Transcript Highlights:

• And also want to say thank you in addition to the direct loan payment that was made for the hotel occupants
• get out of traces prior to this trace that we just had three weeks ago, those facilities should automatically

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is some concern with the original bill, um, in what there was some penalties for intentional non-payment
• that remains is still, um, addresses all of the reasoning for the original bill. intentional non-payment
• and a lot of intentional non-payment and a lot of people<01:11:46.480> came<01:11:46.640>
• instruction<02:08:33.920> is Understanding of statutory construction is: you can't just automatically

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:08.600> become those people would automatically become those people would automatically
• Um, are restraining orders as they stand now not automatically reciprocal? I'm not sure.
• So if I request a restraining order on someone, there's automatically an order of protection?
• In practice, it's automatically done because of a high rate of lethality in these cases.
• <02:34:23.040> um which then has that sort of automatic um which then has that sort of automatic

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those need to be automatically triggered. You get a certain amount of rain.
• And of course, you being the EDC or EMD and then, of course, the EMC, those are automatically sent by
• It has to be automatic, it seems like, at headwaters of various rivers. Does the technology exist?
• His system will hook up to this, but it will automatically set it off.
• Well, automatically set it off. You don't have to go through... What was it? What was it?

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness and flooding hearing opened with quorum calls, prayer, testimony time limits, and remarks from legislative leaders emphasizing decorum, respect, and the goal of learning from the July 4 flood to prevent future loss of life. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows said the special session and hearings were intended to hear directly from local officials and residents, and that the state would pursue immediate and longer-term legislation and continue working beyond the current session. The committee then heard invited testimony from Kerr County, Kerrville, Kendall County, Real County, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, followed by member questions. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and emergency management coordinator William B. Thomas described the flood as a sudden, unprecedented event that overwhelmed local systems before many officials or residents understood the danger. They said the county received multiple National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts, but the rain fell in remote upstream areas with limited gauges, and the flood rose too quickly for normal response. They detailed the emergency response, including dispatchers handling heavy call volumes, deputies and volunteer firefighters conducting rescues, and state and federal partners assisting. County officials said 108 people died, including 37 children, and two remained missing. They called for better real-time flood detection, stronger rural emergency management resources, improved broadband and cell coverage, and more funding for swift-water rescue and warning systems. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and City Manager Dalton Rice said the city had floodplain rules, emergency plans, and prior preparedness efforts, but the event exposed gaps in communications and regional warning capacity. They urged the Legislature to fund a flood warning system, whether sirens, automated alerts, or a hybrid, and asked for support for predictive weather modeling, broadband expansion, a hazard mitigation fund, and disaster recovery resources. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority said it had long funded gauges and pursued flood-warning and mitigation projects, including a new software-based flood prediction system and possible retention dams, and planned to dedicate reserve funds to feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements. Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said his county’s emergency action plan and early alerts helped prevent deaths there, and he recommended easier access to alerting tools, a river-wide warning system, simpler grant applications, and regional coordination. Real County Judge Bella Rubio said rural counties face major challenges because of limited cell service, broadband, staffing, and funding, especially for camps and visitors along the Frio and Nueces rivers, and argued that reliable alert systems should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury. Members asked about the timeline of the flood, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and funding, and several witnesses said the key lessons were better communications, better warning systems, and more investment in rural flood mitigation and emergency response.

Transcript Highlights:

