Transcript Highlights:

• immediately recess the proceedings of the full committee because, as you may have noticed from the schedule
• , there is a subcommittee hearing that had been scheduled for 9:50.
• In fact, my first concern is that this bill really tramples on employers' rights to set schedules, to
• In fact, my first concern is that this bill really tramples on employers' rights to set schedules, to
• </c><00:31:28.960><c> or</c><00:31:29.279><c> shifts</c> their uh employees schedules or shifts their

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first recessed for a subcommittee meeting on HB 313, which concerned an open-meetings-related issue. In the subcommittee, members discussed concerns that the bill might be unnecessary because current law already allows a person to request an open meeting in advance; the subcommittee then voted ITL on HB 313 by voice vote and closed its work session. The full Judiciary Committee then reconvened and took up CACR 6, the proposed constitutional amendment on a “right to compute,” with members debating whether the language was too broad and could create unintended consequences. Supporters framed it as a forward-looking protection for computation resources and strong encryption, while opponents said it was too open-ended and better addressed by future legislation. The committee voted ITL on CACR 6 by a 17-0 roll call. The committee next turned to HB 232, as amended, concerning the rights of conscience for medical professionals. The amendment narrowed the bill to abortion-related objections, removed sterilization and artificial contraception, aligned the abortion definition with existing state law, and reduced damages from treble damages to actual damages. Supporters said the bill would protect conscience rights, give physicians and patients more choice, and could help attract providers to New Hampshire. Opponents argued it was overly broad, unclear in key definitions, and could interfere with employers’ ability to assign staff, especially in rural health settings. Members also raised concerns about the bill’s scope and enforcement, including the broad definition of “participate,” the lack of clarity around exceptions for providers whose services include abortion as a “major part,” emergency determinations, and the inclusion of nursing homes in the definition of health care institution. Some members argued the bill singled out abortion while other controversial medical procedures were not treated similarly, and others criticized the minimum-damages provision as potentially punitive and designed to deter participation. The discussion continued without a final vote shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I scheduled a meeting with the Democrats tomorrow at noon time.
• Um,<00:20:39.520><c> and</c><00:20:40.320><c> I</c><00:20:40.640><c> scheduled</c><00:20:40.880><c> a
• a meeting with the Um, and I scheduled a meeting with the Democrats<00:20:42.240><c> tomorrow</c><00
• The schedule is going to go out for Monday to meet at 10:00 in the morning.
• </c> that last item could have a a schedule that last item could have a a schedule direction<02:11:52.800

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Actually, the move of the university system office to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule, and we will
• it with the we just try to schedule it with the commissioner<01:40:02.880><c> or</c><01:40:03.199><c
• So, you know, whatever fits into the schedule of higher education as well.
• So, you know, whatever fits into the schedule of higher education as well. Okay.
• </c><01:44:38.480><c> over</c> and then you not try to schedule over and then you not try to schedule

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not going to clock everyone, but just because we have a little tight schedule, stay around that
• ><c> tight</c> but uh just because we have little tight but uh just because we have little tight schedule
• so stay around that schedule so stay around that approximately<00:04:27.240><c> time</c><00:04:27.440
• And knowing my schedule and knowing how hard I am to get a hold of sometimes, I can just imagine that
• Just that the committee schedule has been posted online. Members can check that out.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• strategy</c><00:27:46.039><c> to</c><00:27:46.240><c> address</c><00:27:46.559><c> deferred</c> schedule
• strategy to address deferred schedule strategy to address deferred maintenance<00:27:47.559><c> is</
• I think that's all we have scheduled to testify.
• That will be our next scheduled hearing in this room.
• You know, Chair would note that, as CFO Young testified, there’s no current projects scheduled for this

