduction from Senator Gonzalez honoring Maria Raine and her advocacy for guardrails on AI chatbots after the death of her son, and later adopted a Rules Committee report sending several General Business Law bills directly to Third Reading. The resolution calendar was adopted with some exceptions, and the Senate recognized several previously adopted resolutions honoring individuals and observances, including Barnabas McHenry, Arthur Jones Jr., Floyd Todd Peterson III, the Lexington School for the Deaf, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Apraxia Awareness Month, Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Prevention Week, Physician Anesthesiologists Week, and Golf Day in New York. The Senate then considered and passed numerous bills, many on consumer protection and public policy topics. Measures included bills on General Business Law, Public Health Law, Correction Law, Environmental Conservation Law, Executive Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, Public Officers Law, Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, Public Housing Law, Education Law, Labor Law, and Public Service Law. Several bills were laid aside, including a Public Health Law bill by Senator Fernandez and a Public Service Law bill by Senator Parker. The chamber also passed a concurrent constitutional resolution by Senator Stec proposing an amendment to Article 14. During floor debate, senators explained votes on several measures. Senator Ramos spoke in support of paid sick leave for domestic workers, describing the bill as a long-overdue labor protection for a workforce historically excluded from such rights. Senator Fernandez described her bill as the Manufacturer Disclosure and Transparency Act, aimed at requiring notice and public disclosure of certain pharmaceutical patent settlement agreements to improve transparency and competition in prescription drug pricing. Senator Ryan and Senator Martins supported a bill restricting hidden algorithmic price manipulation online, and Senator May supported a bill limiting excessive rental car fuel charges as part of a broader consumer protection package. The Senate also passed a memorial highway bill naming a portion of Route 19 in LeRoy for Lieutenant Gary A. Scott, with Senator Borrello explaining the veteran’s service and sacrifice.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the latest data I've got is from fiscal year 2020 and 2021.
• and encourage the department to collect that data.
• As we've been hearing, surface water really isn't well regulated.
• This balance is achieved through carefully structured regulations to prohibit conflicts.
• I don't have any data to back that up. I'm just thinking in my head.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1209, which would pause new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals after December 31, 2026, while allowing existing agreements to continue and renew through 2036. The author said the bill is intended to force a broader, data-driven review of Louisiana’s surface water management and to improve funding for aquatic plant control, especially giant salvinia. An amendment was adopted to broaden the description of how the aquatic plant control fund may be used and to require annual reporting on agreements, withdrawals, revenues, deposits, spending, and non-monetary consideration. Department officials said the current program is voluntary, underfunded for monitoring, and that the bill could create a gap for new users if no replacement mechanism is enacted. The bill was reported favorable as amended after testimony from supporters including the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and opposition concerns from industry representatives were noted but not formally presented. House Bill 599 was then heard, which would prohibit the sale of Louisiana running surface water outside the state. The author argued that out-of-state sales, especially involving Toledo Bend and Texas, would be short-sighted and could harm Louisiana’s long-term water interests. Supporters said Louisiana lacks a water budget and should preserve water for in-state needs, while the Department of Conservation and Energy noted that the state currently has no mandatory process for such agreements and that the bill would not affect Sabine River Authority authority. The committee reported the bill favorable. Finally, House Bill 1206, dealing with permitting and reporting of water usage at data centers, was discussed. The substitute bill and amendment would give the department authority to monitor and regulate groundwater and surface water withdrawals, require public hearings, and improve transparency through reporting and a universal project identifier. The author and supporters said the bill was prompted by concerns in communities affected by large data center projects and the lack of public hearings on water use. Department officials agreed that more comprehensive data and a clearer framework are needed, but the author voluntarily deferred the bill to continue working with the department on a broader measure for next session. The committee also heard House Bill 1171 on allowing airboats in the Mar-Paw Swamp Wildlife Management Area, but after extensive debate over noise, habitat impacts, and existing restrictions, the discussion was ongoing in the portion provided and no final action on that bill was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, also maintaining the current sales and use tax policy that we have on our inputs.
• that tax policy that have on our inputs that tax policy that we<00:07:13.120><c> have.
• </c> that happens in agriculture, every input that happens in agriculture, every input that<00:37:41.760
• </c> quickly as possible in gathering data quickly as possible in gathering data criteria<00:47:28.160
• We're believers that if it's easier for our regulated industries to follow, it's easier for us to regulate

