Transcript Highlights:

• And the firing or the attempted firing of those officials, I believe, is contrary to the rule of law
• And the firing or the attempted firing of those officials, I believe, is contrary to the rule of law
• I I questioned a witness they're fired.
• Now I think next day he was fired.
• <00:50:43.280> of the Supreme Court uh needs a code of the Supreme Court uh needs a code of

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the rule of law with U.S. Representative Ed Case. Chair Carl Rhodes opened by explaining the purpose of the briefing, noting it was being livestreamed and that public testimony would not be taken in the usual way. He described the rule of law as central to democracy and introduced Case, who was invited to discuss the concept and its relevance to recent federal actions affecting Hawaii. Case framed the rule of law as a durable system grounded in the Constitution, federal laws, separation of powers, and checks and balances, with each branch of government and the public itself playing a role. He emphasized that Congress makes the laws, the president executes them, and the courts decide whether the Constitution and laws are being followed. He also stressed that elected officials swear to uphold this structure and that the rule of law is distinct from ordinary policy disagreements. Case then argued that the Trump administration has undermined the rule of law through actions such as dismantling or weakening agencies created and funded by law, withholding appropriated funds, removing inspectors general and other independent officials, ignoring or challenging court orders, weakening the independence of agencies like the Department of Justice and the Federal Reserve, and intimidating dissenting voices, the press, and other opponents. He said these actions have harmed Hawaii and reflect a coordinated effort to concentrate power in the executive branch. He noted that Congress has not been serving as an effective check, while federal courts have been the main remaining check through more than 46 lawsuits, and he identified voters as the ultimate check and balance, briefly correcting the timing of the next midterm election to 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires us to update our land use and zoning code.
• It requires us to update our land use and zoning code.
• It requires us to update our land use and zoning code.
• It requires us to update our land use and zoning code.
• The fire trucks barely fit community.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, good morning. thank you water Watertown zip code thank you water Watertown zip code 55388<00:10:
• in the nearby cities for fire disasters, and this directly relates to that.
• in the nearby cities for fire disasters, and this directly relates to that.
• parenthesis of the Internal Revenue code parenthesis of the Internal Revenue code period<00:20:57.360
• <00:53:49.079> so very basic idea uh in our tax code so very basic idea uh in our tax code

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• professionals, and qualified autism service paraprofessionals from the health and safety insurance code
• to the business and professions code.
• to the business and professions code.
• provisions from the Health and Safety Code and the Insurance Code to the Business and Professions Code
• Chair and members, I'm so happy to present this to you in light of the fires.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• fire staff.
• Minus, maybe that's supposed to be the fire. That's the fire station.
• I can see the relevance of fire safety, as they have some minor fire capabilities, but not what's needed
• . needed if there's a full-scale fire.
• No building codes were in place, but now it's different.

Transcript Highlights:

• And with regard to these codes, who's suggesting what goes into the codes?
• code.
• on a pretty good code.
• code.
• If a code, some code, results in an increase in fee, we're typically not going to oppose the code, as

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2370, fire protection. HB 2370, schools administration. HB 2373, income tax free fund.
• group; HB 2317, traffic vehicle loss; HB 2318, on wheels; HB 2319, sealing arrest records; HB 2324, fire
• code; HB 2343, special plate; HB 2345, unlawful presence; HB 2347, reasonable since good Samaritans;
• HB 2348, appropriations; DEMA; HB 2354, prohibitive weapon bump fire; HB 2358, inmate telephone system

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Serious accidents caused by a serious violation is what it says in the Labor Code.
• Labor Code Section 5909 requires us to act on a petition for reconsideration of a decision issued by
• . ...more people in construction careers with the fires and so many other housing.
• On the demand letters under Labor Code 238, 240, we have about 3,500, and on in-depth investigations.
• On the demand letters under Labor Code 238, 240, we have about 3,500 and on in-depth investigations.

