Transcript Highlights:

• then mean services oversight for people who, or for juveniles or children who are beyond parental control
• then mean services oversight for people who, or for juveniles or children who are beyond parental control
• then mean services oversight for people who, or for juveniles or children who are beyond parental control
• then mean services oversight for people who, or for juveniles or children who are beyond parental control
• then mean services oversight for people who, or for juveniles or children who are beyond parental control

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several measures, beginning with Senate Bill 869 on community outreach boards. The Office of Information Practices said the bill was now clear and raised no concerns after clarification that it applies to Hawaii County community development action plan committees under the Sunshine Law. Written support was received from several individuals, and one testifier initially opposed the bill but withdrew opposition after hearing OIP’s explanation. No vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then heard Senate Bill 405 on neighborhood board meetings, which would let boards receive and discuss reports from government officials that were not on a noticed agenda, with final action deferred to a later noticed meeting. OIP said the bill was a policy choice but warned it would give boards more flexibility at the cost of less public notice. Support came from the Wke neighborhood board and Jacob Weinek, while Natalie Iwasa and Greg Mian opposed it, arguing it could lead to unclear agenda items and deeper discussion without adequate public notice. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Senate Bill 903 on a claims review working group in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands asking for the measure to be deferred because it believed a complete inventory and audit of the public lands trust should come first. Members asked about the status of related House Bill 1358. The committee then heard tax measures: Senate Bill 1469, which would suspend the collection statute of limitations while tax assessments are on appeal, and Senate Bill 1467, which would clarify that county tax appeals do not need to be served on the Director of Taxation. The Tax Department supported both bills, and the Tax Foundation’s witness generally agreed but suggested a possible amendment to SB 1469 regarding insurance premium tax language. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 544 on sentencing of minor defendants, which would require courts to consider youth-related factors and allow departures from mandatory minimums; OHA, the Public Defender, Human Rights for Kids, and others supported it, citing trauma, diminished culpability, and national trends, and no opposition was noted in the excerpt. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 691 on family courts, which would set a minimum age of 12 for adjudication of law violations. The Public Defender and Human Rights for Kids supported the bill, saying very young children should not be treated as law violators and can still receive services through other family court mechanisms. The Attorney General’s office and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office opposed the measure, arguing it could limit court jurisdiction and services for younger children and might have unintended consequences, including recruitment of children into criminal activity. Members asked whether amendments could preserve the bill’s intent while addressing those concerns; no final action is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• controlling access, etc. controlling access, etc.
• So the inspection program is one of the few things that we have to control that.
• So the inspection program is one of the few things that we have to control that.
• <01:58:24.480> over is legislatively we have no control over is legislatively we have no control
• <01:59:27.280> All control of this law, sir. Okay. All control of this law, sir. Okay.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah. limited um control over how monies and limited um control over how monies and funds<00:36:15.280
• that is where locations are control that is where locations are permitted.<01:23:58.240> So<01
• The number of machines, the type of machines, and frankly, the payout — like, you can control how much
• Like, you<01:24:49.800> can<01:24:50.040> control<01:24:51.120> how<01:24:51.280
• , your policies and procedures controls, your policies and procedures actually<01:31:47.680> comply

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• strategically employed helps control strategically employed helps control invasive<00:10:06.519>
• Because we have a policy that if you're an entity that controls exempt property and you are leasing it
• Because we have a policy that if you're an entity that controls exempt property and you are leasing it
• exempt property and you are you controls exempt property and you are you know<00:18:25.919> leasing
• any types of those methods to control any types of those methods to control noxious<00:20:59.880

Bills: HF1698, HF632, HF1352, HF2197, HF618, HF1248, HF1697

Keywords: property tax, exemption, leased land, public use, commercial property, HF632, Minnesota property tax, conservation easement, conservation restriction, assessed value, property valuation, tax assessment, real property, land conservation, farmland preservation, natural areas, riparian buffer, water quality, water quantity, county assessor

Transcript Highlights:

