Transcript Highlights:

• in our Enabling Act and our Constitution.
• This bill raises profound constitutional concerns.
• That's how constitutional amendments work here.
• Constitution. The word sheriff does not appear in the U.S. Constitution.
• Constitution for county sheriffs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And just by way of reminder, this is a constitutional amendment.
• The fact is that is the shape and mandate of the constitutional amendment.
• So we're faced with having to implement it as written in the Constitution.
• It's a product of the potential future constitutional amendment.
• The constitutional right to vote is sacrosanct.

Bills: AB49 , AB169 , AB188 , AB284 , AB296 , AB306 , AB356 , AB366 , AB467 , AB499 , AB515 , AB540 , AB542 , AB595

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> accordance with those constitutional accordance with those constitutional mandates<00:36:35.000>
• <00:50:08.839><c> representative</c> Constitution representative Constitution representative Cochran<
• himself during the Constitutional Convention<00:57:12.440><c> called</c><00:57:12.799><c> on</c><00:
• I also want to talk about, as we mentioned the Constitution on the floor, I want to remind colleagues
• that we also have the Constitution to uphold.

Summary: The House convened, completed roll call with 48 members present and three excused, deferred reading of the journal, and received Senate communications noting adoption of House Concurrent Resolutions Nos. 1 and 2. The chamber also recognized several visiting groups and guests, including Congresswoman Jill Tuda, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii participants and students, Okinawan visitors, Farrington High School students, James Campbell High School students, and Waiau High School students, many of whom were introduced in connection with Chamber Week activities and educational presentations. The main business was unfinished business on House Resolutions 6 and 7, which adopted the House rules for the 33rd Legislature, including rules for the Committee on Standards of Conduct. Members generally supported the rules package as a transparency and modernization update, citing earlier public access to testimony, a public list of Speaker appointees, changes to conference committee eligibility, telework for staff, social media guidance, and a public list of bills introduced by request. Several members raised reservations or opposition, focusing on concerns about staff involvement in approving written remarks, budget information timing, the Vice Speaker’s role, social media/free speech issues, and whether some changes reduced public access or conflicted with constitutional open-meeting requirements. No vote on the rules package is recorded in the excerpt. The debate ended with multiple members yielding time and the discussion continuing on the merits of the proposed rule changes, especially the balance between transparency, internal House procedure, and public participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, what this transformational<00:05:29.280><c> constitutional</c> transformational constitutional
• :11.320><c> one</c> This constitutional amendment is one This constitutional amendment is one part<00
• ><c> that</c> But a constitutional amendment that But a constitutional amendment that would<00:44:50.560
• </c><00:46:31.680><c> Anybody</c> this constitutional amendment.
• Anybody this constitutional amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it also violates our Constitution because it stops treating K-12 as a paramount duty.
• Good constitutional amendment. Please vote yes. Mr. Speaker?
• Have we received a constitutional majority?
• Having received a constitutional majority, Second Substitute Senate Bill 6182 is declared passed.
• Section 11 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Summary: The House first took up Substitute Senate Bill 6225, a transportation bond measure. Supporters said it was needed to fund preservation and maintenance of Washington’s transportation system, including road upkeep and emergency repairs, while opponents argued the state had already addressed current needs through a recent unanimous budget and existing bond authority. The bill passed final passage 59-38, meeting the required three-fifths vote. The House then considered Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6260, an education budget-related bill with many floor amendments focused on transition to kindergarten, alternative learning experience (ALE) funding, local effort assistance (LEA), educational service district reserves, superintendent pay, MSOC funding, and collective bargaining limits. Most proposed amendments were rejected, though Amendment 2654 on TK priorities was adopted. After the committee amendment as amended was adopted, the bill advanced to third reading and then passed 50-47. Supporters described it as a necessary budget reduction and risk-management measure; opponents argued it cut K-12 funding too deeply, especially in rural and property-poor districts, and would worsen inequities and invite litigation. The House also concurred in Senate amendments and passed several other bills. House Bill 1796, about school construction financing and capital levy use, passed 95-2. Second Substitute House Bill 2105, dealing with immigrant worker protections, passed 58-38. Engrossed House Bill 2211, on food sourcing for a health-related program, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, regulating companion chatbots and child safety, passed 74-21. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247, related to animal care, passed unanimously. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2418, streamlining permitting timelines to support housing affordability, also passed unanimously. The House then moved on to additional Senate-concurred bills, beginning with Second Substitute House Bill 1906.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> including constitutional amendments. including constitutional amendments.
• Uh, I constitutional amendment there.
• </c> constitutional issue concerning it. constitutional issue concerning it.
• ><c> compelling</c> constitutional concerns with compelling constitutional concerns with compelling the
• </c> you're thinking about constitutional you're thinking about constitutional grounds<00:36:58.480><

