Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, we will recess for decision making.
• Seeing none, we will recess for decision making.
• Seeing none, we will recess for decision making. Thank you.
• Seeing none, we will recess for decision making. Seeing none, we will recess for decision making.
• HB 1321 defer for decision making until Wednesday, February 5th.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Housing held a public hearing on January 31 and heard testimony on a series of housing and building-code bills. The first major item, HB 1 relating to building codes, drew sharply divided testimony. Supporters, including BIA Hawaii, Grassroot Institute, Dr. Horton, and several builders and trade groups, argued the current code-adoption process is slow, fragmented, and costly, and that reform would help housing production. Opponents, including Sierra Club Hawaii, AIA Hawaii, ICC, and labor representative Kiko Bosi, said the bill would weaken public safety, reduce statewide consistency, and could leave tenants and first responders at greater risk. No vote was taken during the hearing, and members asked questions about the effect of a governor’s emergency proclamation suspending the Building Code Council and about county authority over code amendments. The committee then heard HB 745 and HB 1321, both also relating to building codes. Grassroot Institute supported both measures, saying the system is broken and needs streamlining, while BIA Hawaii and others emphasized the cost burden of repeated code updates. Opponents, especially Bosi and ICC, argued that the bills would undermine the State Building Code Council’s role, create confusion, and prioritize cost over safety; Bosi also said labor should be included in any code discussions. Members questioned whether counties can remove state code provisions and whether the state code already supersedes county codes, and one member noted the need for clarity and consistent enforcement rather than a wholesale overhaul. Later, the committee heard HB 284 on housing, HB 761 on county permitting and inspection, and HB 738 on historic preservation. HB 284 drew support from several housing and real estate groups, while DLNR opposed it. On HB 761, HHFDC supported the bill, DLNR warned that the proposed changes could jeopardize Hawaii’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, DAGS said it would likely need to duplicate county permitting staff, and the Department of Planning and Permitting opposed it; Grassroot Institute and NAIOP supported it. For HB 738, HHFDC, DLNR, Grassroot Institute, Hawaii YIMBY, NAIOP, and others supported the measure, with Grassroot and NAIOP suggesting clarifications so expedited review would also cover mixed-use projects and better define the scope of work. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on these bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• were making decisions about prisoners and getting lumped in with that kind of stuff.
• She said she is hoping for them to make a decision that makes it possible for her to do so.
• c> everyday<03:29:11.279> New make decisions that benefit everyday New make decisions that
• <03:29:16.960> a<03:29:17.120> decision so I'm hoping for you to make a decision so
• I'm hoping for you to make a decision that<03:29:17.600> makes<03:29:17.760> it<03:29:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The IEP team is what makes a decision about a student, so when I am in my office in St.
• <00:24:20.320> reasonable student to be making reasonable student to be making reasonable
• a team is what makes a decision about a team is what makes a decision about a student<00:24:31.640
• way that they're kind of having to make way that they're kind of having to make up<00:47:08.319>
• This proposed bill establishes an individual's right to make autonomous decisions regarding having supported

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have watched the commission make critical decisions to advance our state's clean energy transition
• I have watched the commission make critical decisions to advance our state's clean energy transition
• that we make here.
• that we make here.
• Senator Gruenhagen: At least tell us and inform us the ripple effect of decisions that we make here for

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• legislature make. legislature make.
• what it feels like to feel suicidal when you are treated like you don't belong with grown-ups in decision-making
• like you don't belong with<00:58:07.560> grown-ups<00:58:08.640> in<00:58:08.840> decision-making
• <00:58:09.640> places with grown-ups in decision-making places with grown-ups in decision-making
• bad decisions. bad decisions.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This makes sense.
• When you're treated like you don't belong with grownups in decision-making places like this who ignore
• When you're treated like you don't belong with grownups in decision making places like this who ignore
• So make no mistake.
• So make no mistake.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to be very insightful and very helpful for us to make decisions coming forward.
• It's going to be, you know, very insightful and very helpful for us to make decisions coming forward.
• If someone's in intensive care on the mechanical support we were discussing, the decision-making and
• But, yes, we don't individually make these decisions.
• And we protect their decision-making vis-à-vis the patient on the recipient side.

