Transcript Highlights:

• topics, they include several with specific groups of people the training should address, such as Native
• Should address, such as Native Americans, young people, and those with barriers to hearing.
• One of the purposes of the Digital Equity Partners Group is to educate the field about what’s going on
• One of the purposes of the Digital Equity Partners Group is to educate the field about what’s going on

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee heard three State Auditor’s Office performance audits: implementation of the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act, Washington’s digital equity planning, and the Department of Commerce’s Digital Navigator Program. In the law enforcement training audit, the State Auditor found the Criminal Justice Training Commission had developed most required training content but had not developed all required topics, lacked a systematic project management approach, and had weak tools to ensure participation and compliance. Auditors said most officers had not completed the required 40 hours, patrol tactics training was a major bottleneck, and the Commission’s reporting did not clearly show statewide compliance. The Commission said it generally agreed with the recommendations and had begun implementing some changes. Committee members raised concerns about staffing, liability, incentives, and whether the law had enough enforcement “teeth.” In the digital equity audit, auditors said Washington lacked a comprehensive, unified statewide plan, a designated leader, and reliable funding for digital equity efforts. They said existing plans were fragmented, with the NTIA-approved plan the most complete but no longer fully funded after federal changes. The State Auditor recommended the legislature establish oversight authority and require a lead organization to coordinate and evaluate statewide digital equity efforts and develop a unified plan. The Department of Commerce and Office of Equity agreed with the need for clearer leadership and coordination, and a public witness described ongoing coalition and local planning work. Committee members asked about best practices from other states and whether the auditor could provide additional research on coordination models. In the Digital Navigator Program audit, the State Auditor concluded Commerce did not consistently follow core grant-management practices, including competitive award processes, vetting of grantees, clear contracts, performance monitoring, and reimbursement controls. Auditors said Commerce expanded grants without a new competition, lacked adequate documentation and reporting, and paid out millions without sufficient support; they also cited management decisions that overrode staff concerns. Commerce said it had already begun major contract-management reforms, created a new contracts and compliance structure, and was working on risk assessments, documentation standards, and staff training. Members pressed Commerce on accountability, possible recoupment of improper payments, ethics issues, and whether the agency had clear performance metrics for the program. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended after public testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am Native American. I am Navajo.' They did not verify. I am Native American. I am Navajo.
• presidents of, actually, Senator Farnsworth's District 10, who are here to introduce a bill on civics education
• Who are here to introduce a bill on civics education.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Wilson: Ma'am, were you in higher education committee last night? Dr. Susannah Carranza: Yes.
• I'm a native Wichitan, and I remember friends who are also native Emily French: Wichitans and I comparing
• that are actually facing those voters, such as lack of curbside signage and increased poll worker education

Transcript Highlights:

• One has moved on, but it was, we're using it to help educate our kids.
• income, ELL Native American, and students with disabilities.
• Equity is education, and education is crowded by tending to the social aspects that inspire students,
• Uh, create CTE educational pathway diplomas.
• Not just because we're supposed to trust the educators.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for our Broadband program for outreach and education.
• So we also have continuing education opportunities that we provide.
• Good morning, Tina Hams for the State Department of Education.
• He is, and he's an Alabama native.
• Education. Tina Hammond for the Department of Education.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a native Texan. I'm actually native to the capital. I lived here 35 years of my life.
• And I would also think that good practitioners, and this would be part of an education process, would
• And I would also think that good practitioners, and this would be part of an education process, would
• make sure that they touch part of an education process would make sure that they touched upon that during
• go through the SJR's that have been flowing through this building for parental rights, medical, educational

Bills: HB40, HB1916, HB1973, HB2524, HB2530, HB3180, HB3421, HB3783, HB4170, HB4213

Keywords: business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, divorce, property division, family law, court jurisdiction, marital assets, parent-child relationship, birth certificate, identity proof, Family Code, court process, attorney fees, court costs, legal expenses, dispute resolution, child support