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 707, which would create a state income tax deduction for contributions to Hawaii 529 college savings accounts and conform state law to federal changes allowing 529 funds to be used for K-12 expenses. The Department of Taxation said it could administer the bill as written. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the measure but asked that ABLE accounts be included and that the program title be changed; the Department of Taxation indicated the title issue could be a problem because the bill’s expanded purpose may not fit the current program name. No vote was taken. The committee then heard House Bill 617, which would fund a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges. UH Community Colleges supported the bill, and Maui nursing staff testified that faculty recruitment is challenging but manageable, clinical placements are available, and the campus already has a statewide RN-to-BSN pathway; they said the new program would create two tracks, including a four-year BSN option. Members also heard support from several organizations, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, nursing groups, and health care associations. No action was taken. Next were several UH-related measures. HB 718 would fund faculty and staff positions at the John A. Burns School of Medicine; the dean and other supporters testified in favor. HB 1279 would create a medical education liaison position tied to Project ECHO; the Attorney General raised constitutional concerns about statewide concern and grant standards, while an individual witness supported the concept but suggested the bill should focus on liaison/support functions rather than program administration. HB 1169 would consolidate conference center revolving funds, and HB 1168 would authorize up to $800 million in UH revenue bonds; UH’s CFO said both were procedural/housekeeping measures and supported them. On HB 1168, members questioned debt service, possible uses, and whether deferred maintenance would be included; the CFO estimated annual debt service could be about $33 million to $41 million at current rates, said likely uses could include student housing and research facilities, and said deferred maintenance was not the current strategy. The CFO also explained that revenue bonds require both legislative authorization and a Board of Regents resolution approving the project and amount. Finally, the committee heard HB 548, which would authorize revenue bonds and appropriations to acquire the St. Francis School campus for UH Mānoa. UH supported the bill but noted the property is privately owned and not known to be for sale. A supporter described the site as a unique 11-acre parcel contiguous to the main campus and urged the committee to seize the opportunity for future generations. No vote or final action was taken on the bills in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• to work secondary employment, so they couldn’t be deployed. ...conflicted because they’re on a schedule
• But your equipment has a replacement schedule.
• Sorry, we missed him, but he understood our schedule was a little tight.
• So when you recruit, you get someone who's Schedule C from another state agency.
• Or just for another Schedule C or three?

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard the Legislative Budget Board’s overview of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2026-27 budget, followed by extensive testimony from DPS leadership. The LBB presentation covered funding and staffing changes across driver license services, facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, and border security. The recommendations included added support for customer service staffing and trooper hiring, but did not include several DPS exceptional items such as major driver license staffing and technology requests, new regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio, and other capital projects. Members also discussed proposed rider changes, including a new rider to lapse unused trooper funding and require reporting after recruit schools. Much of the committee’s questioning focused on driver license operations, where senators criticized long call wait times, low call-answer rates, appointment delays, and what they viewed as an overreliance on adding staff rather than improving processes. DPS and LBB witnesses said the agency is pursuing some technology upgrades, including automation, online pre-population of applications, and appointment-system improvements, but acknowledged that the driver license division remains a major problem area. Senators also raised concerns about whether the 2019 efficiency study led to meaningful changes and whether the agency should consider broader process redesign or even a different administrative structure. Colonel Freeman and other DPS officials then defended the agency’s broader law enforcement and border-security work, emphasizing the need for the Williamson County training academy, the 500 additional troopers funded in prior sessions, and continued support for Operation Lone Star. They described DPS’s role in border interdiction, threat-to-life investigations, oilfield theft cases, Capitol and Alamo security, and highway safety, and said the agency is stretched thin by deployments and overtime. Members asked about border reimbursement possibilities, regional staffing differences, pursuit safety, fleet and aircraft replacement needs, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame museum. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, we have several hearings scheduled for today.
• Our next hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on HB 1773 FN, and we will be in recess until then.
• Our next hearing is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at which time we will hear 1706 FN.
• </c><02:19:59.439><c> at</c> hearing is scheduled for 100 p.m. at hearing is scheduled for 100 p.m. at
• So, IDA gains a Schedule I status. I know this committee is familiar with that type of thing.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> administrator yeah he's on our schedule administrator yeah he's on our schedule for<04:05:56.520
• We keep scheduling them out as a resolution pathway.
• We keep scheduling them out as a resolution pathway.
• We keep scheduling them out as a resolution pathway.
• Hearings that are scheduled weekly all the way throughout into July, and we keep scheduling them out