• And those need to be automatically triggered when you get a certain amount of rain that that needs to
• Those are. automatically sent by text and by email to the address of record that you supply to the state
• And we work so incredibly closely with TDOM as well that it's It's almost as if they're automatically
• They can tell the early flood warning system. automatic activation. technology, is it available?
• His system will hook up to this but automatically will automatically set it it off.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SD2 version expressly allow high-capacity magazines that hold up to 30 rounds for dangerous semi-automatic
• rifles like the Dangerous semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15<00:43:02.520> which<00:43:02.640
• I had a semi-automatic rifle and a pistol.
• He said the Senate vehicle last year included .50 cals with semi-automatic rifles and shotguns as assault
• Firearms Act banned fully automatic Firearms Act banned fully automatic machine<01:15:28.199>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 13, 2025, and took up several firearms and fireworks measures. On SB 227, which would create an illegal fireworks enforcement division in the Department of Law Enforcement and appropriate funds, DLE supported the bill, saying fireworks enforcement has become a full-time job requiring dedicated staff rather than a collateral-duty task force. Members discussed whether the bill and the related task force bill were both needed; DLE said yes, explaining that the new division would provide full-time state employees while the task force funding covers interagency costs such as transportation, storage, overtime, and personnel. Testimony on SB 227 was reported as 12 in support and 6 in opposition. On SB 222, which would fund the illegal fireworks task force and extend its sunset to June 30, 2030, DLE and the Honolulu Police Department supported the measure, emphasizing continued enforcement pressure and interagency coordination. An opponent from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii argued the bill was a waste of time, criticized fireworks prohibition as cultural overreach, and performed a song in opposition. Representative Shimizu asked about results from the extra enforcement effort, and DLE said enforcement has driven up street prices and made investors think twice, which they described as a goal of pricing people out of the market. The chair reported 13 testimonies in support and 6 in opposition. The committee then heard SB 1324, a more comprehensive fireworks bill that would revise definitions and penalties, create first- and second-degree fireworks offenses, add infractions, and increase penalties for serious injury or death. DLE and the Attorney General strongly supported it, saying the bill would improve enforcement, address black-market activity, and help prosecutors when fireworks have already exploded and evidence is destroyed. The Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing existing laws already punish these offenses and that the real issue is enforcement; the office also raised constitutional concerns about the bill’s concurrent civil infraction and criminal trial process. Honolulu Police supported the bill, while the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office said the alternative definitions would help in cases involving exploded versus seized fireworks. The chair noted 17 testimonies in support, 7 in opposition, and 3 comments, and members discussed whether the bill could be amended to address the public defender’s concerns. The committee also began hearing SB 308, which would expand the state’s magazine-capacity restrictions to firearms with detachable magazines over 30 rounds, with a grandfathering provision for certain magazines obtained before January 1, 2026. DLE supported the bill as a fair balance that would grandfather existing magazines while preventing new high-capacity acquisitions. Opposition testimony from Jerry Yuan of the Pool, Oil, Rifle, and Pistol Club argued the proposal was another shifting restriction and opposed magazine bans generally. The hearing continued with additional testimony not fully captured in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it's still a little manual, and we're working on getting these upgrades to be able to do it automatically
• from all of those separate databases, putting it together in a report that would be generated. automatically
• Expanding beyond LRM, you automatically.
• c><00:58:36.640> spending<00:58:37.520> because<00:58:37.920> it concept of automatic
• spending because it concept of automatic spending because it seems<00:58:38.400> to<00:58:38.559

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 74, which would require agencies issuing certain real-property-related permits to track and report how many permits they issue and how long the process takes. Representative Carol McGuire introduced the bill and said the goal is to gather data on permit timing and fees, especially for DES and DOT permits involving wetlands, alteration of terrain, driveway permits, and similar approvals. Supporters argued the state needs better visibility into permitting delays and whether statutory deadlines are realistic; they also noted the bill had passed the House on a voice vote with no debate. Adam Crapo of the Department of Environmental Services said DES is generally supportive of the reporting concept but warned that the agency’s data are spread across many separate, partly manual databases. He said DES can already do this for some land resources permits through its new system, but not across all of its more than 90 permit types without additional help. DES estimated it would need two part-time positions to compile the reports, especially for waste management and water programs, and said otherwise existing permitting staff would have to do the work, potentially slowing permit processing. He also said the agency is already working to simplify rules and move more permits onto a new online platform, but could not meet the bill’s 2026 reporting deadline with current staffing and systems. Committee members questioned whether delays are often caused by incomplete applications rather than agency inaction, and Crapo said that is frequently the case. He said DES already tracks timelines to some extent for management and statutory compliance, but not at the individual-permit detail the bill would require. He also said some letters and records are captured in One Stop, but not all are. Members expressed support for the bill’s transparency goals while also worrying about added workload and possible slowdowns. The discussion then moved to DOT, where Susan Clawson said DOT is neutral on the bill because it recently implemented Salesforce and now has good data for reporting; DOT’s fiscal note reflects software-related costs, but the agency can already track the required information in its system.

