Transcript Highlights:

• 1278 from the 89th Legislature regular session protects victims of human trafficking from criminal liability
• No. 80 by Toth, relating to abortion, including civil liability for distribution of abortion-inducing
• certain other activities, referred to the Committee on State Affairs. to abortion, including civil liability

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair: NEXT TAB TO SB 360 AND LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES BY SENATOR BERMAN.
• SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY IS AND WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS A WE ARE GOING TO CREATE
• A SERIES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, concerns about<01:03:18.559> liability.
• I hear um concerns about liability.
• for bill about liability for bill about liability for Yes.<01:36:02.000> Emergency<01:36:
• Emergency responders from liability Yes.
• I think that this can help liability.

Bills: HB1769

Keywords: criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, private prisons, racial equity, Native Hawaiians, community well-being, mass incarceration, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1769, which would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally reduce the number of people incarcerated in private out-of-state correctional institutions. The DCR director opposed the bill, saying the department does not control overall prison population levels because courts determine admissions, and arguing that Hawaiʻi’s in-state facilities are already over capacity, especially Halawa, which he said is 165% over design capacity. He said only a small portion of the population is under departmental control through furlough programs and argued that bringing people home would require building a new medium-security prison. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Public Defender’s office, and several individuals, argued the bill creates a phased, accountable path to reduce reliance on mainland prisons and bring people home. Supporters emphasized the harms of separating incarcerated people from ʻohana and culture, the disproportionate impact on Native Hawaiians, and the need for diversion, treatment, re-entry support, and fair sentencing. Several testifiers also said the department has more control than it claimed, pointing to underused furlough options, reclassification, and empty beds at some in-state facilities, while others urged clearer statutory language and guardrails. Members questioned the director about whether people could be reclassified or moved to available beds at facilities such as Kulani and Waiawa, and about whether the department could do more through staffing and contract changes. The director said some proposals had been sent to the Department of Human Resource Development, but that major facility changes would be costly and that minimum-security facilities would need substantial upgrades to house medium-security inmates. After discussion, the chair said the committee would defer HB 1769 to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for decision-making and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Refunds and tax reductions would be limited to taxpayers’ liability for tax.
• Is it people with liability? I’ll just leave that question open-ended.
• Is it people with liability? I’ll just leave that question open-ended.
• and income taxpayers who have an income tax liability.
• and income taxpayers who have an income tax liability.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• corporations in California pay a reasonable minimum level of tax rather than offsetting all their tax liability
• This bill reduces the annual minimum franchise tax for limited liability companies, limited partnerships
• , and limited liability partnerships from $800 to $400 for the first year of operation during the 2027
• legislation, they would have to pay the grand total in the long term, up to 30% of their actual tax liability
• , while all the rest of us pay pretty much 100% of our tax liability.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not apply to casual or unknowing situations, and it does not expand liability broadly.
• And I understand that there could be some concerns about overreach or liability, and that's why this
• This is the language from the commercial liability, and if you look at the bill, it references visible
• Thirty other states, as Representative Williams stated, already recognize some form of social host liability
• Data shows that social host liability laws in other states result in a 9% reduction, and that, in Missouri

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted House Bill 2808 do pass by a vote of 9 yes, 4 no, and 1 present. The hearing then moved to public testimony, with a scheduling note that House Bill 3533 would not be heard that day. The first public hearing was on House Bills 1808 and 3435, companion measures known as Grace’s Law, which would create a narrow social host liability cause of action for adults who knowingly provide alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person and whose conduct leads to injury, death, or property damage. Sponsors said the bills would close a gap in Missouri law and align the state with other states that allow some social host liability, while committee members raised questions about personal responsibility, scope, and whether the language could reach ordinary social gatherings or other substances. Testimony in support came from the mother of Grace, whose death in a drunk-driving crash prompted the bill, from a relative of another drunk-driving victim, and from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, all emphasizing accountability, prevention, and the need for a civil remedy for families harmed by impaired driving. The committee then heard House Bills 3439 and 3480, which would amend the Public Safety Protection and Recruitment Act to include volunteer firefighters in the tuition assistance program. Sponsors said the bills are intended to help rural fire departments recruit and retain volunteers, especially in communities that rely heavily on volunteers for fire and emergency response. Members questioned the fiscal impact, whether volunteers should receive the same benefit as full-time personnel, and whether the program should be structured as a tuition waiver rather than a scholarship to reduce costs. Supporters, including fire chiefs, a fire service association representative, and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, said volunteer firefighters perform dangerous and essential work, often with limited compensation and long response times in rural areas, and that the benefit would help recruitment and retention. No votes were taken on the public hearing bills, and the hearing concluded after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Claim process through TRD, where you can claim and be paid the credit as you have tax liability, and
• So you can have a balance of credit on your account if you don't have tax liability to offset it.
• So this would not be necessarily a tax credit against tax liability.
• It would be a credit, just a direct credit, without tax liability.
• , by the previous discussion, your belief that priority would remain with the county to have tax liability

