Transcript Highlights:

• We do have one other hearing item, which is House Concurrent Resolution 55, requesting the judiciary
• We'll accept the public defenders<00:09:59.200> request<00:09:59.440> to<00:09:59.600><
• request to have a public defender<00:10:00.399> and<00:10:00.640> someone<00:10:00.800
• <00:10:05.360> have<00:10:05.519> authority<00:10:05.839> to judiciary's request
• to have authority to judiciary's request to have authority to add<00:10:06.240> other<00:10:06.480

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met in a room change and first considered two judicial confirmations. It recommended consent for Governor’s Message 767, confirming Kanoi A.D. Jackson as circuit court judge for the Third Circuit (Hawaii County) for a 10-year term, and the motion was adopted with members voting aye and some members excused. The committee then recommended consent for Judicial Communication 28, confirming Sonia H. Toma as district family court judge for the Second Circuit (Maui County) for a 6-year term. The chair noted prior concerns about the nominee, but said staff reviewed court records and found nothing problematic; the committee adopted the recommendation unanimously among those present. After a brief recess, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 55, which asks the judiciary to convene a working group to study the effectiveness of existing laws on domestic violence, temporary restraining orders, protective orders, and harassment by stalking in preventing continued abuse and harassment. Testimony was generally supportive. The Office of the Public Defender asked to be included on the working group and requested representation from the Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as well. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence also supported including public defenders and said the effort needs funding to be effective. Other testimony emphasized survivor experiences, privacy concerns, and the need for broader research and protections for injured parties. The chair recommended passing HCR 55 with amendments to include the public defender and a representative from the Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, to allow the judiciary authority to add other participants, and to make additional text changes including removing redundant language. The committee voted to adopt the amended recommendation, and the resolution passed with members voting aye and some excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so that brings us to our upcoming LBR request for 2025-26. We're requesting $36,625,000.
• It is the same number that we requested last year.
• And those will be the main focal points for our upcoming LBR request.
• And that will then take us to our... ...LBR requests for this year.
• So right now with our budget request, Thank you for that question.

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs received a Department of Children and Families update from CIO Cole Sousa on three major technology modernization efforts: ACCESS, CWIS, and FASMS. For ACCESS, he described the six-year, $205 million project to replace the aging eligibility system used for SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid applications, noting completed releases such as the MyACCESS portal, document management, partner portal, workload management, and client registration modules. He said the system now supports mobile applications, multi-factor authentication, and bot detection, and that the next budget request is $36.625 million to continue moving workers off the mainframe, modernize notices, and complete more worker-portal functions. Members asked about performance data, interoperability with other systems, and the relationship to the FX project and APD; Sousa said API-based real-time exchanges are the goal and that current average case processing time is about 30 days, though he would provide a more exact figure later. The committee then heard about CWIS, a four-year, $75 million child welfare modernization project. Sousa said phase one is complete, including hotline intake, investigations, mandatory reporter, youth, parent, and mobile portals, along with mobile field tools, e-signatures, and customizable dashboards. Current work is focused on case management, assessment and safety planning, licensure, and placement modules, with collaboration from community-based care providers through advisory sessions. For the next fiscal year, DCF is requesting $28 million and expects to finish development by summer and launch in September, while continuing change management and training. Senators pressed on interoperability with ACCESS, FX, and FASMS, the use of a single unique identifier, and whether CBCs would be required to use the statewide system; Sousa said the department’s goal is one statewide system, with licensing costs absorbed by the state and no plan for dual systems after go-live. Finally, Sousa gave a brief update on FASMS, the financial and services accountability system used by managing entities. He said it remains in maintenance mode while DCF prioritizes ACCESS and CWIS, and that modernization of FASMS is still being planned with partner agencies. He estimated current maintenance costs at about $1.3 million and suggested a future modernization could cost roughly $5 million to $7 million, though no firm timeline has been set. The committee expressed support for using data and interoperable systems to improve decision-making, and the meeting adjourned without any votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Overtime not included. >> Can we get a copy of that request to Miss Hashimoto? >> Sure. >> Okay.
• of that request to Miss<00:51:37.200> Hashimoto?
• You said something like, what was the request that was not funded last year? 23 million?
• You said something like, what was the request that was not funded last year? 23 million?
• <01:14:07.440> and on the things that were requested and on the things that were requested

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, the homeowner can make a request to have the surplus applied to the redemption, which is what
• to have the plus applied make a request to have the plus applied to<00:08:00.520> the to the
• they could have information upon request they could have a<00:26:24.279> policy<00:26:24.640>
• to this committee, the funding MFRP requested was included in the omnibus bill, which unfortunately
• Chair, members, at the request of Betty Rail, I'm here to share her story.