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of budget and trailer bill presentations focused on labor and public employment programs. The first item covered EDD Next modernization, where EDD described progress on customer service improvements, fraud prevention, language access, and the Integrated Claims Management System. The LAO urged stronger legislative oversight as the project enters its most difficult phase, and members questioned the revised schedule, total cost, change orders, stress testing, SB 1090 implementation, and how race and ethnicity data will be protected. EDD said the overall project cost remains about $1.2 billion, that the work is being phased with disability insurance and paid family leave first, and that fraud has been greatly reduced since pandemic-era programs ended. Members also asked for follow-up information on SB 590 outreach and equity impacts. The committee then reviewed the California Workforce Development Board’s request to reduce staffing as one-time grant workloads wind down, along with trailer bill language to streamline reporting requirements. The board and Department of Finance said the staffing reductions reflect the end of surge funding and that the proposal would consolidate roughly 10 to 12 reports into one annual report, with additional reporting only if new funds are appropriated for certain programs. Senator Durazo questioned the policy direction of reducing workforce staffing, while the administration said the positions were tied to temporary grant programs and that current staffing is sufficient for ongoing duties. Members also asked about the board’s role in AI-related workforce planning and the rationale for using state funds for the High Road Construction Careers Program. A major portion of the hearing focused on the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund reforms and related staffing request at DIR. The administration and LAO described rapid growth in applications, backlog, and liabilities, saying the program’s eligibility has expanded beyond its original intent and that liabilities could reach about $30 billion by 2030 without reform. The trailer bill would tighten eligibility, apply the changes to open cases, and use the QME process and contemporaneous evidence to document preexisting disabilities. Members raised concerns about fairness to pending claimants, evaluator capacity, and the relationship to other SIBTF legislation, while the LAO said the proposal largely aligns with its prior recommendations. DIR also presented a request to eliminate vacant positions under a statewide vacancy sweep, which drew criticism from members who argued the cuts could weaken enforcement and backlog reduction efforts; the committee asked DIR to return with more detail on impacts and on its use of temporary-help authority. The final items addressed a request for additional Cal/OSHA investigative staff and a trailer bill to make permanent the revised Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board petition timeline. DIR said the BOI staffing would help investigate fatalities and serious injuries more quickly, while members emphasized the importance of family contact and timely investigations. For the WCAB item, the chair explained that the 2024 change to Labor Code section 5909, which starts the 60-day decision clock when a case is transmitted rather than when a petition is filed, has reduced pending cases and should be made permanent; the remaining backlog was reported at 460 cases, down from 637 before the change.

Transcript Highlights:

• In other areas, we cut fire breaks to ensure that if there is a fire, our fire departments can get in
• a fire our fire departments if there is a fire our fire departments can<02:27:10.319> get<02:27
• > Marshall um fire mitigation State Fire Marshall um fire mitigation State Fire Marshall and<04
• codes.
• forward into the 2021 code?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee held an informational briefing with the University of Hawaiʻi, led by new President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance Calbert Young. Hensel outlined the university system’s scope, student demographics, research activity, and campus missions, emphasizing four strategic priorities: serving Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi, student success, workforce development, and economic diversification through innovation and research. She highlighted the system’s enrollment, research funding, and the roles of Mānoa, Hilo, West Oʻahu, the community colleges, and specialized institutions such as JABSOM and the Cancer Center. Young then reviewed the budget request, focusing largely on making prior one-time appropriations permanent and supporting recurring needs. Items included funding for Mānoa athletics, the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology, K-12 teacher education, Pamantasan Council support, Hilo programs, Windward’s mental health technician certificate, Maui’s practical nursing bridge program, and student support positions such as financial aid and admissions counselors. He also described workforce-related requests tied to nursing expansion at Mānoa and West Oʻahu, as well as facilities support at West Oʻahu. A major portion of the testimony addressed the university’s two Kakaʻako medical facilities. Young explained that declining tobacco settlement and cigarette tax revenues are no longer sufficient to cover debt service for JABSOM and the Cancer Center, so the governor’s budget includes general fund support to supplement those obligations. He also described a regents-approved request not included in the governor’s proposal: expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise financial aid program to the four-year campuses, estimated at about $11–12 million. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we need to particular set of codes that we need to meet<00:20:40.720> for<00:20:41.039><
• of the fire marshal? of the fire marshal?
• Fire breaks and all. I think it was a million that was appropriated.
• I think what I think what the fire it.
• the the programs from the state fire the the programs from the state fire marshals,<01:25:21.120

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Referred to Municipal. ...and fire service employees, to provide for pre-cancer screenings for esophageal
• House Bill 243 by Representative Wilder to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding recusal of
• House Bill 243 by Representative Wilder to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, regarding recusal of
• 4 by Representative McCormick, to suspend for 18 months provisions of the Louisiana Administrative Code
• It's, we're suspending seven... well, is that administrative code or law? What are we suspending?

