Transcript Highlights:

• River Authority, Lower Nettius Valley Authority, Trinity River Authority of Texas, and the Texas Ethics
• We will also Trinity River Authority of Texas and the Texas Ethics Commission.
• The next agency we are voting on is the Texas Ethics Commission.
• Allow me to present this modification to staff recommendation 1.2 for the Texas Ethics Commission.
• This modification for the Texas Ethics Commission. Excuse me.

Bills: SR1 , SR2

Summary: The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, approved the December 11, 2024 minutes, and then voted on recommendations for several agencies reviewed earlier in the cycle. It adopted all recommendations for the Angelina and Nettus River Authority, the Lower Nettus Valley Authority, and the Trinity River Authority of Texas, with no modifications offered for those agencies. The Commission then considered the Texas Ethics Commission. Members adopted staff recommendations with modifications, including changes to lobby compensation thresholds and rounding of inflation adjustments. The Commission also adopted a series of new recommendations addressing TEC customer service staffing, late-filing penalties, post-election reporting penalties, waiver of penalties when notice cannot be shown, review of the “substantial compliance” standard, review of the “principal purpose” definition, more prominent public posting of delinquent penalties, and clearer training and guidance on filing and lobby-registration requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6. By recorded vote, the Commission unanimously forwarded all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature, with nine ayes. Sunset staff then reported on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, saying the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and Sunset staff found 68% of statutory and related changes fully implemented, with the remainder mostly in progress. The Commission also noted receipt of a January 6 evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission, including a study of potential regulation of lottery ticket courier companies, but no further action was taken on that item. The meeting concluded with closing remarks and a motion to recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Missouri Ethics Commission is right there out on the Rotunda.
• The Missouri Ethics Commission. sides of the aisle, more or less an announcement.
• The Missouri Ethics Commission is right there out on the rotunda.
• They know what's going on in the world, and I taught social workers, and we have a code of ethics.
• prohibit such conduct at or by such educational institution if such conduct creates an atmosphere or

