Transcript Highlights:

• With agenda item number two, ironically, the first bill that we're hearing, because the first one's on
• First to state that as the bill is being amended today of accepting the committee's amendments we're
• Thank you for the amendments.
• The bill contains several amendments.
• First, I want to accept the amendments in the committee analysis and thanks to the committee staff for

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Questions on the amendment? Debate on the amendment. Public testimony on the amendment. None.
• By your vote, the amendment is adopted. Public testimony on the bill as amended.
• HB 1519 is a blatant attack on the First Amendment, our right to criticize a government committing genocide
• Members, questions on the amendment. Questions on the amendment?
• Questions on the amendment. Questions, member, on the amendment. Public testimony on the amendment?

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee heard a long agenda of bills covering education, public safety, local government, labor relations, and foreign policy. Early measures included HB 1055, which would support Florida State University’s Election Law Center; CS/HB 4073, a Leon County local bill updating career service rules for sheriff’s office employees; CS/HB 253, creating penalties for license plate obscuring devices and misuse of emergency-style lights; and HB 293, codifying the Office of Faith and Community in the Governor’s Office and creating a liaison and advisory council. Members raised questions on academic freedom in HB 1055 and on church-state concerns and oversight in HB 293, but both bills advanced after supportive testimony from university, faith-based, and law enforcement representatives. The committee also approved HB 4029, a local bill for the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District, and HB 889, requiring classroom driver education for minors before licensure, with supporters emphasizing roadway safety and teen crash reduction. The committee then took up PCS/HB 731, which would require standardized testing for admission to health-related degree programs at state universities. The sponsor argued the bill would ensure qualified applicants and objective admissions standards, while several members and public witnesses raised concerns that it would duplicate existing requirements like the MCAT and create unnecessary barriers; the bill still passed, though with several no votes. HB 1519, expanding Florida’s anti-BDS law to cover academic boycotts, nonprofits, local governments, and certain grants, drew strong support from Jewish organizations and strong opposition from speakers who argued it chilled free speech and punished criticism of Israel. After an amendment narrowing and clarifying parts of the bill, it passed favorably as a committee substitute. The most contentious debate came on HB 1387, a major overhaul of Public Employees Relations Commission procedures and public-sector union rules. Supporters said the bill would streamline PERC processes, improve fairness, and address cases where unions were certified with very low participation; opponents, including teachers and labor advocates, said it weakened collective bargaining and public employee rights. After a strike-all amendment and extensive testimony, the bill passed as a committee substitute. The committee also approved HB 351, which adds extreme speeding to reckless driving and increases penalties, after removing impoundment language in an amendment, and PCB GOS 25-07, preserving a public records exemption for minors seeking judicial waiver of parental notice/consent for abortion. The meeting adjourned after all measures were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is an amendment following amendment. Secretary, read the amendment.
• Hearing none, amendment is adopted. There is an amendment. Secretary, read the amendment.
• This amendment is a clarifying amendment.
• Following amendment, the Secretary read the amendment: Floor Amendment No. 1 by West.
• In working with HHSC, I'm offering this amendment to do two things: first, clarify the facilities that