Bills: HF1027, HF101, HF1021

Keywords: mortgage foreclosure, redemption, foreclosure surplus, sheriff's sale, junior lienholder, mortgagor, homeowner protections, loss mitigation, dual tracking, foreclosure redemption period, certificate of redemption, certificate of sale, sheriff, county recorder, registrar of titles, homeownership center, lien priority, real property, foreclosure by advertisement, surplus funds

Transcript Highlights:

• Roll call has been requested.
• Roll call has been requested.
• Roll call has been requested.
• Roll call has been requested. Thank you, Representative Hinman.
• <00:16:09.360> any roll call has been requested any roll call has been requested any response

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• request a roll call on this amendment. request a roll call on this amendment.
• Speaker, I would request a roll call. Speaker, I would request a roll call.
• request a roll call on this amendment. request a roll call on this amendment.
• I request a green vote. it. I request a green vote.
• And I would again request<01:56:16.000> the request the request the leader<01:56:18.239> Niska

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House first adopted non-controversial motions, then approved an urgency motion to suspend the rules so Senate File 4476, the human services program integrity package, could move quickly to conference committee before the end of session. The House then adopted a DE amendment to insert House language into the bill, and proceeded to debate several amendments focused on program integrity, fraud prevention, and reporting requirements in human services programs. Representative Schultz offered Amendment A5 to remove a sunset on the periodic data matching report requirement, arguing the report helps ensure only eligible people receive medical assistance and welfare benefits and should continue to be delivered annually. Supporters said the report had been inconsistently delivered, cited past findings of ineligible recipients, and framed the amendment as a low-cost accountability measure. Opponents, including Representative Nor, said the report had been sent to the chairs, that the issue should be handled through broader HR1-related changes and negotiations with the Senate, and that the amendment was not the right vehicle. After roll call, A5 failed on a 63-67 vote. Schultz then offered Amendment A6, which would require reporting on homelessness programs, including how many people are served, total costs, outcomes, and possible recoupment of funds if reporting is inadequate. Schultz said the state spends tens of millions on homelessness programs without clear results and that better data would help the legislature make decisions and protect taxpayers. Several members supported the idea of more accountability, while others said the state already receives reports, that homelessness work is being done in partnership with stakeholders, and that the amendment was not the best approach. The discussion continued with further comments on homelessness data and program oversight, but no final vote on A6 is shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• approved<00:07:14.479> and Agency requests were not approved and Agency requests were
• branch's requests. branch's requests. uh<00:10:04.560> we<00:10:04.800> focused<00
• <01:50:23.600> from as no additional budget requests from as no additional budget requests
• We've submitted 92 budget requests.
• We've submitted 92 budget requests. We've submitted 92 budget requests.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into committee and floor reports. Several measures received favorable committee reports and were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar, including Current Resolution 9, Senate Joint Resolution 23, House Bill 145, House Bill 567, and House Bill 506 with House Committee Substitute 1. The chamber also noted that House Bills 500 and 504 had already received two readings and were sent to the Rules Committee before House Bill 500 was brought up for final consideration. Most of the discussion focused on House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill. Members described it as a “good first draft” and emphasized a budget process they said was more transparent than in prior years. The bill was presented as a restrained two-year operating budget with spending growth kept at a little under 2% annually, while setting aside about 2% of projected revenues, or roughly $614 million, in the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for future needs. The budget also used base reductions in some areas while exempting others such as Medicaid benefits, SEEK, corrections, behavioral health, and veterans programs. Subcommittee chairs then outlined major spending areas. Education provisions included a 2% annual increase in base SEEK funding, transportation funding held flat, equalization for recallable nickel funding, continued retirement contributions, and major support for postsecondary access, dual credit, asset preservation, and workforce training. Health and family services provisions held Medicaid steady while adding waiver slots, behavioral health and substance use support, public health investments, and funding for rural health and laboratory capacity. Other sections covered personnel and pensions, veterans services, infrastructure, public safety, economic development, tourism, and environmental projects. The only recorded action on the floor was adoption of House Committee Substitute 1 to House Bill 500, followed by a motion for final passage of the bill as amended. The transcript ends as discussion on final passage begins, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could I request Jeff Casee to come up to the table as well, please?
• <00:51:51.680> a that they have a right to request a that they have a right to request a review
• Dan Rogan: Assessors' offices will be inundated with requests for this data.
• bill um overall the banal budget request bill um overall the banal budget request for<01:18:48.880
• But my question to you is, I don't know if you're familiar with their request.

