Transcript Highlights:

• So this public facing services.
• </c> services that would need to be enhanced. services that would need to be enhanced.
• So, that's one of the big services.
• </c> emergency egress lighting and uh fire emergency egress lighting and uh fire alarm<00:09:18.720><
• </c> for providing those services. for providing those services.

Keywords: Call to Order: 00;15 Approval of Minutes: 01:22 Update on Generator replacement: 01:52 Update on Sheriff Fees: 13:28 Adjournment: 25:22, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its fourth budget subreview session focused on personnel, public retirements, and finance. Members approved the minutes from the prior meeting and then heard from Finance Cabinet staff on two main items: a $7.5 million request related to generator systems and a sheriff’s fees budget request. The generator request was described as a preventive, life-cycle replacement and capacity-enhancement effort for 26 generators serving Frankfort-area state buildings, intended to protect continuity of government and expand beyond basic emergency power to support continuity of services. Members asked detailed questions about how many generators would be replaced, the cost per unit, the scope of the study, and whether the work could be phased. Staff said the $7.5 million would cover a full evaluation and any resulting engineering/replacement work, but the exact number of replacements was not yet known. They estimated the initial study would cost about $500,000 to $750,000, would take six to nine months once funded, and would produce building-by-building recommendations. Staff also said typical generator life cycles vary widely, often around 15 to 20 years but sometimes longer depending on run hours and usage. The committee then reviewed sheriff’s fees, with the Division of Local Government explaining that the state reimburses counties for several statutory sheriff-related costs, especially court security, which accounts for more than 90% of the claims. Staff said the current budget base is about $20 million, while actual spending has been running above $23 million, leading to a $3.5 million growth request to align the base with projected spending and reduce the need for non-general fund expenditure (NGE) adjustments. Members asked about claim volume, county participation, reimbursement controls, and whether the request reflected growth or underfunding; staff said all 120 counties submit claims, volumes have been fairly steady, and reimbursements are governed by statute and signed monthly certifications. No votes were taken on the requests, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• About 40% of our forest fires are on federal land.
• They're not well prepared to resist fires or to combat fires. And we're not going to stop that.
• And I was shocked that the Forest Service hadn't hired anybody yet.
• And I was shocked that the Forest Service hadn't hired anybody yet. So why?
• Forest Service hadn't hired anybody yet.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard staff briefings, sponsor testimony, and public testimony on three bills. Senate Bill 6242 would require counties to enter shared stewardship agreements with federal land managers, such as the U.S. Forest Service, to maintain fuel breaks along roads on federally owned land and include revenue-sharing for timber sales. Sponsor Senator Braun said the bill is intended to improve wildfire prevention, protect transportation corridors, and create a possible funding source for rural counties. County representatives supported the concept but noted concerns about the bill’s timber-revenue condition and whether it could be enforced if a federal agency declined to agree. Senate Bill 6211 would remove the voter-approval requirement for real estate excise tax 2 (REET 2) in counties and cities that voluntarily plan under the Growth Management Act, aligning them with jurisdictions that are required to fully plan. Supporters, including the City of Walla Walla and the Association of Washington Cities, said the bill would create fairness and consistency and provide local governments with more tools for capital projects such as sidewalks, ADA improvements, transportation, and utilities. Opponents from Washington Realtors and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes argued the bill would raise housing costs and eliminate voter approval for a tax increase. The committee also heard concerns about property values and whether the bill would affect home prices or local tax burdens. Senate Bill 6234 would prohibit cities, counties, and water-sewer districts from banning sewage grinder pumps for new residential buildings in certain situations where gravity sewer is impractical, such as steep terrain, low-lying lots, or long distances from sewer lines. The sponsor said the bill is meant to help infill development and housing production in urban growth areas by making a lower-cost sewer connection option available. Cities and sewer districts testified that grinder pumps are already allowed in many cases, but they opposed the bill’s prescriptive language and preemption of local standards, citing long-term maintenance, operational, and ratepayer concerns. No votes or final committee actions were taken on any of the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Competitive, yes, but overseen by the expert, the fire marshal.
• So it's a cost of service.
• So I'll make a further public service announcement.
• still receiving water service charges from the time.
• time of the Eaton Fire, although their property was destroyed.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 804, the Hydrogen Pipeline Safety Act, from Senator Arreguín. He said the bill would designate the State Fire Marshal as the safety regulator for intrastate hydrogen pipelines and require hydrogen-specific standards, while not mandating any pipeline construction or bypassing environmental review. Supporters included labor groups, utility employees, and the City of Burbank, while Air Products opposed unless amended, citing concerns about the bill’s specificity, fee structure, and the need for a hydrogen-specific rulemaking process. The committee discussed safety, fees, and regulatory certainty, and later passed SB 804 on a 9-0 vote to Emergency Management with commitment to take amendments. The committee then took up SB 905 by Senator Becker, aimed at reducing electricity rates by changing utility incentives. The bill would tie part of executive compensation to keeping rates below inflation, require more performance metrics, and allow the CPUC to consider lower returns on equity for certain lower-risk investments and alternative financing options. Support came from consumer, environmental, agricultural, and large energy user groups, while Southern California Edison, CalChamber, PG&E, and utility labor groups raised concerns that the bill could reduce investment, create regulatory uncertainty, and raise borrowing costs. After extensive discussion about utility affordability, wildfire costs, and capital markets, the committee passed SB 905 on a 7-1 vote to Appropriations. SB 913, also by Senator Becker, would create a clearer pathway for distributed energy resources such as batteries and smart thermostats to participate in the resource adequacy market and compete with utility-scale resources. Supporters said the bill would better use existing grid capacity, lower costs, and build on the state’s Demand Side Grid Support Program; PG&E opposed unless amended, saying the use case was not yet proven and was already being addressed in other rulemakings. After the committee accepted amendments, one opposition group moved to neutral and another said it might do so after reviewing the changes. The bill passed 8-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call. Several other measures were heard and advanced, including SB 1196 on faster utility hookups for small energization projects such as ADUs and EV chargers, SB 931 reauthorizing the Diablo Canyon Essential Services Mitigation Fund through 2028, SB 1158 reducing the frequency of joint reliability assessments from quarterly to twice yearly, and SB 1245 directing further study of California’s gasoline market and potential use of non-CARBOB fuel during supply disruptions. SB 1196 and SB 931 both passed with broad support and no opposition after amendments, SB 1158 passed without testimony, and SB 1245 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates but opposition from fuel industry and business groups concerned about costs, confidentiality, and fuel standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• Decades of research have demonstrated the effectiveness of syringe service ...services programs in delivering
• Is it because there's more demand for people wanting the services?