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Pastor Jim Harris of Tilden Baptist Church, followed by remarks from Senator Zaffirini recognizing his service and retirement as an agricultural teacher. The chamber also received a message from the governor on appointments to the Coastal Water Authority Board of Directors. Senators then adopted SR 434 honoring Goodwill Industries of San Antonio’s 80th anniversary, with Senators Gutierrez, Menendez, and Zaffirini praising its workforce training and second-chance employment mission; SR 435 recognizing Dr. Christine Ramos Camacho as Doctor of the Day; and a group of additional resolutions adopted by voice vote. Senator Zaffirini also introduced the McMullen County Day delegation, and Senator Gutierrez introduced the Doctor of the Day. The Senate then took up and passed several bills. SB 1951 addressed penalties for late property rendition filings and removed a financial incentive for appraisal districts; SB 1261 related to financing water supply projects in the state water plan; SB 1620 created a Texas Forensic Analyst Apprenticeship Pilot Program; SB 530 updated higher-education accreditation rules; SB 2183 standardized fireworks sales periods statewide; SB 2368 strengthened the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act and added foreign-affiliation safeguards for electricity market participants; SB 1398 limited children without placement (CWOP) practices and added community-based care transparency; and SB 1960 established digital replication rights for voice and visual likenesses. Each of these bills advanced through suspension of the regular order, passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage, with recorded votes generally showing strong support and some opposition on a few measures. The chamber also debated SB 825, which would require an annual study of the economic, environmental, and financial impacts of illegal immigration. Senators Middleton, Hinojosa, Gutierrez, and Eckhardt debated whether the study should include positive as well as negative impacts; an amendment to require that broader analysis failed, and the bill was left pending after passage to engrossment. Other measures passed included SB 2010, prohibiting political subdivisions from operating guaranteed income programs; SB 546, requiring reporting and continued implementation of school bus seat belts; SB 586, establishing the Historical Texas Cemetery designation program; SB 1150, requiring inactive oil and gas wells to be plugged or returned to production under a compliance plan; SB 1184, lowering the minimum age of wine eligible for sale by wine collection sellers; SB 2185, clarifying bilingual education allotment funding; SB 1923, making child support follow the child in certain temporary placements; SB 2252, expanding early literacy and numeracy supports and screening tools; SB 1870, barring local decriminalization of drugs; and SB 2405, the major TDCJ sunset bill, which included facility planning, parole and rehabilitation reforms, and an amendment protecting parole board discretion. Most of these bills were adopted after floor amendments and passed with recorded votes, often along party-line or near-party-line divisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is adopted. The motion before us now is ought to pass with amendment.
• Open to further amendment. The minority amendment is 1762H.
• amendment? amendment?
• same with the following amendment. same with the following amendment.
• The amendment is adopted. The main motion is ought to pass as amended.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is adopted. There are amendments at the desk.
• The amendment is adopted. There is an amendment at the desk.
• The amendment is coded A8. discussion to the amendment? discussion to the amendment?
• The chief clerk will report the amendment. amendment. amendment.
• The amendment is adopted. There is an amendment at the desk.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 4760, a public safety package, and first adopted an amendment to insert House language into the Senate file. Members then heard brief explanations of several included provisions, including a section from House File 3870 that would make Office of Justice Programs research and victim-related data private, clarify privacy for data collected by the Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls office and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives office, and remove outdated statutory language. Representative Novotny also described the package as combining a number of previously passed stand-alone bills and a few additional provisions. The chamber then adopted amendments A5, A7, and A8. A5 inserted House language and adjusted an effective date related to public employer discretion in hiring; A7 allowed the Office of Legislative Auditor to request BCA fingerprinting and federal tax information as required by federal rules; and A8 clarified language affecting jail medical services and custody-related safeguards after collaboration among Representative Witty, the sheriffs association, the Department of Corrections, and advocates. Representatives Hansen, Moller, and Witty all urged support for those changes. A proposed A3 amendment from Representative Duran, which would have kept the current age of delinquency rather than implementing the previously enacted change, drew extensive debate. Supporters argued counties, law enforcement, and other stakeholders were not ready for the change and lacked infrastructure, while opponents said the 2024 law was intended to address serious gaps in juvenile justice and child welfare and should take effect as planned. After a roll call, the House rejected A3 by a vote of 66 yeas to 67 nays. The transcript then indicates another Duran amendment, A2, was called up, but the excerpt ends before its disposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• presentation first and then we'll get to that amendment if that's okay.