Bills: HF2233, HF1524, HF1893, HF1396, HF2456, HF2959, HF2300, HF2412, HF3022, HF2825, HF1862, HF1373, HF1039, HF3070

Keywords: Uniform Special Deposits Act, special deposit, banking law, financial institutions, escrow, escrow account, trust account, security deposit, beneficiary, depositor, creditor process, garnishment, attachment, levy, setoff, recoupment, financial market infrastructure, retirement benefits, compensation, earnest money

Transcript Highlights:

• existence requests us to so for that existence requests us to so for that those<00:35:11.160> reasons
• I review data requests of agencies.
• We need to submit a request to MMB through their process, who then produces the data.
• we are requesting a 370,000 biennium we are requesting a 370,000 increase<01:10:07.159> over<
• <01:10:26.640> we carefully consider our budget request we carefully consider our budget request

Bills: HF1867, HF1240

Keywords: lottery, retailer contracts, Minnesota Statutes, contract qualifications, public integrity, criminal background, legislative auditor, public funds, state government, compliance, transparency, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• is that we intended to put out a request is that we intended to put out a request for<00:53:25.559
• with a contract because of the request with a contract because of the request for<00:54:22.000><
• We did not initially submit these requests as budgetary requests during the agency phase or even the
• agency budgetary requests during the agency budgetary requests during the agency phase<03:57:42.000
• It is a separate request that occurs at the beginning of every fiscal year, where I make a request to

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee reviewed the Department of Corrections budget, with the chair initially noting that the overall numbers looked close to fiscal year 2024 spending, except for federal funds. Department officials explained that prior ARPA expenditures and delayed revenue recognition had distorted the comparison, and that the corrected general fund spend was about $169.7 million. Members then focused on whether the budget’s staffing assumptions were realistic, especially the shift from overtime to full-time lines and the use of vacant positions to offset overtime costs. The department said it is leaning on vacancy savings, but would return for additional appropriations if unforeseen staffing problems arise. A major portion of the discussion centered on recruitment, retention, and staffing levels. Officials reported a 42% vacancy rate in enforcement ranks, down from 51% in January 2023, with 28 new officers headed to the next academy and 33 new hires already tracked. They said overtime is more expensive than regular staffing because of benefits and that it takes about 11 months for a new hire to break even. Members also asked about the split between incarcerated and supervised populations; the department said it oversees about 1,970 inmates in facilities and just over 4,000 people in the community, with 77 positions supervising the community population and the inmate population remaining the most expensive area. The committee also discussed how sentencing and statutory changes affect incarceration levels, including misdemeanor/felony thresholds and theft thresholds, with the department agreeing that such changes can significantly affect prison and jail populations. Members asked about education and recidivism, and the department said base education is the most important foundation, followed by vocational training, while noting that many incarcerated men lack a high school diploma. The department also described a $1.3 million reduction in contracted forensic evaluation services, explaining that these evaluations are court-ordered competency assessments and are not statutorily required to be provided by DOC. Finally, members reviewed victim services funding and staffing, including VOCA-supported positions, and the department explained that a new victim witness specialist would help support survivors at parole hearings and safety planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• green vote and request a roll call. green vote and request a roll call.
• >> Roll call requested. Roll call granted. >> Roll call requested.
• President, I am requesting a no vote. President, I am requesting a no vote.
• >> Roll call requested. Roll call granted. >> Roll call requested.
• I would request a roll call. >> Roll call requested. Roll call granted.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh request until after was completed.
• > and<01:22:29.920> requires Each request is unique and requires Each request is unique and
• hour spent responding to these requests hour spent responding to these requests is<01:22:55.680>
• is you make common with uh 91A requests is you make a<01:28:57.680> request<01:28:58.560>
• this housekeeping measure at my request. this housekeeping measure at my request.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:33:06.000> that veterinary medicine has requested that veterinary medicine has requested
• <02:09:05.040> that agency so we just uh would request that agency so we just uh would request
• <02:44:03.640> clarification public first doax requests clarification public first doax requests
• <03:19:33.160> into amounts that are being requested into amounts that are being requested
• <03:20:27.760> the that that uh this committee requests the that that uh this committee requests