• And I see this bill as giving the voters control over what projects move forward because the bill really
• I see this bill as giving the voters control over what projects move forward because the bill really
• But what we want to do is get to that point where local governments feel more in control of what they're
• But what we want to do is get to that point where local governments feel more in control of what they're
• governments um feel uh more in control governments um feel uh more in control of<01:37:40.920>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is the ultimate local control. I moved here from Nevada 35 years ago.
• Local control is fundamental to conservatism. This takes this away.
• I'm here to tell you ...government-controlled options that are run by experts.
• With the tax credit, the government never controls my money or my choice.
• a nation, they had to control the kids and the education.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Several senators emphasized support for public education, teacher pay and safety, parental choice, and the combined K-16 jurisdiction of the committee. The chair also reviewed hearing procedures, including public testimony registration and time limits. The main item was Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, laid out by Chairman Creighton. He described the bill as an education savings account program intended to expand school choice, with a $200 million universal eligibility pool and an additional $800 million targeted to students with disabilities and lower-income families. He said the bill includes anti-fraud safeguards, criminal background checks for vendors, reporting requirements, data protections, and annual testing for participating students, while not imposing STAAR on private schools or homeschoolers. He also said the bill removes a prior hold-harmless provision for public schools and is separate from public school funding and teacher pay legislation. Members questioned the bill’s income threshold, lottery and priority structure, treatment of homeschoolers, microschools, charter schools, religious freedom protections, citizenship/lawful presence language, cybersecurity, open records, and disability-related issues, including whether 504 students and foster children should be included. Creighton said the bill is designed to prioritize former public school students with disabilities or lower incomes, while also allowing universal eligibility within the program’s first funding tier, and that the Comptroller would oversee vendor screening and cybersecurity rules. He said the bill does not direct curriculum or interfere with religious beliefs and that amendments may be offered later on citizenship and other issues. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, starting with EdChoice representative Robert Inlow, who testified in support of SB 2 and cited national growth in school choice programs and studies he said show positive effects for students and public schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's in our control as to what do we do with this technology.
• impact you right and it's in our control impact you right and it's in our control as<00:13:46.079
• And so if you're not controlling those data points, you've got to think about that.
• points and so if you're not controlling points and so if you're not controlling those<00:57:03.720
• <00:57:25.599> of<00:57:25.880> the of losing control of the of losing control of the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With committee amendments, the bill provides criteria that the controller would need to consider when
• This bill is sponsored by the state controller with no opposition on file.
• I respectfully ask for an aye vote, and we have Evan Johnson from the office of the state controller

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the control, local property taxes.
• <04:21:59.600> the school department, you control the school department, you control the amount
• controlling the bottom line budget. controlling the bottom line budget.
• > our We're just controlling how our We're just controlling how our department<04:23:04.319>
• control they have control that they have control they have control of<04:46:13.120> the<04:46:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The truck lost control, spun, rolled three times, and Julian was ejected. He died at the scene.
• Air pollution control officers from all 35 local air districts are respectfully opposed to the bill.
• They did not have the benefit when initially sold of having the kind of emission controls that we have
• now, and those controls tend to degrade over time.
• now, and those controls tend to degrade over time.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That can be appealing to voters who believe party organizations have too much control.
• What changes is who controls the first round of voting.
• No quality control whatsoever in terms of what was... ...passed.
• No quality control whatsoever in terms of what was passed.
• It has left control over who controls us.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-12, H.503, a proposal to implement all-party state primaries for Massachusetts state and federal elections. The committee opened with procedural remarks explaining Article 48 requirements and then heard first from two subject-matter experts. Professor Costas Panagopoulos of Northeastern University testified that top-two primary systems in other states have produced mixed results: they may modestly increase primary turnout in some cases, but the research does not show a reliable reduction in polarization, and such systems can weaken party gatekeeping, increase strategic behavior, raise campaign spending, and reduce general-election choice for voters whose preferred party is not on the ballot. Katie King of the National Conference of State Legislatures outlined the different primary models used nationwide, explained that Massachusetts currently uses an open-to-unaffiliated primary, and reviewed legal distinctions between blanket primaries and top-two systems; she noted that blanket primaries were struck down by the Supreme Court, while Washington’s top-two system was upheld because it narrows the field rather than nominating party candidates. She also said voter education and administrative preparation would be important if the system changed. The proponents’ panel, led by Danielle Allen of the Coalition for Healthy Democracy, argued that Massachusetts has chronically uncompetitive elections, low turnout, and too many uncontested races, and that all-party primaries would give every voter a meaningful choice in the first round and force candidates to appeal to a broader electorate. Allen said the proposal is designed specifically for Massachusetts and differs from other states by allowing party endorsements to appear on the ballot, which supporters said would preserve useful information while shifting control of the preliminary election from party insiders to voters. Jim Henderson, the coalition’s counsel, said the bill is narrowly tailored to state-level primaries and would amend Chapter 53 to put all voters on equal footing. Other supporters, including Kevin Johnson, Kate Kavanaugh, and Spencer Reynolds, emphasized that the reform could increase competition, reduce polarization, improve participation by independents and underrepresented voters, and create more accountability to the full electorate. Committee members pressed the witnesses on turnout, the practical effect of endorsements, whether the proposal would simply shift party influence to an earlier stage, and whether it could disadvantage minority-party or independent candidates. Senator Fattman repeatedly asked about evidence that turnout would materially increase, while Representative Peisch and others questioned whether requiring or seeking endorsements would create new barriers or pressure candidates to clear the field. Supporters responded that the system would modestly increase primary participation, that the general election would remain the decisive contest, and that endorsements would be optional and handled through party rules. No vote was taken at the hearing; the committee heard testimony and questions only.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then what HB 4026 does overall is lower the reimbursement cap from a large total pool to a controlled
• And Senator Epstein, for us there's just no price control right now because we're saying you have to
• And how do we ever control that because we always have to use them?
• I just couldn't find that, and the risk of setting up this marketplace where we couldn't control cost
• I vote no on all of them, because local control is the better way. Senator Fernandez: No.