Summary: The committee met to approve the October 21 minutes and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and public resources. The sponsors said the bill is intended to strengthen existing law by adding civil and criminal penalties for taxpayer-funded advocacy on ballot questions, especially in light of controversies during the 2024 election over school officials and districts using public resources to oppose a constitutional amendment. They also described related concerns about school districts hiring third-party lobbyists and public relations firms, particularly in Fayette County, and said the proposal was meant to keep tax dollars focused on public services rather than political persuasion. Committee members raised several concerns about scope and drafting. Some asked whether the bill should specifically mention schools, school boards, and school employees, and the sponsors said they would add that language. Others questioned whether the measure would also affect local government lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, and the sponsors said they intended to focus narrowly on schools while exempting certain advocacy organizations and internal government lobbyists. Members also asked whether public employees could still speak as private individuals, and the sponsors said yes. Several members suggested splitting the lobbying and ballot-advocacy issues into separate bills, and the sponsors said they would consider that. Members also pressed for clarification on how the bill would apply in practice, including whether it would cover legal challenges to petition drives or only advocacy after a question is on the ballot. Counsel for the sponsors said the bill would not cover some petition-related litigation as drafted, though they believed it should. The sponsors and supporters argued the proposal was needed to give the existing prohibition real enforcement, while some members warned that the language could unintentionally limit legitimate public representation or be too broad if not carefully drafted. No final vote was taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• 32.720><c> violated</c><00:33:33.120><c> the</c> the constitution and violated the the constitution and
• Constitution. The U.S.
• Constitution. The procedural history of this case is quite complicated.
• structure of our US constitutional structure of our US Constitution.<01:06:36.799><c> Um</c><01:06:37.119
• Um the the procedural Constitution.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the State of Hawaii’s affirmative litigation against the federal administration, with no public testimony. Attorney General Lopez and deputies said the office’s goal is to enforce the rule of law, not make partisan points, and noted that Hawaii is involved in 27 ongoing cases. They grouped the cases into four broad areas: immigration, funding freezes and grant terminations, federal agency dismantling/reductions in force, and protecting elections, health, and safety. Several immigration-related cases were discussed in detail. These included a challenge to the federal sharing of Medicaid data with DHS for immigration enforcement, a similar challenge to USDA’s demand for SNAP applicant and recipient data, and litigation over immigration-enforcement conditions attached to federal grants. The office also described the birthright citizenship executive order, saying it conflicts with the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court precedent; lower courts granted preliminary relief, and the U.S. Supreme Court later addressed only the scope of nationwide injunctions, not the merits. In the Department of Transportation case, the court granted a preliminary injunction against the “Duffy directive,” finding the immigration conditions lacked statutory authority, were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the Spending Clause and APA. The briefing also covered multiple funding disputes. In the education funding freeze case, the Department of Education and OMB withheld about $6 billion in formula funds, including roughly $33 million for Hawaii; after suit was filed, the funds were released. Other cases included the termination of over $11 billion in public health grants, which affected Hawaii Department of Health grants, the NIH indirect cost cap case, and NIH grant terminations tied to DEI, transgender issues, and vaccine hesitancy. The speakers said some cases have already resulted in preliminary or permanent injunctions, while others remain on appeal or are still being litigated.