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on February 12 at 2 p.m. and heard several measures related to corrections, re-entry, law enforcement, retirement benefits, and gun violence prevention. On HB 10002, which would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify unannounced inspection authority, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it had no objection to the term length or to 24/7 unannounced access. The commission’s chair, Commissioner Mark Patterson, asked for a longer term, saying the commission needs more time and stability to manage reform efforts after years without staff during COVID. Community Alliance on Prisons and Carolyn Eaton also supported a longer term, with both suggesting six years would better insulate the position from politics. The chair noted he had asked Chair Bot for background on the prior committee’s changes and said that could be discussed during decision-making. The committee then heard HB 67, which would require DCR to help inmates obtain civil identification documents such as IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards as soon as practicable, including for people in furlough or community placement programs. DCR said it supported the bill and described ongoing work with the city and county on ID machines and with agencies on certificates and Social Security cards. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Oversight Commission, Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Office of Public Defense all supported the measure, emphasizing that identification is essential for housing, employment, and successful re-entry and noting the disproportionate impact of incarceration on Native Hawaiians. On HB 1183, which would classify certain law enforcement administrators and Department of Law Enforcement employees as Class A members for retirement purposes, the Department of Human Resources Development, the Employees’ Retirement System, and the Department of Law Enforcement all supported the bill. DHRD said it would help recruitment and retention, ERS said it had technical amendments to suggest, and DLE said the change would help with succession planning and allow the governor to appoint the most qualified leader. The committee also heard HB 1045, an emergency appropriation bill to cover payroll fringe benefits for Department of Law Enforcement personnel after salary funding had been shifted to other departments; Budget and Finance and DLE explained the need for the supplemental funding, and no opposition was noted. Finally, the committee took up HB 664, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a grant program, a resource bank, and a special fund. The Attorney General recommended adding standards for grant awards and warned of overlap with the existing Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission, suggesting consolidation and repeal of the older commission to avoid duplication. Supporters included the Brady Campaign, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action Hawaii, a physician, and an Army veteran, who argued the office would centralize data, coordinate prevention efforts, and help secure outside funding. Testimony was mixed, with the chair noting 37 supporters, nine opponents, and three commenters, but no vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, they have their own process for what's requested and what comes in through the budget.
• or not include requests.
• I sometimes have very lofty requests I sometimes have very lofty requests to to to to<01:24:01.160
• <01:24:16.400> um a request cuz it um a request cuz it um what<01:24:17.760> you've
• or not include include a request or not include requests.<01:24:31.440> As<01:24:31.520> you

Bills: HF1082, HF2099, HF4177, HF2742

Keywords: public safety, law enforcement, mental health, domestic violence, appropriations, criminal justice, Minnesota corrections, victim services, task force, personal safety, emergency management, local government, funding, preparedness, Minnesota, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Independent Use of Force Investigations Unit, use of force, police accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• that we submit within our budget request for additional funding above our baseline.
• funding for additional budget requests funding for additional budget requests that<00:09:19.920>
• Um so those things will have to request.
• HR1 specific funding requests, and are those one-time requests, are those, you know, permanent funding
• <00:49:10.000> with mentioned additional budget request with mentioned additional budget request