Summary: The committee heard several House bills, most of them relating to family law and court procedure, and left each bill pending after testimony. House Bill 1916 would clarify that the court that issued a final divorce decree retains exclusive jurisdiction over later actions involving undivided property. House Bill 1973 would require a certified birth certificate, if reasonably available, to be filed with a SAPCR petition or allow alternative proof of parentage while keeping the information confidential. House Bill 2530 would add qualifications and procedural safeguards for appointing amicus attorneys in SAPCR cases, including notice and hearing requirements, minimum qualifications, conflict rules, and limits on what amicus attorneys may do. House Bill 2524 would make Family Code references to attorney’s fees consistent by using “reasonable and necessary” language. House Bill 3180 would correct a scrivener’s error in the civil discovery rules by changing “settlement” to “statement.” The committee also heard House Bill 4213, which would change the interest rate on overdue child support from the current 6 percent simple interest to a fixed 5 percent and require the Attorney General to report on the impact of the change. Testimony was sharply divided: supporters argued lower interest could improve collections and help low-income obligors catch up, citing research and the size of child-support arrearages; opponents said lowering the rate would reduce incentives to pay and harm custodial parents and children. The Attorney General’s office raised implementation concerns about a House version that would have created a variable rate, while the committee substitute was described as restoring a simple fixed rate. After testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee also discussed House Bill 40, updating business court provisions and supplemental jurisdiction; House Bill 3421, streamlining probate procedures for original wills and copies; and House Bill 417, clarifying venue for lawsuits involving private transfer fees on real property. Each drew limited testimony and was left pending. Finally, House Bill 3783 drew extensive testimony on court-ordered counseling and reunification therapy in family cases. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would protect children and abuse victims from coercive, unregulated reunification practices, while opponents argued it was too broad, could interfere with legitimate therapy and judicial discretion, and might affect military families and other high-conflict cases. The committee heard testimony from judges, therapists, parents, survivors, and advocates, but took no final action and left the bill pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a native Californian, I just wanted to say thank you for all the amazing work that you're doing on
• I love being a California native. I've been in this industry for over 40 years now, unbelievably.
• uncertainty in terms of the policy towards government spending across different sectors, whether it be education
• There are 200,000 crossings daily for work, education, shopping, and leisure for San Diego.
• sure that we're continuing to work with media and influencers, travel agents, and tour operators, educating

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's even a larger gap for services for Native American women, in spite of the fact that over 80%
• There's even a larger gap for services There's even a larger gap for services for<00:05:10.800> Native
• 11.759> women<00:05:12.160> in<00:05:12.400> spite<00:05:12.560> of for Native
• American women in spite of for Native American women in spite of the<00:05:12.960> fact<00:05
• And while there are financial and educational other benefits that go along with a death being classified

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 1082, a public safety finance bill extending the time to use certain appropriations, was taken up on the House floor and described by the author as a package of funding and policy changes. The bill’s major components included $12 million for victim services such as domestic violence shelters, sexual assault advocates, child abuse programs, and general crime victim services; creation of a domestic violence task force; additional funding for Philando Castile training; increased penalties and other criminal law changes; a process for decommissioning law enforcement vehicles; a task force on uniform IDs for first responders; a non-fatal shooting clearance grant program; corrections employment program changes; and line-of-duty death benefit updates for first responders. Members speaking in support emphasized the need to stabilize victim services, improve responses to domestic violence, and address public safety gaps identified after recent events. The House adopted Amendment A21, which requires the Department of Public Safety to convene a task force to study transitioning the ARMOR emergency communications system to a statewide funded model. Supporters said the system needs major upgrades and that the task force could examine funding options, including ideas previously discussed for a modest cell phone fee. The House then adopted Amendment A18, as amended by technical Amendment A22, to add protections for police and other public safety officers against doxxing and release of certain personal information, modeled in part on protections previously enacted for judges. Debate on A18 focused on whether the bill should protect only law enforcement or be part of a broader approach to data privacy; supporters argued officers and their families face real threats, while some members said the issue should be addressed more broadly. The amendment passed on a roll call vote, 119-11. During third reading discussion, members highlighted the first-responder provisions, especially the task force on standard IDs and the line-of-duty death changes. Supporters said the ID task force was prompted by the June 14 events and could help quickly verify responders and improve coordination at large incidents. The line-of-duty death update was described as expanding eligibility for part-time and paid-on-call firefighters and including occupational illnesses, especially job-related cancer, in response to long-standing concerns from firefighters and their families. No final vote on the bill itself was shown in the transcript excerpt, but the bill advanced after the amendments were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><01:00:00.280> by<01:00:00.520> having Unfortunately, less than 2% of Minnesota's native
• Now, one of the greatest threats to our prairies is the invasion of cool-season non-native grasses.
• the protection and restoration of native the protection and restoration of native prairie<01:01:
• <01:01:34.079> Prairie than 2% of Minnesota's native Prairie than 2% of Minnesota's native
• <01:02:33.599> grasses of cool seasoned non-native grasses of cool seasoned non-native grasses

