Transcript Highlights:

• So up next is Bill 860 relating to liability.
• So up next is Bill 860 relating to liability.
• So up next is Bill 860 relating to liability.
• So up next is Bill 860 relating to liability.
• <01:17:50.000> uh remove the immunity from liability uh remove the immunity from liability

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several transportation and arts-related measures. HB 307 on special member plates drew written support from Protect Ohana, and HB 531 on a University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center specialty plate received strong support from the Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society, both emphasizing cancer research, patient care, outreach, and public awareness. HB 706 would require skateboard users under 16 to wear helmets, and HB 1231 would expand red light photo enforcement; both drew support from transportation and safety advocates, while the Judiciary raised concerns about citation volume, staffing, manual processing, and the need for consultation and a phased rollout. The committee also discussed HB 54, which increases penalties for repeated excessive speeding offenses; the Attorney General’s office supported the enforcement rationale and fingerprinting language, while the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it adds harsh penalties and jail time despite broader efforts to reduce excessive punishment. For the camera-enforcement bills, the Department of Transportation said the red-light and speed-camera programs would be expanded gradually, with existing intersections converted first and additional locations added over time, and noted that the system would require about $2 million and significant automation for the Judiciary. The Judiciary repeatedly asked for more time, public input on camera locations, and effective dates that would allow staffing and system changes. On HB 1166, which funds the automated speed enforcement program, DOT proposed technical amendments to make the citations non-moving violations and to align the statute with the red-light program; the Judiciary again said it had no position on the policy but needed time and consultation to absorb the workload. HB 235, a North Shore red-light imaging bill, drew similar Judiciary concerns and support from a testifier who said enforcement would improve compliance and reduce crashes. The committee also heard HB 1159 on commercial harbor evacuations, with Hawaii Emergency Management Agency supporting the bill as a way to give harbor masters enforceable authority to order vessels out during emergencies. The discussion focused on whether the measure would affect all commercial harbor users, including smaller fishing vessels, and whether it would conflict with Coast Guard authority; the bill’s proponents said it would let the state enforce orders already issued by the captain of the port and protect cargo lanes during crises. Finally, HB 17 on the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority was described by HCDA as a housekeeping and structural bill that would update its purposes, allow it to assist other agencies, and replace multiple county boards with a single program reporting to the 17-member board. DHHL supported the bill because of potential transit and infrastructure benefits for Kapolei and nearby homestead developments, and committee members discussed future financing tools such as improvement districts, TIF, and other mechanisms to fund infrastructure early in the development process.

Transcript Highlights:

• a county in your district, to focus on and learn all about their current assets, their current liabilities
• Interestingly, Chart 7 reveals that liabilities grew the most in the major funds and remain somewhat
• and can be converted to cash for use by the government within the fiscal year, and also current liabilities
• Most counties have sufficient short-term assets to cover their short-term liabilities.
• In FY 24, the median cash ratio was $24 in assets for $1 in liabilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a bill that broadens the criminal venue for prosecution in the county or judicial district where
• offense occurred in situations where all of the elements of the offense do not occur in one county or judicial
• The goal of this legislation is not to undermine the judicial process or decrease safety, but to ensure
• The goal of this legislation is not to undermine the judicial process or decrease safety, but to ensure
• The goal of this legislation is not to undermine the judicial process or decrease safety, but to ensure

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then third-party liability is another component of this capital project, and that is for ensuring
• And then third-party liability is another component of this capital project, and that is for ensuring
• That's what the third-party liability system is for.
• /c> third-party liability is another third-party liability is another component<00:13:01.760> of
• <00:13:25.120> efforts<00:13:25.519> are liability system is for. efforts are liability

