Transcript Highlights:

• map, compactness included, which is why you can see me trying to keep districts as compact as I can,
• So you just mentioned compactness.
• But it looks like you ventured away from compactness.
• So you just mentioned compactness.
• But it looks like you ventured away from compactness.

Summary: The Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting met to consider HB 1D, which would establish Florida’s congressional districts using the governor’s proposed map, EOG PCRP 26. Representative Persons-Mulicka briefly introduced the bill, and Jason Jazeel and Jason Pareda of the governor’s office presented the legal rationale and map details. Jazeel argued that mid-cycle congressional redistricting is not prohibited, that the governor’s position is to draw districts without considering race, and that federal equal-protection principles should control over state race-based redistricting provisions. Pareda said he drew the map alone using 2020 census data and census blocks, while also considering population growth estimates, traditional redistricting criteria, and county/city boundaries where feasible. Pareda described the map as race-neutral and said it keeps 48 counties whole, 382 cities whole, and has a boundary-analysis score of about 85.7%. He walked through regional changes, including major revisions in South Florida, adjustments in Central Florida, and changes in the Tampa Bay area, explaining that population shifts and the need for exact congressional population equality drove many of the district configurations. Members questioned the timing of the special session, the use of 2020 census data versus newer population estimates, the role of the legislature versus the governor, the legal basis for mid-decade redistricting, and whether the map complies with the Voting Rights Act and Fair Districts amendments. Motions to place witnesses under oath and to extend the committee meeting by 30 minutes both failed. During public testimony, every speaker who was heard opposed the map. Commenters argued that the proposal was a partisan power grab, would reduce Democratic and minority representation, and violated the Florida Constitution and voting rights protections. Several speakers criticized the short notice and lack of public input, while others said the map would confuse voters or split communities. The chair repeatedly reminded attendees to maintain decorum and limited each speaker to about one minute.

Transcript Highlights:

• podiatric physicians to obtain licensure in other compact states.
• No, it's only people that would apply for licensure under the compact.
• I like compacts, especially as a military retiree.
• I remember, luckily my wife had a job that she didn't need a compact.
• I love... ...need a compact, but it is extremely hard for a lot.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard a JLBC presentation on H.R. 1’s SNAP impacts, including expanded work requirements, higher state administrative costs, and a potential state share of benefits if Arizona’s payment error rate remains above 6%. JLBC estimated the administrative cost increase at about $33 million in FY 2027 and $44 million in FY 2028, and said a 2024 error rate of 8.8% could expose the state to about $139 million in benefit costs starting in FY 2028. The chair also opened the meeting by asking members and speakers to keep remarks shorter to improve efficiency. The committee then considered several SNAP-related bills. HB 2797, which requires DES to more frequently verify eligibility through data matching, post fraud/noncompliance data, and address out-of-state EBT purchases, passed 7-5. HB 2442, requiring certain able-bodied SNAP adults with school-age children to participate in employment and training unless exempt, also passed 7-5. HB 2448, which limits DES’s ability to seek work-requirement waivers or discretionary exemptions without legislative authorization, passed 7-5. HB 2206, which sets a goal of reducing the SNAP payment error rate to 3% by 2030 and adds reporting and corrective-action requirements, passed 7-5 after debate over staffing, technology, and whether the target was realistic. The committee also advanced HB 2180, appropriating $2.5 million to the University of Arizona for AZ REACH, a hospital transfer coordination program serving rural facilities. Supporters said it improves patient transfers and reduces burdens on rural hospitals; some health system representatives were neutral but asked for operational improvements. HB 2180 passed 11-1. HB 2184, as amended, passed 7-4-1; it would extend fetal death certificate filing and require patients to be informed of the option to transfer fetal remains to a funeral home, with supporters describing it as a matter of parental dignity and closure. HB 2188, as amended, creating a Language Acquisition Grant Program for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, passed unanimously after testimony about balancing spoken-language and ASL options. The committee then began hearing HB 2194, a bill requiring insurers to provide a contact for detailed explanations after claim or prior-authorization denials, but the transcript ends before action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I present you AB 427, which would approve the Social Work Licensure Compact in California.
• With the rise of telehealth, especially after COVID-19, the compact allows social workers to provide
• We just have several concerns regarding compacts and its impact on the current workforce.
• We just have several concerns regarding compacts and its impact on the current workforce.
• And while the compact aims to expand. for California social workers.