Transcript Highlights:

• They said the board would have the power, and that there is an automatic review.
• The response continued that the board would have the power, and there would be an automatic review.
• Um, I’m just clarifying that this is not—you’re not requiring the land use commission to automatically—you
• 42:03.600> use<01:42:03.920> commission<01:42:04.639> to<01:42:05.520> automatically
• land use commission to automatically land use commission to automatically you're<01:42:06.560>

Bills: HB1881, HB2218, HB1956, HB2151, HB1845, HB1844, HB2103, HB2424, HB1650, HB376, HB2599, HB1861

Keywords: land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, DLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Board of Land and Natural Resources, BLNR, public lands, public trust resources, community co-management, co-management agreement, community-based organization, Native Hawaiian, malama aina, ahupuaa, subsistence, cultural resources, religious practices

Summary: The committee on Water and Land met on February 10, 2026, with Chair Mark Hashem outlining strict testimony rules and noting a time constraint because of later hearings and floor session obligations. The committee then took up several bills, hearing mostly supportive testimony on HB 1881 relating to land use, HB 2218 relating to DLNR/community management, and HB 1956 relating to freshwater waves, while HB 1845 relating to the Land Use Commission drew legal concerns and opposition. HB 2151 relating to building materials had no substantive testimony presented in the excerpt, and the committee moved through it quickly. On HB 1881, testimony focused on protecting North Shore lands from overdevelopment. A supporter described the area as valuable precisely because it remains largely undeveloped, and a member asked whether the bill’s restrictions on “finculars” would affect existing or future private residential installations; the response suggested the bill was aimed at future commercial uses and that grandfathering or personal-use exceptions might be possible, but the exact wording would need legal refinement. HB 2218 received broad support from OHA, DLNR, Kua, Sierra Club, Hui Maka Aana, the Honlay Initiative, and others, who said the measure would expand community-based co-management across DLNR divisions, build on existing park partnerships, and produce real benefits such as better stewardship, safer access, local jobs, and stronger community trust. Members asked about the bill’s five-year review structure, how multiple community groups would be handled, and whether the model could apply to ocean or nearshore areas; DLNR said the board would retain authority, agreements would be non-exclusive and subject to review, and the department was still working through how the approach would function across different divisions and marine settings. For HB 1956, the Attorney General offered technical comments, urging clearer definitions of “residing” and “freshwater way,” clearer timing for citations and arrests, and more explicit procedural safeguards and agency roles. On HB 1845, the Attorney General and Land Use Commission raised concerns that the bill could conflict with constitutional protections for important agricultural lands and could not be reconciled with existing voting requirements; the LUC also said commissioners cannot vote by proxy under sunshine law and warned that the bill could allow too few commissioners to approve major boundary changes. Members questioned how the bill would work in counties without designated important agricultural lands, and the LUC explained that Kauai is the only county to have completed the IAL process, while the broader statutory process remains county-driven and has been the subject of litigation. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• This measure requires insurers to provide automatic advance written premium change notices to common
• /c> this measure requires insurers to this measure requires insurers to provide<00:10:17.399> automatic
• automatic Advanced written premium<00:10:19.399> change<00:10:20.040> notices<00:10:21.040
• We will add a provision requiring insurance providers to automatically issue loss run reports at the
• We will add a provision requiring insurance providers to automatically issue loss run reports at the