Summary: The committee met to hear introductory briefings from the Department of Health and the Health Care Authority on agency priorities, federal changes, and implementation challenges. Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham said his department’s listening tour is focused on strengthening governmental public health, improving health care quality and access, and responding to federal funding disruptions and the shutdown’s effects on programs such as WIC. HCA Director Ryan Moran said the agency is prioritizing coverage preservation, oversight of major contracts, affordability, behavioral health integration, rural health transformation, and internal agency operations. Members asked about licensure delays; Worsham said the backlog had been reduced from about four months to six weeks and should be caught up by January 1, with possible further process changes if needed. A major portion of the meeting focused on H.R. 1 and its Medicaid-related implementation. Governor’s health policy advisor Caitlin Stafford, HCA staff, and interim Medicaid Director Trinity Wilson said the state is working with DSHS, the Health Benefit Exchange, tribes, and other partners to prepare for eligibility changes, work requirements, and six-month redeterminations. They said the state expects up to 30,000 Apple Health enrollees could lose coverage under the law’s non-citizen eligibility changes, and that the work requirement/redetermination provisions could affect about 620,000 adults, with roughly 80,000 also enrolled in SNAP. HCA said it hopes to automate most verification, but about 15% to 20% of cases may require manual review, with technology costs estimated at up to $30 million. Staff also said they are trying to keep H.R. 1 implementation mostly in budget language rather than statute, and that communication and navigator support will be important to minimize confusion and coverage loss. The committee also received an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program created in H.R. 1. HCA said Washington submitted its application to CMS on November 5 after extensive stakeholder engagement, including more than 310 written comments, webinars, and tribal consultation. The application centers on six initiatives: rural hospital innovation, community care and prevention, tribal investments, technology and data, workforce development, and rural behavioral health. HCA said the state is likely to receive less than the full $200 million annual amount assumed in the federal program, and that an advisory committee may be created to help guide spending over the five-year program. Members asked about palliative care, small business impacts, and communication with enrollees; HCA said it expects to share outreach toolkits and that no 2026 statutory changes are currently anticipated, though that could change. The final panels covered organ donation and transplant services. Department of Health staff explained the 2023 “Lights and Sirens” law for organ transport vehicles, including licensing, driver qualifications, insurance requirements, and use of emergency lanes and traffic preemption; the department said one company is currently licensed and there have been no complaints. LifeCenter Northwest described the organ procurement process, the legal framework under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, and the rarity and complexity of deceased donation, noting Washington has seen strong growth in donation and transplants over the past decade. University of Washington Medical Center staff then outlined its transplant programs for kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, and multi-organ transplants, describing the multidisciplinary evaluation and waitlist process and the coordination required with donor organizations and hospitals.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we could definitely make that clear pretty easily.
• I think you have to make a decision to... Okay.
• Have a, make a decision to bring it back to the committee and report what your decision is.
• I'll make the announcement, and then you'll make the announcement for the committee. Okay.
• I'll make the announcement, and then you'll make the announcement for the committee.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The subcommittee on Senate Bill 2224 met to reconcile several amendment versions into a single draft, combining changes from multiple members and Legislative Council. The discussion focused mainly on clarifying the Attorney General’s hearing and enforcement process, including whether to keep or remove specific time limits, how the stay of an Attorney General order should operate, and whether the bill needed to expressly reference the appeal period under existing law. Members also noted other incorporated changes, including a quarterly meeting requirement for the commission, executive session authority, and a district court reference on page 7. A key issue was whether the bill should specify that an Attorney General order is stayed during the time to appeal and through the appeal process. After discussion of the Administrative Agencies Practices Act, the subcommittee agreed that the bill should reference the appeal period under Section 28-32-42, rather than restating the number of days in the bill itself. The proposed language was refined to say the order must be stayed pending expiration of the time to appeal under 28-32-42 and pending the judgment or order on appeal. The members moved and seconded the amendment with the clarified stay language, indicating agreement to advance the revised version. They discussed process for final review and agreed to reconvene as needed, with a committee meeting planned for Monday after floor session, pending notice and scheduling. No roll call vote was taken in the transcript, but the subcommittee appeared to approve the amendment by voice vote and prepare it for further committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• > about with make an uninformed decision about with make an uninformed decision about that<00:
• making these decisions are the right ones that we're looking at.
• are responsible for making people that are responsible for making these<00:51:35.160> decisions
• I'm going to the pharmacy down the road for $10, and they make their own health care decisions.
• their own health care they make their own health care decisions decisions decisions um<01:01:46.160>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Does that make sense? Hopefully.
• That makes sense? Yes.
• Uh, as part of item B, does that make sense to you?
• I think that we need to highlight what's going on there in order to make these the better decisions.
• Ultimately uplift our decision, our population affect our decision making when it comes to uplifting

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the federal government was incorrect in making that statement.
• All the teams that Tome has put out make it an incredible museum.
• They just care about making a quick buck and a quick profit.
• But make sure, mijito, when I die, that I'm in a white dress."
• They're still making that claim.

