Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Arreguín mentioned you've been working in this space for a while.
• Tasha Newman, on behalf of Peninsula Open Space Trust and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
• There's a huge reservoir on one side of Highway 17, and there's redwoods and open space on the other
• And there's a project there that was being worked on for years by open space authority folks who have
• There's a huge reservoir on one side of Highway 17, and there's, you know, redwoods and open space on

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on local transportation funding, roadway safety, e-bike regulation, veterans’ parking access, high-speed rail reporting, autonomous vehicle oversight, and wildlife-vehicle collision planning. SB 1408 would authorize Contra Costa County to place a countywide transportation sales tax measure on the ballot; supporters said it would continue funding highways, transit, bike/pedestrian projects, and paratransit, while CalTax opposed it over affordability and tax burden concerns. SB 990 would allow targeted Caltrans business-logo signage for Ridgecrest along Highway 395; supporters framed it as a rural safety and economic access measure, and there was no opposition. SB 1167 would tighten consumer protections by clarifying what qualifies as a legal e-bike and requiring clearer labeling and disclosures; supporters included bicycle advocates, medical groups, local governments, and auto clubs, while no opposition testified. SB 1034 would make it easier for disabled veterans rated permanent and total by the VA to obtain disabled parking placards, with strong support from veterans’ organizations and no opposition. SB 1177 would require the High-Speed Rail Project Update report to continue including additional information on revenue options, timelines, and international comparisons; the City of Burbank opposed, while the sponsor argued the bill preserves a historical record and transparency. SB 1246 would impose new remote-operations, response-time, and manual override requirements on autonomous vehicles; first responders and labor groups supported it, industry and business groups opposed it as duplicative of recently enacted law and DMV rules, and the committee discussed possible amendments and coordination issues. The committee also considered SB 1279, which would extend Long Beach’s speed camera pilot to Pacific Coast Highway; supporters cited fatal crash data and pedestrian safety, while the CHP association moved from opposition to neutral after discussions. The committee then took up SB 1250, a planning bill to integrate wildlife-vehicle collision mitigation into transportation planning, with the author emphasizing targeted crossings and fencing at known hotspots. Several consent items were approved on a 10-0 vote, and SB 1246 was reported out 7-2, while other bills were held on call pending quorum or later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is ambient and embedded in the architecture of our digital space. a particular context.
• The infrastructuring of physical spaces has pushed data collection behind the scenes and often outside
• It affords individuals the space and freedom to learn and grow from intimate relationships, worship,
• So I think we need to pass laws too in the privacy space that expect that people may try...
• So in conclusion, the Fourth Amendment was built for a world of physical spaces.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing on California privacy in the age of mass surveillance, with members framing the issue as urgent in light of AI, data brokers, workplace monitoring, and government access to commercially collected data. Opening remarks emphasized California’s long-standing privacy tradition and concern for impacts on Latino, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other vulnerable communities. The committee heard from experts from UC Law San Francisco, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Davis, and a worker-organizer from Amazon, followed by a journalist from 404 Media. Nicole Ozer reviewed the history of California’s constitutional right to privacy, tracing it to the 1972 ballot measure and arguing that lawmakers should use that right more fully to operationalize stronger protections against surveillance. Deirdre Mulligan described how surveillance capitalism has expanded through physical-world instrumentation, biometrics, connected devices, and AI, and argued that notice-and-consent models are inadequate because people cannot meaningfully understand or control how data is collected, inferred, shared, and used. Ari Waldman focused on disparate harms to marginalized communities, including queer people, survivors of domestic violence, and people seeking reproductive care, and called for stronger regulation, limits on data collection and sharing, and greater accountability for companies and government access to data. Josh Black testified about Amazon’s workplace surveillance, including handheld devices, time-off-task monitoring, hidden cameras, and driver-facing AI cameras, saying the system pressures workers to skip breaks, rush safety training, and discourages organizing. He said the surveillance is used to increase productivity and suppress union activity. Committee members asked about data retention, injury reporting, cash as a privacy-protective payment option, and whether workers truly consent to surveillance as a condition of employment. Jason Kebler described how police departments adopt commercial surveillance tools through pilot programs and vendor relationships, often without public debate, citing license plate readers and networked camera systems that can spread data across jurisdictions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with discussion of the need for clearer definitions, stronger enforcement, and continued legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a faculty member, I teach anatomy and physiology, and I see firsthand how essential our lab spaces
• The new building is proposed to feature modern anatomy labs with expanded space and updated technology
• We have a vision of multiple-use space with lab, classroom, and outreach space, all focused on life sciences
• We have a vision of multiple-use space with lab, classroom, and outreach space, all focused on life sciences
• We have a vision of multiple-use space with lab, classroom, and outreach space, all focused on life sciences