Transcript Highlights:

• This raises a serious constitutional concern under the ex post facto clause.
• So can you speak to me a little bit about that constitutional concern?
• And I do worry about the ex post facto argument, the constitutional argument.
• The Voter Protection Act has no relevance to a constitutional ballot referral.
• It's in support of their constitutional protections.

Bills: HB2109 , HB2168 , HB2198 , HB2226 , HB2415 , HB2440 , HB2665 , HB2805 , HB2811 , HB2825 , HB2857 , HB2874 , HB2966 , HB4067 , HB4117 , HCR2001 , HCR2016 , HCR2051

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: distracted driving, portable wireless communication devices, motorcycles, traffic safety, civil penalties, public nuisance, nuisance abatement, abatement action, injunction, superior court, attorney general, county attorney, city attorney, board of supervisors, obscenity, obscene materials, adult materials, pornography, schools, parks

Transcript Highlights:

• Tem Stewart and members of the Senate: Pursuant to Article 4, Section 5(B)(2) of the New Mexico Constitution
• Tem Stewart and members of the Senate: Pursuant to Article 4, Section 5(B)(2) of the New Mexico Constitution
• Pursuant to Article 4, Section 5B2 of the New Mexico Constitution, I am authorizing for your consideration
• Tem Stewart and members of the Senate: Pursuant to Article 4, Section 5(B)(2) of the New Mexico Constitution
• Tem Stewart and members of the Senate: Pursuant to Article 4, Section 5(B)(2) of the New Mexico Constitution

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Representative Parajon, we believed we were exempt because the Constitution says that state-owned
• So, do you believe that your constitutional rights superseded what this statute says?
• constitutional rights of what it says superseded what this statute says.
• Chair, Representative Parajon, the Constitution, being the foundational document that drives what state
• Chair, it sounds like, um, with the Constitution as our governing document, that what you all Seem to

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• The speaker said the distinction was between elected officials and independent bodies that are constitutional
• So giving somebody a SAG is the delegation of the Attorney General's constitutional authority.
• authority, but you're going to make him do that... ...because that's his constitutional authority, but
• DPI does, does, I think the question is they may be in a constitutional office, but do they currently
• know what to call them anymore, because one's a commission, you're the ones, I don't know—the constitutional

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee reconvened and reviewed the status of several bills. The chair said bill 1377 could not be acted on until the House finished work on campaign finance bill 2156, and bill 1535 likely would not be ready because of unresolved concerns from Representative Davis and planned meetings with Highway Patrol and BCI. The committee therefore focused on bill 1601, which dealt with when the Attorney General may refuse or revoke special assistant attorney general appointments for certain state offices and entities. Members debated the policy and constitutional implications of the bill, including whether it was solving a real problem or creating a potential conflict, and whether statewide elected officials and independent bodies should have their own counsel. After testimony from the Chief Deputy Attorney General clarifying current law and the appropriations process, the committee amended the bill to add the Ethics Commission to the list of entities and to narrow the affected offices to the Governor, State Auditor, and Ethics Commission. The committee also changed one provision from “and” to “or” to clarify the standard for refusal or revocation. The committee then approved the bill as amended on a 6-0 vote and designated Senator Braunberger as the carrier. The chair said the committee would not meet the next morning and would instead reconvene the following week at the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Does the Constitution Limit the ability of members to be arrested. Again, Mr.
• General questions about the rules of the Constitution are not in order. My question, Mr.
• three of Section 14 of the Texas Constitution.
• It is a clear violation of the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution.
• Constitution.

Bills: HB4 , HB4

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we'll consider how to fix one of the most frustrating features of California's Constitution, the
• Constitutional amendments can only be adopted through approval of the voters.
• For me, what I'd like to know is: what is the current constitutional Gann limit for 2026-2027?
• Before that, we need to make these constitutional changes because of a struggling fiscal monetary policy
• Well, that’s governed by the Constitution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Courage is standing up for the constitutional rights of even those you disagree with.
• A constitutional right that depends on your parents' bank account isn't a right.
• The 11th Circuit's already ruled that this is constitutional.
• to those constitutional officers, is of increasing relevance and reality nowadays.
• The Supreme Court Marshal is a constitutional officer, and this...