Transcript Highlights:

• This amends that and makes clear that the jury has the decision.
• This amends that and makes clear that the jury has the decision.
• I understand those are policy decisions that are made, and you all are the ones elected to make those
• > an<00:36:40.640> intentional to make the decision that an intentional to make the decision
• <01:09:50.319> happens<01:09:50.560> when make the decision or what happens when make

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met to consider two major bills. First, House Bill 521, relating to stalking, was presented by Majority Leader Steven Rudy with testimony from the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs. Supporters said Kentucky’s stalking laws need updating to address modern electronic and technology-based stalking and to better protect victims of persistent, ongoing harassment. Members asked about fiscal impact and prison costs; Rudy said the bill was mainly a statutory update and should have no new prison impact. The committee then voted 17-0 to pass HB 521 with favorable expression. The committee next took up House Bill 422, known as Logan’s Law, which was presented by Rep. Dan Fister and Rep. T.J. Roberts with emotional testimony from George Typton, father of Logan Typton. The bill responds to the 2015 murder of Logan Typton and seeks to revise Kentucky’s insanity defense, limit mandatory re-entry supervision for certain violent offenses, require consecutive sentences for multiple victims, and change life-without-parole rules so juries can impose it more directly in intentional murder cases. Typton described the crime and argued the current system failed his family; several members expressed sympathy and support. After a committee substitute was adopted, Roberts explained that the substitute preserved an insanity defense modeled on Alaska’s rule, rather than abolishing it, and clarified that a defendant must be unable to appreciate the nature of their actions due to mental illness or intellectual disability. He also said the bill would ensure consistency in insanity verdicts across multiple counts and provide treatment options for those found guilty but mentally ill. Rep. Marzian raised concerns about mental health funding, prison costs, and corrections impacts, while Scott West of the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers warned the bill could reduce plea bargaining flexibility and slow the courts if sentencing becomes more automatic. The bill remained under consideration after testimony, with no final vote shown in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• making.
• They're a little bit concerned that they need to be part of those decision making.
• And I think it would be very difficult to be in leadership and make that decision without having a vote
• The legislature makes that decision when they pass the law, and they decide whether or not to give the
• And so those will be the decisions they'll have to make as a board of whether they do change their percentages

Bills: HB1162

Keywords: Lake Agassiz, water authority, board of directors, state highways, water management, 908, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1162, which would add the West Fargo mayor as a voting member of the Lake Agassiz Water Authority board. The sponsor and Fargo’s mayor argued West Fargo has grown into a major regional water stakeholder and should have a formal vote, while members questioned the board structure and why the change was not framed more specifically. The bill was supported in testimony, closed without opposition, and received a 6-0 do pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 1259 on annual legislative sessions and session structure. Members adopted an amendment that left the structure and logistics of sessions to legislative management rather than prescribing details in statute, after discussion about flexibility, committee workload, annual versus biennial sessions, and concerns about preserving debate and committee process. The amended bill received a 4-2 do pass recommendation, with some members voting no because they preferred a different committee recommendation or had concerns about the broader change. House Bill 1254, which would allow any North Dakota resident to obtain a State Library card, drew supportive testimony from the bill sponsor and State Library staff. They said the change would align law with current practice and expand access to books, e-materials, and other resources statewide, including for military families and out-of-state state employees. The committee closed the hearing and approved the bill 6-0. The committee also considered House Bill 1469, which narrows financial disclosure requirements so only business or trust interests directly related to the office sought or held must be disclosed. After brief discussion that the change would reduce unnecessary disclosure burdens, the committee adopted the amendment and then gave the bill a 6-0 do pass recommendation. House Bill 1368, dealing with administrative rules and the standard for challenging them, was opposed by committee counsel as too broad and legally problematic; the committee rejected it on a 4-2 do not pass vote. Finally, House Bill 1219, which would reduce the required perpetual care fund set-aside for certain cemeteries from 20% to 10%, received supportive testimony from the sponsor, cemetery representatives, and local users, but also concern about long-term fund health. The committee ultimately recommended do pass on a 5-1 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• An agency's decision to make no change or only technical changes are not subject to challenge by the
• But it looks at all of those things, and we can make decisions about age of vehicles and replacement
• That's really, those agencies, in order to run their operations, they need to be able to make those decisions
• That's really those agencies in order to run their operations, they need to be able to make those decisions
• . really those agencies in order to run their operations, they need to be able to make those decisions