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the previous House Journal by a 101-0 vote, and numerous special guest introductions, including student groups, robotics teams, artists, and a choir. Committee reports from Fiscal Review recommended passage of several bills, including HB 1869, HB 2387/HB 2480, HB 2061, HB 2481, and HB 2885. The chamber then took up Senate changes to HB 2016, a bill addressing anti-Semitism in educational institutions. Supporters said the Senate amendments clarified that schools should consider context, protected criticism of Israel, added charter schools, and required reporting of all Title VI complaints; opponents argued the bill was redundant, could chill speech, and did not match the state’s broader anti-discrimination rhetoric. After a successful previous-question motion, the House adopted the Senate substitute 101-19 and then gave final passage to the bill 100-17. Several third-reading bills followed. HB 2481, dealing with SNAP and Medicaid-related verification and program restrictions, drew sharp debate over fraud prevention versus added bureaucracy and harm to low-income Missourians; it passed 95-44. HB 1869, creating a process to repair veteran gravestones damaged by natural causes, passed 137-2. HB 2927, requiring written settlement demands in bad-faith liability claims to remain open for 90 days and reference the statute, passed 90-50. HB 2387/HB 2480, reinstating the presidential primary and moving it to the first Tuesday in March, passed 116-23. HB 2885, redirecting the final $1 million from boat registration fees to fund the water patrol, passed 112-27. HB 2517, a real estate wholesaler disclosure bill, passed 130-6. HB 3107 was moved to the informal calendar. Debate also began on HB 1730, which would legalize firearm suppressors in Missouri; supporters framed it as a freedom, hearing-protection, and economic bill, while opponents warned it would make gun violence harder to detect and could aid criminals, but no final vote on that bill appears in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> address the specificities of the conduct address the specificities of the conduct uh<00:04:32.080
• </c> the law, but of the conduct. the law, but of the conduct.
• </c> attorney of the county where the conduct attorney of the county where the conduct occurred<00:58
• commission or an authorized ethics commission or an authorized county<00:58:56.960><c> ethics</c><00
• </c> county ethics commission, I mean board. county ethics commission, I mean board.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills related to bribery and public corruption. On SB 2249, which would increase penalties for bribery under certain circumstances, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and Honolulu Police Department supported the measure, arguing that Hawaii’s current class B felony penalty is probationable and too weak to secure cooperation in corruption cases, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Snyder decision narrowed federal bribery prosecutions. The Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing that elevating bribery to a class A felony and making it non-probationable was excessive, overbroad, and would remove judicial discretion. Multiple individuals also testified in support. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about removing deferred acceptance of plea provisions and asked HPD about the $20,000 threshold; the prosecutor said alternative charges could still be used in plea bargaining, and HPD said the threshold aligns with first-degree theft. The committee also discussed how current law tolls the bribery statute of limitations while an official remains in office, with the prosecutor explaining it can extend up to six years total. The committee then heard SB 2494, which would set a nine-year statute of limitations for bribery offenses. The Public Defender opposed the extension, saying the justification based on the length of federal investigations was too broad and that bribery already has a longer limitations period than most felonies. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the bill, saying bribery cases often involve coordination with federal investigators, that federal and state evidence-gathering methods may differ, and that a longer period would help ensure admissible evidence and allow state prosecution when federal law no longer applies. Members asked whether there were public examples of cases lost to the current limitations period; the prosecutor said he was not aware of any publicly available examples, but maintained nine years was a reasonable period. The committee also considered SB 2737, which would create a misdemeanor for failure by a state or county elected official to report bribery. The Department of the Attorney General offered comments and suggested changing the term to “public servant” for consistency with existing law. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the intent but warned the reporting requirement could create Fifth Amendment issues for witnesses who might otherwise be useful in grand jury proceedings. The bill drew broad public support, with 33 supporters and no opposition noted. Finally, the committee took up SB 3071, which revises sex trafficking and promoting prostitution statutes by redefining “profits from prostitution” and adding an affirmative defense for certain lawful transactions. The Public Defender opposed the measure, saying it still could reach people without the required criminal intent and that the affirmative defense language could be applied unevenly. The Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor supported the bill, saying it better addresses concerns raised by the State v. Ibarra decision while closing loopholes that allow traffickers to disguise profits as loans or gifts. The prosecutor emphasized that traffickers are sophisticated and can structure transactions to evade current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 348, a bill to be entitled an act relating to ethics.
• of Ethics.
• This bill is recommended by the Commission on Ethics in consultation with the Attorney General.
• Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 348, a bill to be entitled an act relating to ethics.
• the most ethical, most trusted professional that anybody has.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions recognizing FSU Day at the Capitol, the Red Mass, visiting students, school board members, veterans, and other guests. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and took up a series of bills, with several measures temporarily postponed before and during the day’s proceedings. Committee and executive reports were largely absent, and the Senate proceeded directly to floor action on the listed bills. The Senate passed a number of mostly unanimous bills, including SB 36, SB 38, SB 40, and SB 42 on Florida Statutes revision; CS/SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience, amended to strengthen the Florida Flood Hub and related research; CS/SB 116 on veterans, expanding benefits coordination, mental health training, adult day health care, and other veterans services; SB 126 on mailing prescription hearing aids to adults; SB 150 on abandoning restrained dogs during natural disasters, amended to conform to the House; SB 294 limiting collaborative pharmacy practice for certain serious cardiac conditions; SB 322 creating a nonjudicial process for removing unauthorized persons from commercial property; SB 348 on ethics, including false military rank claims and collection of delinquent ethics fines; and CS/SB 7012 on child welfare workforce recruitment, treatment foster care pilots, and data collection for commercially sexually exploited children. Senate Memorial 314 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure was also adopted by voice vote. Two bills drew more extended debate. SB 118 on presidential libraries passed 36-3 after questions about local zoning, traffic, and whether the bill’s express preemption would limit county and municipal authority; supporters argued it would prevent local obstruction and help Florida attract a presidential library, while one senator said she would vote no because of concerns about local safety and planning issues. CS/SB 160 on public accountancy passed 39-0 after an amendment clarifying contracted services; supporters said it would broaden pathways into the CPA profession and address workforce shortages. CS/SB 108 on administrative procedures and CS/SB 110 on rural communities were temporarily postponed, then later taken up and passed after extensive debate, with SB 110 amended to prioritize certain rural transportation projects, expand housing, health care, broadband, and economic development support, and draw strong bipartisan praise for its focus on rural Florida. At the end of the session, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House, observed a moment of silence for former Surfside Chief John Healy, and made several closing announcements and recognitions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Ethics Committee is pretty much on pause until the summer because the Ethics Committee kept on delaying
• The Ethics Committee is pretty much on pause until the summer because the Ethics Committee kept on delaying
• The Ethics Committee is pretty much on pause until the summer because the Ethics Committee kept on delaying
• ethics panel that we have here at the Minnesota State Senate, right?
• </c> due process needs to have a full ethics due process needs to have a full ethics hearing<00:05:15.960