Bills: HR195, HR196, HR197, HR198, HR199, HR200, HR201, HR202, HR203, HR204, HR205, HR206, HR207, HR208, HR209, HCR87, HCR88, HCR89, HCR90, HR192, HR193, HR194, HCR80, HCR81, HCR82, HCR83, HCR84, HCR85, SB235, SB416, SB425, SB435, SB439, HCR15, HCR41, HCR76, HCR77, SCR3, HB91, HB167, HB227, HB243, HB264, HB321, HB335, HB398, HB492, HB623, HB624, HB660, HB689, HB708, HB719, HB802, HB804, HB884, HB906, HB926, HB934, HB940, HB955, HB968, HB969, HB978, HB985, HB1005, HB1022, HB1028, HB1029, HB1069, HB1077, HB1095, HB1104, HB1107, HB1185, HB1187, HB1199, HB1201, HB1203, HB1217, HB1220, SB66, SB68, SB76, SB139, SB336, SB475, HR1, HR17, HCR5, HCR4, HCR47, HCR32, HR38, HR96, HR160, HCR31, HCR61, SCR19, HB64, HB68, HB92, HB12, HB42, HB205, HB222, HB267, HB324, HB325, HB350, HB478, HB610, HB617, HB745, HB749, HB752, HB797, HB807, HB821, HB896, HB979, HB992, HB1000, HB1024, HB1050, HB1166, HB1172, HB1173, HB1207, HB1218, HB1223, HB316, HB549, HB578, HB748, HB798, HB824, HB988, HB989, HB1001, HB1032, HB1081, HB1108, HB1129, HB1140, HB1157, HB1192, HB1195, HB1198, HB1244, SB73, SB89, SB128, SB149, SB191, SB196, SB238, SB318, SB340, HB306, HB366, HB911, HB1161, HB1230, HB59, HB481, HB772, HB897, HB1003, HB1008, HB1112, HB1180, HB1189, HB525, HB1058, HB181, HB1118, HB1082, HB901, HR20, HR74, HB225, HB284, HB393, HB458, HB459, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB773, HB864, HB996, HB1035, HB1113, HB1234, HB1240

Keywords: Louisiana Young Heroes Day, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, LPB, house resolution, ceremonial resolution, special observance, youth recognition, student achievement, community service, public service, high school students, youth leadership, disability advocacy, autism, diabetes, epilepsy, foster care, STEM, robotics, literacy

