Transcript Highlights:

• they have said that if a state does not get their fraud rate down to 5%, that we will be issued a speeding

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know ledge counsel can move at the speed of smell.

Bills: HB 1531, HB 2667, HB 2809, HB 2865, HB 3589, HB 3151, HB 3748, HB 3750, HB 4419, HB 4643, HB 3597, HB 4129, HB 4130, HB 4131

Keywords: workplace violence prevention, health and safety code, Chapter 331, facility definition, home and community support services agency, home health agency, home health care, nursing staff, registered nurses, health care workplace safety, hospital, nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, freestanding emergency medical care facility, mental hospital, Texas health care regulation, provider compliance, occupational safety, senior living, referral agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• And I particularly want to thank the staff for all of the help in really getting up to speed, even though
• <00:58:10.720> getting<00:58:11.040> up<00:58:11.200> to<00:58:11.440> speed
• help in uh really getting up to speed help in uh really getting up to speed even<00:58:11.920>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we need to really think about this because at the speed and the rate of the computation that's
• this<01:15:37.680> because<01:15:38.600> at<01:15:38.800> the<01:15:38.920> speed
• c><01:15:39.280> and<01:15:39.360> the<01:15:39.480> rate this because at the speed
• and the rate this because at the speed and the rate of<01:15:40.040> the of the of the the<01

Bills: HF4502, HF3388, HF4106, HF400, HF4138, HF4118, HF4203

Keywords: trusted contact, financial exploitation, elder abuse, elder financial abuse, fraud prevention, financial institution, banking, credit union, broker-dealer, account security, dormant account, consumer protection, scam, suspicious activity, protective services, law enforcement reporting, Minnesota Statutes chapter 45A, HF3388, Minnesota premium security plan, reinsurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, consider the members up to speed, but no harm in being careful. Senator Gustafson.
• Um, consider the members up<00:04:58.280> to<00:04:58.400> speed,<00:04:58.720> but<
• 58.880> no<00:04:59.240> harm<00:04:59.640> in<00:04:59.800> being up to speed
• , but no harm in being up to speed, but no harm in being careful.<00:05:00.680> Senator<00:05:

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The commission first approved the minutes and then took up several pension omnibus items. Representative Rapinski’s item, related to an I-RAP issue, was moved ahead of the agenda and passed without further information after members noted the State Board of Investment and Minnesota State had not identified additional facts; the bill, as previously amended, was recommended for inclusion in the 2026 Pension Omnibus Bill. The committee also corrected a procedural issue on Senator Gustafson’s bill, SF 3897/HF 3703, after realizing an amendment referenced earlier belonged to a different bill; the motion was restated without the amendment reference and the bill was then recommended to pass and be incorporated into the omnibus bill. The main policy discussion centered on SF 3897/HF 3703, which would change how terminating firefighter relief association plans value benefits for firefighters under age 50. Senator Gustafson said the current statute can unfairly reduce benefits by requiring present-value discounting and that the bill would instead allow benefits to be based on accrued benefit under the plan formula, while still leaving relief associations flexibility to use present value if they choose. Staff confirmed the bill applies only to relief associations under chapter 424B, not PERA or the statewide plan. Senator Rasmussen raised concerns about consistency between SVF and non-SVF reliefs and about differing treatment on termination; the bill author acknowledged the difference. The committee ultimately voted to recommend the bill for inclusion in the omnibus pension bill. The final major item was House File 4162, as amended by an A1 amendment, which requires employers of reemployed annuitants in TRA to make employer contributions during reemployment, including Minnesota State Colleges and Universities employees covered under section 354.445. Representative O’Driscoll argued the bill would direct existing education-formula pension dollars to TRA, prevent districts from using those funds elsewhere when retirees are rehired, and keep the employee neutral because the annuitant’s benefit would not change. Supporters said the measure would help pension funding and address situations where districts rehire retired teachers, often in hard-to-fill specialties. Opponents, including Senator Rasmusson, questioned the added cost to school districts, citing an estimated $5.385 million in annual TRA revenue from the change and warning it could reduce districts’ ability to hire or retain staff. After discussion, the committee had not yet taken final action on this item in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• unacceptable, and Senator Gustafson's bill puts our state's foot on the gas pedal at a responsible speed
• state's foot on the gas pedal at a state's foot on the gas pedal at a responsible<00:03:52.960> speed
• <00:03:53.680> to<00:03:53.760> ensure<00:03:54.000> that responsible speed
• to ensure that responsible speed to ensure that students<00:03:54.440> will<00:03:54.520> have