Bills: SB6 , SB62 , SB74 , SB90 , SB104 , SB119 , SB132 , SB133 , SB135 , SB182 , SB185 , SB193 , SB207 , SB217 , SB229 , SB233 , SB260 , SB262 , SB280 , SB281 , SB300 , SB306 , SB378 , SB382 , SB393 , SB403 , SB422 , SB427 , SB431 , SB434 , SB442 , SB452 , SB456 , SB468 , SB472 , SB487 , SB503 , SB6

Committee: Assembly Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• So the accreditation side of those that are in the space, that, um, I believe, is a valid concern, and
• that um I of those that are in the space that um I believe<00:11:23.600><c> um</c><00:11:24.120><c>
• </c> that have been operating in this space that have been operating in this space as<00:13:14.760><c
• </c><00:21:11.159><c> we</c><00:21:11.360><c> ensure</c><00:21:11.720><c> that</c> actors in the space
• we ensure that actors in the space we ensure that veterans<00:21:12.360><c> have</c><00:21:13.080><c

Summary: The committee met to hear a bill aimed at regulating paid veterans’ claims consultants and protecting veterans from bad actors. Chair Denine opened by emphasizing transparency, the need to hear concerns, and that the meeting was a hearing only, with no immediate vote expected. Senator David Yates, the sponsor, said the bill is intended to protect veterans by requiring clear written disclosure when a veteran uses a for-profit consultant, including that the consultant is not accredited or affiliated with VA or veterans’ service organizations. He said the proposal was based on best practices from other states, would include guardrails rather than a total ban, and was being slowed to allow further review and possible amendments. Testimony reflected both support for the bill’s intent and disagreement over its scope. A committee member and later witnesses stressed that veterans should be able to make informed choices and that some private consultants and law firms have helped veterans, but they also acknowledged bad actors and the need for rules, accreditation, and fee limits. James Toby of the VFW opposed the bill as written, arguing it conflicts with federal rules by allowing fees on initial claims and urging the committee to reject it in favor of legislation that mirrors federal law and imposes real penalties. Mark Christensen of Veterans Guardian said veterans need more options because Kentucky has too few VSO representatives, supported guardrails and accreditation reform, and suggested the bill could be improved with a dollar-based fee cap, no late fees or interest, and clearer ethical rules. Daryl Casey of JVO said his organization supports the bill’s goal of leveling the playing field, noting that veterans service organizations do not charge fees and that any limits should apply consistently across providers. The chair did not take a final vote during this hearing and instead encouraged the sponsor to circulate committee substitute language and continue discussions with veterans’ organizations and committee members before the next meeting. The sponsor said he was not pushing the bill forward that day and wanted more time to address concerns, especially around accreditation and disclosure.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if that all gets totaled up and we're in ...occurred in that space.
• There's more capital available than is possibly necessary, which is always good in that space.
• I'll do the very best I can in this space.
• The most typical percentage that we see in the space is about 5%. Some are 2%.
• In the auto space, I'll double-check on property. Representative, for a follow-up? Thank you, Mr.