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When school lets out, the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii offers keiki a fun, educational, safe place to
• Students are provided with educational support programs in art and gardening, physical activities, educational
• 45.920> Boys When school lets out, the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii offers keiki a fun, educational
• Students are provided with educational support programs in art and gardening, physical activities, educational
• Students are provided with educational support programs in art and gardening, physical activities, educational

Bills: HR209, SB3131, SB2494, SB2447, SB2727, SB2145, SB2143, HR22, HCR22, HR97, HCR105, HR138, HCR146, HCR16, HCR35, HCR40, HR3, HCR4, HR161, HCR171, HR109, HCR117, HR33, HCR33, HR141, HCR149, HR190, HCR200, HR193, HCR203, HR194, HCR204, HR196, HCR206, HR197, HCR207, HR191, HCR201, HR12, HCR10, HR148, HCR157, HR184, HCR194, HR195, HCR205, HR192, HCR202, HR173, HCR183, HR179, HCR189, HR181, HCR191, HR21, HCR21, HR23, HCR24, HR60, HCR66, HR113, HCR121, HR145, HCR153, HR74, HCR82, HR77, HCR85, HR90, HCR98, HR27, HCR36, HR165, HCR175, HR187, HCR197, HR5, HCR6, SB2054

Keywords: entertainment, comedy, youth wellness, cultural identity, Hawaiian culture, mental health, public service, job title, administrative assistant, executive assistant, state personnel, civil service, modernization, employment standards, bribery, corruption, statute of limitations, public servant, criminal justice, campaign finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Higher Education, which used to be done in the past.
• uh which used to be higher education uh which used to be done<00:27:30.480> in<00:27:30.640><
• > of Education creates the ladder of Education creates the ladder of opportunity<00:27:52.799>
• We might want to put the Department of Education on this thing.
• Again, the goal here isn’t to complain, but educate.

Bills: HCR1, HCR2, SB2001, SB2002, SB2003, SB2004, SB2005, SB2006, SB2007, SB2008, SB2009, SB2010, SB2011, SB2012, SB2013, SB2014, SB2015, SB2016, SB2017, SB2018, SB2019, SB2020, SB2021, SB2022, SB2023, SB2024, SB2025, SB2026, SB2027, SB2028, SB2029, SB2030, SB2031, SB2032, SB2033, SB2034, SB2035, SB2036, SB2037, SB2038, SB2039, SB2040, SB2041, SB2042, SB2043, SB2044, SB2045, SB2046, SB2047, SB2048, SB2049, SB2050, SB2051, SB2052, SB2053, SB2054, SB2055, SB2056, SB2057, SB2058, SB2059, SB2060, SB2061, SB2062, SB2063, SB2064, SB2065, SB2066, SB2067, SB2068, SB2069, SB2070, SB2071, SB2072, SB2073, SB2074, SB2075, SB2076, SB2077, SB2078, SB2079, SB2080, SB2081, SB2082, SB2083, SB2084, SB2085, SB2086, SB2087, SB2088, SB2089, SB2090, SB2091, SB2092, SB2093, SB2094, SB2095, SB2096, SB2097, SB2098, SB2099, SB2100

Keywords: recess, legislative session, Hawaii State Legislature, 2026, Governor address, joint session, legislature, Hawaii, state of the state, Banyan Drive, Waiakea peninsula, Makaokū, Hilo, Hawaii Island, HCDA, Hawaii Community Development Authority, community development district, redevelopment, urban renewal, blight