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs’ budget, with testimony from division leadership on staffing, funding sources, and program changes. Early discussion focused on vacant positions in the agency, including a senior planner tied to FEMA requirements, a federally funded program assistant, a program specialist to be reclassified during a planning reorganization, and two Housing Champions positions that were authorized but not funded in the current biennium and are requested for 2026-27. The witnesses also explained that temporary welcome center positions are filled as funds allow, and that the agency’s requested general fund increase is driven largely by the Division of Travel and Tourism Development and its formula-based funding. Members then reviewed rest areas, welcome centers, outdoor recreation, economic development, procurement, and workforce opportunity lines. The department said there are 12 rest areas, with 5.8 million foot counts in FY 24, and that welcome centers are generally open year-round, though Sutton is currently closed and staffing relies on a mix of full-time and temporary employees. The outdoor recreation position is federally funded through USDA and supports business outreach, trade shows, and industry promotion. In economic development, the agency said increased dues reflect participation in the Northern Borders Regional Commission, and that a marketing line item is intended to support recruitment and promotion of growth industries such as advanced manufacturing and life sciences. The Apex Accelerator Program was described as a state-federal partnership requiring a state match and providing government contracting assistance to businesses, while the Office of Workforce Opportunity was explained as a federally funded WIOA-related effort administered through multiple agencies and subrecipients. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which members said had generated significant public concern. The department described SBDC as a highly effective technical assistance program for new and small businesses, but said the cut was one of the few places it felt it had room to reduce funding. Members asked about federal support and matching requirements for various programs, and the department said less than half of its overall budget is generally funded by the state and that some programs require state match. The committee also discussed travel and tourism marketing and the Joint Promotional Program, with the department saying those funds support broader advertising campaigns and grants to chambers and trade associations for events such as Bike Week, Restaurant Week, and the Seafood Festival. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• school schedule would not work.
• Um, many people choose other schedules to work for them and their families, and being forced to have
• ,</c><02:18:04.399><c> we</c> particular jobs and shift schedules, we particular jobs and shift schedules
• </c> able to be flexible with our schedule able to be flexible with our schedule and<02:18:11.040><c>
• Um, many people schedule would not work.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education met on February 17 and announced it would limit public testimony to one minute because more than a thousand testimonies were expected on one measure. The first bill heard was HB 1934, relating to the Imagination Library of Hawaii. The state librarian and Friends of the Library supported the bill, saying the program is a proven, cost-effective way to improve early literacy and should be expanded statewide for children ages 0 to 5. Friends of the Library said the current 50/50 match requirement would be too difficult to meet immediately and asked for state funding for the first few years to help launch the expansion. Testimony included eight supporters and one opponent, and members asked whether the proposal was an expansion of an existing program; the state librarian said it would expand service beyond currently targeted communities. The committee then heard HB 20004, which would extend the floating librarian pilot program. The state librarian, Department of Education, HSTA, and several individuals testified in support. Supporters said the program helps address staffing needs and improves student readiness, especially for college and information literacy. One retired community college librarian said school librarians help students prepare for college and are increasingly important in teaching critical evaluation of misinformation and AI-generated content. Members asked about implementation of the existing pilot, including recruitment of certified librarians for neighbor island and Oahu complex areas; DOE said those positions had been identified and recruitment was underway, and existing funds remained intact. The final major discussion was HB 2398, which clarifies the library system’s role in RNMSP-related projects and public library construction on or near school land. The state librarian and public library system supported the bill, while the Department of Education and Attorney General’s office raised concerns about vague language, especially the phrase “land controlled by the board,” and suggested amendments. In questioning, the state librarian explained that the bill was prompted by conflicts on shared or adjacent school/public library sites, including traffic, pickup and drop-off access, and other operational issues. DOE described significant disruption from one project’s traffic changes and said planning for such projects should involve early coordination and formal agreements. The state librarian responded that the new bill would clarify oversight and help avoid delays and disputes over property control and future renovations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The final day, the actual day, is technically March 6, but they've scheduled a session for March 6.
• </c><00:56:13.319><c> all</c> 6 so that I was planning to schedule all 6 so that I was planning to schedule
• You can go ahead and schedule...
• </c> you can uh go ahead and and schedule you can uh go ahead and and schedule I'll<01:16:30.800><c>
• Um, is it your idea that you would schedule another work session, or would you go straight...