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a long agenda of licensing, health care, and workforce bills. Measures discussed included AB 957, which would prohibit tobacco sales in licensed pharmacies; AB 447, which would allow patients to take home certain unopened medications started in emergency rooms; AB 427, joining the Social Work Licensure Compact; AB 667, allowing interpreters for certain licensing exams; AB 742, prioritizing descendants of slaves in licensing review; AB 873, changing infection-control training timing for dental assistants; AB 360, requiring a report on menopause education for physicians; and AB 1175, modernizing CPA licensure requirements and mobility. Testimony generally emphasized public health, access to care, workforce shortages, language access, and economic opportunity, while opposition or concerns focused on implementation, worker protections, compact authority, and constitutional issues in AB 742. Several bills drew broad support from sponsors, professional associations, and advocacy groups. AB 957 was backed by cancer and pharmacy advocates and pharmacists who said pharmacies should not sell tobacco; AB 447 was supported by emergency medicine and hospital representatives as a way to reduce waste and help patients leave with needed medication; AB 427 drew support from social work and mental health groups but concerns from AFSCME about standards and displacement; AB 667 was supported by immigrant-rights and community groups, with questions about whether translated exams would be preferable to interpreters; AB 360 received extensive support from women’s health advocates and medical groups, and opposition from CMA and ACOG was removed after amendments; and AB 1175 was supported by the Board of Accountancy and CPA groups as a way to expand the pipeline and improve mobility. The committee took votes after quorum was established. AB 360, AB 427, AB 447, AB 667, AB 873, AB 1175, and AB 742 were all approved and sent to their next committees, with AB 742 going to Judiciary and AB 1175 to Appropriations. AB 957 was initially held on call, then later passed after additional votes were recorded. The consent calendar bills AB 375, AB 1107, and AB 1496 were also approved. Most measures passed on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes, with some members not voting on certain items during the roll calls.

Transcript Highlights:

• The OT Compact is the same in form and function as other licensure compacts, such as a nurse licensure
• compact, physical therapy compact, counseling compact, and the physician-assistant compact.
• Since we do have the MD compact and the PT compact, which are ongoing, and I serve on both of those commissions
• Members, Senate Bill 1813 enacts the athletic trainer compact.
• It authorizes the governor to enter into the compact with other member jurisdictions.

Bills: SB1806 , SB1430 , SB206 , SB1547 , SB1849 , SB1428 , SB1653 , SB1984 , SB1644 , SB1561 , SB1813 , SB1570 , SB1796

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard and advanced a series of health, licensing, and child welfare measures. Senate Bill 1806 would allow eligible individuals receiving Oklahoma Department of Human Services services to voluntarily remain in those services until age 21; the author said the title was struck while fiscal estimates were being revised, and the bill passed 11-0. Senate Bill 1430 would shift authority over hiring, supervising, and removing the commissioner of mental health from the governor to the governing board; it passed 8-2 after questions about removal provisions. Senate Bill 206, as amended, added tribal entities to EMS-related essential services to help draw down federal funding, and passed 10-0, while Senate Bill 1849 made a cleanup change allowing the State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners to approve medical marijuana education for continuing education credit and passed 11-0. The committee also approved Senate Bill 1428, creating an Office of Alzheimer’s and dementia-related services within the Department of Health; the author said outside funding would cover the first two years and the bill would have no state budget impact, and it passed 9-2. Senate Bill 1653 created the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact and passed 9-2 after discussion of closed meetings and compact operations. Senate Bill 1984 updated and clarified the Osteopathic Medicine Act and passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1644 required alpha-gal syndrome to be added to the reportable diseases list and passed 12-0. Senate Bill 1561, requested by regional EMS, added disciplinary steps for ambulance and EMT personnel to avoid automatic disqualification and passed 12-0. Senate Bill 1813 enacted the athletic trainer compact and passed 10-2. The committee then took up major child welfare restructuring. Senate Bill 1570 would create a Department of Child Safety and Well-Being by consolidating DHS Child Welfare Services and the Office of Juvenile Affairs, with a phased implementation timeline and a future board and interim commissioner; members discussed protecting ongoing cases and adding lived-experience representation on the board. The bill passed 12-0. Senate Bill 1796 shortened the period for informal foster care arrangements from seven days to 72 hours and added guardrails for temporary foster care placements; the author said it was intended to prevent harm when children are left with unvetted caregivers, and it also passed 12-0. The committee adjourned after distributing a handout related to the foster care/respite care changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, Missouri has eight health and wellness compacts, so adding the athletic trainer compact complements
• Like so many of the other compacts we have heard, it is a good compact.
• I'd like to thank the lady for bringing this compact bill to the floor.
• read a compact recently.
• And the other compact bills we've done, they have the force of law.

Summary: The House established a quorum and then took up several bills for perfection and printing. House Bill 2189, sponsored by the Jasper member, would allow five-year vehicle registrations, eliminate the old even/odd model-year registration rule, and limit the five-year option to vehicles six years old or newer. Members discussed how the bill would interact with emissions, safety inspections, insurance verification, and county tax collection systems. House Amendment 1, which set the five-year fee at $45, was adopted, and the bill was then perfected and printed. The chamber next considered House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1790, a ballot-language measure sponsored by the St. Louis County member. The bill requires clearer ballot wording for local tax levies, including stating levy amounts in dollar terms, alphabetic labeling of propositions, disclosure when a measure would nullify a prior sunset, and a rollback rule tied to reassessment years and voter-approved levies. Members generally supported the transparency goals, and a drafting correction amendment adding a comma was adopted before the committee substitute was perfected and printed. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2178, sponsored by the Pike member, drew the most extended debate. The bill would limit commercial property assessment increases to 15% per reassessment cycle, require a physical inspection if increases exceed that threshold, and require Board of Equalization decisions by the end of September or revert to the prior year’s assessment. Amendments were adopted to add short-term rental protections so assessors cannot reclassify residential short-term rentals as commercial property, to incorporate ballot-language provisions from other bills, and to add taxpayer protections requiring clearer assessment notices, faster refunds, and litigation-cost recovery in some successful appeals. The body adopted House Amendment 1 by roll call, 92-43 with 5 present, and later adopted House Amendments 2 and 3; House Amendment 4 was then taken up for further discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The OT compact... The OT Compact was not live when we passed it. There weren't enough states.
• It is functionally similar to other compacts. Each compact has its own unique things.
• format for you to be a part of the compact.
• And these compacts are authorized by federal law.
• And these compacts are authorized by federal law.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2401, which would require physicians to complete continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health as part of the state’s rural health transformation effort. HHS supported the bill, saying it would help physicians better address chronic disease and preserve federal grant points tied to the state’s application. A member of the public also testified in favor, arguing that better nutrition education could improve diabetes outcomes and reduce costs. The committee then adopted an amendment to add the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice to the background-check statute so the occupational therapy compact could proceed, and it passed the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee next heard House Bill 1621, which would require the Presidential Fitness Physical Fitness Test in elementary, middle, and high school physical education courses. HHS said the bill was part of the rural health transformation application and could help preserve federal funding, but members raised many questions about the test’s criteria, adaptive options for students with disabilities, equipment needs, and whether the bill should apply to non-public schools. Senator Clemens offered an amendment to limit the requirement to public schools, but it failed. Senator Hogan then offered an amendment to clarify exemptions and allow DPI to align implementation with federal guidance; that amendment passed. A further amendment adding language allowing DPI to establish criteria for and exceptions to the test also passed. The committee then approved the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee also considered House Bill 1622, which joins North Dakota to the physician assistant licensure compact. HHS said the compact would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, support military families, and help preserve rural health transformation funding. Members noted the compact had been discussed in a prior session and that many earlier concerns had been resolved. After brief discussion about the compact process and its consistency with other interstate compacts, the committee voted to do pass the bill. Finally, the committee began Senate Bill 2402, which expands pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution powers. HHS and the Board of Pharmacy supported the bill as a way to improve access to care and maintain rural health transformation funding. Senator Roers introduced a detailed amendment negotiated with the Board of Medicine and Board of Pharmacy to narrow and clarify the bill, including notification requirements, limits on certain drug categories, and patient-protection language for therapeutic substitution. The Board of Pharmacy then testified in support of the broader bill and explained the CLIA-waived testing provisions and the repeal of the older, narrower pharmacist-testing language. The hearing and amendment discussion were still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today I will be discussing Purple Star School designation, the Military Interstate Compact Commission
• MC3 is our Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission. These are not just military kids.
• Mc3 is our military interstate children's compact commission. These are not just military kids.
• One that was referenced earlier was that there would be a compact adopted.
• Chairman Hawkins, Representative Galaviz, and committee, yes, so the compact, it was adopted in 2013.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Compactness for the congressional districts in our state.
• measures of compactness.
• Courtrooms across the United States use those measures to assess compactness.
• You mentioned That this is a compact, improves compactness, right? Yes.
• You looked at compactness, and what other factors did you look at?

Bills: SB 2 , SB 5 , SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , HB4 , HB1 , HB3 , HB20 , HB22 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , HB4 , SB2 , SB5

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments

Transcript Highlights:

• This compact is a little different than previous compacts, and I wasn't quite...
• that compact are put into rules.
• </c> stepstones are in that compact stepstones are in that compact and<00:25:36.880><c> in</c><00:25:
• </c> made it a compact. made it a compact.
• </c> and the fact again that the compact and the fact again that the compact creates<00:28:35.200><c>

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• full-time California undergraduates since the compact was signed in 2022.
• We were not fully funded with the compact. Our contract call for full funding.
• And so when we look at the compact, the fifth year of the compact and then the 2% of the fourth year
• We think that the compact was a great idea. We're committed to it.
• Our concern with the compact has been that the compact says, we're going to give you a base increase.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview hearing on the 2026-27 budget and policy issues for California’s three public higher education segments: the Community Colleges, CSU, and UC. Chair David Alvarez emphasized shared responsibility to expand access, right-size campuses to enrollment trends, improve transfer pathways, align programs with workforce needs, and measure success by completion, transfer, and job placement rather than participation alone. The chancellors and president each described their systems’ current enrollment trends, budget priorities, and efforts to collaborate more closely across segments. Chancellor Sonia Christian said community college enrollment has rebounded strongly and asked for 3% enrollment growth funding, more support for the Common Cloud Data Platform, credit for prior learning, AI literacy, and recovery-related workforce training in Los Angeles. She highlighted right-sizing efforts such as Peralta’s proposed consolidation into Oakland City College, and described partnerships with CSU, UC, employers, unions, and housing projects. Chancellor Mildred García said CSU is focusing on CSU Forward, enrollment growth, student success, facilities, and fiscal health monitoring, while reallocating enrollment and resources to higher-demand campuses. She cited intersegmental programs such as nursing pathways, 2+2 and 3-year degree programs, and AI curriculum work, and said the system is also addressing labor and compensation issues. President J.B. Milliken said UC is facing federal funding threats, investigations, and rising costs, but has reached record enrollment of more than 300,000 students, including over 200,000 California resident undergraduates. He supported continued compact funding, said UC is exploring more use of technology, experiential learning, and short-term credentials, and stressed the need to adapt while preserving UC’s research and medical mission. Members pressed all three leaders on common course numbering, transfer outcomes, enrollment reallocation, BSN capacity, deferred maintenance, and the role of the master plan; the leaders generally agreed more collaboration and flexibility are needed, and several committed to follow up with updated data and timelines. No formal votes were taken. Public comment followed, including support from the CSU employees union for the Governor’s budget and full funding of CSU obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m the president of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact.
• We’re a compact, not licensing compact, but a regional compact focused on post-secondary education, but
• I’m the president of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact.
• We’re a compact, not licensing compact, but a regional compact focused on post-secondary education, but
• Missouri received a 128-fold return on your membership with our compact.

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2510, sponsored by Rep. Steinmeier, which would create a coordinated state framework for critical minerals involving the Departments of Natural Resources, Economic Development, and Higher Education and Workforce Development. The sponsor said Missouri is well positioned because it contains 36 of 60 minerals deemed critical to national security and manufacturing, and argued the bill would help Missouri pursue federal funding, build a workforce pipeline, and support advanced manufacturing with a five-year sunset. Committee members questioned the need for a new state structure and fund, the cost to Missouri, the role of universities, and whether the task force was too narrowly written around the University of Missouri system and mistakenly included DESE instead of higher education. A Missouri Chamber witness supported the bill for its economic and national security benefits, while an environmental witness urged adding an environmental professional to the task force and a mining permitting framework, citing health and water concerns and suggesting a separate mining-regulation bill as an amendment. The committee then took up House Bill 2585, sponsored by Rep. Castile, which updates Missouri workforce development statutes to align with federal law and implement the new Workforce Pell Grant program. The sponsor said the bill would allow short-term, high-value training programs in fields like welding, public safety academies, health technology, and trucking to qualify for Pell support, while preserving oversight and tying eligibility to outcomes such as completion, job placement, and earnings. Members asked about the number and makeup of the workforce board, whether the bill’s staffing references still pointed to the wrong department, how the 150% poverty-level threshold and reporting metrics would work, and whether the board could move quickly enough to meet federal timelines. A Missouri Community College Association witness said all 12 community colleges have programs likely to qualify and explained the federal eligibility standards, including a 70% completion rate, 70% job placement rate, and three-year rolling data review; a FGA Action witness and the Missouri Chamber also supported the bill as a way to expand access to skills training and draw down federal funds. After the bill hearings, the committee received an informational presentation from the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. The presenter described the compact’s regional cost-saving work, including reciprocity for distance education, technology contracts, grants, and efforts on dual credit and FAFSA support. She also shared Missouri-specific data on educational attainment, enrollment trends, student migration, and net price, noting that Missouri lags slightly behind the U.S. in attainment, has projected declines in high school graduates, retains most in-state students, and has higher net prices for low-income students than the Midwest average. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll provide more detailed information on the compact.
• This section also explains key changes to the compact since it was first established.
• The changes in the 2021 compact also included the establishment of the compact trust fund.
• The changes in the 2021 compact also included the establishment of the compact trust fund.
• Our compact compliance reviews.

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee met as the House Commerce Committee of Reference to hear sunset reviews and a performance audit covering the Department of Gaming, the Racing Commission, the Boxing and MMA Commission, the Barbering and Cosmetology Board, and the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority. The Auditor General reported that the Department of Gaming and the two commissions generally met some statutory duties, but identified major issues: the department had not consistently reviewed independent audit reports for event wagering and fantasy sports operators, had disclosure and conflict-of-interest compliance gaps, lacked comprehensive complaint-handling processes, and was late distributing some compact trust fund payments to tribes. The Racing Commission needed better public records procedures, and the Boxing and MMA Commission had licensing and fee-setting issues. The department and commissions said they agreed with the findings and were implementing recommendations, with the department noting it had already begun look-back reviews, updated guidance, and additional staffing. Members also discussed consumer protection, illegal gambling, prediction markets, and whether out-of-state enforcement actions should affect Arizona licenses; the department said it would evaluate such matters case by case and generally wait for final adjudication or final regulatory action before acting. The committee then voted to recommend continuation of the Department of Gaming for two years until July 1, 2028, the Racing Commission for six years until July 1, 2032, and the Boxing and MMA Commission for six years until July 1, 2032. The Department of Gaming motion passed 7-4, the Racing Commission motion passed 10-1, and the Boxing and MMA Commission motion passed unanimously. The committee next heard the Barbering and Cosmetology Board audit. The Auditor General said the board timely processed many applications and complaints and had adopted curriculum rules, but it failed to enforce disciplinary guidelines consistently, sometimes issuing different sanctions for similar violations without documenting why it deviated from policy. The audit also found problems with reciprocity education requirements, application review quality control, inspections, open meeting and public records compliance, conflict-of-interest processes, fee-setting, and statutory clarity on scope of practice and training requirements. The board said it agreed with the findings, had already updated disciplinary parameters and documentation policies, and was working on the remaining recommendations and possible legislation. The committee then voted to continue the board for six years until July 1, 2032, and the motion passed unanimously. At the end of the meeting, the committee began hearing the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority performance audit, but the transcript provided cuts off before that presentation was completed or any action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and nations are in that compact.
• Here, this person is our liaison with all the compacts.
• So the gaming compacts, each of the tribes has a compact with the state, but essentially it's the same
• compact.
• The compacts run through 2037.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> public through a leak the leaked compact public through a leak the leaked compact grants<00:43:03.319
• Tetro, 1065 is separate and distinct from the requirements of the compacting statute.
• </c><00:48:48.680><c> entered</c> governor shall post any compact entered governor shall post any compact
• </c> it doesn't allow for any compacting it doesn't allow for any compacting agreement<00:52:58.319><
• </c> into compact into compact conversations<00:54:16.040><c> um</c><00:54:16.319><c> so</c><00:54:16.520

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 32 is counseling, and the reason the counseling was chosen to be one of the compacts that we would
• learned that most compacts require that at least six to eight states have signed on before the compact
• HB 32, counseling, is relatively new to the compact world, but has already issued...
• And I would note that this is the 10th compact that this body has passed this year.
• The 10th compact that this body has passed this year, and we can't clap.

Bills: HB95 , HB111 , HJR1 , HB32 , HB33 , HB61 , HJM2 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM3 , HM11 , HM14 , HM15 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB8 , HB30 , HB43 , HB156 , HM2 , HM16

Summary: The House opened with a quorum, prayer, pledge, and a series of announcements and recognitions tied to Gallup-McKinley County Day, including the presentation and passage of House Memorial 15 designating February 5, 2026, as Gallup-McKinley County Day. Members spoke at length in support of Gallup and McKinley County, its Native communities, cultural traditions, Route 66 heritage, economic development, and local schools and guests in the gallery. House Memorial 15 passed unanimously, 70-0. The chamber then took up House Memorial 3 recognizing nurses and other health care professionals. Several members and guests from labor and health care organizations spoke in support, emphasizing the dedication of frontline workers and the importance of honoring nurses. The memorial passed unanimously, 70-0. The House also passed House Bill 32, a counseling licensure compact, after adopting a technical amendment, by 63-0; House Bill 33, a psychologist compact, by 64-0; and House Bill 95, creating a fifth judge position in the Second Judicial District family court division, after a friendly amendment removing an appropriation because funding was already in the budget, by 65-0. During committee reports, the House adopted favorable reports on several measures, including House Bill 70 substitute, Senate Bill 3 as amended, House Bills 246, 254, 271, 276, 288, and House Joint Memorial 3. In introductions, the House referred several memorials and Senate bills, including measures on teacher workload study, detention facility reuse, health insurance affordability, gifted education endorsements, special education, and burglary definitions. The House also announced committee meetings, upcoming events, and the annual House-versus-Senate basketball game, then recessed until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Once seven states have passed the same legislation, the compact can be formed.
• Like so many of the other compacts we have heard, it is a good compact.
• I'd like to thank the lady for bringing this compact bill to the floor.
• read a compact recently.
• Number four, comply with and enforce the rules of the compact commission.

Summary: The House established a quorum and then moved to House bills for perfection and printing. House Bill 2189, sponsored by the gentleman from Jasper, would allow five-year vehicle registrations, eliminate the current odd/even model-year registration rule, and limit the five-year option to vehicles six years old or newer. Members asked about emissions and safety inspections, insurance verification, and personal property tax compliance; the sponsor said the Department of Revenue could track those items electronically and that the bill was intended to simplify registration for citizens. House Amendment 1, which set the five-year fee at $45, was adopted, and the bill was then perfected and printed as amended. The House then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1790, a “fair ballot language” bill. The sponsor said it would require clearer ballot language for local tax levies, including stating tax rates in cents and their dollar impact, labeling propositions alphabetically, requiring disclosure when a measure would nullify a prior voter-approved sunset, and closing a loophole in the Hancock Amendment so taxing entities still roll back levies after reassessment while retaining voter-approved increases. Members generally supported the transparency goals, and a brief amendment adding a comma to existing statutory language was adopted. The committee substitute was then adopted, perfected, and printed. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2178 was then considered, with several amendments. House Amendment 1, offered by the gentleman from Pike, capped assessment increases at 15% over two years and provided a tax credit for amounts above that threshold; after a roll call, it was adopted 92-43. House Amendment 2, from the gentleman from Clay, prevented assessors from reclassifying short-term rental properties from residential to commercial solely because of short-term rental use; it was adopted after debate over whether LLC-owned properties should be treated differently. House Amendment 3, from the gentleman from Jackson, incorporated ballot-language provisions from earlier bills to require clearer labeling and disclosure on property tax measures, and it was adopted. House Amendment 4, also from the gentleman from Jackson, required assessors to disclose valuation methods and supporting data, set a 30-day refund deadline with interest for late refunds, and allowed taxpayers to recover certain litigation costs when appeals succeed; it too was adopted. The bill then continued with discussion of Hancock-by-subclass and related property tax issues, with members debating how the proposal would affect residential, commercial, and agricultural taxpayers.

Transcript Highlights:

• We at UC San Diego and UC have upheld the compact.
• During the compact period, and as an aside, from 2017 to 2023, we grew by 31%.
• , whether that is actually a contract or just a compact.
• , and San Diego during each year of the compact.
• We just would like to oppose the cuts and restore the compact.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> psychology inter jurisdictional compact. psychology inter jurisdictional compact.
• </c> already participating in the compact. already participating in the compact.
• However, uh this compact to decide.
• </c> for what the compact actually covers? for what the compact actually covers?
• So, minimum doctoral degree plus internship experience and compact... and the compact, I believe, is

Bills: HB1853 , HB1591 , HB1961 , HB1854 , HB1965 , HB1962 , HB1959 , HB2505 , HB2576 , HB1801 , HB1804 , HB1864 , HB2319 , HB2314 , HB2115

Committee: House Health

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2047, relating to pharmacy benefit managers. The Insurance Division said the bill would require new enforcement resources and estimated an appropriation of about $1.5 million and five positions. Kaiser Permanente asked for an amendment to exclude HMOs from the definition of third-party PBMs, saying the bill should not interfere with integrated care models. PCMA and the Hawaii Pharmacist Association supported narrowing amendments, with pharmacists objecting to section 3 and warning the bill as amended could create major operational burdens and a significant general fund cost. No vote was taken in the portion provided, and the chair moved on to the next measure after questions. The committee then took up SB 2080, which would allow Hawaii to join the psychology interjurisdictional compact. Supporters, including DCR, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, the Grassroot Institute, and others, said the compact would expand access to psychology services, especially for people in rural areas or those needing continuity of care while traveling. Opponents, including the Board of Psychology and a Shamanad University psychology professor, raised concerns about client safety, crisis-response procedures, enforcement costs, FBI background checks, and possible loss of state control over training and specialization standards. The board said Hawaii’s current 1,900-hour internship/postdoc requirement is higher than the compact’s standard and that the state is still implementing a separate provisional licensing law that may address some access issues. The discussion focused on whether the compact would meaningfully reduce shortages and whether Hawaii should instead pursue changes within its existing licensing system. Finally, the committee heard SB 2277 on hospital price transparency. The Office of Consumer Protection initially noted the bill could require significant staffing, but later testimony from SHIP suggested the measure could be handled more simply by working with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii and publicly posting violations. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii opposed the bill, arguing hospitals already must comply with federal CMS transparency rules and that adding state requirements would increase costs and legal exposure, especially if violations were treated as unfair or deceptive trade practices. Steve Fenberg testified in support, saying the bill would simply codify existing federal requirements in state law and that he was open to amendments removing state enforcement and the unfair trade practice language. No final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, the compacts will fix that.
• Last legislative session, and that was the compacts.
• Legislators that I talk to, right, is how we get the compacts.
• to go before the compact commission, so there's no way for us to get that accomplished for even one compact
• I don't know enough about the compacts to see if there's one standard compact that we go under and they

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we look at the compact, the fifth year of the compact and then the 2% of the fourth year of the
• compact, I think we're going to have a lot of discussions there.
• the fifth year of the compact and then the 2% of the fourth year of the compact so I think we're going
• Our concern with the compact has been...
• Our concern with the compact has been that the compact says we're going to give you a base increase.