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in commercial, which is considered under subdivision 8, um, are particularly effective because they speed
• <00:16:00.320> they particularly effective because they particularly effective because they speed
• <00:16:02.000> It<00:16:02.160> basically<00:16:02.399> is speed up permitting
• It basically is speed up permitting.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I not having served on Select Water, it would just help me get up to speed with what goes on when you
• > me<00:52:12.079> get<00:52:12.160> up<00:52:12.319> to<00:52:12.480> speed
• <00:52:12.720> with<00:52:12.960> what just help me get up to speed with what just
• help me get up to speed with what what<00:52:13.599> goes<00:52:13.839> on<00:52:14.079

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• week, and they have some experts on the school accounting system, and they were bringing us up to speed
• bringing<00:18:39.360> us<00:18:39.520> up<00:18:39.679> to<00:18:39.919> speed
• <00:18:40.080> on and they were bringing us up to speed on and they were bringing us up to
• speed on the<00:18:40.400> way<00:18:40.559> this<00:18:40.720> works.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• modernization and utilization of cloud technology, which saves the state money, increases security, increases speed
• increases which saves the state money, increases security,<00:37:11.280> increases<00:37:11.840> speed
• <00:37:12.400> and<00:37:12.560> delivery security, increases speed and delivery security
• , increases speed and delivery of<00:37:13.400> what<00:37:13.560> it<00:37:13.640>

Bills: HF1338

Keywords: Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, state oversight, government accountability, fraud, waste, abuse, audit, investigation, subpoena, whistleblower, public integrity, transparency, state agencies, executive branch, public funds, taxpayer funds, law enforcement oversight, public safety programs, advisory council

Transcript Highlights:

• out quickly, but with your help and resources, we put a tremendous amount of effort and focus on speeding
• 57.279> on tremendous amount of effort and focus on tremendous amount of effort and focus on speeding
• <00:24:58.640> We<00:24:58.799> got<00:24:59.039> seven speeding up the process
• We got seven speeding up the process.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several personnel and employment bills. SB 2119 would require the state or counties to reimburse public officers and employees for approved work-related travel costs within 30 days; testifiers from the State Procurement Office, UPW, HGA, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and others supported the measure, citing delayed reimbursements. SB 3131 would update state position titles by changing “private secretary” to “executive assistant” and “secretary” to “administrative assistant” where applicable, and it drew support from DEED and comments from the State Librarian. SB 3069 would permanently exempt a limited number of specialized positions in DAGS Public Works and the Comptroller’s office from civil service; DAGS, HCDA, and DEED supported it, while UPW opposed it. Committee members questioned whether the exemption should be narrower and whether the positions should be consultants or actual employees, and DAGS said the roles were narrowly tailored, highly specialized, and intended to help manage complex projects such as Aloha Stadium, the convention center, and other major redevelopment work. The committee then heard SB 3180, which would repeal the limit on temporary employment in a single position for two 89-day terms. Testimony included support from the Procurement Office, DOE, DHRD, the State Librarian in opposition, UPW written comments, HGA, the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, and others. Discussion focused on whether the bill was needed to address abuse of repeated 89-day hires and whether it would affect recruitment and career pathways. Finally, SB 2137 would allow departments, divisions, and agencies to assume hiring and recruitment functions from DHRD under certain conditions. DHRD opposed the bill, saying existing law already allows delegation and that agency-level recruitment often lacks the expertise and staffing to do the work; UHPA supported it, and UPW submitted written support. In questioning, DHRD said it had reduced backlog and was now current on screening, while also offering programs like Operation Hire Hawaii for faster agency-led recruitment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just need to speed the process and provide them with more years to rebuild their lives.
• We just need to speed<00:09:58.000> the<00:09:58.240> process<00:09:58.560> and<
• 00:09:58.880> provide<00:09:59.200> them<00:09:59.920> with speed the process and
• provide them with speed the process and provide them with more<00:10:00.480> years<00:10:00.800