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, adopted the journal, and spent much of the day on recognitions and resolutions. Members honored NAMI and proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Month, recognized fourth graders from Alpine Christian School, Hunter Nation supporters, Vermilion Parish guests, and the 2026 Louisiana Young Heroes. The House also observed a moment of silence for Martha Odom after the Mall of Louisiana tragedy, and one member spoke against political violence and harassment. Several resolutions were adopted, including measures for Louisiana Young Heroes Day, Rural Mental Health Day, Nurses’ Day/Week, a study of child abuse reporter training, a memorial on FISA/privacy, and studies on civil bench warrants, property transfer/public records issues, the term “foreign” in state law, and carbon sequestration-related property issues. The House also adopted HCR 4 by a 63-30 vote to suspend certain Louisiana Administrative Code provisions on supplemental feeding, baiting, and chronic wasting disease control areas for 18 months. The chamber then moved through a large number of committee reports and bills, mostly advancing them without objection. Notable measures included bills on criminal discovery and law enforcement records, impaired driving task force, sexual assault nurse examiners and oversight, election commissioner pay, Medicaid dental coverage tied to other procedures, judicial salaries, teacher phased retirement, TOPS Tech eligibility, school emergency operations plans, pharmacy benefit manager transparency, and school-based health services. Several bills were recommitted to Appropriations or sent to third reading, while others were adopted as titles or amended in committee reports. In floor action on final passage, the House approved a series of bills with broad support: H.B. 12 on survivor benefits for reserve and auxiliary law enforcement officers (102-0), H.B. 402 on phased retirement for higher education employees (97-2), H.B. 205 on supplemental compensation for election commissioners (98-0), H.B. 224 on Medicaid dental coverage for medically necessary procedures (98-0), H.B. 267 on Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors appointments (70-19), H.B. 324 on judicial salary increases (98-0), H.B. 325 on TOPS Tech eligibility changes (90-7), H.B. 350 expanding a charter school’s grade levels (98-0), H.B. 745 extending special permit authority for tandem loads (100-0), H.B. 749 transferring administration of 529/ABLE savings programs to a third-party platform while keeping state oversight (94-0), H.B. 797 creating the Bayou Gold Program for digital gold businesses (101-0), H.B. 807 creating a workforce instructor capacity investment program (90-0), H.B. 821 moving the Center for Safe Schools to the Law Enforcement Commission (103-0), H.B. 896 on toll signage, dispute procedures, and customer service centers (103-0), H.B. 979 increasing first responder survivor benefits to $404,000 after amendment (103-0), H.B. 992 assigning student IDs in early childhood programs (94-6), H.B. 1000 adjusting highway priority program procedures and local district contract limits (96-0), H.B. 1024 creating a Louisiana Democratic Party license plate (100-0), H.B. 1050 clarifying CDL age and vision requirements (98-0), and H.B. 1173 easing late-fee treatment in license reinstatement payment plans (94-0).

Transcript Highlights:

• calls because our fire alarm panels are so old that we can't find replacement parts for them.
• This is Lee, and he is a fire evidence dog, so he can help pick out the source of arson or the source
• of fires.
• I wonder if some of those organizations that— of fires?
• Also, we have had some issues with our fire alarm system as well as our burglar alarm system.