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The discussion focused on a cannabis legalization/regulation bill and whether it should be retained for further study or moved forward. Members debated the fiscal impact, with one side emphasizing that the bill would cost about $7.1 million in the first two years before generating revenue, while supporters argued the House should make a statement in favor of legalization despite likely opposition from the Senate and governor. There was also disagreement over strategy: some said retaining the bill until closer to the next election would give the issue more visibility, while others said delaying would only avoid sending a bill the Senate was unlikely to take up anyway. A major point of contention was whether cannabis should be regulated by a new cannabis commission or placed under the Liquor Commission. Supporters of the Liquor Commission argued it already has enforcement infrastructure, especially for age restrictions, and could handle cannabis more efficiently without creating a new bureaucracy. Opponents said cannabis is a different industry that would require specialized expertise, and they objected to expanding the Liquor Commission, which they described as unpopular and costly. The committee also discussed past versions of the bill, including concerns about limited licenses and the perception that the earlier approach favored large businesses. Members reviewed specific provisions such as licensing fees, THC limits, and cultivation categories. One member noted a $10,000 fee for retail cannabis stores and cannabis product manufacturers authorized to perform extractions, while a smaller tier-one cultivator fee was described as a lower-cost option for small growers. There was also discussion of whether the bill would allow sales through general retail outlets or only dedicated cannabis stores, and whether plants and seeds were covered. No final vote or action was clearly recorded in the excerpt, but the main procedural question was whether to retain the bill for more work or advance it as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's on a different publishing schedule.
• This continues to have us adopt the model codes one edition behind the publishing schedule, which has
• I scheduled six bills for next week, so I gave you a little bit lighter week.
• I scheduled six bills clarity on that.
• I scheduled six bills for<01:35:38.440><c> next</c><01:35:38.760><c> week.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, and we will—what is our next scheduled time? There it is, 9:15.
• I'll get you back on schedule. Awesome, thank you. We appreciate it.
• The other issue is providers work frequently on schedules that are 24 on, 24 off, 24 on, and then five
• </c> providers work frequently work schedules providers work frequently work schedules that<01:43:30.599
• I'm going to schedule probably seven bills for next week.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:14:40.840><c> Um</c><01:14:41.240><c> the</c><01:14:41.560><c> the</c> uh the proposed schedule
• Um the the uh the proposed schedule.
• Right now, I don’t have a whole lot to schedule. Um, I don’t think there’s any rush on SP 633.”
• Right now, I don’t have a whole lot to schedule. Um, I don’t think there’s any rush on SP 633.”
• </c> whole lot to schedule. whole lot to schedule.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> reports according to the schedule reports according to the schedule specified<00:57:01.520><c> in
• on how we and also have schedules on how we conduct<01:04:13.319><c> monitoring.
• This is just relating to the schedule.
• ><c> about</c><01:34:29.760><c> Friday,</c><01:34:30.159><c> are</c> schedule.
• So, talking about Friday, are schedule.

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

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we have a reasonably full schedule today, but it should be pretty smooth.
• Two more slides: schedule and budget.
• This next slide, the schedule, is broken down into many different milestones for the construction team
• and budget this next slide uh schedule and budget this next slide uh of<00:08:57.600><c> schedule</c
• a week they scheduled a meeting with<00:14:38.360><c> me</c><00:14:39.000><c> and</c><00:14:39.120><

Bills: HF1867 , HF1240

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: lottery, retailer contracts, Minnesota Statutes, contract qualifications, public integrity, criminal background, legislative auditor, public funds, state government, compliance, transparency, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas on January 7, 2026, I called a special session scheduled to commence at 12 p.m. on Monday
• And whereas it is now prudent to amend the call of the special session originally scheduled to commence