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its June 30 meeting and then considered Capital Project 2515, a request from the Pease Development Authority Division of Ports and Harbors to spend up to $125,000 from the Harbor Dredging and Pier Maintenance Fund to replace a deteriorated 99-foot floating dock at Rye Harbor. Acting Director Richard Hartley said the dock is used for passenger loading and unloading for charters and whale-watching tours and is in poor condition. Representative Edgar moved approval, Representative Wiler seconded, and the motion carried. The committee then received several informational items, including quarterly and maintenance reports from the Department of Administrative Services, the Community College System of New Hampshire, and the Pease Development Authority. It also heard a presentation from the Department of Health and Human Services on Capital Project 2516, the Beneficiary Service Improvement project supporting closed-loop referrals and related systems. DHHS described the project as a mix of Medicaid enterprise functions and New Hampshire Care Connections tools, including provider modules, third-party liability, event notifications, and closed-loop referrals to connect health and human service providers. Officials said the project is largely federally funded, with capital funds representing only part of the overall effort. Members asked about the accounting breakdown, prior committee review, provider participation, patient experience, and public response. Representative Burr questioned whether the project had been fully presented previously and raised concerns about the scope and necessity of the $8 million effort; DHHS responded that earlier work was discussed in other committees and that the current presentation covered only capital funds. Senator Waters asked about user response and patient experience, and DHHS said feedback has been generally positive but the system is still in design and implementation. In response to questions about participation, DHHS said 84 providers are currently on the network and clarified that a “provider” generally means an individual organization or health system, not each individual clinician. The committee also set its next meeting for December 9 at 9:00 a.m. at Granite Place, Room 228, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All these people in New Mexico, but won't make any money and have a tax liability to apply the credits
• Well, I hope a lot of people have tax liabilities, Mr. Chair. Otherwise, we have a weak tax system.
• Chair and Representative Chandler, if it's a PIT credit, it could be someone who has a PIT liability.
• If a data center had revenue and added tax liability, they could certainly acquire that credit.
• You can have a taxpayer now who doesn't Have tax liabilities, so they have a credit sitting on their

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we have a liability, it's going to be more than 2 million.
• And I think the liabilities aspect is where we're concerned. Thank you. And I think Ms.
• So these are GSD rates that are being charged at a higher rate for liability.
• Does that change potentially the liabilities, Mr. Chair, members of the committee?
• I think liability is an issue. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, presenters.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the current statute has requirements relating to liability insurance for the association.
• requirements relating to liability requirements relating to liability insurance<00:49:03.839>
• don't cause the association to have an adverse liability history on their insurance.
• Um, I would just like to clarify on the primary liability insurance.
• insurer not the be the primary liability insurer not the association.

Bills: HF4075, HF3826, HF3825, HF3827, HF3459, HF3711, HF4200, HF3908, HF3712

Keywords: firearm restrictions, domestic violence, public safety, court orders, criminal convictions, identity theft, subpoena authority, fraud, statute of limitations, financial crime, victim notification, expungement, criminal justice, plea agreements, minor victims, identification protection, stalking, crime data, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, law enforcement grants

Transcript Highlights:

• says that school employees who are certified and who act in good faith are not subject to civil liability
• says that school employees who are certified and who act in good faith are not subject to civil liability
• Representative De Los Santos, the removal would just be from that provision that immunizes from civil liability
• But we can't immunize them from civil liability. Mr. Chair, please proceed. Thank you.
• But we can't immunize them from civil liability. That's the point. Mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It says that if you are a pharmacist and you decide to advertise ivermectin, the protective liability
• So there is nothing—it doesn't go to this extent that Texas is proposing in terms of liability.
• And your amendment would restore consumer rights and liability protections? Is that right?
• Representative Collier: There's nothing about civil or criminal liability.
• Kane: This goes towards the liability of the doctor, is that correct?

Bills: HB25, HB48, HB149, HB254, HB26, HB192

Keywords: ivermectin, pharmacist authority, prescription-free, healthcare regulation, patient access, HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert

Transcript Highlights:

• COLA was largely based on trying to figure out a way of stepping in the closure of the unfunded liability
• , and of course the bill that will be passed basically froze contributions on the unfunded... ...liability
• It seems like when we raised the contribution rates on the unfunded liability too, we basically weren't
• making any contributions on the unfunded liabilities.
• And the fact is the bill basically stopped funding that unfunded liability. Correct.

