Transcript Highlights:

• I thought it was in the, um, was a two-digit budget, but okay.
• Yeah, so that's where the challenge and opportunity intersect, I would say.
• Yeah, so that's where the challenge and opportunity intersect, I would say.
• All that to say, we try to influence where opportunities exist.
• Again, grateful for the opportunity, and I'll step back and offer myself for any questions.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services held an informational briefing on Kupuna Care funding, distribution, utilization, and the status of program rules. The Office of Aging explained that state Kupuna Care funds are distributed using the same federally approved interstate funding formula used for Older Americans Act funds, with eight weighted factors tailored to Hawaii’s conditions: older adults, greatest economic need, low-income minority status, disability, language barriers, geographic isolation, inverse population density, and older adults living alone in poverty. The department said the formula is based on census and American Community Survey data, with current county shares listed as Kauai 7.45%, Honolulu 69.61%, Maui 11.7%, and Hawaii County 17.88%. Officials said the formula is being reviewed with current data and will need federal approval and then public hearing before final adoption. Members questioned how the program works in practice, noting that the statute and eligibility language can sound like direct individual benefits even though services are delivered through area agencies on aging, ADRCs, and contracted providers such as meal and adult day care programs. The Office of Aging said ADRCs determine eligibility and then refer clients to authorized providers, who must meet service standards in their contracts. The chair pressed repeatedly for long-delayed rules, saying the Legislature had expected them years earlier and that clear rules are needed to ensure funds are spent properly and to avoid conflicts of interest. The department acknowledged the delay, said draft rules were written in 2023 after earlier commitments to finish sooner, and said it paused while federal Older Americans Act rules were being updated; it now expects to send the rules to the Deputy Attorney General, then out for public hearing, with a goal of completion in 2025. The department also reported utilization data for the last two fiscal years. In 2023, it expended about 93% of its allocation and served 5,473 older adults at an average annual cost of $1,358; in 2024, it expended about 97% and served 5,520 older adults, with the average cost down by about $200, which officials said may indicate fewer services per person. Eligibility was described as age 60 or older, U.S. citizen or qualified alien, with cognitive impairment or disability and functional deficits, and the statewide profile showed many participants were homebound, living alone, or below poverty. The most-used services were transportation, case management, and home-delivered meals. The chair also asked about the former Kupuna caregiver program; officials said the programs are now combined under Kupuna Care, with most funding going to adult day care to provide respite for working caregivers. County representatives then described local conditions, especially on Hawaii Island. Hawaii County officials said the county covers about 5,000 square miles, has about 208,000 residents, and roughly 24% are age 65 or older. They identified three main challenges: staffing shortages and retention problems among providers, shortages within the county department itself, and the loss of adult day care capacity, with only one center remaining on the island and none on the west side. They said these constraints limit service delivery even as demand grows. At the same time, they highlighted successes such as serving people in the community before they need higher levels of care, providing caregiver counseling and training through adult day care, serving 467 individuals locally, and ensuring the Resource Center answers calls from caregivers seeking help.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to speak on HB 140.
• </c><00:53:10.160><c> for</c> know there was an opportunity for know there was an opportunity for everybody
• Thank you for this opportunity to speak to House Bill 663.
• You try to plug in your, like, digit plates. Yeah. Doesn't go. Oh, interesting. Yeah.
• </c> You try to plug in your like digit You try to plug in your like digit plates.<01:59:19.920><c> Yeah

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Father God, I thank you for the opportunity and privilege to be in front of such a grand fashion of people
• And that's because we were afforded the opportunity to get an education on an equal basis. Correct?
• Disclosures required on digital materials. Representative Knox: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• What it simply does is it extends the disclosure rules to digital material.
• It should be made clear in that digital material that this is paid for by so-and-so campaign.

Bills: HR115, HR116, HR117, HR118, HR112, HR113, HR114, HCR51, HCR52, SCR18, SCR20, SB14, SB76, SB118, SB142, SB156, SB170, SB197, SB234, SB258, SB287, SB288, SB313, SB315, SB393, SB396, SB426, SB427, HCR7, HB76, HB84, HB132, HB181, HB210, HB250, HB265, HB275, HB291, HB322, HB342, HB457, HB475, HB477, HB486, HB616, HB635, HB639, HB690, HB740, HB757, HB761, HB766, HB774, HB808, HB855, HB866, HB872, HB883, HB886, HB903, HB949, HB962, HB996, HB1003, HB1036, HB1054, HB1071, HB1076, HB1078, HB1113, HB1132, HB1146, HB1232, HB1233, HR15, HR20, HCR14, HCR6, HCR19, HCR10, HR74, HCR26, HCR35, HB98, HB108, HB131, HB151, HB161, HB288, HB294, HB305, HB310, HB320, HB336, HB380, HB392, HB403, HB420, HB459, HB476, HB540, HB615, HB631, HB637, HB648, HB665, HB682, HB789, HB813, HB815, HB835, HB870, HB905, HB915, HB933, HB938, HB987, HB1040, HB51, HB82, HB143, HB145, HB160, HB180, HB192, HB393, HB430, HB445, HB506, HB515, HB521, HB565, HB590, HB614, HB638, HB670, HB672, HB685, HB692, HB752, HB773, HB781, HB799, HB860, HB874, HB887, HB917, HB937, HB956, HB965, HB972, HB977, HB982, HB1006, HB1010, HB1044, HB1072, HB1088, HB1179, HB1200, HB81, HB400, HB154, HB410, HB463, HB827, HB868, HB952, HB953, HB140, HB750, HB911, HB52, HB961, HB399, HB401, HB901, HB9, HB58, HB193, HB284, HB570, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB733

Keywords: Kappa Alpha Psi, fraternity, Louisiana, commemoration, community engagement, recognition, state championship, basketball, sports achievement, school commendation, commendation, athletics, team sports, youth, community recognition, water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to be here today.
• This would just be another opportunity for us to get that tie to us, have them still serve the state
• This would just be another opportunity for us to get that tie to us, have them still serve the state
• This would just be another opportunity for us to get that tie to us, have them still serve the state
• So that's the one-time planning cost to get each community set up with an online digital plan.

Bills: HB0078, SF0012, SF0013, SF0052, SF0069, SF0070

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, wildlife management, environmental restoration

Transcript Highlights:

• Nowadays everything's online and digital, so this just modernizes the bill and says that we would allow
• refers to phone lines and track-based accounts, while the bill modernizes the law for online and digital
• He says he thinks the opportunity to do rulemaking and put some guardrails around this would get ahead
• tourism office has consistently shown that every dollar spent on tourism marketing yields a double-digit
• return in investment as double digit return in investment as much<00:17:56.559><c> as</c><00:17:56.640

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Speaker, thanks for the opportunity to articulate my serious concerns about the legislation.
• He thanks Madam Speaker for the opportunity to express his concerns.
• <00:18:42.520><c> to</c> opportunity to opportunity to articulate<00:18:43.800><c> my</c><00:18:43.960
• House Bill 351, constitutional rights violations and digital unmasking, amendment number one.
• House Bill 351, constitutional rights violations and digital unmasking, amendment number one.

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, April 10, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, being from eastern Washington, when it heats up, it heats up, so this is just an opportunity
• Anyway, this bill establishes a statewide digital transcript data-sharing environment. Good bill.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. I am Dr.
• Expanding opportunity is something that we're really interested in doing.
• Our UCs and our CSUs provide opportunities for California kids.
• opportunity.
• No to job opportunities, no to scholarships, no to so many opportunities that allow us to continue to

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity this morning.
• There are many requests for recreational opportunities on state lands across the state.
• right now, the Department of Lands has one recreation person statewide to manage all recreational opportunities
• This bill sets a new policy for the operation of the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance.
• It does allow dual credit students to use money that's available from advanced opportunities.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met and introduced several RS drafts on a range of topics. Representative Raymond presented RS 33739 on coordinating the Department of Lands and Parks and Recreation for recreational opportunities on state lands and allowing a fee to support the endowment; it was introduced unanimously. Representative Veiley’s RS 33737 on large-load electricity rates and preventing socialization of costs to other ratepayers was also introduced unanimously. Representative Van der Woude brought RS 33718 and RS 33740, both related to Medicaid oversight and Medicaid expansion work requirements. Members raised concerns about added administrative burden, costs, and potential loss of coverage; both RSs were introduced, with Representatives Rubel, Birch, and Church recorded as nays. Representative Redman’s RS 33558 would impose a five-year moratorium on new administrative rules and fee increases and shift small rule chapters into statute; it was introduced after debate over separation of powers, public participation, and agency expertise. Redman also presented RS 33724 on school recess discipline and RS 33745 on rural health funding oversight, both of which were introduced and sent to the second reading calendar. The committee also introduced RS 33679, which would authorize AI-assisted analysis in the state rule-review process. Members discussed the need for human review and safeguards, and the sponsor noted the bill requires qualified personnel to verify AI output. Finally, Representative Pickett’s RS 33742 on Idaho Digital Learning Alliance restructured IDLA, capped administrative costs, set course fees, and addressed funding duplication; a motion to return it to the sponsor failed, and the RS was introduced, with several members recorded in opposition. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was It dawns on me that there was no committee opportunity.
• It authorizes middle school CAPE digital tools.
• It authorizes middle school CAPE digital tools.
• For me, teachers need to have that opportunity.
• For me, teachers need to have that opportunity.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So for committee members, if you have any questions, now is your opportunity. Excellent.
• In the court rules, there is an opportunity for a person to request a payment plan and for the court
• They still have certain reporting requirements to the court, so the court does have some opportunity
• I appreciate the opportunity... And that's the frustration. Thank you. Senator Hohley.
• I appreciate the opportunity to testify. My name is Seth Dawson.

Bills: HB2543

Keywords: county clerk, fees, local government, administrative costs, revenue generation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So for committee members, if you have any questions, now is your opportunity. Excellent.
• In the court rules, there is an opportunity for a person to request a payment plan and for the court
• They still have certain reporting requirements to the court, so the court does have some opportunity
• I appreciate the opportunity Ranking Member Holy, Vice Chair Trudeau, it's a pleasure to be here this
• I appreciate the opportunity to testify. My name is Seth Dawson.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. Substitute House Bill 2158 would authorize remote notarization of tangible records and remote oaths/affirmations, with record-retention requirements and no fiscal impact; the prime sponsor and staff described it as an access-to-justice measure, and the bill drew strong support in signed-in testimony. Substitute House Bill 2239 would create a framework for family burial grounds on private land, including setbacks, notice, recording, local regulation authority, and grandfathering of existing sites; supporters said it would help rural families and some tribal members bury loved ones on family land, while WSDOT raised a technical concern about the setback from rights-of-way. Substitute House Bill 2178 would reconcile statutes with court rules on malicious mischief aggregation, infraction deadlines, payment plans, and treasurer handling of certain funds; the sponsor and AOC described it as a technical cleanup with no fiscal impact, and it was supported by AOC. The committee then heard Engrossed House Bill 2445, which would tighten probate procedures to curb “probates for profit” by extending the time to petition, narrowing who qualifies as a suitable personal representative, changing venue, adding notice and reporting requirements, and regulating agreements with transferees for value and heir-finding firms. The sponsor, Attorney General’s Office, and Northwest Justice Project said the bill would protect grieving families from predatory actors, while some probate attorneys warned it could sweep too broadly and affect legitimate heir-finding services; the sponsor said he was open to further discussion and written recommendations. Substitute House Bill 2543 would update county clerk fees to match new appellate court rules and modernize outdated references such as CDs; county clerks and county officials supported it as a technical, cost-recovery measure. Finally, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2165 would create a standalone gross misdemeanor for false identification as a peace officer, replacing part of the criminal impersonation statute and adding prohibitions on badges, vehicles, and attire that mimic law enforcement, with exceptions for lawful, artistic, and inherited items. The sponsor, the governor’s office, and a city representative supported it as a public-safety and trust measure, citing impersonation incidents and protections for immigrant communities. The committee also began hearing Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2532 on nitrous oxide, which would make it a gross misdemeanor to sell or distribute nitrous oxide canisters for personal use while exempting medical, veterinary, dental, food, industrial, and automotive uses; members questioned how the law would be enforced and whether additional controlled-substance treatment would be needed. No votes were taken during the hearing excerpts provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nurse registries must post a clear and conspicuous disclaimer on the website home page and all digital
• And if we ever had the opportunity to go to a wedding at a hotel, I say in the shallow and same thing
• Have an opportunity to sit as the chair is a little challenging more Than what you think of one would
• So just in case, I wanted to use this brief opportunity to let you all know what we're up against.

Transcript Highlights:

• : Chair Duggan, Vice Chair, Ranking Member Eskamani and subcommittee members, thank you for the opportunity
• This is a phenomenal opportunity for workforce attainable.
• can wring our hands over some of the stuff, but what I am here to do is to put forward to you an opportunity
• They stamp it digitally and you are given an email right there at the check-in when you come to the country

Transcript Highlights:

• I value this annual opportunity.
• It gives me an opportunity to meet you here in the chambers where you enact the laws that we are charged
• When the vendor supporting that system announced it would discontinue the software, we used the opportunity
• challenges, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, while improving juror access to digital

Summary: The House convened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the journal from the previous legislative day. In committee reports, several measures were printed and referred: House Joint Memorial 9, House Resolution 19, House Concurrent Resolution 22, and House Bills 499 through 506 were assigned to the appropriate standing committees or calendars. Later, House Bills 507 through 510 were also introduced and referred for printing, including a transportation bill on vehicle inspections, a government transparency and ethics bill, and other technical or policy measures. The House also took up House Resolution 20, a State Affairs Committee resolution condemning political violence, honoring victims, and urging Idahoans to reject political violence. During announcements, members noted the Chief Justice’s scheduled address, a birthday recognition for the Sergeant at Arms, a gallery introduction, and an invitation to a legislative reception hosted by the Idaho Association of Building Officials. Committee meeting schedules for the week were also read into the record. Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan addressed the House on the state of Idaho’s judiciary, emphasizing fiscal restraint, rising caseloads, treatment courts, mediation, access to justice, courthouse modernization, security concerns, cybersecurity threats, and civic education efforts. He highlighted the judiciary’s use of existing resources, the importance of peer support in mental health courts, and ongoing collaboration with counties and the legislature. The House responded appreciatively, and then adjourned until 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I value this annual opportunity.
• It gives me an opportunity to meet you here in the chambers where you enact the laws that we are charged
• When the vendor supporting that system announced it would discontinue the software, we used the opportunity
• challenges, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, while improving juror access to digital

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous journal. Committee reports then moved several measures: House Joint Memorial 9, House Resolution 19, House Concurrent Resolution 22, and House Bills 499 through 506 were printed and referred to the appropriate committees or calendars. House Resolution 20, condemning political violence and honoring victims, was introduced and sent to Judiciary, Rules and Administration for printing. The House also received first readings of House Bills 507 through 510. These bills would revise militia and military affairs provisions, make changes to highway and bridge laws, limit certain vehicle inspections by the Idaho Transportation Department, and update government transparency and ethics laws, including protections for public employee communications with the legislature and legislative public records requests. All four bills were referred to the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee for printing. The main event of the day was an address by the Chief Justice to the House. He described the judiciary’s workload, including rising civil caseloads, criminal and juvenile cases, and the continued use of treatment courts, mediation, remote hearings, and online access tools. He emphasized fiscal restraint, courthouse security, cybersecurity threats, and the need for public education about the courts, while noting recent county courthouse projects and the loss of funding for peer support services in mental health courts. The House thanked the Chief Justice and other judges, then adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll take the opportunity next week to formally pay our respects as a Senate family.
• This comprehensive package creates opportunities for our rural communities to expand education offerings
• we've tried many different ways to manage IT, from the Agency for State Technology to the Florida Digital
• Senator Harrell is sponsoring legislation to increase early detection, intervention, and support opportunities

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, presentation of the colors, and the national anthem. The chamber welcomed cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, former Senate presidents and colleagues, and other guests. Senators also observed moments of silence honoring former Senator Geraldine Thompson and former Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and the Senate dedicated its 2024-2026 handbook to Thompson in recognition of her work in education and civics. The main action of the day was adoption of SCR 1294, which authorized the House and Senate to meet in joint session in the House chamber at 11 a.m. that day to receive a message from Governor Ron DeSantis. The resolution was adopted without objection, rules were waived, and it was immediately certified to the House. The Secretary was also directed to notify the House and Governor that the Senate was convened and ready to proceed with the 2025 regular session. In a lengthy opening-day address, the President outlined the session’s priorities, emphasizing rural Florida, citrus and agriculture, government efficiency, IT and cybersecurity reform, administrative rule review, affordability, insurance and property tax relief, autism services, veterans’ support, mental health and child welfare legislation, Everglades restoration, public school administrative efficiency, and food insecurity. No substantive debate or roll-call votes were taken beyond the unanimous adoption of the concurrent resolution. The Senate then adjourned until March 12, 2025, or upon the call of the President.

Transcript Highlights:

• GM wants to support local dealerships with tools to thrive. in the increasingly digital marketplace.
• efficiency, and puts Texas dealers at a disadvantage compared to retailers in other states, or even digital-only

Bills: SB35, SB249, SB546, SB1353, SB1493, SB2246, SB1902, SB1029

Keywords: transportation, TxDOT, Texas Department of Transportation, road projects, highways, infrastructure, bridge construction, interchanges, corridor improvements, road widening, railroad grade separation, sound barrier, unified transportation program, legislative notice, project prioritization, capital projects, state highway system, Farm-to-Market Roads, San Antonio, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• So the opportunity cost associated with that is kind of the issue here.
• So the opportunity cost associated with that is kind of the issue here.
• When you and I were growing up during the '80s, it was single digits.
• Obviously, Sigma is going to, is here to. opportunities.
• It’s those opportunities for our youth. And I said that from firsthand.

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact and Agriculture, held at Fresno State, focused on cost pressures in California’s food system, household affordability, and the Central Valley’s role in agriculture. Opening remarks emphasized Fresno State’s regional importance, the Central Valley’s outsized contribution to food production, and the connection between agricultural health, food security, and the broader economy. Members also noted the impact of the federal shutdown on CalFresh benefits and the state’s efforts to respond with food assistance funding and National Guard support for food banks. The first panel featured academic and policy experts who described agriculture’s economic importance in the San Joaquin Valley and the rising pressures on farms and households. Dr. Conduro highlighted agriculture’s large share of regional GDP, farm receipts, jobs, exports, and food manufacturing, while identifying water scarcity, SGMA-related land fallowing, labor shortages and rising labor costs, market volatility, invasive pests, and production cost inflation as major barriers. Caroline Danielson of PPIC said food prices remain about 30% above 2019 levels, food insecurity affects about 1.8 million California households, and nutrition programs such as CalFresh, WIC, and school meals are essential in reducing poverty, especially in the Central Valley. Susie Pryor of the Central California Small Business Development Center described technical assistance, capital access, and training for small food and farm businesses, while warning that reduced funding limits support for rural and immigrant entrepreneurs. The second panel brought testimony from a small produce business owner, a food entrepreneur, and the Fresno County Farm Bureau. They said input costs for fertilizer, fuel, irrigation, labor, land leases, and compliance have risen sharply while commodity prices have remained flat or fallen, squeezing small farms and food businesses. Panelists stressed the need for small-batch processing facilities, local supply chains, education on food manufacturing compliance, land access for small farmers, and more pathways into agriculture through trade programs, community colleges, and FFA. Ryan Jacobson said California agriculture is facing a prolonged downturn, with farm bankruptcies, weak commodity prices, export-market uncertainty, water reliability problems, and costly ag-burning rules all contributing to financial strain. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken; the hearing was informational and concluded with discussion of possible policy solutions and continued engagement with stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• health law, particularly for funding universal postpartum home visiting, perinatal mood and anxiety, digital
• I do think there is an opportunity, and we'd have to take a vote on this, but if the commission thinks
• So this is just our opportunity to turn the floor over to the commissioners.

Summary: The commission reviewed the House and Senate budget outcomes for maternal and perinatal health-related amendments as the budget moved into conference committee. On the House side, amendments for community-based perinatal mental health grants, implementation of maternal health law, the Tuff Center for Maternal Health Advancement, private insurance coverage for midwifery care, a midwifery workforce development fund, and birthing center grants were not adopted. On the Senate side, several items were adopted, including funding for the Mass Now menstrual equity program, a $1 million earmark for the Neighborhood Birth Center, and Senator Rausch’s out-of-state resident reproductive health training pilot, while other proposals such as the midwifery workforce fund, a health education trust fund, and the Tuff Center request were not accepted. Members discussed whether the commission should send a letter to the conference committee. Several speakers supported doing so, but emphasized that the commission’s core mission is perinatal and postpartum mental health and that the budget wins, while important, did not explicitly fund PMAD or perinatal mental health priorities. The commission voted unanimously to send a letter highlighting the broader maternal health wins while also urging continued investment in perinatal and postpartum supports. The meeting also covered commission vacancies, including a vacant House minority seat, several governor-appointed seats, an open Senate co-chair appointment, and other commissioner slots. Members suggested possible future appointees or organizational representatives, including people connected to the Children’s Trust, addiction-affected families, and midwifery. The meeting ended with brief updates on upcoming minutes, future presenters, and the end of the legislative session, followed by adjournment.