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting on homeowners property insurance, with members from both parties introducing themselves and repeatedly noting that insurance affordability, roof condition, claims handling, and storm recovery are top concerns for their districts. Chair Yeager said the meeting was intended as an educational discussion rather than a legislative debate, and introduced a panel that included Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworski, consumer Chad Carr, agent Mary Catherine Lawler, insurer executive Melissa Burt DeVries, and policyholder attorney Chip Merlin. The panel and members discussed major cost drivers in Florida homeowners insurance, including inflation, home age, roof age, mitigation features, claims history, litigation costs, reinsurance, and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Commissioner Yaworski said underwriting has become more sophisticated and that litigation costs, reinsurance, and replacement-cost inflation all affect premiums; he also said litigation is down about 30% and average requested rate increases have fallen from about 22.1% in 2022 to 0.8% today. DeVries said age of home, replacement cost, roof age, and coverage choices can materially change premiums, and explained that reinsurance is a major expense passed through to consumers. Merlin emphasized transparency concerns, argued that insurers are increasingly individualizing risk, and said consumers often struggle with coverage limits, deductibles, and claim denials. Members asked about flood coverage, hurricane deductibles, managed repair programs, mitigation credits, new insurer capitalization, and whether savings from reforms are reaching consumers. Yaworski explained that flood is generally excluded from homeowners policies and covered separately, that hurricane deductibles are mandatory in Florida and usually around 5%, and that the office tracks savings from reforms through rate filings and insurer discussions. He said the state is updating mitigation discounts and monitoring new entrants closely for solvency and market conduct. Several members and panelists said recent reforms have helped reduce some abuses and litigation, but many consumers are still seeing higher premiums because replacement costs and reinsurance remain elevated. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• So prior to this job, I worked in the critical infrastructure protection space at the national level
• What I do want to get across is specifically in this space. And you, you, you, you.
• What I do want to get across is specifically in this space, and you nailed it down very eloquently at
• China is not ambivalent about this space. They are very deliberately leading.
• Yeah, and that sort of activity is what would help reduce the Chinese dominance in that space.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we provide all opportunities in all different realms for children to be able to thrive in the space
• I wanted to help bridge the space between policy and practice so the decisions that are made at the state
• that have really worked, but here's the things where we're still falling short in this particular space
• And so some of the ways it's destabilized. we're still falling short in this particular space.
• So with this and leading our state board in this particular space.

Summary: The committee first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Arthur Krantz to the Public Employment Relations Board and Christopher Ferguson, Brian Haynes, Anna Marie de Mars, and Ronald Fiore to the Student Aid or Student Athletic commissions, all by unanimous 5-0 votes. It also approved references of bills to committees by a 5-0 vote. The committee then heard from Julia Montgomery, nominated for a third term as General Counsel of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, who described her work on farmworker rights, outreach, and enforcement of labor protections. Members questioned Montgomery closely about card-check unionization procedures, signature authenticity, outreach to Spanish-speaking and indigenous-language farmworkers, make-whole enforcement delays, and a long-running Tri-Fanucchi farm case. Montgomery said objections and unfair labor practice charges can be investigated, that signature verification is handled by board staff rather than her office, and that delays often stem from appeals, difficulty locating workers, employer obstruction, and court backlogs. Vice Chair Grove voted no, while Senators Laird and Reyes supported the nomination; the committee advanced Montgomery to the full Senate on a 3-2 vote. The committee then considered three State Board of Education appointments: Cynthia Glover Woods, Brenda Lewis, and Gabriela Orozco Gonzalez. In opening statements, all three emphasized long careers in public education and support for students, teachers, and families. Questions focused on math achievement, the 2023 math framework and access to Algebra I in middle school, transitional kindergarten, community schools, and the effectiveness of education spending. The nominees said the framework still allows ready eighth graders to take Algebra I, pointed to new instructional materials, professional learning, TK expansion, and community schools as key improvements, and said they had not been involved in the governor’s proposed education governance changes. Public witnesses and education groups testified in strong support. The committee advanced Glover Woods 3-1, Lewis 4-1, and Gonzalez 3-1 to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll share very briefly my experience in this space, but really just to give context to the other gaps
• It's space and time to know your child, right? And that's tremendous.
• And I think this offers so much more space for us to observe and be aware of the grief that families
• I want to thank them for doing this already and being a leader in that space.
• He's been a guiding light in this space as well. So thank you. Light in this space as well.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 28 with a quorum and took up several Senate bills, beginning with SB 113 on the local health care provider participation program in Calcasieu Parish. The committee adopted a technical amendment and heard that the bill would shift the local sponsor from the parish to the city if needed by a June 1 deadline. After brief discussion and no opposition, SB 113 was reported favorably with amendments. The committee then approved SB 23, which exempts certain assisted living facilities licensed by LDH from the definition of food service establishment, and SB 150, which would allow LDH to scan and electronically store vital records supporting documents and return originals to citizens. SB 221 also advanced after testimony that it would allow EMS providers to be reimbursed by Medicaid for emergency responses where treatment is provided on scene but the patient is not transported. Members discussed that the bill could reduce unnecessary ER use and likely would require some rulemaking, but it was reported favorably. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 404, a broad vision benefit plan reform bill. Supporters, including optometrists, said the measure would improve transparency, patient choice, and access to eye care by limiting restrictive plan practices; opponents from the vision care plan industry argued it was an unprecedented, provider-driven overhaul that could raise costs and reduce flexibility. After extensive testimony and an agreed amendment clarifying network participation, the committee reported SB 404 favorably with amendments. The committee also reported SB 32 favorably with amendments after emotional testimony from parents and advocates about perinatal bereavement care, cooling devices, and training for hospitals to give grieving families more time and dignity after infant loss. Finally, the committee heard SB 43, which would create a psychedelic-assisted therapy initiative within LDH for clinical research and treatment involving ibogaine and psilocybin, with testimony from veterans, researchers, and advocates describing potential benefits for PTSD, substance use, and traumatic brain injury. The bill was reported favorably with amendments and set to pass a courtesy sheet. The committee then began SB 253, a bill regulating peptides and compounding pharmacies, adopted technical amendments clarifying provider liability, and continued discussion as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• and by cloud space.
• Secret space and by cloud space.
• And so UNM is allowed to leave space from the labs.
• Because no other state has the ability to go work inside a lab and a secure space in a secure lab.
• And we have to pay them rent for that space, which makes us the developers.