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2279 exempts a commercial river outfitter from liability for an injury to or the death of
• Additionally, it declares the limited liability exemption does not apply to a commercial river outfitter
• My understanding was that the liability—it took away all liability, but they had waivers that you could
• sign off, but it had to do with liability.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting covered a large number of bills and resolutions across education, federalism, government, health, commerce, and judiciary-related topics. In education, members heard bills on moving the statewide testing window later, allowing paper-based testing in more cases, posting school administrator compensation data, expanding who may receive student directory information, reviewing duplicative ADE reporting requirements, requiring religious excusals, creating a school fitness recognition program, and a proposed ballot measure on sex-designated school sports and private spaces. In federalism, the committee discussed banning foreign nationals from funding ballot-measure committees and a proposal to eliminate voting centers and return to precinct-based voting. Other items included memorials urging the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations and the IMF, and a government bill penalizing agencies that fail to submit financial reports on time. Health and human services bills focused on lactation care, a state certification program for lactation providers, prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors, requiring chief medical officers at state agencies to hold active licenses, clarifying air ambulance statutes, seeking a SNAP waiver to restrict non-eligible food purchases, and collecting hospital patient immigration-status data for reporting. Sponsors generally framed these as consumer protection, public health, or administrative cleanup measures, while some members raised concerns about cost, privacy, and possible legal conflicts. In commerce, the committee heard bills on digital goods disclosure, protections for child content creators, liability limits for river outfitters, landlord utility billing transparency, appraisal management company definitions, unemployment eligibility verification, and association-based health plans. Several measures were pulled from consent or flagged for amendments. The judiciary portion included bills creating a civil cause of action for violations of anti-DEI laws, expanding hate-crime-style penalties to include political affiliation and expression, adding reporting requirements for name changes by sex offenders, penalizing possession of falsified commercial driver’s licenses by unlawfully present individuals, adding penalties for mailing abortion-inducing drugs, allowing speed-limiting devices as an alternative to license suspension, extending inmate transition services, increasing penalties for sexual extortion involving older teens, requiring legislative approval to close state shooting ranges, and advancing an Article V convention resolution for congressional term limits. Several sponsors emphasized public safety, parental rights, election integrity, or government accountability, while some members raised constitutional or implementation concerns, particularly on liability, voting systems, and the term-limits resolution. Multiple bills were reported as being on consent calendars, with some pulled for amendments or further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, one of the practices in some litigation on the defense side is selling liability, to bundle
• liability and then to sell it and then to negotiate and then basically to profit off of that packaging
• Indemnification is security against legal liability for one's actions.
• Coincidentally, this is the exact language for the acts that are covered by my professional liability
• bill and aligns with the appropriate level of restitution, considering the severity of the state's liability