• amendment to the A3 amendment. amendment to the A3 amendment.
• amendment<00:35:29.599> is The amendment to the amendment is The amendment to the amendment
• to the bill as >> to the bill as amend to the bill as amended amended amended >> to<00:35
• amended will be laid over. amended will be laid over.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• its repassage as amended.
• as amended.
• the A2 amendment.
• Give him the amendment. The amendment. It is verified. It is online.
• The first thing I want is a copy of this amendment. Thank you.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the chair's recommendation is going to be an HD1, and our first amendment is going to add an additional
• <00:23:23.240> amendment<00:23:23.760> is<00:23:24.000> going HD1 and our first
• amendment is going HD1 and our first amendment is going to<00:23:26.640> add<00:23:26.840>
• That's the amendments. add amendment stating that upon approval add amendment stating that upon approval
• com first served to replace the first com first served issue<01:34:11.400> with<01:34:11.560>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on February 7, 2025, to hear testimony on several bills and later take up amendments and votes. HB 1405, HB 1406, and HB 1407 drew broad support from business, housing, utility, and development groups, with no opposition noted on those measures. Testifiers generally said the bills would streamline permitting, improve coordination, and expand support for chambers of commerce and small businesses. After recess, the chair recommended amendments to each bill, including changes to broaden eligibility, add reporting requirements, and include funding and staffing notes. HB 1405 was amended to allow certain projects with one state and one county permit to qualify, require annual DBEDT reports to the Legislature, and note one full-time position and $125,000 in funding; the committee voted to pass it with amendments. HB 1406 was amended to move the intergovernmental task force from DBEDT to the House Legislature, add a Speaker-appointed chair, and include a $125,000 appropriation note; it also passed with amendments. HB 1407 was amended to convert the chamber support from a grant process to an RFP process and require a 1-to-5 match on a $100,000 award; it too passed with amendments. In each case, the chair’s recommendation was adopted, with Representative Tam excused. The committee also heard HB 796, a tax-credit review bill, which drew no support and 12 opposition testimonies with three comments. Opponents, including SAG-AFTRA Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, argued that automatic sunset provisions or broad tax-credit cuts would burden working families and that existing review mechanisms already exist under state law. The Department of Taxation and DBEDT offered technical comments, and the Tax Foundation suggested the bill’s goals might be better addressed by cleaning up the existing review process. Later, the committee heard HB 303, which had 17 supporters and no opposition. Testifiers from the Department of Health, University of Hawaii, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Queen’s Health System, and the Hawaii State Chiropractors Association supported the measure, with the chiropractors asking to be included in eligibility. The Hawaii State Center for Nursing said the program had been successful for five years and had room to expand. HB 577 also drew support, with the Department of Taxation offering comments and the Tax Foundation noting technical issues. HB 949 generated mixed testimony: Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce supported it, while Hawaii Children’s Action Network raised concerns about the bill’s effects and the lack of fiscal analysis; Sugar Creek Capital also supported the measure and clarified that the credit would not offset the GET. Finally, HB 933 and HB 959 were heard, with HB 933 receiving six support testimonies and comments focused on grocery tax relief and food insecurity, and HB 959 drawing strong support from labor and advocacy groups for its broad tax relief package, while the Tax Foundation and Hawaii Appleseed urged caution about the proposed 50% GET increase and asked for clearer fiscal analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the first committee stop for the bill, and I understand that there is an A1 amendment.
• It is about under the first amendment.
• <02:03:02.880> Amendment 3661 also raises serious First Amendment 3661 also raises serious
• <02:03:18.239> Criminalizing<02:03:18.880> the the First Amendment.
• Criminalizing the the First Amendment.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Prote, you have an amendment. It is substantive. We have a substantive amendment.
• Would you like to take that up first or describe your bill first, Mr. Chairman?
• The amendment is adopted. Members, we are now on the bill as amended. Mr.
• Would you like to take that amendment up first? Yes, Mr. Chair, please.
• We'll have the amendment read first, and then you can explain it. Thank you.