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then administered the oath of office to newly elected Senator Brian Nathan of District 14, who was welcomed by the chamber. The Secretary read the governor’s amended special session proclamation, which expanded the call to include legislation on artificial intelligence protections, an AI Bill of Rights, related public records exemptions, and medical freedom, in addition to congressional redistricting and related litigation funding. The chamber then read the bills filed within the call: SB 2D (Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights), SB 4D (public records), SB 60 (medical freedom), and SB 8D (congressional districts). The Rules Chair moved SB 2D and SB 4D forward, and the Senate took up SB 2D first. On SB 2D, the sponsor said the bill was intended to protect parents and children from deceptive AI practices, safeguard personal information and image rights, and ensure technology serves rather than deceives Floridians. Senator Grall opposed the bill, arguing it weakened protections and gave parents a false sense of security, while Senator Busillo supported it as a necessary but imperfect first step that should be implemented carefully. After debate, the Senate passed SB 2D by a vote of 37 yeas and 1 nay. The Senate then passed SB 4D, the companion public records exemption bill, after brief discussion about which investigative files would be exempt during enforcement proceedings; the vote was 33 yeas and 4 nays. The Rules Chair announced committee scheduling, noted SB 60 (medical freedom) would be temporarily postponed in Rules, and the Senate also set SB 8D for special order on Wednesday, April 29. The chamber adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are going to take next week's schedule, which was originally Tuesday.
• And so we are going to take next week's schedule, which was originally Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next floor session is scheduled for Thursday, April 9, at 9 a.m.
• The next floor session is scheduled for Thursday April 9th at 9 a.m. Thank you.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee member Representative Veit, I just want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule
• and also the schedule to come here and testify and enlighten us on what the real problem is.

Committee: House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met with a quorum, announced that House Bills 3304, 2777, and 3054 would not be heard that day, and then moved into executive session. In executive session, the committee considered House Bill 1910, which concerns child maintenance/child support obligations for certain persons convicted of DWIs. Representative Davis offered an amendment changing mandatory language from “shall” to “may” to preserve judicial discretion; the amendment was adopted 5-2 with one present. The committee then adopted a substitute and voted the House Committee substitute for HB 1910 do pass 7-0 with one present. The committee next took up House Bill 3116, a civil jurisprudence bill. An amendment was adopted to incorporate provisions from three previously heard bills: HB 1711 (Uniform Deposition Act), HB 1713 (allowing circuit courts to dissolve LLCs), and HB 3072 (workers’ compensation changes). The committee rolled the amendment into a substitute and voted the House Committee substitute for HB 3116 do pass 8-0. The committee also considered House Bill 3289 on court operations. An amendment was adopted to add treatment court administrators in certain circuits, subject to appropriations, then rolled into a substitute. The House Committee substitute for HB 3289 was voted do pass 8-0. In public hearing, Representative Dolan presented House Bill 3443, which would raise the court automation fee from $7 to $10 and add a CPI-based annual adjustment. Supporters from the Judicial Conference of Missouri said the fee has not been updated since the 1990s, that court automation costs continue to rise, and that the surcharge covers only a portion of the system’s expenses; they also noted that salaries are generally funded through general revenue rather than fees. Committee members asked about the new fee amount, what the revenue would support, and the collection-rate assumptions in the fiscal note. No opposition testimony was offered. Representative Parker then presented House Bill 2865, which would remove the statutory cap of $75 per hour for attorney’s fees in certain agency/licensure proceedings and replace it with “reasonable” fees. He and supporters said the current rate has not been updated since 1989 and is too low to attract attorneys for cases involving licensed professionals defending their licenses. Testimony in favor came from a private attorney who practices in this area, the Missouri Bar, and another supporter who said the bill would improve representation for Missouri licensees. No opposition testimony was presented, and the hearing on HB 2865 was concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Veit, I just want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule and also the
• schedule to come here and testify, and enlighten us on what the real problem is.

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 959, house, all