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board met with a quorum, approved the November 12 minutes by voice vote, and then heard a presentation from former Governor Ernie Fletcher and Dave Johnson on Medicaid reimbursement for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Fletcher argued that addiction should be treated as a chronic disease requiring a longer continuum of care, not just short residential stays, and said recovery should combine clinical treatment with social supports such as housing, transportation, employment, peer coaching, and recovery housing. He cited data on overdose trends, low treatment rates, and high costs for people with SUD, and said current reimbursement models create poor incentives and do not adequately support long-term recovery or measure outcomes well. Fletcher proposed a “carve through” model administered at the MCO level with standardized metrics, data sharing, and an independent recovery coordinator that would assess patients, coordinate care, and connect them to clinical and social recovery services. He suggested using bundled payments, shared savings, and partial risk arrangements, with recovery housing reimbursed on a PMPM or weekly basis and funded in part through existing Medicaid spending and other sources such as opioid abatement funds. He also emphasized peer support, telemedicine, criminal justice coordination, workforce and education supports, and the use of technology, including text messaging and possibly AI, to maintain long-term follow-up and identify relapse risk. Members questioned how the model would work in practice, especially the education and staffing requirements for recovery coordinators, reimbursement levels, and how many patients each coordinator or peer would serve. Fletcher said peers could be certified and would need additional training in assessments such as ASAM and recovery residence standards, but he did not give a precise salary figure, saying the market and bundled rates would determine that. He also said follow-up should continue for years, noting relapse risk over the first 18 to 24 months and that meaningful employment and ongoing peer contact help sustain recovery. No formal vote or action was taken on the substance use presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We looked at inefficiencies, adding server capacity, everything we needed to do to get it up to speed
• everything we needed to do to get it up everything we needed to do to get it up to<00:34:45.040> speed
• 45.520> handle<00:34:45.919> the<00:34:46.000> volume<00:34:46.399> of to speed
• to handle the volume of to speed to handle the volume of taxpayers<00:34:47.000> that<00:34:47.120

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:01 SERVS Informational Update- 00:01:22 Child Removal and Reunification Update: Department for Community Based Services Financials- 00:03:00 Small Business Sales Tax Websites: Department of Revenue-00:28:05 Senior Citizen Meal Programs: Department for Aging and Independent Living-00:35:50 Adjournment-01:41:57, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the September 11 meeting by motion and voice vote. It then received a brief update on the statewide emergency responder voice system, but no presenter was present. The chair said he expected a more substantive update in November and warned that if there is not real progress on acquiring needed private properties, the committee may consider further action, including possibly freezing funding. The main discussion centered on the Department for Community Based Services’ child removal and reunification work and its structured decision-making tools. Commissioner Lisa Dennis and General Counsel Wesley Duke explained that the intake, safety, and risk assessment tools are being used at very high rates and that the department is still implementing and evaluating the system. Dennis said the tools are meant to inform, not replace, professional judgment; when staff disagree with a recommendation, the worker and first-line supervisor consult and decide together. Members questioned whether the system favors keeping children in the home, whether the department has studied safety outcomes for in-home cases versus removals, and whether foster home shortages affect removal decisions. Dennis said child safety remains the top priority, that the practice has not changed, and that the department would provide additional data on outcomes later. Members also asked about permanency timelines and delays in termination of parental rights cases; Dennis said federal timelines are difficult to meet because of family progress, substance use recovery, and court delays, and she confirmed foster parent shortages were not the reason for those delays. The committee then heard a presentation from the Department of Revenue on the new My Taxes portal. Staff said the portal, launched in March, replaced DOR’s portion of the old Kentucky One Stop Business Portal and now allows businesses to file and pay multiple taxes, update account information, and receive official notices. They reported the system is available 24/7 except for scheduled maintenance every other Thursday evening, has maintained over 99% availability since launch, and now has a dedicated contact center with 50 agents plus a public help line and email. In response to questions, the department said early downtime was caused by unexpectedly high traffic, but server capacity was increased and in the last three months there had been only one day of unexpected downtime.