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened by outlining hearing procedures, including a two-minute limit for live testimony, a request not to repeat written testimony, and a reminder about decorum. The first bill heard was SB 697, which would create a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for expenses to retrofit residences with wind-resistive devices. The Insurance Division said it supported the concept but noted it may need an appropriation or outside expertise to develop certification standards, while the Department of Taxation said the bill should retain a third-party certification requirement if the Insurance Division cannot administer the credit. The Hawaii Insurers Council supported the bill, and the Tax Foundation suggested a subsidy-style program would be more efficient than a tax credit and criticized the bill’s 100% credit structure. A testifier in support argued the measure would help homeowners fortify houses against hurricanes and reduce shelter demand; written testimony from several others, including HIEMA, was noted as supportive. The committee then moved through SB 76, which would require the Hawaii Property Insurance Association to provide commercial property coverage after two private-market denials, and SB 83, which would require insurers to give advance written premium-change notices and explanations to common-interest community policyholders and the insurance commissioner, along with a report on premium increases. For SB 76, the State Insurance Division stood on its written comments, and testimony in support came from Michael Honda, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and Jessica Herzog. SB 83 drew more extensive discussion: the Insurance Division supported the need for better transparency, while the Hawaii Insurers Council opposed the bill, arguing that agents—not insurers—typically communicate with AOAO boards and that the measure could worsen an already difficult market. Insurance Division staff acknowledged widespread complaints from condo associations about lack of transparency and said the division had received many calls about premium increases and nonrenewals. The discussion on SB 83 expanded into broader concerns about condo insurance, nonrenewals, surplus lines, and the difficulty of getting timely explanations for large premium increases. Committee members and testifiers described older buildings struggling to fund repairs and upgrades while facing steep insurance costs, and some urged the committee to craft baseline statutory protections for unit owners. The Insurance Division said surplus lines serve a critical gap-filling role and warned against regulating that market in a way that could slow access to coverage. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is Clean Slate, automatic expungement language. It has passed out of this body 140 to 7.
• It was that those automatic expungements applied to nonviolent, non-sex offenders.
• statute, any penalty provision that we have in law where someone has to do six months in jail automatically
• But six months automatically, that's too much.
• again, I don't know that there's any statute in criminal law anywhere where a misdemeanor, you automatically

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is Clean Slate, automatic expungement language. It has passed out of this body 140 to 7.
• It was that those automatic expungements applied to nonviolent, non-sex offenders.
• statute, any penalty provision that we have in law where someone has to do six months in jail automatically
• But six months automatically, that's too much.
• again, I don't know that there's any statute in criminal law anywhere where a misdemeanor, you automatically

Summary: The House met with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal by a 133-0 vote. Members then spent much of the morning introducing interns, special guests, pages, and a doctor of the day, along with a recognition of Teacher Appreciation Day and a brief announcement about a Missouri contestant on American Idol. The chamber then took up a long series of Senate bills and House amendments, largely on crime, public safety, corrections, and related issues. Measures discussed included drone enforcement authority for law enforcement, a Missouri Ranger/school safety proposal and school bus stop-arm penalties, automatic expungement for certain drug offenses, Alzheimer’s and dementia training for law enforcement and adult protective services, fire hydrant testing, pseudoephedrine access, prison cell phone contraband, hands-free cell phone law fixes, critical infrastructure/copper theft, a parent-accountability bill involving minors, fentanyl trafficking, Attorney General staff carrying firearms, and a domestic violence registry. Several members raised concerns about school safety, privacy, criminal justice policy, and whether some proposals were too broad or punitive, while others emphasized public safety, victim support, and administrative clarity. The most extended debate centered on a death-penalty post-conviction relief amendment, with supporters arguing it would align Missouri law with federal procedures and speed up lengthy appeals, and opponents warning it could reduce safeguards in capital cases. After a roll call vote, that amendment was adopted 75-68. Another notable debate involved a first-responder buffer zone amendment, where supporters said it would protect officers and others during tense encounters, while opponents argued it could chill public recording of police activity. The House also adopted amendments on domestic violence protections, child abuse interview recording and camp background checks, inmate reentry documents and job preparation, and several technical fixes to previously passed bills. A point of order was sustained on one untimely distributed amendment, but most other amendments were adopted by voice vote or roll call.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this bill includes the ban on semi-automatic military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines.
• ban<00:04:48.960> on this bill includes the ban on this bill includes the ban on semi-automatic
• <00:04:50.320> military-style<00:04:51.680> weapons semi-automatic military-style weapons
• semi-automatic military-style weapons and<00:04:53.120> high-capacity<00:04:54.000> magazines
• Article Two addresses semi-automatic military-style assault weapons, i.e., SAWs, and large-capacity magazines