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met for its first meeting of the session, took roll, and heard a presentation from Ken Plant of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee on SB 108, the 2025 law overhauling Florida rulemaking. The presentation focused on new deadlines for agencies to begin and publish rules, limits on automatic sunset provisions, changes to emergency rule procedures, expanded public input on statements of estimated regulatory costs, a five-year review cycle for existing rules, and new licensing-reporting requirements. Members asked about the review timeline and emphasized the need to keep agencies accountable for meeting the new requirements. The committee then reviewed the Department of Management Services’ response to Auditor General Report 2025-1096 on fleet management. DMS said the audit found 10 issues, most of which it believes it has addressed, and described the statewide fleet system as tracking about 27,000 assets with limited staff. DMS highlighted two major improvement ideas that would require funding: an enterprise telematics system to automate vehicle data and improve tracking, and centralized fleet procurement to reduce duplication and save money. Members questioned the status of FleetWave implementation, missing vehicle records, integration with other state systems, and access controls for separated employees. DMS explained that FleetWave is fully implemented but still relies on manual data entry, that discrepancies with the state accounting system largely reflect mismatched or inconsistent entries, and that policies and procedures were updated after the audit. The department said it now works more closely with People First to deactivate access when employees leave. After discussion, no further business was raised, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• that our board is making.
• And for the percentage that don't make it, like, what are the reasons that they don't make it?
• They have to make that decision themselves.
• But if you only make it. Excuses, when they make things obvious to you, I. It's problematic.
• And once again, not just for the inmates, but for the officers as well, once you make a decision to open

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2023, we had to make the heartbreaking decision to close our Lewis House in Hastings, a shelter that
• In 2023, we had to make the<00:20:13.880> heartbreaking<00:20:14.520> decision<00:20:15.200
• c> on factors to make the final decision on factors to make the final decision on who<00:41:13.920
• We have to make a lot of decisions, but it sure sounds like it is in fact needed. put you in a difficult
• We have to make a lot of decisions,<01:24:59.520> but<01:24:59.720> it<01:24:59.800>

Bills: HF1082, HF2099, HF4177, HF2742

Keywords: public safety, law enforcement, mental health, domestic violence, appropriations, criminal justice, Minnesota corrections, victim services, task force, personal safety, emergency management, local government, funding, preparedness, Minnesota, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Independent Use of Force Investigations Unit, use of force, police accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill significantly restricts landowners’ ability to make decisions about their own property and
• This bill significantly restricts landowners’ ability to make decisions about their own property and
• <01:14:50.520> so<01:14:50.760> in the decisions it makes and does so in the decisions
• <01:18:52.280> matters make the best decisions on matters make the best decisions on matters
• on<01:26:25.679> that<01:26:26.679> I then make a final decision on that I then make

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So when this additional evaluation and clinical decision-making is provided and the level of care administered
• So, I'm going to and make decisions.
• make those decisions<00:51:43.200> in<00:51:43.440> terms<00:51:43.599> of<00:51
• I didn't realize that he could actually make some decisions about the self-determination.
• the make some decisions about the make some decisions about the self-determination.<00:55:52.240