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy Executive Committee approved the June minutes and received a brief update from Assistant Attorney General Jesse Yoder, who had no litigation updates but offered to answer questions. Actuary Michael Harbour then previewed the September full committee meeting, which will include a report on the financial condition of the DRS-administered pension plans and the state actuary’s recommended economic assumptions. He also cautioned that any actuarial pricing done over the summer could change if assumptions are updated, and suggested taking votes on potential legislation later in the interim, possibly in November or December. A discussion followed about the Left 1 benefit improvement and where the funding came from. Harbour said the benefit tied to SSB 5791 (2022) was paid from the Left 1 trust fund, while a separate Left 2 benefit improvement was in SHB 1701, and he agreed to double-check the issue with DRS after members raised conflicting information. Members then discussed the broader Left 1 study, including whether IRS approval is a key barrier and whether options are limited to merger or closure. Several members asked to hear from Ice Miller, which has been advising on the tax issues, and staff said the committee should receive a written response in the next couple of weeks and could have Ice Miller appear in October. The committee reviewed and adjusted its interim work plan. September will include the actuarial presentations, a more detailed Left 1 study update, and a presentation on PERS and TERS Plan 1 COLAs, including a recap of the bill recommended this year and initial considerations for an ad hoc COLA. October is expected to include DRS administrative and performance updates, with November reserved for the State Investment Board update and a final Left 1 study update, and December may include an educational presentation on excess compensation. Members also requested a future briefing on the month-of-death benefit discussion. The September agenda was adopted, correspondence materials were noted, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• much are we actually using the rainy day fund to invest in infrastructure, to pay for long-term liabilities
• one of those that they look at, but they do want to see the state making progress on long-term liabilities
• Ongoing liabilities versus one-time expenditures to where I say, oh my gosh, you know, we're falling
• At the same time, we have these long-term liabilities that.
• So I view these things as long-term liabilities.

Bills: SJR4, SJR 4

Keywords: economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security, term limits, state offices, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, faith-based providers accept responsibility and liability and should conduct background checks.
• One is: Who is going to bear liability? And... ...that: Who is going to bear liability?
• Who is going to bear liability for the kid that drives himself to an offsite program?
• So, all I'm saying is that it has to be framed in such a way that you deal with the liability aspect
• You know, the sponsor and entities assume all liabilities in this case, but hey, if you want to tighten

Bills: SB278, HB459, HB61

Keywords: SB278, released time, religious instruction, elective credit, public schools, K-12 education, Alabama Released Time Credit Act, church-state separation, First Amendment, school choice, parental consent, elective course, off-campus instruction, private religious entity, State Board of Education, local board of education, attendance credit, core curriculum, religious education, Bible class

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the majority of our tax liability is based on that.
• I believe that data is available because, you know, the 5.5% corporate tax rate applies to liability
• sir, I believe that data is available because, you know, the 5.5% corporate tax rate applies to liability
• And so it's only for those people that have liability beyond that, that you apply.
• And so it's only for those people that have liability beyond that, that you apply the rate to.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax convened with a quorum present, heard an introductory presentation of committee staff, and then received a staff briefing from Azar Khan on Florida’s state tax structure and revenue outlook. The presentation covered fiscal year 2023-2024 revenues, noting more than $127 billion in total state revenue, with general revenue exceeding $48 billion and sales and use tax making up the largest share. It also compared Florida’s tax burden to other states, highlighted Florida’s low per-capita revenue ranking and strong business formation numbers, and reviewed major and minor revenue sources, tax rates, and the revenue estimating conference process. Members asked about what drives revenue growth, including population, tourism, construction, and auto sales, and about Florida’s regressivity, corporate income tax participation, and investment earnings on state balances. Khan said the state’s revenue picture remains positive and stable, but that future growth is slower than during the COVID-era spike; he also explained that some negative forecast changes were tied to legislative actions such as the insurance premium tax credit, while others reflected lower tobacco consumption and severance activity. He noted that revenue and spending forecasts are separate and that budget-side growth is driving concerns raised in other state economic projections. The committee also discussed possible tax package ideas for the upcoming session, including tax holidays and homeowner relief, but no specific proposals were acted on. The chair announced the committee would not meet the following week and that the next meeting would be in week three of February. The meeting concluded with no objections to a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so there's all kinds of liability issues around that.
• <00:34:26.800> are that are concerned about liability are that are concerned about liability
• It would also significant liability.
• I made a comment about liability and opening that up.
• Could you liability and opening that up.