Summary: The committee heard first from Kentucky Farm Bureau leaders, who outlined the organization’s current priorities and recent work on farmland transition. Eddie Melton said Farm Bureau is working through 983 county and advisory committee resolutions and highlighted support for the updated selling farmer tax credit, now law through House Bill 775, as well as Senate Bill 28’s agriculture economic development provisions. He said Farm Bureau’s likely priorities include maintaining the 50% share of the tobacco settlement fund for agriculture, protecting funding for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, preserving sales tax exemptions on farm inputs, keeping property taxes controlled, and exploring additional tools to keep farmland in active farmers’ hands, including possible loan or inheritance-tax changes. He also raised concerns about eminent domain transparency, nuisance deer permits, and access to agricultural inputs and crop protection products. Alita Bots described the farmland transition initiative in more detail, saying the revised state tax credit is generating strong interest and that a new federal tax provision now allows eligible land sales to actively engaged farmers to spread capital gains taxes over time. She said the initiative has reached 22 counties and more than 1,300 people this year through outreach and meetings, and that Farm Bureau is pairing policy work with resources to help farm families plan transitions and prepare wills and other estate documents. Drew Graham added that the effort is also meant to bridge the rural-urban divide and support rural communities, and Farm Bureau invited members to its annual meeting in early December. Members asked about rising insurance costs and deer damage. Farm Bureau representatives said severe convective storms, inflation, and higher repair and material costs have driven insurance rate increases, citing five major storm events since 2021 and a recent Owensboro hailstorm that caused about $350 million in losses; they said the company is moving toward percentage deductibles to help moderate increases. On deer, they said crop-loss totals are hard to quantify but acknowledged the problem and discussed possible coordination with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Hunters for the Hungry. Commissioner Jonathan Shell then began the Department of Agriculture presentation, reporting gains from the department’s school agriculture outreach program, including a 23% increase in county participation between March and September and improved teacher-reported student learning, before continuing into the department’s legislative priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you have data? Oh, thank you. Mr. Chair, Senator, it is appropriating $20 million. Okay.
• When we sought to provide input and voice our position to the city, we did not feel...
• Real community input before irreversible commitments are made.
• from, and certainly those parties are big players and they have qualified input.
• I was working on this 14 years ago after extensive public input and particularly input from these two

Bills: SB1088 , SB1156 , SB1157 , SB1169 , SB1245 , SB1273 , SB1330 , SB1332 , SB1391 , SB1498 , SB1531 , SB1550 , SB1598 , SB1677 , SB1707 , SB1811 , SB1818

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: cybersecurity, homeland security, artificial intelligence, state appropriation, VPN security, zero trust, appropriation, public safety, detention, unauthorized aliens, local government funding, border security, fencing, appropriations, southern border, local government, medical education, physician shortage, healthcare funding, Arizona health care

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> uh</c> work together to regulate uh work together to regulate uh for-profit<00:03:09.599><c> monopoly
• </c> sort of fixed large loads like data sort of fixed large loads like data centers<00:15:55.440><c>
• So each year we analyze technical studies, performance data, and then also input from experts across
• data, and then<01:09:30.799><c> also</c><01:09:31.120><c> input</c><01:09:31.440><c> from</c><01:09:
• ><c> projects</c><01:17:30.960><c> have</c> forecasting, data center projects have forecasting, data