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:36 Department for Medicaid Services 00:01:44, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met for an overview of the Department for Medicaid Services budget. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beal described Kentucky Medicaid enrollment at about 1.4 million members, including more than 600,000 children, and said the agency’s 2025 total budget was $20.6 billion. They reviewed enrollment trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 public health emergency, noting that redeterminations begun in 2023 reduced enrollment from its peak but that total membership remains above pre-COVID levels. They also explained the difference between the fee-for-service population, which includes long-term care and waiver members, and managed care members, and gave examples of the kinds of services and diagnoses seen in each group. A major focus was the governor’s recommended Medicaid budget and the department’s forecast process. Lee said the budget is split into benefits and administration, with benefits covering fee-for-service services, managed care capitation, transportation, and Medicare premiums, while administration covers contracts, personnel, operating costs, and IT-related advanced planning documents. She said the department uses a consensus forecasting group and actuary input, and that its forecasts have been within 1% of actual spending in recent years. The department also said the governor’s budget includes new waiver slots to address waiting lists, a 2% staff COLA, and a 10% phase-down on state-directed payments beginning in January 2028. Much of the discussion centered on House Resolution 1 and the funding needed to implement its Medicaid-related provisions, including community engagement requirements, six-month redeterminations, and future cost sharing. Lee said the department requested about $35 million in total funds for fiscal 2027, including about $8.2 million in general funds for system changes to the integrated eligibility system, claims processing, notices, and monitoring; and about $11 million in fiscal 2028 for ongoing maintenance, with about $1.6 million in general funds. She said the department expects to seek federal APD matching funds for the IT work. In response to questions, she explained that community engagement would apply to Medicaid expansion members, with qualifying activities including work, school, volunteering, or equivalent income, and that certain groups such as pregnant women, children, caretaker relatives, and some people with chronic disease or substance use disorder would be excluded. She said the department identified roughly 70,000 expansion members who could be subject to the requirement. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Snyder: I request permission to offer a third reading amendment. >> Now, Senator Snyder, please
• I request a moment of personal privilege. >> Granted. Thank you, Mr. President.
• I request a Thank you, Mr. President.
• I request the current roll call be added as co-sponsors.
• I request the Thank you, Mr. President.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, a member's HP4058 is a constituent request bill.
• This bill is an industry request bill from the auto dealers.
• Who requested it?
• Representative, was this a request bill? Thank you for the question.
• This is a request bill from the Department of Human Services.

Bills: HB1016, HB1453, HB1992, HB2015, HB2940, HB2959, HB2997, HB3037, HB3045, HB3053, HB3087, HB3267, HB3301, HB3453, HB3495, HB3521, HB3581, HB3584, HB3586, HB3587, HB3662, HB3691, HB3695, HB3697, HB3742, HB3743, HB3845, HB4058, HB4125, HB4198, HB4227, HB4425

Keywords: minors, content creation, trust account, compensation, civil action, digital content, Oklahoma statutes, foreign ownership, property rights, agricultural land, Attorney General, divestment, real estate, felony penalties, motor vehicles, towing services, combination vehicles, wrecker fees, possessory lien, landlord

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair requests to speak. Mr. Chair, we have some of our favorite assessors.
• Seeing none, there are no requests... Very good. Any questions for the bill sponsor?
• Seeing none, there are no requests to speak.
• And there are no additional requests to speak. Seeing none, Mr.
• There's no request to speak. We have Joan Murphy. No, all right.

Bills: HB2120, HB2173, HB2261, HB2786, HB2792

Keywords: property tax exemption, disability, veterans, widows, income limits, Arizona Revised Statutes, property tax, electronic communication, tax assessment, tax correction, real estate, agriculture, tax classification, land use, nonprofit organizations, transaction privilege tax, tax exemption, textbook rental, education, business leasing

Transcript Highlights:

• It says the Explore Minnesota part of me requested Minnesota Humanities Center be replaced, or the funds
• Not seeing any, R72. requested Minnesota Humanities Center be requested Minnesota Humanities Center be
• And uh there was a request from DEED to make some changes to the CAN train program to make grants only
• The A27 members consists of five requests from DEED for extensions of 2023 appropriations.
• The A27 consists of five requests from DEED for extensions of 2023 appropriations.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And requesting that Assemblymember Stephanie be permitted to present that bill on her behalf.
• The bill provides additional routes for voters to request and conduct recounts.
• I respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you. So we have a motion by Assemblymember Bennett.
• With the committee amendments being accepted, I respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you.
• We respectfully request that you maintain that integrity by not voting for AB 351. Thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all