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 620, which would require candidates for federal, state, county, district, judicial, and school board offices to disclose any citizenship in countries other than the United States. The bill was presented as a transparency measure, with one opponent waiving time, and it was reported favorably on an 8-0 vote. The committee then heard SB 1396 on litigation financing consumer protection. Supporters from the Florida Justice Reform Institute, American Tort Reform Association, and U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform argued the bill would add transparency, limit funder control, and require disclosure of foreign entities involved in litigation funding. Opponents, including the Florida Justice Association, argued the bill would create strategic advantages for defendants and could affect discovery and settlement dynamics. The bill passed 7-2. The committee also approved SB 192, removing a $1,500 cap on patient funds chiropractors may hold in trust; SB 888, limiting indemnity and insurance requirements in design-professional contracts; CS/SB 332, creating a temporary closed-meeting exemption for pre-suit Burt Harris litigation strategy discussions; SB 820, requiring quarterly reporting on problem-solving courts; SB 1500, updating uncontested probate procedures; SB 1224, making fraudulent entry into rental dwellings a third-degree felony; and SB 1000, setting a floor and ceiling for interest rates on law firm trust accounts. Each of these bills was reported favorably, with broad support and little or no opposition. The committee also advanced CS/SB 694, which would compensate the descendants of the Groveland Four. Senator Bracey Davis described the bill as a final step in addressing the wrongful convictions, deaths, and long-term harm suffered by Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas. Family members and advocacy groups testified in support, urging the state to complete its acknowledgment of wrongdoing with monetary compensation. An amendment was adopted to divide any appropriation equally among the four families. The bill passed unanimously. Finally, SB 144 creating a public records exemption for personal information of Judicial Qualifications Commission employees and their families was approved 9-1. Several members also requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on specific bills before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• discretionary, and detainers have raised concerns about constitutional violations and potential liability
• discretionary, and detainers have raised concerns about constitutional violations and potential liability
• asks, and this bill affirms that line and ensures that the state of Hawaii is protected from any liability
• state of Hawaii is protected<00:51:38.440> from<00:51:38.680> any<00:51:38.920> liability
• from any liability that might flow<00:51:40.920> from<00:51:41.160> these<00:51:41.400

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered HB 1976, relating to dementia training for law enforcement, and HB 2443, relating to disaster services for people with disabilities and access or functional needs. For HB 1976, the Hawaii Law Enforcement Standards Board opposed the bill’s process and cost, arguing there was no documented training gap because existing CALEA accreditation already includes mental illness response training that covers dementia. Supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association, AARP, disability advocates, caregivers, and several individuals, said dementia-specific training would help first responders better handle real-world encounters and avoid harmful misunderstandings. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, including changing mandatory language to permissive language in several places and removing a deadline for the first annual training cycle; the recommendation was adopted unanimously. For HB 2443, testimony was strongly supportive. The Disability Communication Access Board, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and individual testifiers said the bill would strengthen emergency planning and response by adding a Disability Integration Specialist and better integrating people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into disaster preparedness, sheltering, and FEMA coordination. Several speakers emphasized recent storms and rescues as evidence of the need. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including changes based on Attorney General comments and adding specialized communications and comprehensive communications planning provisions previously contained in another bill; that recommendation was also adopted unanimously. The transcript then moved to a separate mini hearing on HB 1768, relating to immigration enforcement. Supporters, including the ACLU of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, argued the bill would prevent local law enforcement from entering 287(g)-type agreements or otherwise participating in federal immigration enforcement, citing civil rights concerns, community trust, and the need for police to focus on local public safety. One testifier raised concerns that local cooperation could help avoid mistakes in enforcement, while supporters responded that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and that local agencies should not be deputized for civil immigration arrests. The excerpt ends amid extended member questions and discussion, without showing a final vote on HB 1768.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, they are showing up on the state's books as a liability.
• And I will tell you, well-plugging liability over $600 million.
• of those wells can turn a liability column item into a revenue stream.
• Remember that $600 million liability I showed you.
• So the liability becomes infrastructure. National momentum.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Energy Development and Transmission Committee met in interim session and approved the November 6 minutes. Chair Novak outlined the committee’s study agenda, including large energy users such as data centers, geothermal, landowner relations, wind and solar, and other energy topics across the state. The meeting was framed as informational only, with no bills or formal legislative action taken beyond the minutes approval. Testimony focused first on landowner relations. Oliver County Commissioner Dave Berger described the county’s energy history and local support for coal and related development. North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue emphasized proactive, face-to-face communication with landowners, respect for property rights, and the need for developers to be transparent about tradeoffs; he also discussed insurance and liability concerns tied to easements. Committee members asked about eminent domain, local versus state authority, and how communities can better understand the revenue and infrastructure implications of energy development. Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Tom Bodine then described the department’s ombudsman programs for pipeline restoration and reclamation, wind restoration, and royalty oversight. He said the programs provide confidential, third-party assistance on reclamation and royalty disputes, but do not provide legal advice. Senators raised concerns about post-production deductions in royalty leases and whether the ombudsman can explain them; Bodine said the program can clarify statements and deductions but cannot resolve legal disputes. He also said the department has not received requests related to fiber lines. Representatives from Grid United and One Oak described their project development and landowner engagement practices. Grid United’s Brent Johnson discussed the North Plains Connector transmission project, its route selection process, voluntary acquisition approach, and efforts to avoid eminent domain by working closely with regulators, counties, townships, and landowners. One Oak’s Danette Welsh and Tom Giltner described the company’s midstream operations, extensive North Dakota footprint, and emphasis on direct landowner communication, consistent local regulation, careful construction practices, and post-construction reclamation. Members asked about setbacks, zoning consistency, invasive species prevention, outside advocacy groups, and eminent domain use; One Oak said it has not used eminent domain on its North Dakota projects, largely because most gathering lines are negotiated easements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Statutory damages will also create a clear path forward for companies to evaluate exposure and liability
• This bill has been talked about as purely about product liability.
• I'll let my colleague address the remaining concerns regarding risk assessments and liability.
• Our concern is those ambiguities will create expectations that will ultimately expose operators to liability
• authors have about protecting children, but we do have significant concerns with the language on risk liability