Bills: SB2489, SB2310, SB2372, SB2426, SB2334, SB2925, SB3323

Keywords: invasive species, agriculture, biosecurity, lease provisions, environment, natural resources, flood management, vegetation removal, Kainahola stream, Hawaii legislation, trees, exceptional trees, significant trees, urban forestry, arborist advisory committee, DLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaii, county planning, tree preservation

Summary: The committee heard several measures related to agriculture, invasive species control, trees, reef protection, and land use. SP 2489 would require Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity leases to include access, invasive-species control, and termination provisions; DAB and DLNR supported it, as did several outside groups, while the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council raised concerns about notice, cooperation with lessees, and placing penalties on leaseholders for preexisting infestations. The chair noted six testifiers in support, one opposed, and three with comments. SP 2310 would appropriate funds to remove overgrown vegetation from the Kohola stream. DAB supported the bill but explained that the work already completed by its contractor stopped at a DOT boundary, and that the affected parcel appears to be a DOT highway segment on ceded lands; the committee discussed whether the appropriation should instead go to DOT. SP 2372, on exceptional and significant trees, received support from DNR and Outdoor Circle, with testimony describing trees as critical infrastructure and suggesting technical amendments to committee membership and the process for recommending trees to county councils. SP 2426, which would authorize DNR to contract with private parties to maintain sunscreen dispensers at state beaches and promote mineral-based sunscreen as reef-protective, drew support from DNR and reef advocates, while another witness questioned the science behind claims about mineral versus chemical sunscreens and urged broader environmental solutions. SP 2334 would impose a land conversion fee on agricultural land converted to other uses, create a fee fund for programs including healthy soils, and require state agricultural lands to use a conservation metric. DAB offered comments, and testimony from climate and farm groups generally supported the conservation goals but questioned references to programs not yet in place and objected to language excluding solar and wind uses, with one witness urging that agri-voltaics remain allowed. SP 2925, concerning coconut trees, would recognize them as food, water, and cultural resources, require signage for landscape palms, set labeling standards, and create a tax credit for naturally managed consumable coconut trees. DAB shifted from opposition to comments, DNR supported, and testimony from cultural and subsistence advocates strongly backed the bill as a response to coconut rhinoceros beetle impacts; committee questions focused on enforcement of signage, inspection resources, and the proposed tax credit.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, if you have no tax liability, maybe a small business owner, I think, well, I don't have to
• Because obviously some business owners have tremendous income swings in liability and non-liability,
• And liability and non-liability, and I think it's fortunate that all of the year those returns are filed
• Certainly, folks can request a waiver of penalty, and most... and liability and non-liability and I think
• I mean, I don't think there's that many businesses that have zero tax liability that also pay a fine

Bills: HB2016, HB2104, HB2105, HB2288, HB2289

Keywords: tax penalties, filing, tax returns, administration, Arizona Revised Statutes, agricultural property, classification, county assessor, property inspection, appeal process, property tax, agricultural classification, Department of Revenue, property valuation, inspection notice, inspection report, on-site inspection, full cash value, rural land, farm land