Bills: SB20 , SB21 , SB166 , SB177 , SB181 , SB189 , SM6

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• , subcontracting, businesses with one employee a lot of times in the contracting space, subcontracting
• But I think it's kind of important because the small group space is a space I work in.
• space is actually continued and assumed accepted.
• And the knowledge that we operate on space time. I rent space time.
• So everyone in my units, I rent space time. I will never get January of 2026 back.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The committee first went into executive session on House Bill 2099, adopting a House committee substitute and an amendment clarifying language about non-private, non-commercial property and authorized agents, including executors, administrators, trustees, and verified heirs. Members discussed the amendment as a way to prevent people from exploiting recent obituaries to occupy property without authorization. The committee then voted unanimously to do pass the House committee substitute for HB 2099. The main public hearing was on House Bill 1791, which would set deadlines for political subdivisions to act on building permit applications and reduce fees if deadlines are missed. The sponsor and supporters, including the Missouri Municipal League’s critics from the construction industry, argued the bill would reduce costly delays, improve predictability, and help housing and business development. Opponents from municipal groups said the bill could create liability concerns, impose one-size-fits-all mandates on cities of different sizes, and interfere with local inspection and safety processes. Several witnesses said they were willing to work on the bill’s definitions and timelines, but no vote was taken in the transcript. The committee also heard House Bill 2465, which would let sole proprietors and single-member businesses obtain group health coverage outside the ACA framework and would revise the employee-count threshold from two to one, with discussion about whether the upper limit should remain 50 or be changed. Supporters said the bill would help small businesses, especially family-run firms, access more affordable and flexible coverage, including out-of-network options; one witness described personal difficulty obtaining coverage for a spouse who works in the business. Members raised questions about federal implications and the impact of changing the 50-employee cap, but the hearing ended without a recorded vote. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2717, a storage-unit and public notice bill that would modernize notice requirements by reducing reliance on newspaper advertisements, allow electronic delivery of rental agreements, shorten certain notice periods, and address storage units being used as housing. Supporters said the bill reflects current business practices and improves communication and efficiency, while opponents focused on preserving newspaper notice and raised concerns about public awareness and process. The sponsor said the bill had been repeatedly introduced in prior sessions and was intended to update the industry’s rules; the hearing concluded without final action in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Naturally, it's, you know, a lot of people congregated in a small space.
• And I have engaged with other stakeholders in the space, and I await their feedback.
• Without real enforcement resources, resale price caps will push fans into unregulated spaces.
• And yet, the district that I represent is still wide open spaces.
• We have a lot of space in between, but we have nearby neighbors such as volcanoes and whatnot that are

Bills: SB6149 , SB6175 , SB6230 , SB6248 , SB6312 , SB6061 , SB6137

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: rural county, frontier county, public facilities funding, economic development, local option sales tax, sales and use tax, workforce housing, affordable housing, county tax authority, RCW, Washington state, community economic revitalization board, CED, infrastructure funding, public works, job creation, job retention, job expansion, county planning, state auditor reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm in support of this because it helps incentivize communities to create defensible space, harden
• IBHS requires specific vegetation spacing, but these standards may conflict with planning, zoning, and
• Under this bill, rental agreements for individual storage space and self-service storage facilities may
• If the occupant continues to use a storage space for 30 days after receiving a rental agreement, that
• Providing a safe and secure space for people to store items important to them without fear or risk to