Summary: The committee met as the Commerce and Legal Services Division and first approved the minutes, then received a Legislative Council overview of the Attorney General’s current budget status and a blue-sheet summary of the AG’s base budget for the next biennium. Staff highlighted compliance with legislative intent items, including FTE changes, one-time funding updates, litigation pool spending, opioid settlement receipts, and continuing appropriations. Members asked about specific funds such as the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund and the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and staff explained the statutory basis and status of those items. The Attorney General’s office then presented an extensive overview of its divisions and budget pressures. Chief Deputy Attorney General Clare Ness described the office’s 14 divisions, the role of the office in defending the state and recouping funds, and concerns about attorney pay, recruitment, and retention. Members discussed whether attorney salaries should be benchmarked across state government and whether more legal work could be centralized in the AG’s office. The office also described challenges with the new-and-vacant FTE pool, operating expense cuts, leased office space, and the criminal justice information systems used to connect law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts. The Crime Laboratory director gave a detailed update on space and infrastructure problems, saying the current lab is overcrowded and outdated, with safety, workflow, air-handling, glycol leak, alarm, and maintenance issues that can delay casework and risk evidence integrity. She said a 2024 study projected a need for a much larger facility and that the preferred option would be a new building on the current health department site, at an estimated cost of roughly $40 million to $45 million. She also reported that backlogs have improved significantly in DNA, firearms, fingerprint, and drug cases, though toxicology had recently developed a small backlog after an air compressor failure. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, gaming division, and BCI also provided updates. MFCU’s new director said the unit is federally funded 75/25, focuses on fraud, abuse, and neglect, and is seeking two attorney hires while continuing to work with federal partners on cases and recertification. Gaming staff reported continued growth in charitable gaming and electronic pull-tab activity, with concerns about site competition, large trust balances, possible ineligible expenditures, and the need for more scrutiny as revenues have grown. BCI outlined its staffing, drug task forces, ICAC work, and the Missing Indigenous Person Task Force, which is using its $250,000 appropriation to help tribal nations develop emergency response plans and purchase alerting tools such as IPAWS. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• of going to be drinking from the fire of going to be drinking from the fire hose<00:10:48.079>
• resilient, and go often go above code resilient, and go often go above code requirements.<01:32:
• Our homeowners accounted for 46% of the premium, fire 42%, farm fire 8%, and commercial 4%.
• and our dwelling fire uh 8.5%. and our dwelling fire uh 8.5%.
• <01:58:06.480> Turman the fire hose again. Um and Mr. Turman the fire hose again.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The task force met on October 22, 2025, with a quorum present and several members participating remotely. Members approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Michelle Urick of the Legislative Coordinating Commission then gave an administrative update on proxy voting and the task force’s operating procedures. She said the enabling statute only authorizes the officially appointed member to act and vote, so proxy voting is not allowed, and votes must be cast in person at the meeting where the item is considered. She also said members may submit written positions, but not vote before or after a meeting. In response to concerns about attendance for future votes, the chair said the January meetings would be rescheduled if possible using a Doodle poll so more members could be present in person. The group also agreed to treat the revised document as operating procedures rather than a formal charter, with no separate adoption action needed at that time. The task force then moved into testimony on homeowners and commercial property insurance. Paul Edgar of Minnesota Realtors said rising insurance costs are adding to housing affordability pressures, citing an increase in the monthly principal, interest, taxes, and insurance payment on a median-priced Minnesota home from $1,622 in 2021 to $2,642 in September 2025. He said higher insurance costs and limited coverage can affect buyers’ financing, especially for condominiums and townhomes, and urged continued work on liability and insurance-related laws that may discourage condo development. He also referenced prior bipartisan reforms to Minnesota’s condominium construction defects law and said his organization supports further improvements to encourage more condo production. Keenan Ravery of the Minnesota Mortgage Association focused on how insurance requirements affect mortgage lending. He explained that lenders require insurance both at origination and throughout the life of the loan, with standards aimed at protecting collateral rather than providing full homeowners coverage. He said replacement-cost coverage has long been the norm, but recent issues with roofs, deductibles, HO-6 policies, and force-placed insurance have become pain points for consumers and lenders. He said his association is working with national trade groups on reforms that could allow more flexibility in coverage types and deductibles, and he expressed hope that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency may announce policy changes in the coming months or by early 2026. No votes or substantive policy actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and agreeing to pursue scheduling adjustments for January.

Transcript Highlights:

• and building codes.
• Committee Chair: And their engineer approved and allowed them to start, and it was against city code.
• I've never seen a development bulldozed if they don't follow building codes or anything like that.
• However, it was brought to my attention last session that the section of code that regulates who can
• The current code requires that a candidate for MUD director only be 18 years old and either own land

Transcript Highlights:

• So for members, that's agency code 770.
• So as you can see, our agency is made up of five program codes.
• to the COM, which is the essentially probation and parole budget code.
• I wouldn't want to fire them.
• I wouldn't want to fire them.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:11:42.440> of conduct as described by the 38 code of conduct as described by the 38 code
• Code Title 38, Chapter 59.
• Code Title 38, Chapter 59.
• Code Title 38, Chapter 59.
• They actually rebuild that dormant fire inside that U.S. veterans have lost.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To conduct the formal bidding process in line with state procurement code and to complete the study,
• I represent the Arizona Fire District Association, and we are at this time neutral on House Bill 2795
• The prior testimony you just received on fire districts is interesting.
• In the federal guidelines, the zoning guidelines already cover all this with fire districts.
• There's nothing wrong with fire districts. It's not a money issue.