Keywords: 00:00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 00:02:20 - Discussion of 26RS HB 689 00:13:13 - Discussion of 26RS SB 201 00:27:45 - Discussion of 26RS HB 583 00:46:37 - Discussion of 26RS HB 488 00:48:13 - Discussion of 26RS HB 2 01:14:34 - Discussion of Kentucky State Plan Amendment (SPA) 26:0001: School-based Medicaid Services Program 01:18:24 - Public Comment, 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Board met on March 9 with a quorum present and no minutes to approve. The chair reordered the agenda to hear House Bill 689 first. Representative Amy Neighbors presented HB 689, which would authorize Kentucky to seek CMS approval for a Medicaid state-directed payment program for physician and non-physician professional services delivered through qualifying hospital-affiliated groups, beginning January 1, 2026, with retroactive payments for that year. She said the bill is intended to improve access to care in rural and underserved areas, support workforce retention, and generate about $29 million annually in federal Medicaid funds without using general fund dollars. Representatives from Owensboro Health and St. Elizabeth Healthcare testified in support, describing staffing and subsidy pressures, lower Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement, and the importance of the program for maintaining access and quality in rural and safety-net settings. Committee members noted the bill had already passed the House Health Services Committee unanimously and discussed broader concerns about Kentucky’s low reimbursement rates and the need to consider other systems not covered by the proposal. The board then heard Senate Bill 2011 from Senator Donald Douglas and Cody Hunt of the Kentucky Medical Association. The bill would address a Medicaid coding issue by ensuring that coverage limits do not reduce payment to fewer than two evaluation and management service units per provider, per patient, per day. Douglas argued the current one-visit, one-issue limitation forces multiple visits, increases no-shows, and prevents providers from treating the whole patient. Hunt explained that the bill is meant to correct a longstanding regulation that limited E&M services to one per physician per recipient per date of service, which can prevent providers from coding additional medically necessary work during the same visit. He said DMS has already filed a regulatory amendment to fix the problem, but a statutory change is still needed to prevent the issue from returning. He also said the bill is not intended to change reimbursement policy, only coding rules, and that MCO payment practices vary. Members generally supported the concept. Senator Berg asked about fiscal impact and private-payer billing; Hunt said there should be no fiscal impact because the bill does not change payment policy, only coding. Representative Moore said the proposal could reduce costs and improve convenience by avoiding extra visits. Chairman Meredith said the bill illustrated problems with fee-for-service care and supported moving toward a more holistic delivery model. Dr. Schuster raised a drafting concern about the bill summary language, and Hunt responded that the regulatory amendment should address the issue generally for providers. No votes were taken on either bill during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• allows for local citizens, scientific experts, and the waste management industry to participate in decision-making
• I ask you to vote red on the motion of concur so we can maintain some semblance of local decision-making
• semblance concur so we can maintain some semblance of<01:57:44.400> local<01:57:44.720> decision-making
• <01:57:45.600> when<01:57:45.720> it<01:57:45.840> comes of local decision-making
• when it comes of local decision-making when it comes to<01:57:46.240> zoning to zoning to zoning

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a massive push to make that quicker.
• decisions in this area, apparently.
• I'll make a brief, Mr. Chairman.
• I'll make a brief, Mr. Chairman.
• sure that any grants—no, well, first of all, one, make it loans, not grants; two, make sure that the

Bills: HB132, HB 11, HB14, HB132, HB1584, HB1606, HB5061, HB 1041, HB2286

Keywords: nuclear energy, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, energy policy, regulation repeal, state energy strategy, licensing, reciprocity, regulation, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, interstate agreements, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, HB 132, Texas Government Code Chapter 418, Public Information Act, confidential records, homeland security, foreign adversary, terrorism

Summary: The committee first took up pending business and quickly reported several measures favorably, including HB 12, SB 1361, SB 1705, SB 1749, SB 1897, SB 2344, SB 2566, HB 3809, and HB 4215, with most sent to the Local and Uncontested Calendar. HB 12’s substitute clarified a limited midterm review of regulatory agencies tied to Sunset Commission recommendations. SB 2696’s substitute changed med spa regulation from a license to a certificate, with training instead of an exam, plus background checks, continuing education, and two-year renewals. HB 3809 dealt with battery energy storage decommissioning and recycling, and HB 4215 was reported without a substitute. SB 1978, concerning interconnection of electric facilities in ERCOT and federal jurisdiction concerns, was reported out on a 5-3 vote after debate, but then the chair later announced the bill was withdrawn and left pending subject to the call of the chair. HB 1899 was also reported favorably, with one nay. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 14, the advanced nuclear energy bill. Senator Schwertner described it as creating a Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, a nuclear permitting coordinator, a development fund, a completion grant program, and a workforce development program. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives from Fermi America, Dow/X-energy, CPS Energy, Paragon Energy Solutions, Bridge to Nuclear, Aalo Atomics, and the Texas Association of Business, argued that Texas should lead in advanced nuclear, citing future baseload demand, data centers, industrial power needs, supply-chain development, and long-term energy diversification. Opponents, including Public Citizen, Texas Nuclear Watchdogs, Sierra Club, and individual citizens, argued the bill would subsidize unproven, expensive technology, create grants rather than loans, and expose taxpayers to major risk while doing little to meet near-term energy needs. Several members questioned whether the state should fund projects that may not produce grid power for years, and whether the bill’s grant structure and new office were justified. The committee also heard HB 5061, which Senator Schwertner said would prohibit unethical surveillance and misuse of confidential information by state contractors, create a confidential reporting system through the State Auditor’s Office, authorize Texas Rangers investigations, protect whistleblowers, and impose penalties including contract termination, fines, and contracting bans. No public testimony was offered, and the bill was left pending. HB 132, sponsored by Senator Hughes, would extend confidentiality protections for sensitive information to hostile acts by foreign adversaries; it was also left pending after no testimony. HB 1584 was then laid out, with Senator Schwertner explaining it would require utilities to maintain and update priority restoration lists for critical facilities after Hurricane Beryl exposed communication failures, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.