Transcript Highlights:

• There are also questions of ethical use and how this incorrect information to our users.
• AI literacy, critical engagement, and empowered ethics.
• A number of you have talked about the ethical use of AI.
• What counts as ethical use?
• And we know the ethical use of these technologies is paramount and important.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Higher Education and the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an oversight hearing on the California State University’s AI-empowered initiative, including the systemwide rollout of ChatGPT EDU and broader AI integration across CSU campuses. Opening remarks emphasized both the promise of AI for student success, workforce preparation, and access, and the need to address risks such as bias, privacy, misinformation, environmental impacts, and mental health harms. CSU representatives said the initiative grew out of Academic Senate recommendations and a systemwide generative AI committee, and that the goal was to provide equitable access, training, governance, and workforce alignment across the 23-campus system. CSU officials described systemwide contracts for AI tools, the AI Commons training hub, and faculty grant programs supporting AI-related curriculum innovation. They said more than 93,000 ChatGPT EDU accounts had been activated, over 4,300 faculty had taken voluntary training, and $3 million had been awarded to 63 faculty-led projects from more than 400 submissions. San Jose State University highlighted its own AI-focused programs, courses, orientation training, faculty fellows, student ambassadors, and interdisciplinary efforts to build AI literacy and responsible use into instruction and co-curricular programs. CSU also said it was tracking metrics on adoption, academic outcomes, workforce outcomes, and environmental impacts. Faculty, staff, and student representatives welcomed the educational potential of AI but raised concerns about the rollout, saying it had moved quickly and without enough consultation or consistent systemwide policy. They urged stronger protections for academic freedom, intellectual property, privacy, equity, and worker input, and warned about bias, surveillance, job displacement, and the environmental cost of AI. Legislators pressed CSU and OpenAI representatives on training requirements, data privacy, bias reporting, discipline for misuse, liability, sycophancy, and safeguards against harmful uses such as non-consensual imagery or self-harm-related interactions. CSU said interactions in the licensed tool are private, data are not used to train models, and campuses retain their own conduct processes; members also asked CSU to follow up on systemwide training, policy consistency, and additional safeguards.

Transcript Highlights:

• AI literacy, critical engagement, and empowered ethics.
• A number of you have talked about the ethical use of AI.
• They also see incredible opportunities Reinforcement of ethical use.
• What counts as ethical use?
• And we know the ethical use of these technologies is paramount and important.