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's in a case where you are joint tenants in a property, where the property will automatically
• 00:11:11.360> will a property where the property will a property where the property will automatically
• :12.640> on<00:11:12.880> to<00:11:13.040> the<00:11:13.279> other automatically
• pass on to the other automatically pass on to the other surviving<00:11:14.959> individual.
• Many of them holding automatic weapons.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• section two adds grooming to the list of offenses that, if a teacher is convicted of, triggers an automatic
• criminally charged with one of those triggering offenses, where the teacher's license would be automatically
• Cardoppulmonary resuscitation and<00:30:58.880> automatic<00:30:59.679> external<00:31:
• 00.240> defibrillator and automatic external defibrillator and automatic external defibrillator

Bills: HF3489, HF3550

Keywords: grooming, child protection, student safety, sexual exploitation, educator licensing, teacher discipline, mandatory reporting, mandated reporter training, school misconduct, predatory offender, child abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, position of authority, school employee, school administrator, license revocation, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think it's an automatic thing for a court to do.
• I don't think it's an automatic thing for a court to do.
• don't<01:10:37.360> think<01:10:37.520> it's<01:10:37.640> an<01:10:37.840> automatic
• <01:10:38.360> thing<01:10:38.520> for don't think it's an automatic thing for don't
• think it's an automatic thing for a<01:10:38.800> court<01:10:39.040> to<01:10:39.199>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• security cameras, upgrading locks, scanning equipment for the volunteers to access the buildings, automatic
• security cameras, upgrading locks, scanning equipment for the volunteers to access the buildings, automatic
• 01:04:34.200> the<01:04:34.799> buildings<01:04:35.799> um<01:04:36.200> automatic
• access the buildings um automatic access the buildings um automatic locking<01:04:37.200> systems

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• She explained that, currently in statute, dysgraphia is described as difficulty in automatically remembering
• She explained that, currently in statute, dysgraphia is described as difficulty in automatically remembering
• She explained that, currently in statute, dysgraphia is described as difficulty in automatically remembering
• She explained that, currently in statute, dysgraphia is described as difficulty in automatically remembering
• She said dysgraphia is described in Kentucky statute as difficulty in automatically remembering and mastering

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education bills and first received a presentation from Paige Cash of Kentucky FFA/Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education. She described the reach of CTE in Kentucky, saying more than 143,000 secondary students are enrolled in CTE courses, and highlighted work-based learning, dual credit, industry certifications, and student organizations such as FFA, DECA, FCCLA, HOSA, TSA, and SkillsUSA. She said CTE funding has helped update lab equipment, support teacher training, fund field trips, and expand participation in career and technical student organizations. Representative Wilson presented House Bill 132, which would address home hospital instruction reimbursement in cases involving short stays, particularly mental health placements that are often under five days. He said schools continue providing instruction even when they are no longer reimbursed under current rules. The committee advanced the bill unanimously after a motion and second, with the measure passing with an expression of opinion that it should pass. The committee then heard House Bill 272 on dyslexia, sponsored by Representative Heavrin. The bill would require KDE to annually update the dyslexia toolkit, require local boards to adopt policies for identifying and assisting K-3 students with dyslexia, require KDE to report district implementation data to LRC, and require teacher preparation programs to include dyslexia instruction. Members discussed whether the bill would require teacher diagnoses, how it would interact with existing IEP/504 and RTI processes, and concerns about added reporting and district burden. Supporters said many students are falling through the cracks and that earlier identification is needed; Representative Willner noted a shortage of school psychologists. The committee passed HB 272 with a motion and second, though several members voted pass and explained concerns about reporting burdens, red tape, and district costs. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 193, a dual credit cleanup bill presented by Joe Carol Ellis of KHEAA. She said the bill would consolidate the statutes governing general education dual credit and CTE/work-ready dual credit scholarships to match current funding practice and reduce confusion for K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions. The presentation was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the per diem would not be automatic? No, it's not automatic. You have to submit a voucher.
• report, and either the address, the family, or the child has been a previous call, there will automatically
• Previous calls that we've received, what the previous call was about, and those are automatically escalated