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 6137 on sports wagering. Staff explained that the bill would allow wagering on collegiate events involving Washington colleges, but would continue to prohibit bets on the performance of individual college athletes. Tribal representatives from the Jamestown S’Klallam, Puyallup, and Kalispel tribes testified in support, saying the bill would keep wagering within the regulated tribal marketplace, protect integrity, and help smaller tribal casinos participate through a hub-and-spoke model. University of Washington and Washington State University representatives supported the ban on individual prop bets and emphasized student-athlete safety, while WSU also argued the bill would expand exposure to harassment and online abuse. No vote was taken. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6079, which would create the Strengthen Washington Homes wildfire mitigation grant program. Staff said the bill would fund grants for wildfire-hardening homes to IBHS standards, authorize pilot projects, and prohibit insurers from using wildfire risk to disqualify homes that meet the standards. Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuder and Senator Marcus Riccelli supported the bill, arguing that wildfire losses and non-renewals are increasing and that upfront mitigation is cheaper than recovery. Local officials and advocates from Medical Lake, Washington Realtors, and climate and wildfire groups also supported the measure. Insurance industry representatives supported the mitigation goals but objected to the bill’s requirement that insurers provide coverage based on IBHS designation and to using the commissioner’s regulatory account as a funding source, saying underwriting still needs to consider broader risk factors. No action was taken. The committee next held a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 6061, which would create a tourism self-supported assessment program. State of Washington Tourism, the Washington Wine Commission, the Washington Hospitality Association, the Brewers Guild, the Port of Seattle, and rural economic development representatives said the state’s tourism program is underfunded and that an industry-led assessment could provide a stable, competitive funding source. They said the model would be governed by a ratepayer oversight board, subject to ratification, and could generate significant visitor spending and tax revenue over time. Some testimony raised concerns about the scope of eligible businesses and the bill’s references to other industries, but supporters said friendly amendments would refine those details. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5844 on self-storage rental agreements, which would allow electronic agreements, clarify acceptance by continued occupancy, and create a uniform process for termination or nonrenewal for nonpayment or nonmonetary defaults. Self-storage operators supported the bill as a modernization measure that would improve safety and consistency, and no vote was taken on any of the bills heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• purpose of today's panel is to get updates from everybody that has been involved and works in this space
• However, how does the money get down to Safe Space? And who evaluates how much each coalition gets?
• For Safe Space to get those dollars, some of it's population-based.
• I think we do have an office here in Tallahassee with conference space and office space that we can use
• I think we do have an office here in Tallahassee with conference space and office space that we can use

Summary: The committee held a panel discussion on Florida’s domestic violence system, focusing on the roles of the state, the federally designated coalition, direct-service providers, and law enforcement. Members reviewed the history of the system after the dissolution of the former coalition in 2020, the creation of the Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence, DCF’s Office of Domestic Violence, and the current contract structure involving Women in Distress and its subcontractors for hotline and legal services. Panelists also discussed the 2024 lethality assessment law, the workgroup’s conclusion that the evidence-based Maryland tool could not be used because of copyright and cost issues, and the state’s current use of statutory questions instead. DCF and FDLE described the statewide certification and funding framework, including more than $60 million in domestic violence funding for fiscal year 2025-26 and the requirement that law enforcement complete lethality-assessment training by October 1, 2026. Testimony highlighted both collaboration and conflict. Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence and Women in Distress described overlapping training and technical-assistance roles, but disagreed sharply about the quality of their relationship with DCF and whether the current structure is duplicative. DCF said it maintains communication with both the coalition and the centers and emphasized that the coalition is federally required, while the coalition argued that the department has obstructed its work. Women in Distress and Hope Villages stressed direct services, prevention, and the need for more housing, staffing, and funding, especially in rural areas. They also described programs in schools, hospitals, and child welfare settings, and noted that children exposed to domestic violence often need specialized services. Members asked about funding flows, certification, rural coverage, the number of centers, and the lethality assessment rollout. DCF said the 41 certified centers serve all 67 counties and that no new applications have been received in about 15 years. FDLE reported that 46 of roughly 400 law enforcement agencies had completed the lethality-assessment training and attestation, with the statutory deadline still ahead. Panelists said domestic violence appears to be increasing, citing higher hotline demand, shelter occupancy, and local case numbers, while also noting that statewide crime data remains outdated. The discussion ended with calls for better coordination, clearer implementation of statutes, more funding, and possible legislative fixes to improve data collection, training, and service delivery.