Summary: The hearing focused on the California State University’s AI Empowered Initiative, including the systemwide rollout of ChatGPT EDU, the CSU Generative AI Committee, the AI Commons training hub, and the AI Workforce Acceleration Board. CSU officials said the initiative was designed to expand equitable access, avoid a digital divide, and prepare students for an AI-driven workforce. They described systemwide licensing, privacy protections, no use of CSU prompts or data to train models, voluntary faculty participation, professional development offerings, and a $3 million faculty grant program supporting AI-related teaching and curriculum projects across campuses, including San Jose State’s AI-focused programs and student orientation training. Committee members pressed CSU leaders and OpenAI’s representative on bias, privacy, data retention, liability, environmental impact, student mental health, sycophancy, and whether training should be required before access. CSU officials said training materials address ethical use, bias, and critical thinking, that interactions are treated like private email, and that users can report problematic outputs through the tool. They also said the system is separate from the federal preservation order affecting public ChatGPT data. Several members urged more uniform, systemwide training and stronger safeguards, especially for students and vulnerable users. Faculty, staff, and student representatives offered a more cautious view. The Academic Senate and Faculty Association said they had long pushed CSU to study AI and support faculty development, but criticized the rollout as too fast, insufficiently consultative, and too focused on vendor partnerships and spending. They raised concerns about intellectual property, surveillance, bias, environmental costs, workload, and the need for bargaining and transparency. The staff union called for worker councils, negotiated guardrails, and protections against job displacement. The student representative supported broader access and AI literacy but asked for clearer campus policies, more consistent training, better privacy explanations, and stronger student input. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• :15:34.399><c> website</c> Legislative Ethics Commission website Legislative Ethics Commission website
• </c> appropriate role for the ethics appropriate role for the ethics commission<00:20:58.960><c> or</
• the ethics commission or should the ethics commission<00:21:00.400><c> just</c><00:21:00.880><c> to<
• </c> over um conducting those investigations. over um conducting those investigations.
• </c> enforcing the ethics law. enforcing the ethics law.

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, approved the minutes from the November 10 meeting, and then approved a large agenda of contracts and related items, with the total agenda amount stated as $359,638,393.88. Most items were approved without objection, but two contracts were pulled for discussion: attorney general panel counsel contingency fee contracts and a Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission personal services contract. For the attorney general’s office, Chris Lewis explained that the contracts were panel counsel contingency fee agreements, with 14 qualified awards from 16 applicants. He said the contracts were contingency-based, so no money would be paid unless cases were successful, and that the fee structure worked out to roughly 5% under the statutory waterfall. Senators asked about the size of the contracts, whether the terms were uniform, why no Kentucky firms were among the awardees, and how the public should understand the large dollar figures. Lewis said one Kentucky firm applied but was disqualified for a late submission, other Kentucky firms had inquired but did not apply, and local firms could still work with national firms on cases. The committee then approved the contracts. The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission contract drew more extensive questioning. Commission representatives said they had previously had a contract disapproved because the proper process was not followed, so they used an RFI process posted on the state and commission websites for at least three weeks. They received one applicant, a Kentucky firm, and set the rate at $125 per hour. Members questioned whether the commission was acting beyond its ethics mission, whether staff were helping draft complaints against legislators, and whether the commission was taking on a prosecutorial or human-resources role. The commission said its role is limited to enforcing the legislative code of ethics, providing advisory guidance, and following the formal complaint process; it does not pursue matters outside that code. Members also raised concerns about the earlier procurement misstep and the commission’s credibility, and the commission apologized, said it had corrected the process, and pledged to comply going forward. The committee then approved the contract.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee and Legislative Ethics.
• to the Legislative Ethics Committee and Legislative<00:20:11.440><c> Ethics.
• </c><00:20:12.799><c> Chairman,</c> Legislative Ethics. Mr. Mr. Chairman, Legislative Ethics. Mr.
• he chairs legislative ethics.
• legislative ethics, and you'll see, uh, legislative ethics, and you'll see, uh, Senator,<00:20:41.600

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Nursing has 45 employees and conducts Nursing has 45 employees and conducts business<00:36:04.560
• </c> Survey in licensing we assure an ethical Survey in licensing we assure an ethical and<00:36:37.160
• </c><00:39:51.800><c> more</c> complaints we have conducted more complaints we have conducted more education
• </c><01:20:21.480><c> its</c> least six times a year to conduct its least six times a year to conduct
• </c><01:32:44.280><c> in</c> million unique searches conducted in million unique searches conducted in

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• They are responsible for ensuring that every election is conducted fairly, securely, and in full compliance
• They are responsible for ensuring that every election is conducted fairly, securely, and in full compliance
• But if they got it from the ethics board and published that, then they would be subject to criminal violations
• At the very least, I would add the ethics board to the things that you're doing.
• At the very least, I would add the ethics board to the things that you're doing.