Bills: HB2014, HB2055, HB2145, HB2150, HB2696, HB2755, HB2763, HB2781, HB2782, HB2787, HB2795, HB2889, HB2975, HB2985, HB2986, HCM2009, HCR2020, HCR2038

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, Arizona Revised Statutes, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, state land department, mineral lease, renewals

Transcript Highlights:

• These bills seek to limit the damage posed by these fires with the implementation of fire detection and
• the bill I just described that would require scrap yards to install very costly fire detection and fire
• The only problem has come with these lithium-ion battery fires.
• A 4015 is the New Jersey Kids Code Act.
• I don't think that you wait for a house to be on fire to have a fire department on standby.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with these codes and other proper accounting procedures as noted on the screen.
• with these codes and other proper accounting procedures as noted on the screen.
• with these codes and other proper accounting procedures as noted on the screen.
• with these codes and other proper accounting procedures as noted on the screen.
• with these codes and other proper accounting procedures as noted on the screen.

Summary: The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee approved the February 13 minutes and then heard several committee reports. The executive committee report noted that audit and special reports were scheduled for presentation, one requested report remained outstanding, and staff was asked to review selected Benton County circuit court case transfers. The committee also received and adopted reports from the counties and municipalities committee, the education committee, and the state agencies committee. Those reports covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, education audit reports, and state agency findings such as duplicate vendor payments, collateral issues, record-keeping problems, and vehicle log deficiencies. In each case, the committee voted to file or adopt the reports, with some reports deferred for follow-up or for officials to appear at a later meeting. A major portion of the meeting focused on the City of Pine Bluff’s 2024 financial audit. Auditors said the city received a clean opinion overall, but management letter findings identified serious issues in the mayor’s office, Parks and Recreation, and the finance department. The Parks and Recreation finding involved $179,629 in manual receipts that could not be traced to city deposits, missing receipts from several facilities, $48,415 in unallowable purchases, $13,000 in questionable purchases, altered invoices, unapproved vendors, and missing equipment; those matters were referred to the prosecuting attorney, attorney general, Governmental Bonding Board, and Arkansas State Police. The finance finding cited weak cash-receipting and bank-reconciliation procedures and late or missing deposits. City officials, including the mayor, finance director, and parks director, testified that the problems predated the current administration and said they had taken corrective steps. They described hiring a forensic audit firm, creating or updating standard operating procedures, improving receipting and deposit processes, adding procurement oversight, and moving Parks and Recreation to electronic or system-based receipting. Committee members questioned the officials about oversight, nonprofit relationships, and whether theft or system failures were to blame. After discussion, the committee voted to file the Pine Bluff report. The next meeting was announced for June 4-5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've done some minimal fire training.
• And then some of our firefighters have Fire One and Fire Two. So there's different levels.
• I currently serve as the fire chief for Harden Fire Protection District.
• I currently serve as the fire chief for Harden Fire Protection District.
• I've been in the volunteer fire service. I've been in the volunteer fire service 35, 40 years.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted House Bill 2808 do pass by a vote of 9 yes, 4 no, and 1 present. The hearing then moved to public testimony, with a scheduling note that House Bill 3533 would not be heard that day. The first public hearing was on House Bills 1808 and 3435, companion measures known as Grace’s Law, which would create a narrow social host liability cause of action for adults who knowingly provide alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person and whose conduct leads to injury, death, or property damage. Sponsors said the bills would close a gap in Missouri law and align the state with other states that allow some social host liability, while committee members raised questions about personal responsibility, scope, and whether the language could reach ordinary social gatherings or other substances. Testimony in support came from the mother of Grace, whose death in a drunk-driving crash prompted the bill, from a relative of another drunk-driving victim, and from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, all emphasizing accountability, prevention, and the need for a civil remedy for families harmed by impaired driving. The committee then heard House Bills 3439 and 3480, which would amend the Public Safety Protection and Recruitment Act to include volunteer firefighters in the tuition assistance program. Sponsors said the bills are intended to help rural fire departments recruit and retain volunteers, especially in communities that rely heavily on volunteers for fire and emergency response. Members questioned the fiscal impact, whether volunteers should receive the same benefit as full-time personnel, and whether the program should be structured as a tuition waiver rather than a scholarship to reduce costs. Supporters, including fire chiefs, a fire service association representative, and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, said volunteer firefighters perform dangerous and essential work, often with limited compensation and long response times in rural areas, and that the benefit would help recruitment and retention. No votes were taken on the public hearing bills, and the hearing concluded after testimony.