Bills: SB134, SB1356, SB1407, SB1611, SB1639, SB169, SB1722, SB182, SB1870, SB2039, SB432, SB609, SB715, SB716

Keywords: retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, state government, OMES, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Rehabilitation Services, civil service, human capital management, state employee disputes, whistleblower, veterans employment, veterans placement, fleet management, state fleet, motor vehicles

Transcript Highlights:

• Equal Protection Clause... ...the First Amendment freedom to associate, all right?
• The First Amendment also protects the rights of citizens to freedom of speech, political expression,
• And the First Amendment isn't going away, freedom of association.
• Amendment.
• I'm not here to beg and plead for any First Amendment or 14th Amendment.

Bills: SB116, SB121, SB130, SB407

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Louisiana, 2020 census, elections, precincts, voting, election, political representation, 2026 precincts, demographics, Louisiana congressional map, U.S. House, election districts, precinct shapefiles, Voting Districts, VTD, 2020 Census, 2026 Precinct Shapefiles, apportionment

Transcript Highlights:

• as amended mr. chairman I move that the amendment as amended to HB 2248 be adopted very good any discussion
• Now let's adopt the amendment as amended. Thank you.
• I move that the committee amendment as amended be adopted. Thank you.
• I rise to make a comment on the amendment. We're on the bill as amended. The bill is amended.
• First question for you is: Committee of the Whole rising report to recommend House Bill 2873 as amended

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Who wants to go first? first? first?
• But adopting the amendment A2 amendment.
• Madam Chair, so I think what it sounds like is being proposed is first we would amend the A6 to delete
• The amendment to the amendment is adopted. So now on the A6 amendment as amended, Senator Port.
• amendment<00:53:53.040> is The amendment to the amendment is The amendment to the amendment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment? amendment?
• >> What amendment? >> The amendment that we're discussing. >> Oh, that amendment.
• bash OSHA first. bash OSHA first.
• the amendment? the amendment?
• . amendment. amendment.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the first year of a house session.
• also support this bill um as uh amended also support this bill um as uh amended back<00:18:46.559
• like um the bill without the amendment like um the bill without the amendment and<00:20:59.760><
• I'll make a motion that we accept the amendment. A motion to adopt Amendment 2345H.
• That we pass SB 18, as amended by the Senate, with Amendment 1871 as provided to our committee.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: Division 3 of House Finance met in a continued work session on Senate Bill 118, with no LBA present. The chair reviewed the bill’s complicated history: it began as a short Senate bill, was expanded in the Senate to address Hampstead Hospital and related contracts, and was later amended by the House Health and Human Services Committee to add the substance of House Bill 53, which would allow home cultivation of cannabis for therapeutic use. Members also discussed the bill’s timing against upcoming legislative deadlines and the available options, including recommending it ought to pass, retaining it, ITL, or amending it. A member asked about the $160,000 appropriation tied to Hampstead Hospital employees. Deputy Commissioner Marissa Hen explained that most of the money would cover accrued time owed to a small number of employees who transitioned through multiple staffing arrangements at the hospital, and the rest would honor previously promised bonuses for a few workers who would otherwise miss them after the transition to Dartmouth Health. She said the payments were intended to make employees whole after repeated changes in hospital management and staffing. Representative Stringham then offered Amendment 2345H, which would strip the House-added cannabis provisions and keep only the Senate-originated Hampstead Hospital-related sections. He argued this would improve the bill’s chances of surviving a gubernatorial veto and preserve the portions members broadly supported. The amendment failed on a 6-3 roll call. The committee then voted 6-3 to recommend the bill ought to pass without the amendment. Members also designated Representative Seaworth to speak for the majority and Representative Daniels for the minority when the bill reaches full Finance, and the work session adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill as amended we uh on the amend the bill as amended we only<00:02:00.560> uh<00:02:00.960>
• Um, but maybe just take the amendments first. Does that sound all right?
• I first have the A6 amendment. I would like to the A6 amendment.
• amendment?
• little bit about the A6 six amendment? little bit about the A6 six amendment?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It makes other amendments. Testifying first is DNR. this measure? this measure?
• Uh makes other amendments<00:18:31.840> testifying<00:18:32.559> first<00:18:32.799>
• but the amendments requested amendments but the amendments requested<00:20:47.840> by<00:20:48.000
• And testifying first is Golf Course. And testifying first is DNR.
• So with amendments. amendments. amendments. >> So<02:34:24.000> okay.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 3019, which would cap ticket resale prices at face value for events in Hawaii and authorize DCCA to enforce violations. DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection opposed the bill and said it preferred a ticket transparency approach focused on upfront disclosure of fees, while supporters argued the measure would curb scalping, bots, and extreme markups. Testimony from the National Independent Venue Association and a concert promoter emphasized that resale does not add inventory and said the bill would protect consumers; committee members questioned DCCA about enforcement and cited examples of very high resale prices for local concerts. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair said the measure would be moved along for further consideration. The committee then heard Senate Bill 3311, which would create the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within DLNR to fund fire-mitigation grants for residential property owners. DLNR supported the bill, saying the need is immediate and that the program is modeled on successful mainland efforts, though the department said it ultimately belongs under the State Fire Marshal once that office has capacity. DCCA’s Insurance Division submitted written comments only. The measure was received without further action in the excerpt. Senate Bill 2979, authorizing DLNR and community-based organizations to enter community co-management agreements for state lands, drew broad support from OHA, community groups, and several individuals, who said the bill would formalize partnerships, strengthen shared responsibility, and help community stewardship efforts. Testifiers clarified that the bill does not require 65-year agreements and said the term should be left to DLNR’s discretion. The committee then moved on without questions or a vote shown in the excerpt. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2351 on the state park special fund, which would allow DLNR to use fund monies for environmental protection programs. DLNR’s state parks administrator opposed the bill, saying the special fund is already fully committed to urgent maintenance and infrastructure needs across an aging park system, and warned that diverting money would weaken the fund’s ability to support parks. The Tax Foundation also submitted written testimony, and a community witness opposed the measure for similar reasons. The excerpt ends as the committee begins Senate Bill 2918, which would require HCDA to establish a community action center in Chinatown; HCDA’s executive director expressed concern about jurisdiction and said the city and county should continue leading that work.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Is there a way to get it amended? Yes. >> Is there a way to get it amended?
• . amendments. amendments.
• amendments. Chair, vice chair voting I. amendments. Chair, vice chair voting I.
• First, we're going to add clarifying language to the amendments in 14274, section 3, that the land and
• amendments. Chair vice chair voting I. amendments. Chair vice chair voting I.