Bills: HB65 , HB67 , HB73 , HB205 , HB225 , HB339 , HB550

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: sexual harassment, public employees, training requirements, mandatory education, elected officials, public records, personal information, protected individuals, ethics, transparency, public meetings, voting, electronic voting machine, government accountability, term limits, governor, Louisiana constitution, elections, gubernatorial, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• CONDUCTED 25,000 MEDIATIONS, REFERRED 3700 ISSUES COMBINED WITH INSURANCE REGULATION.
• THE REGULATOR HAS THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT EXAMS AT ANY TIME.
• I DID NOT HEAR MUCH ABOUT REALLY THE PRIVACY AND CUSTOMER ETHICAL USE OF CUSTOMER INFORMATION.
• GUARDRAILS TO ENSURE THE DATA PRIVACY AND ETHICAL USE OF CUSTOMER INFORMATION, I DID NOT HEAR THAT.
• I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ETHICAL USE OF THAT CUSTOMER INFORMATION. THAT'S WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nettius River Authority, Lower Nettis Valley Authority, Trinity River Authority of Texas, and the Texas Ethics
• We will also Trinity River Authority of Texas and the Texas Ethics Commission.
• The next agency we are voting on is the Texas Ethics Commission.
• This modification For the Texas Ethics Commission. Excuse me.
• So, this recommendation directs the Ethics Commission to review rules relating to their definition of

Summary: The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, and approved the December 11, 2024 minutes. Members then voted on staff recommendations for several agencies, including the Angelina and Netties River Authority, Lower Netties Valley Authority, and Trinity River Authority of Texas, adopting all recommendations for those entities without modification. The Texas Ethics Commission received the most discussion. Members adopted a modified recommendation to exempt lobby compensation thresholds from inflation adjustments and another modification to round inflation-adjusted amounts. The Commission also adopted a series of new recommendations addressing TEC customer service staffing, late filing penalties, post-election reporting penalties, waiver of penalties when notice cannot be produced, review of the substantial compliance standard for corrected reports, review of the definition of principal purpose for campaign finance reporting, more prominent public posting of delinquent penalties, and clearer training and guidance on lobbying registration and filing requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6. The Commission then took its required final record vote to forward all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature; the motion passed with nine ayes. Sunset staff provided a status update on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, reporting that the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and that Sunset staff found 68% of 163 statutory and related changes fully implemented, with the remainder mostly in progress. The meeting also noted the recently completed evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission and ended with closing remarks from the chair and vice chair before the Commission recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your relentless work ethic and love of country are obvious, in short, for all three of you.
• If we care for these men and women, it's time we speak out against this insulting, harassing conduct
• and ethics.
• Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?
• So you'll consult with the career ethics lawyers at the department? Yes, that's correct.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: Department of Justice, nominations, Assistant Attorney General, civil rights, enforcement, committee discussion

Summary: The meeting covered important discussions surrounding key nominations in the Department of Justice, specifically for the roles of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and the Office of Legal Policy. Various committee members took turns to express their views on the nominees, emphasizing the implications of their potential confirmation on civil rights enforcement in the country. Alongside the committee discussion, the nominees provided insights into their professional backgrounds and how their experiences align with the responsibilities of the positions for which they have been nominated.

Transcript Highlights:

• The center's main goal is to conduct research on improving response to natural disasters, minimizing
• Actually, it refers to the conduct of the Florida House.
• Or whether they automatically move to the Ethics and Elections, I don't know.
• By your vote, Senators, we will report favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee.
• And that will have an impact, I truly believe, before the Ethics and Elections Committee.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee heard and voted on two higher education bills before moving to a long series of university and college board appointment confirmations. CS/SB 742 would let charter schools directly access the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program for career and technical education programs tied to industry certifications, and would expand the money-back guarantee requirement from three to six programs at career centers and Florida College System institutions. A question was raised about whether the charter school access could reduce district funding or grant availability; the sponsor said it could, depending on available funds. The bill was supported by one appearance form and was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 892, which codifies the Florida State University Election Law Center so it can continue and receive recurring funding. The sponsor and FSU witnesses said the center is nonpartisan and focused on evidence-based research, especially on election administration issues related to natural disasters and public confidence in elections. After testimony and questions, including about the center’s scope and funding, the bill was reported favorably. The remainder of the meeting consisted of testimony from numerous appointees to boards of trustees for state colleges and universities, including Tallahassee State College, Valencia College, New College, Pensacola State College, Florida Gulf Coast University, University of North Florida, St. Johns River State College, Palm Beach State College, Santa Fe College, Daytona State College, and Florida Atlantic University. Most nominees emphasized their personal ties to the institutions, support for workforce education, student success, and local economic development. Several highlighted priorities such as keeping tuition affordable, expanding internships and career pathways, strengthening nursing and other workforce programs, and improving graduation and retention rates. Some appointees also described campus-specific goals, including research growth at FAU and Harbor Branch, community engagement at New College, and continued support for health care workforce partnerships at FGCU. The most notable exchange came during testimony from Dr. Joel Rudman for the Pensacola State College board, where Senator Leek questioned him extensively about prior public comments that appeared to reference threats and drug testing legislators. Rudman said his remarks were aimed at Florida House members and not the Senate, denied any knowledge of illicit drug use by current or former senators, and said he was speaking candidly as a private citizen. Public testimony on his nomination included both support and strong opposition, with one speaker praising his community service and another warning about his alleged disruptive behavior and social media posts. The committee also heard from several supporters and appointees who were not questioned further, and the meeting ended with plans to vote on the appointments after all testimony was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 974 would create a parallel state framework that permits conduct that federal law restricts.
• SB 974 would create a parallel state framework that permits conduct that federal law restricts.
• There's no ethics there. And add secondary conditions to maximize their own profit.
• Just morally and ethically correct, but two, you cannot profit by law by donating an organ.
• So this is one, just morally and ethically correct.

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> enforced by the state ethics enforced by the state ethics commission.<00:30:38.799><c> Uh,</c><00
• As student journalists, we are already guided by multiple ethical codes in everything we do.
• Every story begins with a pitch session where we carefully consider ethical concerns.
• These decisions balance our ethical responsibilities with the importance of telling the story.
• </c> These decisions balance our ethical These decisions balance our ethical responsibilities<00:41:11.760

