Transcript Highlights:

• obligor to mean any user, owner, or operator of the Hawaii Electric System that is owed payment of purchase
• power costs by the electric utility under a power purchase agreement that does not claim a tax credit
• obligor to mean any user, owner, or operator of the Hawaii Electric System that is owed payment of purchase
• power costs by the electric utility under a power purchase agreement that does not claim a tax credit
• That is owed payment of purchase power costs by the electric utility under a power purchase agreement

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Judiciary committee met in decision-making mode and took up a long list of measures, mostly recommending passage with or without amendments. Early actions included S.B. 414, which was amended to blank the appropriation, draw funds from the major disaster fund, and change the effective date to 2050, and S.B. 223, which would require fire breaks in hazardous fire areas and create or expand wildland fire prevention and protection programs with blank appropriations for FY 2026 and 2027. The committee also advanced S.B. 1009 on state reserve parking space enforcement, S.B. 1149 on reported hate crime definitions and reporting, S.B. 402 on mooring-line requirements for certain vessels, S.B. 1441 on the Oahu regional health care system transfer, S.B. 1442 on child and adolescent mental health responsibilities, S.B. 1478 on harbor evacuation orders, and S.B. 493 on written notice for emotional support animal sales or verifications. Members generally raised little opposition, and most measures were adopted without reservations. Some bills drew brief discussion or committee-report notes, including S.B. 1149, which referenced a Hawaii Civil Rights Commission report encouraging policy-level hate crime data reporting, and S.B. 1442, which was amended with a far-future effective date and a committee-report note about whether mental health services should be expressly subject to funding. S.B. 1441 was substantially revised to require a memorandum of agreement between the Oahu Regional Health Care System and the Department of Health by November 30, 2025, with patient care to begin by December 31, 2025, and a report to the legislature before the 2026 session. The committee also considered several finance and energy-related measures. S.B. 897 on the wildfire liability trust fund prompted questions about whether costs would be passed to consumers; the response was that the proposal contemplated cost sharing and that some amounts were still blank. S.B. 1395 and S.B. 1396 were amended to remove special-fund structures, direct revenues into the general fund, and require the governor to include equivalent amounts in the executive budget for climate-related projects. S.B. 501 was amended to expand step-in agreement provisions for future PPAs and establish a fund outside the State Treasury, and S.B. 1589 was amended so private donations to the stadium authority would go into the NID special fund for stadium infrastructure and sod, with members discussing accountability and the source of stadium-related consultant spending. The committee adopted the recommendations on all measures considered, with some members noting reservations on a few bills, and one item, S.B. 1418, was deferred.

Transcript Highlights:

• Questions are asked: Does the five-year-old child purchase and prepare food with the parents?
• Well, my answer was no, they don't purchase and prepare food.
• Food, they eat the purchased and prepared food, but they do not purchase it.
• I mean, the real answer is, or question is: Does the child eat food purchased and prepared by the parents

Transcript Highlights:

• they can do it without it, but this is from 1999 and older. 2000 to current, they issue it upon purchase
• current, they 1999 and older. 2000 to current, they issue<00:14:35.199> it<00:14:35.600> purchase
• issue it purchase. issue it purchase.

Bills: SB282, SB282

Keywords: virtual currency, cryptocurrency, tax exemption, state tax law, digital assets, manufactured homes, certificate of title, Alabama Department of Revenue, law amendment, 1999 models, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So they could purchase insurance, but they cannot charge more than they are charging today, and it would
• So they could purchase<00:04:27.520> an<00:04:27.759> insurance,<00:04:28.160> but
• c><00:04:28.400> they<00:04:28.560> cannot purchase an insurance, but they cannot purchase

Keywords: Finance - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first considered a committee substitute that would allow on-premises retail or permit holders to let patrons bring wine onto licensed premises for consumption with a meal, if a corkage fee is charged, while continuing to prohibit outside alcoholic beverages other than wine. The substitute also changed wine shipment reporting from quarterly to semiannual for total wine sold and shipped into or within the state, and included a reverse repealer. The motion to report the bill out as amended passed. House Bill 671 was then explained as clarifying when a package retailer’s responsibility ends in alcohol deliveries: the retailer’s duty is satisfied once it transfers possession to a delivery service permit holder or delivery driver, with additional language allocating responsibility between the permit holder, driver, and delivery entity. The committee also heard House Bill 750, which extends the repealer date for a SMART Act tax credit for companies partnering with research institutions to 2029, and House Bill 1219, which allows a fee for non-recording of insurance in lieu of the usual filing process, capped at the actual filing fee so borrowers are not charged more. House Bill 1385, requested by the Department of Revenue, was described as cleanup language reflecting that most applications are electronic and reducing references from quadruple to triplicate; the committee adopted an amendment deleting the words “applications for” on lines 442-443 after a question from Senator Simmons. House Bill 1620 created the Bayou Casad industrial zone in Jackson County and barred annexation of land within that industrial zone. House Bill 1633 expanded site development grants to include energy sources such as electricity and gas serving an industrial site, and the committee adopted a cleanup amendment changing a statutory reference to Chapter 503, Laws of 2025. Finally, House Bill 1761, the Native Winery bill, was taken up with a strike-all amendment replacing the House bill with Senate Bill 2915. The sponsor explained that the House version only extended repealer dates to 2029, while the Senate version also eliminated some repealers and allowed native wineries to have tasting rooms in certain economic projects. The strike-all amendment and the bill as amended were adopted, and the committee then voted to rise and report.

Transcript Highlights:

• SO, BASICALLY THERE IS TWO WAYS TO PURCHASE EITHER BITCOIN OR ETHER WHICH ARE THE TO MOST POPULAR TYPES
• EXCHANGE, YOU MAY SEE SOMETHING LIKE SOME OTHER TYPE OF EXCHANGE IS WHERE YOU GO ONLINE WHEN YOU PURCHASE
• YOU MAKE A PURCHASE AND BITCOIN AND TYPICALLY THERE IS A CHARGE OF ABOUT 1% ON AVERAGE.
• WHAT HAPPENS IS, YOU CREATE A WALLET AND YOU BASICALLY GO TO THE ATM, PUT CASH IN AND PURCHASE BASICALLY

Transcript Highlights:

• We wouldn't have had the capital when we opened our doors to purchase the land outright, and so renting
• /c><00:03:11.599> our<00:03:11.760> doors<00:03:12.120> to<00:03:12.519> purchase
• <00:03:13.000> the when we opened our doors to purchase the when we opened our doors to purchase

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• THE LEGISLATURE GIVES THE AUTHORITY LAST YEAR TO, UP TO A $5 MILLION PURCHASE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO
• AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS IN FLORIDA CHANGE -- IF THEY HAVE A SALES REVENUE, PERHAPS THEY ARE CHANGING ALL THE PURCHASES
• UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PARTICULAR STORMS NEEDED TO REPLANT THE CROP, PURCHASE
• ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES OR HAVE TEMPORARY THE PARTICULAR STORMS NEEDED TO REPLANT THE CROP, PURCHASE ADDITIONAL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you walk into a local DMV with the insurance that you purchased that day, the DMV cannot take your
• This is to fill the gap if you purchase insurance within that first 24 hours or 12 hours in that insurance
• vehicle they run it through the database, and if it's not in that database, it means it was recently purchased

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• BECAME A PROBLEM THEY CREATED A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT 18 TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES BE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE
• IT IS REIMBURSEMENT ONLY IF YOU ARE PURCHASING A VAN YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THE VAN, SHOW PAYMENT FOR THE

Transcript Highlights:

• The local food purchase assistance program, California is a participant in SPORC, currently serves three
• USDA's termination will mean $47 million in reduced purchasing from farmers for food banks at a time
• when they need additional support, and over $100 million in reduced direct food purchasing here in California

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then these businesses would be able to reinstate or start purchasing the ESLs.
• or consumers purchase goods and services.
• So whether it's online, whether it's in the super... ...or consumers purchase goods and services.
• You know, my family wouldn't have purchased their home. ...to meet needs.
• You know, my family wouldn't have purchased their home.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, I was going to say the one that, um, so there's one with a purchaser that doesn't have a county
• there's one with the with a purchaser there's one with the with a purchaser that<00:23:26.000>
• is ineligible for a county purchaser is ineligible for a county homeowners<00:23:51.440> exemption
• This would appropriate $25 million to HGFDC for, or toward, the purchase and rehabilitation of vacant
• So we'll be deferring that bill. purchase and rehabilitation of vacant purchase and rehabilitation of

Bills: HB1719, HB1742, HB1737, HB2049, HB1725, HB1726, HB1738, HB1799, HB1700

Keywords: housing crisis, manufactured homes, factory-built housing, zoning, relocatable housing units, farm employee housing, agriculture, Hawaii Revised Statutes, agricultural districts, land use, regulation, renewable energy, community development, housing, affordable housing, real estate, state regulation, building codes, construction, permitting

Summary: The joint public hearing covered several housing-related bills and one building-code measure. HB 1719 would make manufactured homes a permitted use by right on residentially zoned lots in the urban district, HB 1742 would authorize self-contained relocatable housing units with restrictions, and HB 1737 would clarify that a farm dwelling in an agricultural district may include an accessory employee housing structure. Testimony on these bills was overwhelmingly supportive from groups including Hawaii Realtors, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Housing Hawaii’s Future, the Modular Building Institute, the Hawaii Farmers Union, and others, with a few agencies offering comments. No one testified in opposition on HB 1719 or HB 1742, while HB 1737 drew one opposition and one comment in addition to broad support. No votes were taken during the hearing segment provided. A major portion of the hearing focused on HB 2049, which restructures the conveyance tax into a marginal-rate system and changes how the revenue is allocated, including funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the rental housing revolving fund, while also affecting the legacy land conservation fund. Supporters, including DHHL, Hawaii Appleseed, Aahu Youth Action Board, Hawaii YIMBY, and others, argued the bill would help Native Hawaiian housing and, for most transactions, function as a tax cut. Opponents, including NAP Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Hawaii Land Trust, Mhai Land Trust, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, objected to using conveyance tax as a revenue-generating tool and raised concerns about higher upfront costs and reduced funding for other housing uses. Committee members and staff discussed the bill’s revenue estimates, the reduced percentage but higher cap for the land conservation fund, the effect on rental housing funding, and the bill’s cost-of-living adjustment language; staff said a line-by-line comparison of the current and proposed tax structure would be provided before decision-making. The hearing also took up HB 1725, which would extend the state building code adoption cycle from two years to six years, apply the IRC to triplexes and fourplexes, allow counties to adopt more or less stringent amendments, and appropriate funds for code adoption work. Most testimony supported the bill, with advocates saying the current process is unmanageable, too resource-intensive, and creates confusion because state and county codes can diverge; supporters said a longer cycle would improve clarity and allow more focused review. The International Code Council and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers opposed the measure, warning that delaying adoption could have negative consequences and urging the committee to let an existing statewide code-adoption strategy proceed first. Members asked about sequencing, county implementation, and whether the longer cycle would create catch-up problems, but no action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the items in question were new equipment, a fence, and other related purchases, and that he could
• us relative to pushing off the purchase us relative to pushing off the purchase to<00:12:13.279>
• <00:13:54.160> Uh,<00:13:54.480> and purchase in the next bianium.
• Uh, and purchase in the next bianium.
• Um, so if this purchase is delayed potentially until next year, will there be any increase in costs in

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the March 21 minutes and then took up a consent calendar, withdrawing several items before adopting the remainder. It also moved item FIS 25103 to the table by a 6-4 vote after Senator Gray argued the Executive Council had not yet acted on a prior $5 million approval and that the committee should avoid adding to the rainy day fund draw. The committee then approved item 25106 for the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources/State Library after hearing that the department expected about a $400,000 lapse to return to the state. A major discussion centered on New Hampshire Police Standards and Training (item 2577). Senator Gray questioned whether a proposed equipment purchase could be delayed to the next biennium in light of the state’s deficit and rainy day fund use. The agency said the equipment was needed now for scenario training, vendors had already been identified, and delaying would likely increase costs and force continued reliance on unpaid volunteer help. The committee ultimately approved the item. The committee also approved Department of Energy item 2587 after hearing that federal weatherization funds are drawn down on a reimbursement basis, and item 2588 after similar testimony that weatherization work must be completed and inspected before reimbursement, limiting how quickly funds can be expended. Item 250094 had been withdrawn. Later, the committee discussed Senator Carson’s request for an LBA review of the YDC claims settlement fund, with members expressing concern about administrative costs, attorney fees, settlement-loan payoffs, and the need for more detailed reporting. The committee voted to direct LBA to conduct the audit described in Senator Carson’s memo, with the additional request that the review include the term over which attorney fees are paid. The meeting then moved on to an HHS staff item, where members began questioning the timing of dashboard data and reporting delays.

Transcript Highlights:

• That comes out of our purchased referred care.
• that comes out out of our purchased that comes out out of our purchased referred<00:58:33.280>
• So we we purchase of the reservation.
• >> So, ultimately Tri-State will purchase >> So, ultimately Tri-State will purchase
• purchase agreement is with Pace. purchase agreement is with Pace.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Number five is we're requesting $413 in FY 26 and $11,250 in FY 27 to support our purchase of salary
• um purchasing uh continuing to purchase um purchasing uh continuing to purchase and<02:13:31.320
• So we’re going to need to purchase equipment, staff it, and find some space and build it out.
• <02:16:20.520> for<02:16:20.639> that that we purchase for that that we purchase for
• have that's what they use to purchase have that's what they use to purchase their their their supplies

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And purchasing is doing better on this.
• It just purchasing basically forever.
• , says if you're county based purchasing, says if you're county based purchasing, you<01:53:27.280
• But the county based purchasing But the county based purchasing organizations<01:53:34.000> don't
• Uh, we did exclude the county-based purchasing plans.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That's one of the things they want to purchase. And that's a recent stat from, I think, 2023.
• That's one of the things they want to purchase. And that's a recent stat from, I think, 2023.
• That's one of the things they want to purchase. And that's a recent stat from, I think, 2023.
• That's one of the things they want to purchase. And that's a recent stat from, I think, 2023.
• That's one of the things they want to purchase. And that's a recent stat from, I think, 2023.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:50 Approval of Minutes 00:01:21 KOAP Report 00:01:42 Community Farm Alliance and KY Double Dollars 00:20:25 Feeding Kentucky 00:40:55, 958, all

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Oversight Committee received a monthly report from the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy and the A Development Board/Finance Corporation. Staff reviewed May activity, including county council visits, loan and grant approvals, farm safety funding, and support for beginning farmers, agricultural infrastructure, processing, and county/state projects. The committee also recognized an intern and thanked Tara Roberts for her service as she prepares to leave the agency. Members were reminded about a June 20 anniversary event marking 25 years of the office and related programs. A major topic was K-CARD, the Kentucky Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Staff explained that the program is being expanded to provide more technical assistance for beginning farmers and farm families, including help with business plans and estate planning/farm transition discussions. Members asked how farmers would access the service and were told the extension office would be the front-line contact, with K-CARD providing the technical assistance and neutral-site consultations. The committee also discussed support for large food animal veterinarians. Staff said the incentive program has helped more than 33 veterinarians and is intended to support existing providers rather than quickly increase numbers; members raised concerns about the pipeline and selection process at Auburn University, and staff said discussions with the university were ongoing. The committee then heard from Community Farm Alliance on Kentucky Double Dollars, Fresh Rx for Moms, and farmers market support programs. CFA reported expansion to roadside stands, more retail onboarding, seven new counties, and estimated economic and farmgate impacts, emphasizing that state funding helps leverage federal and private dollars and stabilize local food access programs. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the May minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We made multiple undercover purchases and tested over 83 products. 43 manufacturers.
• All packaging was brightly colored, and there's currently no age limit to purchase.
• Not writing an age limit into purchasing legal hemp products in House Bill 1325 shows that.
• Customers purchase needs and desires.
• And require all of our customers at purchase to scan an ID. We do everything we can.

Bills: SB3, SB810, SB965, SB1073, SB1119, SB1505, SB 3

Keywords: Texas Education Code, public schools, school district, open-enrollment charter school, teacher speech, employee speech, biological sex, pronouns, gender identity, retaliation, discipline, workplace protections, school personnel, education policy, LGBTQ, transgender, charter schools, SB 965, religious speech, prayer

Transcript Highlights:

• agreements and establish the power purchasing cost trust fund, establish that revenues from online on
• arising under certain power purchase arising under certain power purchase agreements<00:08:40.760
• <00:08:48.399> agreements charges for power purchase agreements charges for power purchase
• owed under the covered power purchase owed under the covered power purchase agreements<00:09:00.959
• all of our power purchase agreements.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several energy and environmental bills. On HB 974, which would authorize state step-in agreements for certain power purchase agreements and create a trust fund/reserve mechanism, the Attorney General’s office raised concern that the state should not incur liability beyond the trust fund. The Division of Consumer Advocacy said it had comments but did not take a position, while the Public Utilities Commission, Ameresco, Hawaiian Electric, and other industry groups supported the measure, saying it would help developers secure financing for renewable projects and improve reliability. Hawaiian Electric said the bill would not use state funds and that its proposed reserve account would be held in trust and returned to customers if unused. Committee members questioned whether the reserve would raise customer costs; Hawaiian Electric said the amount would be small and would be offset by avoiding higher financing costs, while Consumer Advocacy suggested the language should be strengthened to ensure unused funds are fully returned. The committee then heard HB 338, which would clarify that premium interest-rate adjustments for non-fossil fuel generation are just and reasonable and allow the PUC to include them in rates. DCCA and the State Energy Office supported the bill, and the PUC also supported it. Hawaiian Electric opposed unless amended, arguing the PUC already has discretion and warning the bill could weaken competitive procurement by encouraging higher bids tied to the utility’s credit rating. DCCA said the concern was that developers might not seek the best financing if premium rates are recoverable, but said Hawaiian Electric’s suggested amendment requiring clear and convincing evidence of unavoidable financing-cost increases would help. Members also asked about refinancing and whether developers could later lower debt costs after locking in a premium rate; DCCA said that ability exists and suggested a time limit or review mechanism. For HB 337, which would direct the PUC to establish standards requiring utilities to remove certain fossil-fuel costs from the rate base when adding renewable resources, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, and the State Energy Office supported the measure. Hawaiian Electric opposed it, saying it misunderstood utility cost recovery and could threaten grid reliability because fossil plants provide ancillary services such as voltage regulation and balancing, not just energy. Hawaiian Electric pointed to its integrated grid plan and recent fossil-unit retirements as evidence of ongoing transition, and asked the committee to defer the bill and leave oversight to the PUC. The committee also heard HB 879 on cesspool conversions, which would raise the maximum grant from $20,000 to $30,000 and add DOH positions; DHHL, DOH, environmental groups, Hawaii Realtors, and others supported it, while DOH discussed staffing needs and the practical effect of the higher grant cap. The committee also began HB 379 on requiring denitrification capacity for certain wastewater systems near shorelines or groundwater, with DLNR testifying in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:18.360> So, >> applicable to purchases up to $300.
• So, >> applicable to purchases up to $300.
• they went and tried to purchase they went and tried to purchase their<00:24:39.720> food<
• making a cash payment for the purchase making a cash payment for the purchase of<00:25:07.720>
• <00:28:52.320> food<00:28:52.720> and you know, purchasing food and you know, purchasing

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, April 10, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum and began by reading House messages and first-reading bills, including SB 8 on identity fraud and deepfakes and HB 145 on election misinformation and deepfakes, which was referred to Rules. The chamber then handled several concurrence and conference matters. On HB 154, the Open Meetings Act bill for county boards of education, the Senate initially moved to recede from its amendments and accept the House version, but debate centered on a Senate transparency amendment limiting school boards’ ability to censor recordings. A motion to reconsider the amendments was laid over for 15 minutes. On SB 514, a third-degree assault bill, the House refused to recede and a conference committee was appointed. A guest introduction also welcomed a 10-month-old visitor to the gallery. In second-reader business, the Senate adopted committee amendments and advanced SB 504, which strengthens data privacy protections and limits use of personal data for immigration enforcement, and SB 790, the Public Health Reform Act, which revises the Commission on Public Health, updates the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps, adds health equity review processes, and makes related administrative changes. Both bills were reported favorably with technical and conforming amendments and ordered printed for third reading. The chamber then took up HB 191, which would require merchants to accept cash for essential consumer goods and set related rules and exceptions; members questioned its scope, exemptions, and enforcement, and the bill was laid over pending clarification about whether stadiums are covered. Finally, HB 564 on pet cremation and burial services added consumer protection and disclosure requirements for pet cremation providers; its technical amendment was adopted and the bill was ordered passed for third reading.