Bills: HB2091, HB2140, HB2320, HB2384, HB2398, HB2502, HB2780, HB2918, HB2939, HB2950, HB2999, HB4020, HB4026, HB4029

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, investment, state treasurer, gold bullion, treasury management, financial regulations, school districts, bonds, financial advisors, elections, municipal advisors, cost of borrowing, lease agreements, school property, tax exemptions, impact aid revenue bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Director of the Department of Liquor Control in the County of Maui.
• <00:48:20.280> from<00:48:20.520> the uh for the Liquor Control from the uh for the
• <00:48:32.040> on<00:48:32.160> the Department of Liquor Control on the Department
• of Liquor Control on the County<00:48:32.600> of<00:48:32.760> Maui.
• We have HB 2119 HD1 relating to coffee pest control.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Labor met on February 19, 2026, and heard a series of bills largely focused on public employment, staffing, and professional licensing. Early measures included HB 2276 and HB 2472, both relating to Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund staff salaries, which were supported by trust fund representatives and received no opposition or questions. The committee also heard HB 1714 HD1 on housing, where the Hawaii Public Housing Authority testified with comments and the Deputy Attorney General raised concerns about the scope of autonomy, civil service, collective bargaining, and a possible separation-of-powers issue involving legislative approval of long-term contracts. The committee then considered several personnel and civil service bills. HB 2325 HD1, relating to civil service exempt positions at DLNR, drew support from DLNR and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, but HGEA opposed it and urged the department to seek other recruitment and retention solutions while keeping employees in civil service. HB 1541, relating to Department of Health positions, was supported by DOH on the grounds that the positions serve vulnerable populations and require specialized expertise, while HGEA opposed. HB 2140 HD1, relating to essential permanent positions, received support from OPSD, HGEA, and the Chamber of Commerce, with written comments from the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services. HB 2315 HD1, relating to state employment benefits, was strongly supported by DOH, UPW, and HGEA as a recruitment and retention incentive; members questioned the pilot program, and DOH explained it would allow employees to cash out vacation leave earlier than current policy allows. The committee also heard HB 2295 on government contracting, with DOE support not present and IBEW 1186 in opposition. HB 1720, relating to professional engineers, drew strong support from the City and County of Honolulu’s planning department, which argued the bill would help with affordable housing review and only affect eligibility to sit for the licensure exam, but strong opposition from engineering industry and licensing board representatives, who warned it would lower licensing standards and harm reciprocity; members questioned both sides about plan review experience and licensure requirements. HB 2367, relating to employment earnings and pay transparency, received strong support from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, AAUW, the Commission on the Status of Women, and others, who said transparency helps small businesses and retention, while written opposition came from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and NFIB. Finally, HB 1935, relating to personal information, drew comments from the Attorney General and the Campaign Spending Commission about implementation burdens and disclosure requirements, with UPW supporting the home-address redaction portion but opposing the broader disclosure process; additional written testimony was noted from OIP, the League of Women Voters, Public Press Law Center, HGEA, and DCCA.

Transcript Highlights:

• additionally states the director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, or the county control
• additionally states the director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, or the county control
• It expands the entities able to issue the permit and permit revisions to the control officer, and modifies
• Given that petroleum is traded on a global market with costs well beyond the control of anyone in the
• If their transportation costs depend on gasoline, it's just too much out of our control.