Summary: The committee first heard HB 133, which would lower the minimum age to purchase a long gun from 21 to 18. The sponsor said the bill restores the rights of law-abiding 18-year-olds. Public testimony was sharply divided, with supporters from Gun Owners of America and Florida Carry arguing that adults 18 and older should have equal Second Amendment rights and that current law is inconsistent with other adult responsibilities, while opponents, including gun violence prevention advocates, students, parents, and Parkland-related speakers, said the bill would reverse a post-Parkland safety measure and increase risks of suicide, accidental shootings, and school violence. Several members debated the bill, with opponents emphasizing Parkland, the Florida State shooting, and public polling showing broad opposition; supporters stressed parental responsibility, mental health, and constitutional rights. HB 133 was then reported favorably on a roll call vote of 13 yeas, with several members voting no. The committee then took up CS/HB 289, which would revise Florida’s wrongful death law to allow parents to recover damages for the death of an unborn child. The sponsor said the bill is intended to let grieving parents seek civil remedies, and members questioned how it would apply in situations involving surrogacy, rape, ectopic pregnancy, medical care, and damages calculations. The sponsor said the bill would not allow suits against the mother, would not apply to lawful non-negligent medical care, and would be handled through ordinary wrongful death damage proof before a jury. Public testimony was again split: supporters from pro-life and faith groups said the bill recognizes unborn children and aligns Florida with many other states, while opponents from civil liberties, reproductive rights, and advocacy groups warned it could be used to target abortion providers, helpers, and even families or businesses in miscarriage-related cases, and could be weaponized by abusive partners. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 289, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• All we're asking for is our constitutional promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
• All we're asking for is our constitutional promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
• All we're asking for is our constitutional promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
• All we're asking for is our constitutional promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
• </c><01:08:59.960><c> concerns</c> they're also constitutional concerns they're also constitutional concerns

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, which Rep. Jim Kofalt said is the same language as last year’s HB 396, vetoed by the governor. He described the bill as allowing, but not requiring, separation by biological sex in three areas: bathrooms and locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions. Kofalt argued the bill would give local school boards and other policymakers discretion to set practical rules, citing concerns about safety, privacy, and a Milford incident involving a biological male in girls’ locker rooms. Committee members pressed him on the lack of a definition of “biological sex,” and he said he did not think one was necessary because males and females are commonly understood. He also said the bill was meant to address situations where outside groups threaten lawsuits and leave local boards with no latitude. Testimony then split sharply. Supporters, including Executive Counselor Karen Hill and several others, said HB 148 would roll back anti-discrimination protections, contradict New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” values, and harm transgender and non-binary people. Opponents described the bill as discriminatory and unnecessary, arguing that existing bathroom and sports policies already work and that the bill would invite harassment, invasive enforcement, and legal conflict. Several speakers, including trans residents and parents of trans children, said they had used public restrooms without incident and warned that enforcement would be impractical or abusive. One supporter argued the bill was needed to protect girls’ privacy and safety and cited school sports disputes and a concern about a sex offender at a game as examples of why sex-segregated rules should be restored. Committee members asked questions about how biological sex would be defined, whether the bill was responding to real incidents in New Hampshire, and how any restrictions would be enforced. Kofalt said he was aware of issues in several school districts and at the State House, but did not have detailed documentation for every case. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the chair instead moved through public testimony under a strict two-minute limit and noted that follow-up questions would be limited so the committee could hear multiple bills that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh the Wyoming state constitution.
• </c><00:48:43.119><c> uh</c> the plain text of the constitution uh the plain text of the constitution
• And they kept it out of government. constitutional issues such as federal constitutional issues such
• . constitution. constitution.
• And I think follow the Constitution?