Transcript Highlights:

• These therapeutic spaces are urgently needed, and the bill ensures they can be built efficiently and
• These therapeutic spaces are urgently needed, and the bill ensures they can be built efficiently and
• These therapeutic spaces are urgently needed, and the bill ensures they can be built efficiently and
• Not only do several of our members have convention spaces that would be pulled into this bill, but since
• This would encompass significant areas, including Even if the bill were limited to outdoor spaces, this

Committee: Senate Commerce and Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• We're absolutely maxed out of space.
• It's a very beautiful building, but we're maxed out of space.
• Law enforcement can make do in a lot of different spaces, but for our scientists, we cannot.
• The second piece is to meet our increased space needs.
• There’s a lot in the Office of Justice Programs that’s migrating budget spaces.

Bills: HF2432

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• He quickly had an interview with me, you know, seeing where my mind space, my head space, he didn't just
• He quickly had an interview with me, you know, seeing where my mind space, my head space, he didn't just
• </c><00:09:46.480><c> my</c><00:09:46.640><c> head</c><00:09:46.839><c> space</c><00:09:47.079><c> he
• </c><00:09:47.200><c> didn't</c><00:09:47.440><c> just</c> mind space my head space he didn't just mind
• space my head space he didn't just simply<00:09:48.000><c> oh</c><00:09:48.160><c> you're</c><00:09:

Transcript Highlights:

• How many spaces? How many spaces?
• How many spaces? 43, something, I understand, I think, based on some for the public.
• How many spaces? 43, something, I understand, I think, based on some for the public.
• They have rules that can't operate on weekends when we want locals to have space.
• They have rules that can't operate on weekends when we want locals to have space.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several water, land, and conservation measures. HB 86, which would fund a permanent DLNR Makai Watch coordinator position, drew strong support from DLNR and community advocates. Testifiers said the coordinator is needed to connect community-based nearshore monitoring groups with government, support training and reporting, and provide stable civil-service funding instead of relying on grants and philanthropy. The committee discussed the position’s duties and cost, estimated at about $110,000 with fringe benefits, and noted broad support from organizations including Kuaʻulu, The Nature Conservancy, OHA, and others. HB 36, relating to state water code penalties, was also supported in principle by DLNR, but the agency proposed amendments to create two tiers of violations, distinguish first-time/non-harmful violations from repeat or harmful ones, and give the commission discretion on whether each day counts as a continuing violation. DLNR said the bill is intended to address egregious cases such as Red Hill while avoiding undue impact on small farmers and others without malicious intent. Testifiers from the Board of Water Supply, Lono Initiative, and others supported stronger penalties and transparency, while Earthjustice raised concerns about broader structural issues and the risk of penalties being applied unfairly. The committee then heard HB 316, which appropriates funds to continue the Green Jobs Youth Corps program. DLNR, the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, Kōkua, The Nature Conservancy, and other groups testified in support, describing the program as a workforce pipeline that places young professionals in communities, builds trust, and helps recruit future state employees. Supporters said the program has expanded capacity in watershed and reef management and has drawn extensive public backing. Finally, HB 506, funding equipment for the Oʻahu branch of DOCARE, received support from DLNR and others. DOCARE said recent recruit classes are moving through training, that the new positions will expand patrol capacity, including nighttime enforcement, and that the Oʻahu-specific funding is tied to priorities such as the Māʻili Bay herbivore rules. The committee also began hearing HB 510 on water shortage and emergency declarations. DLNR proposed limiting shortage declarations to 90 days unless extended, capping groundwater reductions at 20% for lower-priority permits, removing climate-crisis language as a standalone criterion, and moving the process into rulemaking for more public input. The Board of Water Supply supported the bill and the proposed changes, while Earthjustice urged deferral absent broader Water Commission reforms. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the chair indicated the committee would be decision-making after the hearing on items on the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> far less than market value of the space far less than market value of the space and<01:04:12.839
• So they're leasing circuit court space from you?
• </c> well sorry go find your own Court space well sorry go find your own Court space because<01:13:34.000
• </c> for the state um by not offering spaces for the state um by not offering spaces we<01:13:51.760>
• </c> their mission by not having that space their mission by not having that space uh<01:14:05.280><c