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a special education and school injury attorney, and I come to this issue with extensive experience
• I'm a special education and school injury attorney, and I come to this issue with this issue.
• Native Americans face...
• Native Americans face significantly higher rates of homelessness and housing insecurity in California
• The APA, NAEYC, and the California Department of Education define them as under 18 months.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Educate me.
• Potentially not very direct, and maybe that's incorrect to educate me, but I understand right away.
• Ultimately, education outreach is one of the most important tools we have.
• On the other hand, New World screwworm is also a native pest to the Americas.
• education.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• education education standards<00:02:59.040> 125 standards 125 standards 125 120b<00:03:01.360
• perspectives are beneficial to education perspectives are beneficial to education and<00:04:00.720
• Education, education, Finance.
• Bennett members of the House Education Bennett members of the House Education policy<00:09:24.440
• African-Americans Native Americans and African-Americans Native Americans and other<00:31:43.600>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I work in education and represent myself.
• Y'all have an education on it; that ain't me.
• This is essential for our education and psychological well-being.
• Immigrants seeking higher education through legal alleyways are being punished.
• I'm a native Texan. I live in Austin, and I am urging you here today to please vote no on HB 5580.

Bills: HB1320, HB2012, HB2293, HB2655, HB3174, HB4108, HB4661, HB4799, HB5534, HB5580

Keywords: transportation, infrastructure, funding, state budget, public safety, child welfare, county boards, membership, local governance, public welfare, government service, social services, Texas Family Code, regulation, vendors, solicitors, roadside sales, county authority, Sweeny Hospital District, board of directors

Transcript Highlights:

• I come from a family of educators, a long line of educators.
• So educators.
• to educate.
• , friends of educators, married educators, whatever it might be.
• , friends of educators, married educators, whatever it might be.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another of the special appropriations requests in the executive budget is for a public education campaign
• We're all on native land, regardless of the name.
• We have a deep and rooted relationship with our native Pueblos in northern New Mexico.
• Mexico, and most of us are of mixed culture between native and Hispano.

Transcript Highlights:

• equity and realistic pathways for energy generation developed on island-based science that considers native
• on island-based science<00:11:20.160> that<00:11:20.320> considers<00:11:21.120> native
• <00:11:21.440> Hawaiian science that considers native Hawaiian science that considers native
• Um we just want to<00:43:17.680> note<00:43:18.000> that<00:43:18.240> Native<00
• :43:18.520> Hawaiian<00:43:19.120> along<00:43:19.400> with to note that Native