Transcript Highlights:

• say, states like Tennessee have made a lot of progress on regulatory reforms in recent years and speeding
• on regulatory reforms in recent years on regulatory reforms in recent years and<01:11:53.679> speeding
• 54.880> the<01:11:55.280> the<01:11:56.000> and<01:11:56.320> making and speeding
• up uh the the and making and speeding up uh the the and making permit<01:11:57.199> issuance<

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:15 Roll Call 00:00:45 Discussion of Pro-Growth Housing Policies 00:02:33 Adjournment 01:17:15, 958, all

Summary: The Housing Task Force 2.0 reconvened with several new members and heard a presentation from Kentucky Housing Corporation Executive Director Winston Miller and Deputy Executive Director Wendy Smith. They framed the task force’s work as a practical effort to address Kentucky’s housing shortage, update members on the current housing landscape, summarize existing state and federal resources, and suggest areas for the task force to focus on over the coming year. KHC said its 2024 housing supply gap analysis found Kentucky is short about 206,000 housing units, split roughly evenly between rental and homeownership, and projected the gap could grow to 287,000 units by 2029 if current trends continue. They emphasized that every county in Kentucky needs more housing, that the 2008 housing crisis and loss of construction capacity remain major causes of the shortage, and that current pressures include high interest rates, rising insurance and tax costs, construction cost inflation, and housing prices and rents growing faster than incomes. KHC also said homelessness has risen in Kentucky, with point-in-time counts showing double-digit increases in recent years. The presenters reviewed existing resources, including federal programs, the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the rural housing trust fund, KHC mortgage and down payment assistance programs, and the state mortgage interest deduction. They said these resources are important but insufficient to close the gap, and noted that a proposed federal FY2026 budget would cut HUD programs by 44%, potentially removing about $286 million from Kentucky housing resources, though no action has been taken yet. They urged the task force to consider stronger, more flexible tools such as a revolving loan fund, a state affordable housing tax credit, and economic development and employer-assisted housing incentives, and pointed to Indiana’s housing infrastructure and regional development funds as examples. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no speed of play anywhere in what's being proposed like we did elsewhere.
• There<01:16:42.239> is There is There is no<01:16:44.239> speed<01:16:44.560> of
• no speed of no speed of play play play anywhere<01:16:49.640> in<01:16:50.640> what's<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This rapid access can dramatically speed up law enforcement response to stop the threat, essentially
• This rapid access can dramatically<00:02:43.760> speed<00:02:44.000> up<00:02:44.160>
• > law<00:02:44.400> enforcement dramatically speed up law enforcement dramatically speed up

Bills: HF3220

Keywords: school safety, school security, emergency access, law enforcement access, master key box, secure key box, entry device, school grants, education finance, Department of Education, charter schools, school districts, cooperative units, appropriation cancellation, one-time appropriation, school safety plan, emergency preparedness, public safety, school building security, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank Senator Port for bringing me up to speed, but a big thank you to Jackie Clinton and Amanda Peterson
• bringing<01:35:38.400> me<01:35:38.560> up<01:35:38.719> to<01:35:38.880> speed
• but<01:35:39.280> a<01:35:39.440> big<01:35:39.600> thank bringing me up to speed
• , but a big thank bringing me up to speed, but a big thank you<01:35:39.840> to<01:35:40.000><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• time, you know, I had been probably on the job for about four months, and so as I was getting up to speed
• <00:10:34.079> getting<00:10:34.320> up<00:10:34.440> to<00:10:34.600> speed
• <00:10:34.839> and and so as I was getting up to speed and and so as I was getting up to speed