Bills: HB2014, HB2113, HB2145, HB2331, HB2340, HB2389, HB2400, HB2401, HB2428, HB2494, HB2696, HB2756, HB2795, HB2955, HCM2008

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, energy reliability, electric service providers, reliable resources, public power entity

Transcript Highlights:

• I can clarify, we do have an additional amendment to address the zoning and local control issues.
• Just write legislation that controls what temperature you can set the thermostats at.
• No, but we are in the business of controlling what we can control, and that's why we're before you today
• But can we control costs? Thank you so much.
• This legislative body has had, but can we control costs? Thank you so much. Thank you.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we need to get to work and get this crime under control and get things like this Stopped.
• Currently, McKinney County has control of that section of land.
• But in any event what was your opposition to the prohibition on rent control?
• Yeah, I don't think I brought up rent control.
• I brought up rent control.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• entire capital complex, and it also damaged some of the equipment, including the equipment that controls
• So hopefully it won't be a problem for us, but wanted you to know. controls the lighting in this room
• , local control, where you want to have many.
• They have no control over millage rates.
• The millage rate is what controls what your final property tax bill will be.

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for an educational session focused on how Florida funds public schools and how property taxes are assessed and levied. Dr. Jim Zengali of the Department of Revenue explained the FEFP school funding formula, noting that it is built on weighted student counts, a base student allocation, and programmatic add-ons such as transportation, exceptional student education, school safety, and mental health. He said school funding is roughly split between state general revenue and local property taxes through required local effort, with additional discretionary and capital outlay millages contributing to total school funding. He also described the Department of Revenue’s role in certifying property rolls at fair market value and reviewing them for substantial compliance, including the so-called “nuclear option” if a roll is not approved. Members asked about trends in millage rates, county-by-county funding differences, the effect of growth and enrollment changes, and how property appraisals are reviewed. Zengali said aggregate millage for school funding has declined over the last decade while revenues have still increased, and he agreed to provide additional data on county trends, parcel strata, student growth, and enrollment impacts. He also clarified that school funding is equalized so students receive similar resources regardless of county wealth, and that federal funding plays only a small role in the FEFP. Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research then discussed existing homestead benefits. She said about half of Florida’s parcels are homestead properties, most fall in the $250,000 to $500,000 value range, and many seniors without mortgages pay property taxes in lump sums rather than through escrow. Baker explained that Florida’s homestead tax burden is middle-of-the-pack nationally and that the main benefits are Save Our Homes and portability on the differential side, plus the $25,000 homestead exemption and related exemptions on the exemption side. She said these benefits reduce taxable value substantially, with homestead properties receiving a large share of the reductions, and noted that the committee requested follow-up data on exemption usage, portability timing, senior exemptions, and county-level patterns. The final presentation, by Lizette Kelly of the Department of Revenue, covered millage rates and the TRIM process. She reviewed the history of truth-in-millage notices, required taxpayer mailings, public hearing notices, and later changes that tied local millage resets to rollback and majority-vote rates. Kelly explained the difference between proposed and adopted millage, the rollback rate, and the majority-vote rate, and described how taxing authorities include counties, cities, special districts, and MSTUs. She also outlined how county taxable value is calculated from just value through assessment differentials and exemptions, and how certain exemptions, such as the additional senior exemption, apply only to the taxing authority that adopted them. No votes were taken during the meeting, but members requested several follow-up data reports for later discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, for us to continue the expansion of the airport, we need to relocate our air traffic control
• This is the only building on the airport, the 1,100 acres that we don't own and control.
• I am going to bring up a problem that I know you personally do not have control over, but it is an issue
• Problem that I know you personally do not have control over, but it is an issue particularly when we're
• Um that was one of control positions.

Keywords: The live stream for this meeting was prematurely interrupted. The full version will be uploaded in the next few days., 958, all

Summary: The committee heard an update from Kentucky’s three major commercial airports: Lexington Blue Grass Airport, Louisville Regional Airport Authority (SDF and Bowman Field), and CVG. Lexington’s Eric Franco described post-COVID growth that has already exceeded pre-pandemic activity, along with a master plan focused on the whole airport, expanded surface parking, relocation of the air traffic control tower, and a major terminal project estimated at $500 million to $700 million. He emphasized the airport’s role in serving both passenger and corporate aviation across central Kentucky and thanked the legislature for prior funding, including $5 million for parking. Louisville’s Dan Mann reported record passenger growth, expanded nonstop service, and especially strong cargo activity driven by UPS, noting SDF is now among the busiest cargo airports in North America and Bowman Field remains the state’s busiest general aviation airport. He highlighted major infrastructure needs, including airfield and terminal work, parking expansion, and a planned federal inspection service facility to support international flights around events like the Kentucky Derby.