Transcript Highlights:

• It also requires that a third-party liquor delivery license obtain liability insurance. Mr.
• 00:02:17.280> license<00:02:18.120> obtain<00:02:19.080> um<00:02:19.760> liability
• liy delivery license obtain um liability liy delivery license obtain um liability insurance<00:02
• They have to have the same kind of liability insurance that the owner of a bar has, and what it—uh—drram
• <00:27:31.880> insurance degree of uh liquor liability insurance degree of uh liquor liability

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's move over to Judicial Proceedings. This is report number five.
• Clerk, will read the next bill. >> Senate Bill 182, Chair, Judicial Proceedings, Adult Protective Services
• Uh, chair of Judicial Proceedings. >> All right. Thank you, Senator.
• Uh thank you uh Senator<01:02:44.160> Chair<01:02:44.400> of<01:02:44.960> Judicial<
• The Judicial Proceedings Committee will meet today.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation by Reverend Jod Gun, whose prayer was journalized by unanimous consent. The chamber then recognized several guests, including representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, who were present for a resolution honoring Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, as well as former Delegate and physician Dan Moheim, Towson University students, a veteran guest, and parents and young children visiting for Maryland Family Network’s Day in Annapolis. The Senate adopted a resolution recognizing the National Alliance on Mental Illness for its advocacy on tardive dyskinesia screening, early detection, and treatment, and designated May 5–9 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. The resolution was read and adopted without objection. The chamber also unanimously welcomed the guest groups and thanked them for their service and advocacy. In second-reader action, the Senate advanced several bills with committee amendments adopted without objection. Senate Bill 113, the Longevity Ready Maryland Act, was amended to refine aging-related planning, website reporting, and Commission on Aging membership, then ordered to third reading. Senate Bill 123 updated the membership of the Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and was also sent to third reading. Senate Bill 336 extended the Task Force on the Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for one year and added an HBCU representative. Senate Bill 394 expanded expedited partner therapy to bacterial vaginosis and added licensed certified midwives as authorized practitioners. Senate Bill 444 changed certificate-of-need requirements for certain intermediate care facilities, and Senate Bill 461 conformed the SNAP Heat and Eat Program to federal eligibility rules; both were advanced to third reading. The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee then took up Senate Bill 108, which would authorize the Maryland Department of the Environment to impose administrative penalties for certain water, wetlands, dam, and riparian-rights violations and expand administrative enforcement tools. Several senators raised concerns about the scope of the bill, its effect on shoreline restoration, dams, stormwater and wetlands enforcement, and whether it could allow penalties without adequate process or encourage payment instead of correction. The floor leader responded that the amendment requires notice, an informal meeting, and consideration of good-faith efforts before penalties are imposed in certain cases, and said the bill does not change permit requirements. The debate continued as members sought clarification on how the bill would apply to private dams, HOAs, farmers, and shoreline projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Senator Augustine — Public Safety — Law Enforcement Officers — Prohibition on Face Coverings — Judicial
• Senator Bailey — Higher Education — Loan Repayment and Scholarships for Correctional Officers — Judicial
• c> Officers, Scholarships for Correctional Officers, Scholarships for Correctional Officers, Judicial
• <00:53:36.880> Proceedings,<00:53:37.680> and<00:53:37.920> Education, Judicial
• Proceedings, and Education, Judicial Proceedings, and Education, Energy,<00:53:38.800> and<00:

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate convened for the opening day of the 449th legislative session, with an invocation delivered by Reverend Amen Flowers and the prayer journalized without objection. The clerk then called the roll, establishing a quorum with 46 senators present and the Senate ready to conduct business. The first order of business was the election of a temporary presiding officer, followed by the election of the permanent presiding officer. Senator Ben Brooks nominated Senator Malcolm Augustine to serve as President Pro Tem, and Senator Karen Lewis Young seconded the nomination, both praising his policy knowledge, collaborative style, and ability to work across differences. The Senate then voted and elected Augustine as President Pro Tem, after which he was escorted to the rostrum and sworn in. Augustine thanked colleagues, his family, and the chamber, and said he looked forward to working through a challenging session together on behalf of Marylanders. The Senate next nominated and elected Senator William C. Ferguson IV as President of the Senate. Senator Charles Sydnor nominated him, and Senator Cory McCray seconded, describing Ferguson as an honest broker, steady leader, and compassionate presiding officer. Ferguson was elected with 46 affirmative votes, took the oath of office, and delivered extended remarks about the importance of federalism, the role of states in filling gaps left by the federal government, and the need for Maryland to lead through state-level action during a difficult political climate. He also thanked colleagues, staff, and his family, and emphasized that the session would require collaboration and focus on Marylanders' needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• issuing a two-tier permit creates a final action, which would basically allow the applicant to seek judicial
• issuing a two-tier permit creates a final action, which would basically allow the applicant to seek judicial
• issuing a two-tier permit creates a final action, which would basically allow the applicant to seek judicial
• issuing a two-tier permit creates a final action, which would basically allow the applicant to seek judicial
• incentivizing delay. ...creates a final action, which would basically allow the applicant to seek judicial

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee approved the January 21, 2025 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Minnesota Chamber Foundation on its report about Minnesota’s environmental permitting system. The presenters said the report was based on research by Barr Engineering and the Policy Navigation Group and argued that permitting delays can discourage investment and make Minnesota less competitive for manufacturing, mining, energy, clean tech, and other industrial projects. They highlighted that Tier 1 permits are generally issued quickly, but Tier 2 air and water permits often take much longer than the state’s 150-day goal, with some median timelines ranging from 419 to 771 days for Tier 2 air permits and similar delays for industrial water permits. The report also said Minnesota’s permit timelines were longer than peer states and estimated that reducing delays could increase annual output by $260 million to $910 million and support 960 to 3,400 additional full-time-equivalent jobs per year. Committee members asked about which businesses fall under Tier 2 permits, the economic impact of permitting delays, and whether the Chamber had discussed the report with the governor or MPCA. The presenters said Tier 2 permits typically involve higher-emitting facilities such as manufacturing, utilities, mining, and other industrial operations, and that the economic estimates were based on modeling rather than exact lost-job counts. They also noted that the governor had been briefed and that MPCA had been invited to the hearing but did not attend. The committee then took up House File 8, which Chair Heintzeman said is intended to improve permitting efficiency while maintaining environmental standards. He described provisions that would reduce the number of 60-day wetland application extensions, require MPCA to issue permitting efficiency reports twice a year, break out data on missed timelines by municipal versus industrial applicants, treat failure to meet the 150-day Tier 2 deadline as a final action subject to judicial review, and require quicker notice when applications are incomplete. He also outlined sections that would allow separate construction and operating permits, expand expedited permitting, and change environmental assessment worksheet petition rules. The bill was moved to be re-referred to the Labor and Workforce Development Committee, and the discussion began, but the transcript ends before any final vote on the bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• This provision applies to vendors that have a sales tax liability between 20,000 and 250,000.
• This provision applies to vendors that have a sales tax liability between 20,000 and 250,000.
• This provision applies to vendors that have a sales tax liability between 20,000 and 250,000.
• vendors that have a sales tax liability vendors that have a sales tax liability between<00:32:34.519
• to offset their property tax liability to offset their property tax liability to<01:04:30.960>

Bills: HF2730, HF2257, HF2768, HF1932, HF2437

Keywords: local government debt, municipal bonds, county bonds, capital improvements, public financing, bond issuance, public hearing, notice period, bond guarantee, Minnesota Public Facilities Authority, volume cap, private activity bonds, housing finance, residential rental bonds, LIHTC, low-income housing tax credits, redevelopment, courthouse financing, jail financing, law enforcement center