Bills: HB1602, HB2246, HB1707, HB2216, HB2594, HB2595, HB2155, HB2113, HB2207, HB1832, HB2015, HB2152, HB2548

Keywords: agriculture, grant specialist, financial support, farmers, Hawaii, federal grants, grant administration, revolving fund, department of agriculture and biosecurity, grant compliance, transportation, reimbursement, food security, local production, sustainability, agricultural loans, financing, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii agriculture, loan portfolio

Transcript Highlights:

• They are AB 542, AB 563, AB 731 with amendments, AB 753, AB 784, AB 964, AB 988 with amendments, AB 1034
• , AB 1233 with amendments, AB 1255 with amendments, and AB 1381 with amendments.
• We also have AB 1233 with amendments, AB 1255 with amendments, and AB 1381 with amendments.
• I am familiar with the amendments, been party to those amendments.
• amendments before us today.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard AB 84, a charter school accountability measure focused on non-classroom-based charter schools and fraud prevention. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to respond to the A3 charter fraud case and related scandals by strengthening audits, transparency, authorizer oversight, and funding determination rules, while ensuring public education dollars are used for public education. Supporters included FCMAT, CSEA, CTA, and CSBA, who argued the bill would improve oversight and protect taxpayers. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, Green Dot, many charter parents, educators, and charter operators, said the bill was too broad, would impose major new costs and bureaucracy on all charter schools, and could reduce options for families, especially those using flexible, homeschool, or special-needs charter programs. After extensive testimony and committee discussion, the bill passed on a 5-1 vote and was sent to Appropriations, with the item left open for additional votes. The committee then approved a consent calendar of 11 education bills, including AB 542, AB 563, AB 731, AB 753, AB 784, AB 964, AB 988, AB 1034, AB 1233, AB 1255, and AB 1381, all moving to Appropriations. The consent calendar passed unanimously. Later, the committee heard AB 1454, a literacy and reading instruction bill authored by Assembly Members Rubio and Revis. The bill would require the state to create professional development resources for evidence-based literacy instruction, update English language arts and English language development instructional materials, and revise administrator preparation standards to include literacy training. The authors and a broad coalition of supporters, including CTA, EdVoice, Families in Schools, Decoding Dyslexia, school administrators, and parent advocates, described the measure as a compromise aimed at improving reading outcomes and addressing California’s literacy crisis. There was no opposition testimony at the hearing, and members voiced strong support for the bill and its collaborative approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:54:45.240> bill >> Amendment L14 amending engrossed bill >> Amendment L14 amending
• I move Amendment L008 to the amendment.
• Please read the amendment<01:59:35.080> uh, amendment uh, amendment uh, amendment<01:59:36.120
• Amendment L008 amending amendment L008.
• Amendment<02:04:38.800> L-011. Amendment L-011. Amendment L-011.

Keywords: 981, all