Video & Transcript Research : 'competency evaluation'

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HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

JDC-AEN Informational Briefing 10-16-2025

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • There are competing info briefings going on right now, and that's where the other staff is focused on
  • Um there are competing our grant writer.
  • Um there are competing info<00:12:52.079> briefings<00:12:52.560> going<00:12:52.720>
  • nationally, which with much they compete nationally, which with much larger<00:31:08.640> acreage
  • states that we might be competing with. states that we might be competing with.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The joint informational briefing focused on how federal policy changes, tariffs, funding cuts, the federal shutdown, and delays in the farm bill are affecting Hawaii agriculture and food access. Opening remarks emphasized Hawaii’s heavy dependence on imported food and farm inputs, the state’s vulnerability to disruptions in USDA services, and the need for stronger state, county, and community coordination. Speakers also noted that immigration enforcement and broader global supply-chain pressures can affect local farm labor, production, and food availability. Sharon Herd, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, described both positive and negative federal impacts. She said Hawaii has benefited from some recurring grants and a large new $8.8 million federal grant, but also reported about $22 million in losses from suspended or terminated grants, including farm-to-school and water-related projects. She said some USDA programs, such as microgrants for food security and FISMIP, are currently suspended, while the specialty crop block grant remains active. She also said Hawaii farms declined from 7,328 to 6,569 between the 2017 and 2022 censuses and argued the state cannot rely on imports alone to feed its people. Amanda Shaw of Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii presented findings from federal funding cut reports. She said the first report, in March, identified about $88 million in potential cuts, and the newer report found $64.7 million in confirmed cuts and about $175 million in potential cuts. She said federal shifts are creating uncertainty for farmers, food-system organizations, and school and community food programs, and noted that 4,000 to 5,000 Hawaii farmers could receive less money because of changes to payment-factor provisions for socially disadvantaged farmers. She also said Hawaii has lost 18% of local USDA staff since September 2024, with possible further national reductions expected. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, and the chair noted that any legal questions, including the reported SNAP changes, would be for the Judiciary Committee to assess later.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I also wanted to call out competing imports.
  • We have products competing with us from other countries where the cost of production is very low.
  • When we compete for very large projects, site readiness is a very important part of the decision-making
  • We compete with other states that have made those investments, and often our timeline to launch for those
  • When we compete for very large projects, site readiness is a very important part of the decision-making
Summary: The committee held a work session focused on the effects of tariffs on Washington’s economy, agriculture, and small businesses, followed by updates on emergency management, cybersecurity, disaster resilience, tsunami preparedness, and World Cup security planning. Office of Financial Management economist Abdelamintrawe Trieri said tariff increases are expected to raise prices, reduce output and employment, and lower state revenue over a four-year horizon, with the hardest-hit sectors including aerospace, food and beverage manufacturing, and agriculture. Members asked about updated tariff scenarios, crop-specific impacts, inflation versus deflation in different goods, and whether some manufacturing sectors could benefit; staff said updated numbers would need to be rerun as tariff rates changed. Washington Department of Agriculture representative Ryan Hamm described how tariffs raise costs for farm inputs such as equipment, parts, packaging, and fertilizer, while also affecting exports of key commodities like wheat, potatoes, apples, cherries, dairy, and wine. He said some sectors support tariffs on competing imports, but retaliation and market restrictions have hurt exports, especially to China and, in the wine sector, Canada. Department of Commerce representative Andrea Chartock outlined export assistance, business finance, recruitment, and industry-sector development programs, and proposed expanding tariff-resilience support through market diversification, supply-chain optimization, and efforts to attract investment and federal funding. She also noted uncertainty around delayed federal STEP funding for small business export assistance. Emergency Management Division Director Robert Ezell warned that federal disaster and mitigation funding is becoming less reliable, citing the denied bomb cyclone disaster declaration, delays in FEMA grant processing, and possible restructuring of FEMA that could shift more responsibility to states. He said Washington may need stronger state-funded public assistance, individual assistance, and mitigation programs, along with broader coordination among state agencies and local governments. Cybersecurity staff described state efforts to support local governments through the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, threat intelligence sharing, vulnerability assessments, and a proposed volunteer incident response team, while noting the loss of MS-ISAC funding and the importance of continued state matching funds for cybersecurity grants. Hazard mitigation and tsunami staff emphasized the need for sustained investment in flood, wildfire, earthquake, lahar, and tsunami resilience, including vertical evacuation structures and language-access outreach. Ezell also briefed the committee on World Cup security preparations and federal grants for counter-unmanned aircraft systems, explaining that the state can buy mitigation capabilities but current authority to use them remains largely federal; the committee asked follow-up questions about fan zones, training, and the meaning of drone mitigation. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment after the presentations and questions.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session 04-28-2026 12:00pm

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Transportation and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, convening a working group to evaluate
  • Corporation, convening a working<00:05:30.400> group<00:05:30.800> to<00:05:30.960> evaluate
  • <00:05:31.720> the working group to evaluate the working group to evaluate the feasibility
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives Apr 9th, 2026

Louisiana House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The plumbers will still... ...be the only profession in this state that you have to have a competency
  • The plumbers will still be the only profession in this state that you have to have a competency test,
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Special Session D Apr 29th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm not an officer of the court, so that's beyond my competence to determine.
  • So that's beyond my competence to determine.
  • This is beyond my competence, Senator.
  • You've gone down a rabbit hole that is beyond my competence. Additional questions. Senator Davis.
  • You've gone down a rabbit hole that is beyond my competence. Additional questions. Senator Davis.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Executive Committee Meeting Jun 25th, 2026

Executive

Transcript Highlights:
  • We often, what comes to my mind is breaches of non-compete agreements.
  • somebody in a different state in their relationship with their employer breached a promise not to compete
  • We often, what comes to my mind is breaches of non-compete agreements.
  • somebody in a different state in their relationship with their employer breached a promise not to compete
  • It speaks to an ethical issue insofar as counsel is demonstrating they're not competent.
Summary: The Senate Executive Committee met in hybrid format and first considered two gubernatorial judicial appointments. Morgan T. Zurn, nominated to the Delaware Supreme Court, described her background in public service, the Court of Chancery, DOJ, and federal clerkship, and answered extensive questions about judicial philosophy, precedent, statutory interpretation, access to justice, AI and deepfakes, corporate law stability, civility, social media, and public confidence in the courts. Christy N. Vitola, nominated to be Commissioner of Family Court, discussed her Delaware upbringing, legal career in family law and child support, and experience with pro se litigants and high-volume dockets; she was questioned about handling family court cases efficiently, the best interests of the child, and correcting calculation errors. No votes on the nominations were taken during the portion shown. The committee then moved to legislation. House Bill 443, concerning background checks for volunteers and mentors in the Department of Education’s mentoring program, was presented as a technical update to allow DOE to continue receiving wrap-back reports and to ensure mentors undergo state and federal criminal background checks. There was no public comment or committee debate on the bill. House Bill 431 with House Amendment 1, sponsored by Representative Bush and Senator Hoffner, would allow composting of yard waste, food residue, and other organic materials to divert waste from landfills, extend landfill life, reduce disposal costs, support farmers by returning nutrients to the soil, and reduce methane emissions; it also preserves county/local control over siting and inspection. Senator Townsend asked whether composting was currently allowed, and Senator Hoffner explained that the bill would authorize it under the stated controls. No public comment was offered on either bill. At the close of the meeting, the chair noted that the bills and nominee backers had been circulated for signatures. Senator Hocker moved to adjourn, Senator Townsend seconded, and the committee adjourned without objection.