Bills: SB2960, SB2347, SB2272, SB3137, SB3132, SB2271, SB2804, SB2175, SB2487

Keywords: homeowners insurance, disaster recovery, replacement cost value, state of emergency, policyholder rights, insurance extensions, tenant rights, landlord obligations, housing crisis, eviction prevention, multilingual access, SB2272, Act 105, home health licensing, home health agency, home health services, Department of Health, DOH, CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions and one bill focused on energy reliability, utility infrastructure, insurance, tenant rights, and home health licensing. On the energy side, members heard HCR 203/HR 193 on a status update for the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, HCR 204/HR 194 on a comprehensive PUC analysis of cost reduction and risk, and HCR 202/HR 192 creating a legislative task force on future energy pathways. Testimony on the energy measures was generally supportive from the PUC, DCCA’s Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, with OHA urging that equity, native Hawaiian impacts, and public trust resources be considered alongside cost savings. The committee also heard HCR 125/HR 117 on coordinating with utilities to address aging utility poles and lines along Farrington Highway and other high-risk corridors; Hawaiian Electric supported the measure, Hawaiian Telcom and Charter Spectrum said much of the work is already underway and questioned whether the resolution was necessary, and committee questioning focused on existing double-pole tracking and the role of DOT and the PUC. The committee then took up HCR 137/HR 129 on timely reimbursement of health care claims under the clean claims statute. The DCCA Insurance Division and the Hawaii Insurers Council opposed the measure as drafted, saying it could be read to require payment beyond policy limits and could raise premiums or reduce market participation. United Policyholders supported the measure, arguing it would simply give policyholders more time to collect benefits they already purchased, and clarified that it was not intended to increase coverage beyond policy limits. The committee later amended the resolution to direct the DCCA Insurance Division to prioritize investigation and enforcement of clean claims complaints. In the decision meeting, the committee recommended and adopted passage of HCR 203/HR 193 as is, HCR 204/HR 194 with an amendment removing the eighth whereas clause, HCR 202/HR 192 with an amendment adding a committee representative to the task force, HCR 125/HR 117 as is, and HCR 137/HR 129 with amendments. The committee also heard SB 2960 SC1 on property insurance, which would extend the time policyholders have after a declared disaster to document replacement-cost claims. The Insurance Division and Hawaii Insurers Council opposed it, warning it could force coverage beyond policy limits and increase premiums, while United Policyholders supported it and said it would help disaster survivors recover benefits they already paid for; members questioned whether similar laws in other states had caused premium spikes and clarified that the bill was not intended to exceed policy limits. The committee also heard SB 2347 SD1 on multilingual tenant-rights notices, with OHA, Hawaii Appleseed, and others supporting the bill but urging restoration of language requiring landlords to directly provide the notice at lease signing. Finally, SB 2272 SD1 HD1 on home health licensing drew support from the Department of Health, SHPDA, and the Health Care Association of Hawaii, with the association requesting an effective date amendment; testimony explained that the bill would allow state licensing compliance to be demonstrated through CMS-approved accreditation or certification surveys, potentially reducing duplication and freeing state resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker and members, AB 2071 requires the Department of Education to develop a plan to expand digital
• Assembly Bill 2374 by Assembly Member Fong and others, an act relating to post-secondary education.
• As a lifelong educator, I know firsthand how a college education can change lives.
• As a lifelong educator, I know firsthand how a college education can change lives.
• Because student loan debt should never be a barrier to obtaining higher education.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your history is education access to educational institutions are necessary.
• Your history is education access to educational institutions are necessary.
• Your history is education access to educational institutions are necessary.
• Your history is education access to educational institutions are necessary.
• Your history is education access to educational institutions are necessary.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and first considered two concurrent resolutions. SCR 76, sponsored by Sen. Amanda Bledsoe, would create a Kentucky School for the Deaf Governance Task Force to examine the school’s future governance and its relationship with the Kentucky Department of Education. Bledsoe described the school’s long history and said the task force would give the small deaf-school community more voice. The committee adopted the resolution unanimously with favorable expression. The committee then took up SCR 131, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, to continue the Efficient and Effective Districts Task Force from 2024. Wise said the prior task force met about 10 times and focused on student achievement and district policy, and the new version would continue that work as a legislature-only task force. The resolution passed unanimously with favorable expression. Members next considered HB 240 on primary school promotion. Rep. Truitt explained that the bill would require students who are not ready in kindergarten to repeat kindergarten, while a committee substitute softened the approach by allowing a school to hold a child back in kindergarten but requiring action in first grade. He said the bill aligns with existing reading-screening efforts and is intended to strengthen early literacy foundations. The committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill unanimously with favorable expression; Sen. Williams briefly explained his support as favoring performance-based advancement. The committee also approved HB 298, which would change the identification of schools for comprehensive support and improvement from every three years to annually, require KDE recommendations during management audits, add professional development in reading and math, and require effective instructional resources. The committee substitute also allowed districts with multiple CSI schools to contract for a turnaround vendor. The bill additionally carried employee-misconduct provisions from prior sessions, including disclosure requirements for applicants; the only change discussed was removing the word “investigation” from one disclosure section. HB 298 passed unanimously with favorable expression, and the committee also adopted a title amendment. Finally, the committee heard HB 424 on employment at public postsecondary institutions. Rep. Tipton said the bill would require performance and productivity reviews for faculty at least every four years, clarify appointment and removal authority for presidents at certain institutions, and expand “cause” for dismissal to include failure to meet performance and productivity requirements. Dr. Ray Horton, speaking for faculty groups, proposed a small substitute that would tie any performance measures to existing employment contracts to preserve academic integrity and avoid unintended changes to tenure processes. Members discussed how tenure works at Kentucky universities, and the committee was still in the middle of considering the proposed substitute when the transcript ended.