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Neither the program administrator nor the municipality has any liability for the loan.
• has any liability for the<00:29:22.920> loan.
• 34:31.560> affect<00:34:31.919> a<00:34:31.960> taxpayer's<00:34:32.600> liability
• <00:34:33.879> or<00:34:34.040> a to affect a taxpayer's liability or a to affect a
• taxpayer's liability or a municipality's<00:34:34.840> responsibility<00:34:35.600> for

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional performance by four Vermont music therapists, followed by remarks recognizing music therapy as an evidence-based profession and welcoming the performers to the chamber. The body then handled several referral and procedural matters: Senate Bills 212 and 328, and Senate Bill 325 after an Environment Committee report, were referred to Ways and Means under House Rule 35A because of revenue impacts. The House also read HCR 263, congratulating the 2026 Mount Mansfield Union High School Division 1 championship girls basketball team, and members offered brief congratulations and announcements, including a birthday greeting for the Chief of Staff, notice of an art social, and a reminder about the House Adjournment Pool benefiting Good Samaritan Haven. The House voted to move Senate Bill 206, relating to licensure of early childhood educators, from Government Operations and Military Affairs to Human Services. It then took up House Bill 951, the state budget bill, suspended rules to consider it immediately, and voted not to concur with the Senate’s proposal of amendment. The House requested a committee of conference and appointed Representatives Shay, Feltes, and Lumley to serve on the House side, then suspended rules again to message its action to the Senate forthwith. In the orders of the day, the House passed House Bill 902 on amendments to the City of Barre charter, and passed Senate Bills 142, 179, 227, 230, and 298 in concurrence with proposals of amendment. Action on Senate Bill 223, relating to water quality, was postponed for two legislative days. The House then considered Senate Bill 327 on economic development, hearing detailed testimony from the Commerce and Economic Development, Ways and Means, and Appropriations committees. The bill would support small businesses, repeal the VEGI sunset, create hospitality and culinary workforce initiatives, revise the Rural Industrial Development Grant Program, authorize cash rounding when pennies are unavailable, and establish a C-PACE financing program. Ways and Means offered nine amendments, including changes to VEGI limits, grant language, rounding notice provisions, and C-PACE timing and tax clarifications; the House adopted the amendments and proposed the bill back to the Senate as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• their last year's salary in determining their high three or high five, which does add an unfunded liability
• their last year's salary in determining their high three or high five, which does add an unfunded liability
• c> >> That's just, you know, looking at the >> That's just, you know, looking at the liability
• :01.200> it,<00:25:01.600> you<00:25:01.760> know,<00:25:02.280> how liability
• aspect of it, you know, how liability aspect of it, you know, how how<00:25:03.240> do<00:25:

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The background check, the minimum liability insurance is much different.
• The background check, the minimum liability insurance is much different.
• The background check, the minimum liability insurance is much different.
• The background check, the minimum liability insurance is much different.
• The background check, the minimum liability insurance is much different.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some also pay cash under the table or use labor brokers to hide their liability.
• The term often used by the opponents of this is vicarious liability.
• This bill's lead contractor liability provision addresses those concerns.
• For example, the up-the-chain liability, which is incredibly important in this bill.
• Our opposition to House Bill 2094 and Senate Bill 1300 is based on the inclusion of vicarious liability