Committee: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Concurrent Resolution 1006 are constitutional and in proper form. Mr. Fleming. Thank you.
• We’ve reviewed all those measures, and it’s our opinion that they are constitutional and in proper form
• none, members, the question before you is to recommend that the measures in the mass motion are constitutional
• The measures in the mass motion are constitutional and in proper form. Check your call roll.
• You have recommended the mass motion as constitutional and in proper form. Meeting adjourned?

Committee: House Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> non-debatable, requires constitutional non-debatable, requires constitutional majority<00:48:42.040
• </c> falls short of the constitutional falls short of the constitutional majority<00:49:26.640><c> of
• Because of that, Section 145 of the Kentucky Constitution now reads in part...
• </c> the Constitution of Kentucky. the Constitution of Kentucky.
• </c><01:36:45.320><c> Amendments,</c> to Elections, Constitutional Amendments, to Elections, Constitutional

Summary: The House convened, opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum with 96 members present, excused absent members, and approved the journal from March 4, 2026. The chamber also received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 50 and 191 and requested concurrence. Several bills were reported for second reading and committee action, including measures on schools, barbering, virtual currency kiosks, eminent domain, DUI, fire protection, school district reporting, teacher certification, legal representation, cost and fee reporting, dentistry, credit insurance, harmful practices, elections, child welfare, health data, Medicaid directed payments, workplace violence in health care, utilities, solid waste, carbon sequestration, and coal/energy affordability. House Bill 534 was sent to the Rules Committee after receiving prior readings, and House Bill 600 was brought up for third reading and passage. House Bill 600, relating to the collection of delinquent tax bills, was explained as allowing counties to use a consolidated procedure to collect multiple delinquent tax cases more efficiently, requiring county attorney contracts with the Department of Revenue to include that option, and extending to counties some property-tax collection tools already used by cities for delinquent and dilapidated properties. A member from Jefferson raised concerns that the bill could allow foreclosure on occupied properties and warned about potential harm to elderly or low-income homeowners; the sponsor responded that the bill was not intended to remove anyone from their property. The House passed HB 600 by a vote of 82-11, and a clincher was applied. House Bill 662, concerning regulation of low-voltage battery-charged security fences by local governments, was described as a business-friendly measure supported by the Chamber of Commerce and affected industries, intended to define the fences and reduce regulatory uncertainty in commercial and industrial zones without removing local regulation. It passed unanimously, 96-0, and a clincher was applied. House Bill 364, relating to benefits for Kentucky National Guard members, was amended by House Floor Amendment 1 to define Commonwealth emergency pay and hazardous duty for Guard members on state active duty during emergencies. Supporters emphasized compensation for Guard members responding to disasters and emergencies, and members cited recent flood and crash responses as examples of their service. The bill passed 96-0, and a clincher was applied. House Bill 534, an elections bill, was taken up with House Committee Substitute 2 adopted. The sponsor said the bill was the product of work by the Secretary of State, the Board of Elections, county clerks, KREF, and others, and was intended to strengthen election laws. Debate focused on a provision that would remove from voter rolls individuals convicted of felonies even while appeals are pending; one member argued this would disenfranchise people before appeals are resolved and sought to offer an amendment, but a motion to suspend the rules for that amendment failed with only 18 votes in favor. Another member said the substitute was the best version of the bill and indicated he would offer amendments, including changes to the felony-appeal language and campaign finance timing, while also seeking to remove a section requiring federal cooperation. The transcript cuts off during that discussion, before final action on HB 534 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there could be plenty of disagreement over what constitutes quote adequate infrastructure.
• There's no constitutional prohibition on that particular standard, which is just a judicially created
• Just with respect to the question of constitutional rights, which came up before, the New Hampshire Constitution
• Constitution, no person can be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process.
• Due process is a fundamental<01:42:37.600><c> constitutional</c><01:42:38.320><c> right.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll begin by recognizing our statewide constitutional officers who are here in attendance.
• Our statewide constitutional officers who are here in attendance, the California State Board of Equalization
• Thank you, Speaker Rivas, Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limon, distinguished statewide constitutional
• They later offered a different path, establishing our constitutional republic of three separate and co-equal
• fear or favor, with courage and steadfast commitment to our oath that we’ve taken to uphold our constitutions