Bills: HCR95, HB4, HB244, HB615, HB648, HB1049, HB1201

Keywords: sales tax, exemptions, credits, rebates, uniformity, legislative rules, fiscal report, constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, delegates, state election, ratification, Louisiana, public meetings, broadcast, transparency, government accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• Automatic debits from the borrower's deposit account are prohibited unless the lender has a perfected
• Automatic<00:23:03.360> debits<00:23:03.679> from<00:23:03.840> the<00:23:04.000
• > borrower's Automatic debits from the borrower's Automatic debits from the borrower's deposit

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional reading by Theo Novak, a student and Vermont Poetry Out Loud finalist, followed by several announcements, including a welcome for the guest speaker and a reminder about a freshman legislator gathering and the day’s corporate cup road closures. The House then postponed action for one legislative day on Senate Bill 208, relating to law enforcement identification; Senate Bill 212, relating to portable water supply and wastewater system connections; and House Bill 639, relating to genetic data privacy. The main floor action centered on House Bill 648, banking, insurance, and securities. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee presented Senate amendments and its own further amendments, including clarifications to consumer reinvestment reporting and a proposal to extend and then effectively end the moratorium on new cryptocurrency kiosks in Vermont. The committee described extensive testimony and data on crypto kiosk fraud, money laundering, and consumer losses, and also added a new licensing framework for merchant cash advance providers. Ways and Means reported the fiscal impact would be very small. After a brief question about the $1 million exemption threshold for commercial financing, the House concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment with further amendment thereto. The House also passed Senate Bill 243, distributing funds to the Vermont Language Justice Project, in concurrence with proposal of amendment. It then took up Senate Bill 198, regulating tobacco products and tobacco substitutes. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee described updates to the definition of tobacco substitutes, creation of a wholesale licensing system under the Department of Liquor and Lottery, tighter controls on online sales, and bans on deceptive products that resemble school supplies, food, smartphones, inhalers, or video games. The committee heard testimony from health, enforcement, industry, and advocacy witnesses and voted 11-0 in favor. Human Services then proposed a strike-all amendment to the committee report, with further consideration to continue.

Transcript Highlights:

• they must use AI age-estimation capability to identify users who are 15 years old and younger and automatically
• younger<00:36:31.839> to is 15 years old and younger to is 15 years old and younger to automatically
• <00:36:34.000> And automatically shut down the account.
• And automatically shut down the account.

Keywords: Meeting start: 00:00 Roll call: 00:05 HB 227 discussion: 01:10 HB 227 voting: 49:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum to consider House Bill 227, a time-sensitive measure focused on social media use by minors. The bill sponsor, Rep. Matt Lockett, and supporters including counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, the Attorney General’s office, and the Family Foundation argued that social media is addictive and harmful to children, contributes to mental health problems and exploitation, and that the bill would give parents more control while regulating addictive features rather than banning speech. Supporters said the bill is narrowly tailored, content-neutral, and designed to withstand constitutional scrutiny; the Attorney General’s office said it would defend the bill if challenged and described ongoing multi-state litigation against major platforms. One committee member also described seeing inappropriate AI-generated content on a 16-year-old’s phone as an example of the problem the bill seeks to address. Opposition testimony came from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, NetChoice, and the Computer and Communications Industry Association. They argued the bill raises First Amendment concerns because it conditions minors’ access on parental consent, regulates how private platforms communicate with users, and could function as a de facto speech ban. They also warned that the age-estimation requirement could force platforms to collect more sensitive data, creating privacy and security risks, and that the ban on “addictive features” was overly broad and could sweep in personalized feeds, notifications, autoplay, and other common tools. Opponents said the bill could especially harm vulnerable youth who rely on online access for community or safety information and urged the committee to craft a constitutional alternative. During questions, members asked how the state could enforce the law against national companies and were told enforcement would come through the Attorney General within Kentucky and potentially through multi-state litigation. Members also discussed the bill’s practical effects, including advertising revenue from youth users and the need for guardrails to protect children. The discussion continued with questions about the bill’s scope, parental consent, age estimation, and liability provisions, but no final vote or other committee action was shown in the excerpt.