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism and Higher Education heard HB 1494, relating to sports facilities. Testimony was largely in opposition to the bill as drafted from the Stadium Authority, the Department of Accounting and General Services, and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, with several other written comments also opposing; each asked that if the measure advances, Senate language from related stadium bills be incorporated instead. The University of Hawaiʻi testified in support of the Nāʻid project and said it wants the project delivered at Halawa so the university can have a football facility, though members pressed the university on whether it was effectively supporting both the project and the bill’s current approach. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on the stadium project’s financing, schedule, and oversight. DAGS and Public Works discussed a consultant contract that had grown to about $28 million and an audit that recovered $441,000 after improper travel and expense reimbursements, including first-class airfare and other personal expenses; officials said the audit exposed weak internal controls and led to revised reimbursement policies. Members questioned whether the problems would have been found without media reporting and whether stronger oversight should have been in place earlier. The committee also discussed the current Ching Field setup for UH football, with witnesses describing it as less than ideal and temporary until the new stadium is built. Stadium Authority representatives said the current preferred offeror is Aloha Halawa Development Partners, negotiations have recently accelerated, and the goal remains a contract this summer and a fall 2028 opening. They said the state is committed to $350 million in general obligation bonds, with the overall project expected to cost more, and that the developer is exploring other financing sources such as TIF or CFD while the state and city work to expedite permits and demolition. No vote or final action on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to speed all that up so that the incentives really are an incentive for people to come here and
• uh<01:00:45.480> we<01:00:45.599> need<01:00:45.720> to<01:00:45.839> speed
• <01:00:46.280> all process uh we need to speed all process uh we need to speed all that<01

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. On SB 9, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation testified in support, and there were no questions or objections. On SB 148, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments, and a member of the public testified in support of combining boxing and MMA oversight into a single combat sports commission, with amendments to preserve safety standards and separate or distinct treatment for the two sports. Committee discussion focused on whether proposed requirements were primarily safety-related or cost-related, how to handle smaller events, and whether a one-year implementation delay was necessary; the department said many safety provisions already exist in the MMA program, that it was open to continued discussion on costs, and that it needed time to combine rules and appoint new commissioners. The chair suggested possible amendments to account for event size and to reduce burdens on smaller events. The committee then heard SB 816, which drew extensive testimony on providing legal representation for immigrants in immigration proceedings. Supporters included the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, ACU Hawaii, the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, the Legal Clinic, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Pride at Work Hawaii, and others. Supporters argued that immigration cases can be as serious as criminal cases, that counsel is essential for due process, and that representation improves outcomes; several also emphasized the economic importance of immigrants to Hawaii. One supporter noted a suggested amendment to include training for attorneys and partners doing deportation defense and asylum work. Opposition came from a Navy veteran who argued the bill would use state resources for a federal issue, create inequities, and impose fiscal burdens. The chair noted 69 testimonies in support and 44 in opposition, and later an additional supporter brought the total to 70 in support. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The committee also heard SB 125, with the Department of Economic Development, the Agreed Business Development Corporation, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii offering technical comments about complicated nested definitions in the bill. Testimony on SB 125 focused on updating the Enterprise Zone Program so local manufacturers selling directly to retail could qualify, along with value-added products and certain health-related sectors. Finally, on SB 732, the State of Hawaii Creative Industries testified with comments, raising concerns about county permit-fee waivers, implementation timing, and the bill’s lack of a carry-forward provision for the film tax credit. The witness said uncertainty in the credit was already causing productions to delay coming to Hawaii and urged stability to support the industry and local workers. The committee then moved on to additional testimony on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair said to pick up where he left off, but speed it up to explain the amendment.
• you<00:23:37.440> left<00:23:37.640> off<00:23:37.840> but<00:23:38.000> speed
• /c><00:23:38.279> it<00:23:38.440> up<00:23:38.640> to where you left off but speed
• it up to where you left off but speed it up to explain<00:23:39.240> the<00:23:39.360> amendment

Bills: HF198, HF269, HF185, HF303, HF305, HF189

Keywords: HF198, shared time pupils, shared-time enrollment, nonpublic school, private school, public school, career and technical education, CTE, secondary credit, school funding, state aid, education finance, Minnesota Statutes 126C.01, compulsory attendance, school district, education policy, HF269, Spicer, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment