Transcript Highlights:

• Sharon</c><00:07:15.760><c> Hurd,</c> Member of the Board, Sharon Hurd, Member of the Board, Sharon Hurd
• Board of Agriculture and of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity<00:07:34.120><c> that</c><00:07
• ,</c> Board of Ag and Biosecurity, Board of Ag and Biosecurity, gubernatorial<00:20:25.920><c> nominee
• </c> board as a veterinarian with decades of board as a veterinarian with decades of experience<00:24
• resources to the Board of Agriculture.

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The committee heard gubernatorial nominations for the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. For GM 615, Matthew Liam was nominated to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, CGAPS, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau testified in strong support, citing his landscape industry leadership, pesticide training background, and prior service. Members asked about his experience in Australia and his approach to restricted-use pesticides; he said he avoided using restricted-use pesticides in his landscaping business but applied related safety and recordkeeping practices. Testimony was unanimous in support, with no opposition or comments. For GM 616, N. Young was nominated to the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Support testimony from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council highlighted his experience with Lanai agriculture, Sensei, the Food Basket, Pacific Gateway Center, Kamehameha Schools, and institutional purchasing. In response to questions, he discussed balancing public and private funding, the need for adequate capitalization of agricultural projects, and using financial tools to help farmers and accelerate agricultural income streams. He also said the board should focus on making agricultural land productive and strengthening food security. The nomination drew strong support, with no opposition or comments. For GM 617, Jason Moniz was nominated to the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council supported him, emphasizing his decades of veterinary and animal disease control experience, ranching background, and knowledge of biosecurity, leases, and livestock issues. Moniz said his priorities would be preserving agricultural land and water resources, improving biosecurity, supporting farmers and ranchers, and increasing food production in Hawaii. He also said he would be willing to speak up for agriculture and not let the department be sidelined. The nomination received 29 written and oral supports, with no opposition or comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a member of the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board.
• So those are the four main functions of the board and underneath each one of those.
• chair of the Sex Offender Policy Board.
• I think there are, you know, many generations ago in terms of board members.
• I think there, you know, many generations ago and in terms of board members, I think the current board

Bills: HB2464 , SGA9305

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: detention facilities, law enforcement, reporting requirements, incidents, private detention

Transcript Highlights:

• That is not a function of the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board.
• That is not a function of the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board.
• three in each classification of the board members to be a part of that process.
• three in each classification of the board members to be a part of that process.
• </c> boards for people inside and outside of boards for people inside and outside of work<01:14:34.960

Bills: HF500 , HF718 , HF1096 , HF1246 , HF1469

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Board of Veterinary examiners Kentucky Board of Veterinary examiners Michelle<00:05:19.160><c> Shane<
• to the board scope of practice and specifications.
• to the board scope of practice and specifications.
• to the board scope of practice and specifications.
• ><c> thank</c> the board of Veterinary examiners thank the board of Veterinary examiners thank you<00

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture met for its first session and took up Senate Bill 69, as amended by a committee substitute. The substitute was adopted by motion and vote, and the chair noted that a fiscal note had been requested but not yet received, so the bill would proceed and the fiscal note would be trailed. The bill concerns equine dental care and related chiropractic services, creating a licensing and regulatory framework for equine dental providers and allied animal health practitioners. Senator Robin Webb, the bill sponsor, said the substitute made technical corrections requested by the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and the chiropractors association. She described the measure as a compromise intended to clarify scopes of practice, establish a credentialing/licensing board, and provide a legal pathway for people who have long provided equine dental services, especially in rural areas where veterinary access can be limited. Supporters said the bill would improve accountability, allow providers to obtain liability insurance, and preserve referrals to veterinarians for issues outside the defined scope. Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and Board of Veterinary Examiners representatives said the bill was developed through a working group, modeled in part on Texas, and would include continuing education, grievance procedures, and due process protections. Justin Tallup, an equine dental provider, testified in favor, saying the bill would not change day-to-day practice but would legalize and formalize it. He said the scope would be limited to floating and balancing molars and incisors and removing caps and wolf teeth, with anything beyond that referred to veterinarians. He also said certification requires formal training, case submissions, testing, and annual continuing education. Senator Deneen asked about sedation, and witnesses said sedatives would still be prescribed and dispensed by a veterinarian under a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship, with the owner administering them. Michelle Shane of the Board of Veterinary Examiners said the board supported the bill’s disciplinary framework and would defer to federal law on controlled substances. Dr. William Rainbow, a veterinarian, testified against the bill, arguing that equine dentistry is veterinary medicine and that the proposal would allow undertrained practitioners to work without sufficient standards, including a grandfathering provision. He said practitioners should have training comparable to licensed veterinary technicians and warned that the bill could leave horses vulnerable to poor care. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion of the meeting provided, but the chair indicated time was running short and that a vote would be needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Larry Williams, who is the chairman of the board of directors of the... Senior high school.
• We have Larry Williams, who is the chairman of the board of directors of the Miami Northwestern Alumni
• education, and the State Board of Education, because that information is already reported in other requirements
• Could we please open up the board for co-sponsorship of the amendment?
• Lock the board and record the board.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer by Rabbi Moshe Umatz, the Pledge of Allegiance led by pages, and several introductions and recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar after a motion to reconsider SB 1080, which was temporarily postponed. Several bills were also set aside during the day, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, and school social workers. The Senate passed a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills. These included funding for expedited DNA testing grants for local law enforcement (SB 1072/HB 847), additional aggravating factors in capital cases involving religious, school, or government gatherings (SB 984/HB 693), fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients (SB 924/HB 677), commuter rail indemnification for Miami-Dade and Broward counties (SB 916/HB 867), restrictions on disposing of migrant vessels in Florida waters (SB 830), specialty license plates including Miami Northwestern and several colleges and institutions (SB 824), an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign (SB 398), relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University (SB 364), charter school changes allowing parent conversion and municipal job-engine charter schools (SB 140), sex offender registration reporting changes (SB 1654/HB 1351), penalties for assaulting utility workers (SB 1386), juvenile justice revisions and truancy process updates (SB 1344), reporting of student mental health outcomes (SB 1310/HB 969), foster home license transfer simplification (SB 1174/HB 989), water access facility funding and boating industry incentives (SB 1162/HB 735), Florida Virtual School operational changes (SB 1122), school readiness program support for children with disabilities (SB 1102), sexual image offenses involving minors (SB 1180/HB 757), age-related defenses in child sex offense cases (SB 1136/HB 777), tampering with electronic monitoring devices (SB 1054/HB 437), certified recovery residences and local zoning accommodations (SB 954), and the FSU Election Law Center (SB 892). Most of these bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though SB 984 and SB 140 drew some opposition. One of the most extensive debates centered on SB 820, codifying the Office of Faith and Community. Senator Polsky offered an amendment to bar political activity by office staff, citing emails and campaign-related communications tied to Amendment 4; the amendment failed on a 13-23 vote. Senators then debated the bill’s relationship to state election law, free speech, and the role of faith-based outreach. Supporters emphasized the office’s service network and reported benefits to children and families, while some senators raised concerns about interfaith representation and political use of government resources. The bill was then read a third time and the Senate proceeded toward a final vote as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• the town, or incapacity of any select board member, the remaining members of the select board may appoint
• Incapacity shall include the failure of any member of the select board to attend at least 50% of the
• the town, or incapacity of any select board member, the remaining members of the select board may appoint
• Section 208A clerk of the select board.
• </c><00:30:22.880><c> the</c> board to attend at least 50% of the board to attend at least 50% of the

Transcript Highlights:

• All of the remaining positions, 29 at the Water Board, and all of the positions at DPR, DTSC, and CalRecycle
• ago from the Department of Public Health to the state board.
• are incredibly proud of the work that we've been able to do as a board to stay on top of and continue
• the update of the Bay-Delta Plan is a top priority for the board.
• And because of that, some of the tools that the water board now has to rely on in state statute are not

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss budget issues related to vacant positions across several natural resources and environmental departments, with no votes taken and all items held open for a future hearing. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance explained the administration’s proposal to eliminate about 6,000 vacant positions statewide, including roughly 293 positions in the departments before the committee, as a way to capture salary savings and reduce flexible funding tied up in vacancies. The LAO recommended retaining special-funded positions, while noting that eliminating General Fund positions would reduce savings. Finance argued that vacancy levels have remained steady statewide, that departments need flexibility to manage operations and hard-to-fill jobs, and that some vacant positions can be reclassified to higher-priority work. Members raised concerns that many of the proposed eliminations would affect core public-safety, permitting, and environmental-protection functions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said the cuts would affect permitting, environmental protection, and law enforcement, while State Parks said its proposed ranger reductions were chosen from historically vacant, hard-to-fill positions and would still leave many vacancies to fill through the academy. The Coastal Commission said its positions supported sea-level rise planning under SB 272. The Department of Pesticide Regulation and DTSC said the reductions would affect multiple program areas, though Finance said the special funds involved were not in structural deficit and the cuts could help avoid future fee increases. The State Water Resources Control Board said its proposed reductions were spread across programs, with public-health functions protected as much as possible. The committee then heard an overview from the State Water Resources Control Board on its responsibilities for water quality, water rights, drinking water, and funding for water infrastructure. Chair Joaquin Esquivel described ongoing work on the Bay-Delta Plan update, the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes voluntary agreements, and the need to actively administer water rights. Members also discussed the board’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, which narrowed federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. The board requested $2.6 million and 12 permanent positions to address resulting permitting and enforcement gaps; the LAO said the request met its high bar for new proposals and was supported by the board’s data and reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The board has no way of informing, if we don't have this legislation, the board has no way of informing
• of the Board of scientist I am a member of the Board of Architecture<00:03:05.799><c> engineering</c
• > just left the board has no way of just left the board has no way of informing<00:03:37.439><c> if</
• > legislation we the board has no way of legislation we the board has no way of informing<00:03:41.360
• ><c> that</c> bunch of boards and commissions that bunch of boards and commissions that have<00:15:55.800

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• But in simple terms, there are a lot of boards that the nature of their work is purely advisory, informational
• </c><00:07:58.400><c> boards</c> simple terms, there are a lot of boards simple terms, there are a lot
• of boards that<00:07:58.879><c> the</c><00:07:59.039><c> nature</c><00:07:59.280><c> of</c><00:07:59.440
• The board is reconstituted with several new members, including the CIO of the Kentucky Department of
• </c><00:31:52.720><c> of</c> serve as members on the board of serve as members on the board of directors

Committee: House State Government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:01.120><c> of</c><00:32:01.279><c> education</c> to the board of education to the board of
• This is one of the reasons why I've specifically asked for the Board of Regents, the Board of Education
• This is one of the reasons why I've specifically asked for the Board of Regents, the Board of Education
• This is one of the reasons why I've specifically asked for the Board of Regents, the Board of Education
• </c> board of education. We are the Senate. board of education. We are the Senate.

Bills: SB2901 , SB2902 , SB2903 , SB2904 , SB2905 , SB2906 , SB2907 , SB2908 , SB2909 , SB2910 , SB2911 , SB2912 , SB2913 , SB2914 , SB2915 , SB2916 , SB2917 , SB2918 , SB2919 , SB2920 , SB2921 , SB2922 , SB2923 , SB2924 , SB2925 , SB2926 , SB2927 , SB2928 , SB2929 , SB2930 , SB2931 , SB2932 , SB2933 , SB2934 , SB2935 , SB2936 , SB2937 , SB2938 , SB2939 , SB2940 , SB2941 , SB2942 , SB2943 , SB2944 , SB2945 , SB2946 , SB2947 , SB2948 , SB2949 , SB2950 , SB2951 , SB2952 , SB2953 , SB2954 , SB2955 , SB2956 , SB2957 , SB2958 , SB2959 , SB2960 , SB2961 , SB2962 , SB2963 , SB2964 , SB2965 , SB2966 , SB2967 , SB2968 , SB2969 , SB2970 , SB2971 , SB2972 , SB2973 , SB2974 , SB2975 , SB2976 , SB2977 , SB2978 , SB2979 , SB2980 , SB2981 , SB2982 , SB2983 , SB2984 , SB2985 , SB2986 , SB2987 , SB2988 , SB2989 , SB2990 , SB2991 , SB2992 , SB2993 , SB2994 , SB2995 , SB2996 , SB2997 , SB2998 , SB2999 , SB3000

Transcript Highlights:

• Item 1A, the appointment of Jereen DiDamo as a member of the State Water Resources Control Board.
• And then, of course, we have nine regional boards, and we split them up amongst the five board members
• You just sort of teed it up because I think one of the challenges in serving on your board and other
• And the answer to that is no, because I am really motivated to be on this board out of protection of
• You are, you know, part of the State Water Board.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the General Counsel of the Massachusetts Board.
• Difficult process, a lot of work, but I think the board is buying into this.
• Again, a lot of transition within the parole board recently and more overall, but I think our board is
• It's the Advisory Board of Pardons, and so there's matters that the board will do, conduct a hearing,
• focus of Due to the aforementioned Matus focus of the board, and as I said, hopefully the board is going

Summary: The Special Commission on Criminal Justice Reform 3.0 heard a presentation from the Massachusetts Parole Board focused on consolidation, cooperation, and evidence-based supervision across the correctional system. Parole Board Chair Angela Gomez-June described the board’s mission, its coordination with the Department of Correction, houses of correction, courts, probation, law enforcement, victim services, and UMass partners, and outlined 2024 activity including 2,810 institutional release hearings, 18,238 victim notifications, 53 pardon petitions, 70 commutation petitions, 41 early termination applications, and supervision of 2,993 parolees. She emphasized the board’s shift toward individualized, data-driven decision-making, including revised GPS use, graduated sanctions, and more service-oriented community supervision. Members and sheriffs pressed for clearer breakdowns of the board’s data, including the difference between releases, hearings, and active supervision; average length of supervision; the share of lifers in the caseload; and how many people are placed in housing, employment, and treatment. The board said its active supervised population fluctuates around 1,600 to 1,800, with more than 400 lifers, and that about 30 to 36 percent of its population is housed through programs such as MASH, community justice resource centers, and sheriff-run residential programs like Rocky Hill and HOPE. Members also discussed parole refusals, noting that some individuals decline parole to avoid supervision or to serve time inside instead, and asked for a more detailed breakdown of those cases. The board and commission also discussed collaboration with DOC and UMass on risk assessment, reentry planning, and community pathways, including a tablet video explaining the parole process and pharmacist support for medication-related drug test issues. The board reported that after the SJC’s Matus decision, 210 individuals were identified as affected, 144 were immediately eligible for hearings, 100 hearings had been completed, and 10 more were scheduled; it also said clemency and commutation work had been slowed by staffing and Matus-related demands. The meeting ended with a request for follow-up data on outcomes, supervision lengths, housing and employment placements, and other consolidated statistics, and the commission announced its next public hearing for March 9 at 10 a.m. before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Provisions related to membership of the board are modified.
• My name is Ken Fuller, and I'm the director of the Engineers Board.
• Representatives of that industry to be on our board.
• To be a member of the board.
• They're a part of the board. They're a member of the board, yes. Okay, thank you.

Bills: HB1347 , HB2091 , HB2264

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: education, funding, student loans, affordability, higher education, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, unemployment insurance, benefits, employment, layoffs, workforce reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• the Board of Optometrists to obtain a copy of their scope of work that allows optometrists to perform
• I went to the Board of Registration of Healing Arts.
• Would your board have any issues going under the Board of Healing Arts?
• They're not under the Board of Healing Arts.
• They're not under the Board of Healing Arts.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• And you talked about the guidelines of this board.
• I love the idea of the oversight and the appeal board.
• About the veracity and the objectivity of board members made today, and that kind of discussion has happened
• I'd be very much in favor of an appeal board.
• My concern is the composition of that board and the knowledge that they have to be on that board because

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, he brings to the board really a wealth of experience in financial planning, uh, advising clients.
• really a wealth he brings to the board really a wealth of<00:02:05.360><c> experience</c><00:02:05.759
• capacity on the board and gaining all<00:02:38.959><c> of</c><00:02:39.120><c> his</c><00:02:39.360><
• </c> all of his input and feedback into board all of his input and feedback into board matters.<00:02
• </c> questions of the the director of HCDA? questions of the the director of HCDA?

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land heard GM 735, a nomination for consideration and confirmation to the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) of Michael Chia for a term ending June 30, 2029. HCDA Executive Director Craig Nakamoto testified in support, saying Chia had served on the board over the past year and brought experience in financial planning, client advising, and a willingness to serve the community. The committee also noted written testimony in support from DBEDT Director James Tokioka, Mike Ozua, and Ianaka LLC. Members discussed Chia’s role as the Kakaako business representative on the HCDA board and noted that his business is located in the Kakaako Community Development District. The chair praised HCDA’s work and said the agency’s responsibilities appear to be expanding beyond Oahu to the neighbor islands, including Maui. Chia thanked the committee and said he looked forward to the next four years. The chair recommended advise and consent on GM 735. There was no discussion against the motion, and the recommendation was adopted by vote, with the chair and vice chair voting aye; Senator Chang voted aye; Senator McKelby and Senator Dort were excused. The committee then concluded its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• the chair of the board shall cast the deciding vote.
• "And the idea of going from five members of the Board of Review down to three makes sense because for
• "Relating to decreasing Board of Education limits.
• And of course that cost is spread amongst our county boards of education.
• on behalf of the board.

Summary: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee met with a quorum present and approved the March 4, 2026 minutes by voice vote. The committee first considered House Bill 55, which updates and modernizes workers’ compensation statutes to reflect the privatized system, remove obsolete provisions, and adjust the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review from five members to three. The Insurance Commissioner testified that the bill is part of the cleanup from privatization and would give the governor more flexibility in appointments. After adopting a strike-and-insert amendment and a title amendment, the committee reported HB 55 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. The committee then took up House Bill 5463, which would reduce BRIM’s required liability coverage for county boards of education from $1.25 million to $1 million per occurrence and eliminate the separate $5 million excess coverage requirement. BRIM’s director testified that the excess market was difficult to access and costly, but several senators raised concerns that lowering coverage could reduce protection for victims and school-related claims. After a divided vote, the motion to report the bill failed, and HB 5463 was not passed by the committee. Next, the committee considered House Bill 4869, creating guaranteed issue rights for Medicare supplement policies, including annual birthday replacement rights and a special right for certain Medicaid recipients losing eligibility. Counsel said the bill would prohibit underwriting barriers during the guaranteed issue periods and require an annual report on premium trends. With no amendments offered, the committee reported HB 4869 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 5462 on mine subsidence insurance. The bill would allow the mine subsidence fund to offset payments by amounts received from other sources and limit lawsuits over claims reported to BRIM. Members debated a proposed strike-and-insert amendment that would have softened the litigation limits and added notice and remedy provisions, but the amendment was rejected. The committee then reported HB 5462 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• 15 of the calendar, House Bill 282 with substitute by Representative Hill relating to board of pardons
• to board of pardons and paroles.
• I'm just carrying this to help with the board, and it's to be able to monitor all of them.
• </c> The board says right now the the city of The board says right now the the city of McGomery<02:01
• of of public safety sure that level of of public safety &gt;&gt; the<02:03:57.040><c> board</c><02:03

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, the board must adopt a measurable standard for viability of the timber industry by January of 2007
• Practices Board to develop standards for objectively evaluating the economic viability of the timber
• As a member of the Forest Practices Board, Ecology voted to finalize this rule.
• When the majority and minority reports were presented to the board, the board received both of those
• Four members of the Forest Practices Board are HEAL Act obligated entities.

Bills: HB2598 , HB2620 , HB2104 , HB2348 , HB2544 , HB2554 , HJM4009

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: anadromous fish, environmental conservation, state coordination, wildlife recovery, fisheries management, forest management, natural resources, collaboration, forest practices, sustainability, aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response, timber sales, land sales, process efficiency, legislation, department language

Transcript Highlights:

• Now the Board of Regents typically doesn't have oversight on this funds.
• This amendment is designed to allow the Board of Regents, This is designed to allow the Board of Regents
• of individuals that are already employed by the Board of Regents or who the Board of Regents selects
• hoping they would be here—I was told the board is not capable of conducting this sort of review.
• You have to have some kind of oversight board kind of experience. Mr.

Committee: House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2908, which would impose criminal penalties on faithless Arizona Article 5 constitutional convention delegates, require delegates to take an oath, and direct legislative and gubernatorial ratification of any approved amendment. The sponsor argued the bill adds guardrails to any future convention, while Common Cause Arizona opposed it, saying it would not meaningfully reduce the risk of a runaway convention and that any punishment scheme would be difficult to enforce. After discussion, the committee approved HB 2908 on a 5-2 vote for a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up HB 2608, a military transitional housing grant program with a $7 million General Fund appropriation in FY 2027 and changes to the military transitional housing fund. Testimony from Vets to Gov and the sponsor emphasized veteran-led management, new construction rather than motel/hotel use, and the need for housing support for transitioning service members. Several members raised concerns about similarities to prior versions and unresolved language changes, and the bill was ultimately laid on the table by vote. Next, the committee considered HB 2805, which creates a secure online portal for nomination petitions for local governing board candidates and sets related Secretary of State responsibilities. An amendment was adopted to require candidates to designate party alignment or lack thereof for portal purposes and to limit Secretary of State modification of the act. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would modernize petitioning and reflect the partisan reality of local races, while some members raised concerns about school board implications and nonpartisan races. HB 2805, as amended, passed the committee on a 5-2 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 2775, which would bar state entities from using state assets or money to implement or enforce international organization rules, taxes, or policies, with an amendment adding restrictions on Arizona public universities’ foreign-funded agreements and creating Board of Regents oversight. Members and the sponsor discussed concerns about foreign adversary funding, especially from Chinese entities, and debated whether the oversight mechanism should be created by rule or statute. The committee decided to hold HB 2775 for further work on the language, and then adjourned.