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on several labor-related bills, especially proposals to give legislative employees the right to organize and collectively bargain, close a prevailing wage loophole for off-site prefabrication work, and strengthen enforcement against wage theft. Committee chairs opened the hearing by explaining the hybrid format and asking witnesses to keep testimony brief. Multiple legislators testified in support of the legislative staff union bill, saying staff deserve the same bargaining rights as other public employees and that unionization would improve pay, benefits, retention, and workplace dignity. Witnesses also discussed how the bill would likely be structured, with separate House and Senate bargaining arrangements or locals, and emphasized that it would only create the option to unionize, not require it. A second major topic was the prevailing wage bill addressing off-site fabrication and prefabrication in construction. Union leaders, contractors, and workers described how more work is being shifted from job sites into shops, especially in sheet metal, HVAC, electrical, and pipefitting work, and argued that the law should treat that work the same as on-site construction when it is part of a public project. They said the current loophole lets some contractors underbid by paying lower wages off-site, while responsible contractors already pay prevailing wages in their shops. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers, preserve apprenticeship and training standards, improve safety and quality, and make enforcement easier through certified payroll and clearer definitions. The committee also heard testimony on wage theft legislation. Representative Dan Donahue, the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division, AFL-CIO representatives, and carpenters’ union witnesses described wage theft, misclassification, labor brokers, and tax fraud as widespread problems that hurt workers, honest contractors, and public revenues. They supported giving the Attorney General stronger enforcement tools, adding contractor accountability up the subcontracting chain, and protecting workers from retaliation and from delays that can cause claims to expire. A separate witness supported a bill to extend the statute of limitations for Wage Act cases while AG investigations are pending, and another supported changes to help hospital workers enforce timely payment rights. No votes were taken during the hearing; witnesses repeatedly asked for favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• They've got criminal liability. >> Okay.
• They've got criminal liability. They've got criminal liability. >> Okay. >> Okay.
• So, this bill doesn't affect the liability or who would be at fault.
• So, this bill doesn't affect the liability or who would be at fault.
• Doesn't affect the liability or who would be at fault.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• these things, and there's not much clarity for the school district, which could open them up to liability
• So having this clear language and clear steps to follow, it's actually lower liability, lower cost of
• costs for schools, districts, ...may result in lower potential insurance or liability costs for schools
• So back to my liability question, because I want to protect you now. My liability question is...
• Because I want to protect you now, my liability question is: if you have a violent student and they're

Bills: HB111, HB103, HB60, HB108, HB120, HB145, HB154, HB164, HB291, HJR6, HR1, HJM2, HJM3, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50, HB38, HB47, HB63, HB64, HB127, HB165, HB184, HB200, HM20, HM51

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• And those numbers have been creeping up, and it's a liability on the state. ...for businesses that have
• And those numbers have been creeping up, and it's a liability on the state.
• Anybody who had more money than 500% in their account of their liability, they were mandated the state
• ,<00:17:30.640> they<00:17:30.880> were account of their liability, they were account
• of their liability, they were mandated<00:17:31.760> the<00:17:32.000> state<00:17:32.240

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Coleman-Madison, he said he understood and agreed that there could be some on the civil liability
• ><00:28:51.760> civil could be some on the on the civil could be some on the on the civil liability
• Um I'm I have a concern liability side.
• c> but<00:34:30.480> I'm<00:34:30.720> concerned<00:34:31.280> that has liability
• , but I'm concerned that has liability, but I'm concerned that I'm<00:34:32.240> concerned<00:

Bills: HB63, HB19, HB80, HB41, HB20, HB60, HB100, HB71, HB91, HB93, HB63, HB19, HB80, HB41, HB20, HB60, HB100, HB71, HB91, HB93

Keywords: paternity, child custody, joint custody, parental rights, family law, domestic violence, shared parenting, Ebony Alert, missing youth, public safety, law enforcement, racial equity, human trafficking, victim restitution, civil action, criminal prosecution, labor servitude, sexual servitude, class A felony, class B felony