Transcript Highlights:

• They will be in control because it becomes federal property.
• They will be in control because it becomes federal property. Continue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• And you mentioned that they do have the control and the review of it by the VA.
• Who is in control of that right now? Mr. Chairman, Representative Bosch, I have some information.
• But the nice thing about this bill is it's local control.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 2265, which would provide the Fargo National Cemetery with up to a $3 million line of credit to help fund improvements such as indoor bathrooms, parking, a family gathering area, an office, a hearse garage, and a veterans gallery. Supporters said the cemetery has expanded rapidly since 2019, has already conducted about 1,000 burials, and needs better facilities for families and the Honor Guard; they also said the project would be subject to federal VA approval and, once completed, would be taken over by the VA. Members raised questions about the project’s cost, timing, funding sources, whether the bill should be a grant instead of a line of credit, and whether a chapel should be specifically included. No vote was taken on SB 2265 during the excerpt. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2230, which would have the Secretary of State mail active voters a guide on ballot measures at least 45 days before an election, with objective summaries, fiscal impacts, and arguments for and against each measure. Secretary of State Michael Howe said the office already receives many questions about ballot measures and would post the same information online and at polling places, while emphasizing the need to keep the material objective and consistent with election-law restrictions. Members generally supported the idea as a voter-education tool, and the committee adopted a due pass motion on SB 2230 by a 19-0 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2256, which would provide one-time state support for the NDSU Research and Technology Park in Fargo to expand its role in commercialization, robotics, precision agriculture, and defense-related technology. Park CEO Brenda Weiland explained that the park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit spun out of NDSU, governed by a board with both university and industry representation, and that the new model is intended to bridge the gap between research and market-ready products without competing directly with private industry. Members asked about ownership, intellectual property, the planned partnership with Carnegie Mellon’s robotics center, and how the park would use the funding; the discussion focused on contracts, licensing, and the park’s intent to build technical capacity and attract companies. The excerpt ends before any vote on SB 2256.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of controlling or licensing or just right now, the associations are just, I believe, registered
• It depends how much control you and the responsibility that the legislature would like for that.
• <00:42:41.200> depends<00:42:41.680> how<00:42:41.920> much<00:42:42.319> control
• c><00:42:42.880> you<00:42:43.119> and<00:42:43.359> the It depends how much control
• you and the It depends how much control you and the responsibility<00:42:44.240> that<00:42:44.560

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held a confirmation hearing on a long list of nominees to state boards and commissions. Early nominees included David Padilla to the State Boxing Commission, Steven Pine to the Board of Dentistry, Deborah McMmen to the Board of Acupuncture, Tiffany Lyn Hmel and Gabriel Aay to the Board of Veterinary Medicine, Nathan Eslin to the Cable Advisory Committee, John Takitani and Tony Lao to the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects, John Arbles to the State Board of Public Accountancy, and later nominees to the Board of Psychology, Board of Pharmacy, Hawaii Medical Board, Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Board of Chiropractic, Board of Physical Therapy, Board of Private Detectives and Guards, and the Real Estate Commission. Most nominations were for terms expiring in 2027, 2028, or 2029, with one Real Estate Commission term expiring in 2026. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support. DCCA and the relevant boards or commissions generally stood on written testimony supporting each nominee, and many individual supporters also testified, including professional associations, industry representatives, and community members. Several nominees briefly addressed the committee, expressing appreciation and interest in continuing or beginning service. The committee asked a few questions on some nominations, especially about the Real Estate Commission and the Board of Private Detectives and Guards, where members discussed condominium-related complaints, association practices, and whether the board could do more to assist security personnel; the nominee said staffing and authority limits constrained additional training or oversight. For the Real Estate Commission, members also asked about broader housing and market conditions, and the nominee said inventory shortages and housing supply issues remained a major concern. No opposition testimony or contentious votes were described in the transcript. The chair repeatedly asked whether there were questions or additional testimony, and after each nominee the committee generally moved on without objection. The hearing was focused on receiving testimony and evaluating the nominees for later confirmation rather than taking final action during the meeting.