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• We expect to get community input on it; after all, they're the audience for it and should have input.
• Data quality, data consistency across regional centers are all problems.
• You know, don't share HIPAA data.
• And so, right behind some other data elements, contact information is on the data cleanup list for the
• Ask for hard data.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on developmental services, rehabilitation, and related supports, with no votes taken. The first major topic was the Master Plan for Developmental Services. Administration officials described a year-long, community-driven process that included a steering committee, work groups, and statewide engagement sessions, and said the final draft would be released that Friday with about 170 recommendations. The Department of Developmental Services said the plan would inform future work, but did not offer a detailed implementation roadmap. The LAO said the plan contains significant policy and budget implications, may require statutory changes, and needs further analysis to turn recommendations into actionable proposals. Advocates and regional center representatives urged the Legislature and administration to avoid letting the plan sit on a shelf, called for prioritization and ongoing stakeholder oversight, and emphasized the need to address equity, workforce, service coordination, and cross-system collaboration. The chair said he wanted to work with the LAO on trailer bill language and future reporting to create a clearer path forward. The second topic was the Office of Employment First and competitive integrated employment. Administration witnesses said California has ended subminimum wage under SB 639, but that moving people into competitive integrated employment remains a major priority. They described existing efforts such as DDS’s coordinated career pathways pilot, paid internships, job development services, benefits counseling, and DOR’s career counseling and referral services, along with pilot projects in San Diego and Orange County. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and advocates argued that employment outcomes have remained stuck at roughly 15% and that a dedicated Employment First Office is needed to coordinate across agencies, align goals, and improve outcomes. The LAO recommended regular legislative oversight on people transitioning out of subminimum wage and asked for technical assistance on coordinated career pathways. The chair criticized the administration’s decision to effectively eliminate funding for the office, requested a detailed implementation timeline and quarterly transition reports, and said the committee would continue pressing for the office to be implemented. The final issue was respite services, utilization trends, and access. DDS reported that in-home respite use and spending have risen sharply over several years, with about 150,000 people using respite in 2023-24 and expenditures reaching about $1 billion. Officials said access depends on families knowing the service exists, service coordinators identifying need, and having enough providers, especially in rural and linguistically diverse communities. The San Diego Regional Center said utilization generally mirrors statewide trends, but access is stronger in some areas, such as Imperial County, where families often prefer family-directed or agency-supported models that allow them to hire trusted workers. Committee members emphasized the importance of respite for family health and caregiver well-being, asked whether service coordinators are asking practical questions about sleep and stress, and discussed the need for better identification of complex behavioral and medical needs. DDS said a standardized family support tool and updated IPP process are intended to improve consistency, transparency, and person-centered assessment for respite and related services.

Transcript Highlights:

• They collect water level data, water quality data, and use data.
• Any data associated with that?
• data?
• We don't want to rely upon that old data, but that's the data we have.
• We don't want to rely upon that old data, but that's the data we have.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The committee held a hearing on high-capacity groundwater wells proposed in Anderson, Henderson, and Houston counties, with members framing the issue as one of local water supply, fairness, and the need to modernize groundwater law while protecting private property rights. Opening remarks focused on the scale of the proposed Redtown Ranch and Pine Bliss projects, the potential export of tens of thousands of acre-feet of groundwater annually, and concerns that the applications lacked sufficient technical detail and could harm nearby landowners, cities, agriculture, and manufacturing. Members also noted the broader context of the recent flooding tragedy in central Texas and the Legislature’s intent to address water-related loss of life in the upcoming special session. Witnesses from the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts and the Texas Water Development Board explained the current groundwater management framework. They described groundwater conservation districts as the state’s preferred management method, the role of groundwater management areas and desired future conditions, and how the Water Development Board uses those conditions to calculate modeled available groundwater. They emphasized that districts rely on local data, monitoring wells, and planning processes, but that information is often more limited in areas without a district, where the rule of capture applies. Members pressed witnesses on recharge rates, export permits, subsidence, the effect of pumping on nearby wells, the age and real-time availability of model data, and whether the proposed project would exceed modeled available groundwater in some counties. TCEQ explained its limited oversight role over groundwater conservation districts, including inquiries, compliance actions, and, in extreme cases, dissolution authority. Water Development Board staff also outlined funding programs, saying the New Water Supply for Texas Fund is limited to projects such as brackish desalination, reuse, ASR, and other new-supply projects, and does not fund fresh groundwater exports alone. They said the project at issue had not applied for board funding. A water lawyer then testified on the rule of capture, ownership in place, and district regulation, arguing that districts must use permitting and other tools to manage production within modeled available groundwater and that the Legislature could consider additional authority over groundwater exports under current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS IS EXACTLY PART OF THE PROCESS AND WHEN WE START TO REGULATE GOOD ACTORS GETTING ROLLED UP WITH
• AND DIGITAL DRIVER'S LICENSE DATA PRIVACY AS PART OF THE HOME MOVEMENT ANY DIGITAL DRIVERS LICENSE MAY
• NEVER LOCATE LOCATION OR DATA BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT OR VENDOR.
• AND WE WILL MODERNIZE THE ENFORCEMENT STATUTE ON LOUD VEHICLE NOISE AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER DATA
• TALK TO YOUR DRIVERS BACK HOME AND YOUR PEOPLE BACK HOME AND GET INPUT ON THIS BILL SO WE CAN MAKE GOOD

Committee: House Commerce Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> all of the input we received. all of the input we received.
• <01:18:22.120><c> division</c> regulation division regulation division uh<01:18:23.360><c> to</c><01:
• We need to see a lot more data.
• We need to see a lot more data.
• We need to see a lot more data.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Van Giffin, we've talked previously offline about this issue, and I appreciate your input.
• We've talked previously offline about this issue, and I appreciate your input.
• And I appreciate your input.
• If we are regulated under a competing board, it could undermine the applications, exams, education, or
• Idahoans chose to keep denturists regulated independently and separate from the dental board.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• They do not include DMAP data, only data reported through the license reporting system.
• But we've looked at a lot of data, a lot of deer movement.
• That is what the data suggests at this point.
• Probably don't have the statistical data on this.
• So there may be a high fence that is regulated by both.

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, approval of the agenda, and approval of the prior minutes, followed by a presentation from Julie Grenwald of Louisiana Hunters for the Hungry. She described the nonprofit’s work collecting and distributing protein to food banks and agencies statewide through freezer clean-out days, deer donations processed by more than 50 processors, fish donations through Venice Marina, and a paused-but-planned-to-reopen feral hog program. Members asked about processor locations, signage, exotic species, funding, sponsorships, and disease safety; Grenwald said the program is protected under Louisiana’s Good Samaritan Law and that wildlife and fisheries agents help connect processors and promote the program. She also noted the organization is looking for more partners and ways to expand access and awareness. The task force then received an update from Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on chronic wasting disease testing. Jonathan Bordelon reported more than 2,800 samples collected and over 2,300 results returned, with nine positives to date: eight in Tensas Parish and one confirmed new detection in Concordia Parish from a hunter-harvested deer. He said the Concordia positive triggered the state’s CWD response plan, including a declaration of emergency and a future rulemaking process to adjust control-area boundaries. Members asked about symptomatic deer, harvest trends, and whether the disease appears to be spreading along the river; Bordelon said most positives were asymptomatic hunter-harvested deer and that harvest numbers remain near record highs. William McKinley of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks then gave an extensive presentation on Mississippi’s CWD experience. He said Mississippi has had 529 detections across 18 counties since 2018, with prevalence rising from about one in 500 samples to roughly one in 40 this year, and that some counties near the Tennessee line are seeing severe impacts. He described Mississippi’s surveillance system, voluntary sampling, taxidermist partnerships, targeted tags for properties near positives, bans on feeding and baiting in CWD zones, and research on environmental contamination, raccoons, and strain differences. Members asked about high-fence enclosures, live deer movement restrictions, Tennessee’s regulations, environmental testing capacity, and whether more aggressive measures or LSU research capacity could help Louisiana; McKinley said the disease is expanding despite management efforts and emphasized early detection, rapid response, and continued interstate coordination.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we do understand the of the data.
• </c><00:43:10.079><c> or</c> detail required by the regulation or detail required by the regulation or
• </c><00:47:48.800><c> at</c> proprietary medical technology data at proprietary medical technology data
• </c><00:56:27.839><c> sets,</c> successfully upload large data sets, successfully upload large data sets
• </c> other government realms, duplicate data other government realms, duplicate data uh<01:18:51.360>

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's more of an opinion than grounded in any regulation or trends in regulation.
• So that's more of an opinion than grounded in any regulation or trends in regulation.
• Thank them for their input, and go talk to somebody else.
• The NRC continues as a regulator.
• , which is an EPA regulation.

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And the director of DPS can create any rules or regulations necessary to implement that. All right.
• The original bill relied on a certain set of FBI data in order to rank the prioritization.
• That data doesn't exist. That data doesn't exist. So they asked us to do something different.
• This really focuses on seniority as opposed to non-existent FBI data. Clear it up for everybody.
• To make sure their input is part of that process if you feel like it's important.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Some have said, "Well, Ben, isn't this data already available?" Yes, it is.
• we really can't live years behind in our data results and expect impactful changes.
• Delays in communication and data processes should not be a barrier for our students.
• Because, as was mentioned, we know that districts submit a lot of data.
• Districts have a lot of data.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• detailed statutory definitions of cellular or tissue-based products, minimally manipulated, and regulated
• procedure terms to clarify what products and procedures fall under the regulation.
• also eliminates the restriction that limited the clearinghouse to sharing national criminal history data
• CS for SB 196 is relating to the uterine fibroid data research database.
• SB 196 is a women's health and public health data bill.

Bills: S0042 , S0196 , S0878 , S0902 , S0914 , S1092 , S1168 , S1340 , S1404 , S1414 , S1684 , S1686

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met to hear and vote on a series of health, human services, and education-related bills, along with a presentation of the committee’s proposed HHS budget. The budget was described as increasing by more than $2.1 billion over the current base, with major funding highlighted for Medicaid and KidCare, rural health, provider rate increases, child welfare, mental health and substance use, opioid treatment, Alzheimer’s initiatives, cancer research, ADAP, veterans’ services, and IT modernization. Public testimony on the budget focused heavily on AIDS Drug Assistance Program funding and concerns about Department of Health changes affecting access, premium assistance, notice, and continuity of care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Among the bills reported favorably were measures on podiatric medicine and tissue-based products (SB 1092), background screening and clearinghouse procedures (SB 1168), child protective investigations involving specific medical diagnoses and second opinions (SB 42), clinical laboratory personnel licensure standards (SB 878), uterine fibroid data tracking and research (SB 196), medical marijuana treatment center oversight and related health provisions (SB 902), dyslexia and dyscalculia screening and intervention in schools (SB 1340), memory care licensure for assisted living facilities (SB 1404), congenital CMV education materials (SB 1414), Parkinson’s disease registry and related public records exemption bills (SB 1684 and SB 1686), and occupational therapy dry needling licensure standards (SB 914). Several bills were amended before passage, including SB 1092, SB 42, SB 902, SB 1684, and SB 1404. Testimony generally came from professional associations, advocacy groups, and affected stakeholders, with support voiced for most measures. The committee adopted amendments on the floor, heard no opposition during debate on the bills described, and then voted to report each measure favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded in the affirmative on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Regulated market. I just think we need tools to know what our taxpayer exposure is.
• To coordinate, to focus, to look at the data, go over the data: where are students falling through the
• This data creates accountability, and Californians are demanding it.
• This data creates accountability, and Californians are demanding it.
• Even driverless cars need input from remote human workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2010, after a multi-year process with substantial public input, the city certified an environmental
• They should know better than one blanket regulation all over the state.
• They should know better than one blanket regulation all over the state.
• “Blanket regulation all over the state?” I mean, that’s certainly one perspective.
• They, too, had an advisory committee and people had input.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of housing, local government, and governance bills, beginning without a quorum and proceeding as a subcommittee until quorum was established. SB 1003, by Senator Grayson, would create an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local governments and developers fund infill housing infrastructure; supporters said infrastructure costs often prevent projects from penciling out, while a senator questioned whether the state would actually fund the new program. The bill passed the committee 3-1 on call. The committee also adopted a consent calendar covering SB 1169, SB 1086, SB 1126, and SB 1439-1442, also 3-1 on call. SB 1014 would require local jurisdictions to provide early good-faith estimates of on-site and off-site improvements and bar undisclosed later requirements; Habitat for Humanity, SPUR, and housing advocates supported the bill, while the City of San Mateo opposed the preliminary-application timing. Members raised questions about the 30-business-day deadline and coordination with other agencies. The bill passed 4-2 on call. SB 1036, which would require fee credits for prior site uses when redeveloping a site with similar prior uses, drew broad support and no opposition and passed 5-0 on call. SB 1145, a district bill for the Concord Naval Weapons Station reuse project, would streamline CEQA and federal base-closure review for qualifying projects; labor, the city, and county supported it, while housing legal advocates opposed unless amended over Surplus Land Act concerns. The bill passed 6-0 on call after discussion of affordability and enforceability amendments. The committee then heard SB 908, which would streamline permits for energy-code-compliant residential window replacements and limit city/HOA design restrictions; supporters said it would let homeowners and affordable housing providers lower energy costs, while local government groups opposed, citing local control and design standards. It passed 3-1 on call. SB 1172, the Local Tax Savings Act, would add guardrails and transparency to local tax-sharing consultant agreements; the City of Shafter and League of California Cities supported it, and it passed 4-0 on call. SB 1379 would separate the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner offices and create an independent medical examiner; supporters cited in-custody death rates and public trust concerns, while the sheriff’s association and county representatives opposed on cost and local control grounds. The bill passed 4-1 on call. Finally, SB 1283 would expand streamlined permitting for EV charging stations to include canopies and on-site energy storage systems; EV industry supporters said the bill updates outdated rules, while cities and counties warned about safety review, liability, and litigation risk. Members discussed battery storage safety and local permitting authority, and the bill passed 4-0 on call. The committee also heard SB 1414, which would create an independent redistricting commission for San Bernardino County; supporters argued it would improve transparency and reduce political self-interest, while the county opposed due to its existing advisory commission and estimated implementation costs. The transcript cuts off during questioning on SB 1414, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:53.120><c> the</c> 663 uh- 1.54 a um regulates the 663 uh- 1.54 a um regulates the recreational
• </c><00:46:51.520><c> and</c> statute which allows for uh input and statute which allows for uh input
• That whole process would allow for more input from the public into that process.
• </c><01:20:39.360><c> being</c> forward uh ensuring that the data being forward uh ensuring that the
• data being collected<01:20:40.320><c> is</c><01:20:40.960><c> done</c><01:20:41.199><c> in</c><01:20:

Committee: House Water & Land

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. HB 114, concerning employment in the State Historic Preservation Program, drew support from DLNR, which said the measure would help retain qualified archaeologists, architects, and other professionals by preserving current pay levels for a limited number of positions. Members raised concerns about expanding exempt positions and the effect on union coverage, and DLNR said it was also working with DEHRD on longer-term reclassification issues. No vote was taken on the bill in the portion provided. HB 12, relating to tort liability, drew strong opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice, which argued the bill would create overly broad immunity for landowners, conflict with Hawaii’s comparative fault framework, and undermine existing recreational liability law. Supporters said it would reduce liability concerns and encourage landowners to allow hiking, hunting, search-and-rescue training, and firearms-related uses on private land. The committee then moved on without any recorded vote in the excerpt. The committee also discussed HB 29 on counties, but no county representative was present, and members questioned whether the proposal should instead proceed through condemnation if it involved a forced sale. HB 175 on property maintenance received DLNR comments that the bill should be narrowed to noxious weeds and that fire-related provisions were more properly handled by county fire departments and the State Fire Marshal. HB 331 on permits drew support from several state agencies, but the Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposed it unless “repetitive construction” was defined more clearly; members and agencies discussed narrowing the bill to avoid unintended impacts on water and utility infrastructure. The committee also heard strong support for HB 3 on North Shore beach management, HB 309 on fish ponds, and HB 306 on water code penalties, though the Board of Water Supply raised concerns about increased fines and suggested an alternative governor’s bill and clearer administrative rules.