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held a resolutions hearing on April 1, 2025, and considered a series of measures largely focused on housing, domestic violence, corrections, Native Hawaiian issues, and public safety. Early items included HCR 158 HD1 and HR 153 HD1, which request a Judiciary-led working group to improve landlord-tenant code provisions to increase housing supply; Hawaii Realtors testified in strong support, and there was no opposition. The committee also heard HCR 55 and HR 51 on studying the effectiveness of domestic violence, restraining order, and stalking laws. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office said some requested data may exceed judicial authority but that useful Judiciary data exists, while the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence supported the intent but urged broader, better-funded, survivor-inclusive analysis across all counties and islands. Members asked for clarification on the proposed draft, and the witness emphasized narrowing the scope, including stalking, and extending the timeline. The committee then took up HCR 23 HD1 on the new Oahu Community Correctional Center. The Public Defender supported adding a courtroom but objected to language about transporting released detainees away from residential communities or public spaces as unconstitutional; the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation supported the measure and said one multipurpose courtroom would be sufficient, and that most released inmates are picked up by family or programs, with others transported to a bus depot. HCR 174 HD1/HR 170 HD1, on in-school based learning programs for youth in the juvenile legal system, drew strong support from Debt Free Justice Hawaii, which said the resolution was youth-led and could help replace fees and fines with community service and rehabilitation opportunities. HCR 185, on an audit of proposed mandatory health insurance coverage for Native Hawaiian healing and cultural practices, received comments from Pāpa Lokahi supporting the concept but warning that reimbursement issues are complex, that the community should restart broader conversations, and that the measure should not be rushed or unfunded; members questioned whether the resolution was the right vehicle and whether it could affect ACA implementation. Several Native Hawaiian and community measures were also heard. HCR 147/HR 147, creating a legislative working group on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands funding, had support from DHHL and the Democratic Party of Hawaii. HCR 193 HD1/HR 186 HD1, on transferring Native Hawaiian burial site management to OHA, was strongly supported by OHA, which also proposed adding recognized lineal and cultural descendants to the working group membership; the committee noted multiple supporting testimonies and no opposition on the House draft. HCR 8/HR 8, urging DOJ inclusion of Hawaii in the missing and murdered indigenous persons outreach program, was supported by OHA, which cited a task force report showing Native Hawaiian women and girls make up over 40% of missing persons cases despite being about 10% of the population. HCR 124 HD1/HR 120 HD1 on Hawaiian language resources had no testimony. HCR 180 HD1 on collaborative homelessness response drew comments from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions and three support testimonies. HCR 72/HR 65 on county ethics standards also drew support only. HCR 100/HR 96 on competency in LGBTQ+ and culturally specific gender identity training received support from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, which stressed the need for training that reflects Native Hawaiian and other Polynesian understandings such as mahu and fa’afafine. The committee continued with additional measures that were mostly noncontroversial. HCR 30/AHR 29 on enforcement against out-of-state vehicles had support from the Department of Transportation. HCR 43 HD1, studying highway patrol and speed cameras, had one opposition testimony. HCR 119 HD1/HR 115 HD1, endorsing Taiwan’s international participation and a U.S.-Taiwan trade agreement, was supported by DBEDT. HCR 62 HD1 and HR 57, on flying the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia flag year-round at the Capitol, had no testimony, though DBEDT supported the related measure. Throughout the hearing, members generally asked few questions, and the transcript reflects testimony, comments, and stated positions rather than any final committee votes or deferred actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Judges conduct this balancing test by considering that the evidence tends to prove that the degree to
• I think you also see in that paragraph, but if they have not conducted financial analyses, they need
• Ethical considerations should be disregarded. Is that correct? Thank you, Mr. President.
• Ethical considerations should be disregarded. It's only money. Is that correct?
• ethically and maximize the return on the investment.

Bills: HB2894 , HB3418 , HB3415 , HB3413 , HB3414 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3419 , HB3420 , HB1739 , HB1752 , HB1979 , HB2941 , HB2992 , HB3075 , HB3086 , HB3177 , HB3269 , HB3278 , HB3279 , HB3497 , HB3644 , HB4432 , HB3720 , HB3849 , HB3882 , HB3919 , HB3941 , HB4118 , HB4141 , HB4268 , HB4342 , HB4428 , HB4429 , HB4434

Keywords: HB2894, Oklahoma Rural Jobs Act, rural jobs, rural investment, tax credit, capital investment tax credit, state tax credits, economic development, rural fund, rural investor, qualified investment, eligible business, Department of Commerce, rural business, investment certification, tax liability, credit cap, workforce development, small business finance, rural development

Transcript Highlights:

• , and that there are ethics requirements and an ethics board in New Hampshire.
• , and that there are ethics requirements and an ethics board in New Hampshire.
• , and that there are ethics requirements and an ethics board in New Hampshire.
• , and that there are ethics requirements and an ethics board in New Hampshire.
• , and that there are ethics requirements and an ethics board in New Hampshire.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Medical research and educational activities will be conducted while ensuring that loved ones are returned
• We recognize the need for a national organization to develop standards and promote ethics.
• To be clear, we are... ...are committed to the respectful, ethical sourcing and utilization of human
• or a violation of code of conduct.
• You have to be observing some type of professional code of conduct.

Bills: SB2024 , SB227 , SB268 , SB1467 , SB1580 , HB5537 , SB1313 , SB1677 , SB918 , SB331 , SB2207 , SB2721

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: e-cigarettes, marketing prohibition, youth protection, criminal penalties, public health, school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, death records, vital statistics, healthcare, trauma facility, Medicaid