Summary: The subcommittee first took up House Bill 702, which would change how extra or special duty pay for retired police officers is treated for retirement and work-limit purposes. Supporters argued the bill would let retirees work more special-duty hours, helping municipalities fill traffic-detail and similar assignments without added state cost, and said it would not prohibit retirees from working but would simply stop those hours from counting toward the return-to-work threshold. Opponents argued the change would be inconsistent with the retirement system’s 2011 reforms, could increase pension liabilities, and would treat the same compensation differently for active employees and retirees. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect current and future retirees, the role of municipalities, and whether the policy amounted to “policing for profit.” The subcommittee ultimately voted 3-2 to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL) on HB 702, sending it to the full committee with that recommendation. The committee then discussed House Bill 581, which would create a Group Three retirement plan for new state employees hired after the bill’s effective date. The chair outlined a housekeeping amendment to delay implementation, moving the effective date to January 1, 2026, and noted a sponsor amendment addressing health insurance group inclusion and medical and surgical benefits so those benefits would not be put at risk for the new group. Testimony and discussion focused on the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution, with supporters citing Michigan examples and arguing the bill would help recruit and retain employees while giving them more flexibility. Opponents said the change could weaken retirement security and increase unfunded liability, though supporters responded that the bill still requires employer contributions toward accrued liability and is intended to keep the state on track to pay off its unfunded liability by 2039. The transcript ends with continued discussion of the bill and no final vote shown on HB 581.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then anytime we pass a prohibition for sensitive spaces, and I'll just pause to say that sensitive spaces
• 46.480><c> have</c> pause to say that sensitive spaces have pause to say that sensitive spaces have been
• </c> And in all of those sensitive spaces And in all of those sensitive spaces provisions,<00:44:03.520
• Rutland is the most complicated and challenging site, with very minimal space.
• Rutland is the most complicated and challenging site, with very minimal space.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it’s a really complicated space, which is why we brought... ...all of the options.
• So it’s a really complicated space, which is why we brought the expert who is much more knowledgeable
• take the handcuffs that they put on us each and every single day, not only in this early learning space
• And this is, I think, as definitely as I'm learning in space, which is why I need these experts.
• So that's why I keep going back to: we've got this is a small space for little small people that's so

Committee: All EDUCATION- HOUSE EARLY CHILDHOOD SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The committee met to review early childhood education funding, access, and program sustainability, with Secretary Aleva and Director Ashland Abney providing updates on Arkansas’s ABC state-funded preschool program and the federal CCDF/SRA program. Members discussed the long-standing flat funding for ABC, which rose from $11 million to $14 million in 2018, compared with roughly $137 million in federal CCDF/SRA funding. Officials said ABC serves about 23,000 children, while SRA serves about 14,871 children and has a wait list of about 2,971 children. Members also asked for more data on rural versus urban access, provider types, and the number of slots and providers by region. A major topic was how to improve quality and access while aligning early childhood with K-12. Officials said the department is moving from the Better Beginnings environmental rating system toward CLASS observations, using local leads and a kindergarten-readiness strategy tied to quality improvement. Members raised concerns about deserts and islands in service availability, the cost of school-based versus community-based providers, and the need to support infant-toddler care as well as preschool. The commissioner said early learning should be part of long-term state education investment, but that simply adding money would not solve access gaps without broader structural changes. The committee also discussed recent funding changes and their effects on providers and families. Officials said a $14.741 million PDG-BFV competitive grant will support systems-building work, including local leads, workforce, data systems, and third-party CLASS observations, but it is a one-year grant and not direct service funding. Members questioned the impact of new co-pays, provider closures, and slot reallocations; officials said eight closures were tied specifically to funding changes, and that paying only for enrolled children rather than allocated slots saved about $576,000. They also discussed dual enrollment in home visiting and ABC, with officials estimating that limiting double enrollment could save about $2.4 million and potentially serve about 470 more children. The meeting ended with agreement to continue regular updates and further discussion, and the committee adjourned without a vote on legislation.