• Representing the Emergency Medical Service Administrators of California, all 34 Local Medical Service
• The Emergency Medical Services Authority plays a crucial role.
• The Hughes and Hearst fires were in my district.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, finally, intending to to service.
• Those that need to be in the office or they're servicing clients or providing direct services.
• , fire<01:26:25.280><c> investigations,</c><01:26:26.000><c> fire</c><01:26:26.239><c> life</c><01:26
• :26.480><c> CC</c> fire investigations, fire life CC fire investigations, fire life CC educators<01:26
• . fire. fire.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:09:38.960><c> service</c> just historic people fire service just historic people fire service
• fire engine in New the service life of a fire engine in New Hampshire<01:14:10.480><c> now</c><01:14
• Representative PR was asked about the services from the fire department that are billable.
• Representative PR was asked about the services from the fire department that are billable.
• Representative PR was asked about the services from the fire department that are billable.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee opened with an announcement correcting the public hearing list: House Bill 209 was mistakenly listed as a continued hearing, but the chair said that hearing had already been closed and would not be reopened. The committee then moved to House Bill 305, which would allow municipalities to install and use speed and red-light cameras for traffic enforcement. The prime sponsor, Rep. Jones, said the bill was intended as a tool to address police staffing shortages and erratic driving, and emphasized that municipalities would pay the costs, work with DOT and the Department of Safety, and retain full control without using third-party vendors. He said the bill was meant to target speeding, red-light violations, and similar conduct, with enforcement handled locally and subject to state and federal law. Committee members raised questions about how citations would work, who would be held responsible in multi-driver or rental-car situations, whether due process would be affected, and whether cameras could identify the driver rather than just the vehicle. The sponsor and supporting witness Edward H. of Keene said municipalities would determine procedures, that an officer would still have to review and issue any summons, and that the bill was meant to be a limited enforcement tool rather than a catch-all. Edward H. also described the bill as adding guardrails such as a needs analysis, coordination with DOT, annual reporting, and public records of detections and fines. The Department of Transportation testified neutrally, saying it had no position on the bill and noting that current state systems include speed feedback signs, bridge security cameras, toll cameras that capture plates only, and traffic-signal detection cameras that do not record video. No vote was taken. The committee then held a brief hearing on House Bill 368, which would prohibit smoking tobacco products or e-cigarettes in a motor vehicle when a child under 16 is present and impose a $100 secondary fine. Rep. Miller introduced the bill in the sponsor’s absence, and there was no public testimony for or against it. The chair closed the hearing. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 390, which would add retired fire apparatus to the antique vehicle exemption so old fire trucks can be registered and used in parades without being stripped of their equipment. Rep. Parson explained that a strict reading of current law had led DMV to reject some antique fire engine registrations, and said the bill would fix that while preserving the ban on commercial use and on impersonating emergency vehicles. Members asked about the relationship to existing laws on emergency-vehicle impersonation, and the sponsor said the bill would not affect those laws. The hearing remained open as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for your service. for your service. &gt;&gt; Okay. &gt;&gt; Okay. &gt;&gt; Okay.
• </c> responsibilities for the fire responsibilities for the fire commission.<00:20:17.360><c> Uh</c><
• They are the leaders of the fire service and plus the leader of the college.
• So I think this would be a great extension to the fire service and give them the opportunity to have
• Uh any other no other your service.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If there is a fire in one, it hopefully won't propagate.
• a fire in one of these containers.
• The technology... ...and the services need to be paid for.
• You know, like the three gas-fired power plants that we have.
• Broadband is an essential service that all Californians rely on today.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or public service, and we have $2 billion in that program.
• > and</c><00:24:09.760><c> we</c> State service or public service and we State service or public service
• </c> police and fire police and fire plan<00:37:06.000><c> so</c><00:37:06.480><c> seeing</c><00:37:06.920
• in the fire department.
• </c> and also included a list of fire and also included a list of fire departments<01:17:57.320><c> that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Hawaii's health and human services. Hawaii's health and human services.
• </c> services systems. services systems.
• </c> while managing service volume. while managing service volume.
• c> and</c><02:55:50.319><c> the</c> the fire state fire council and the the fire state fire council and
• So ordered. service. Although HA recognizes that service.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:37.080><c> at</c> university uh to meet Debt Service at university uh to meet Debt Service
• We also have our debt service increase, our Central Services on Kauai Island.
• In other areas, we cut fire breaks to ensure that if there is a fire, our fire departments can get in
• a fire our fire departments if there is a fire our fire departments can<02:27:10.319><c> get</c><02:27
• ><c> Marshall</c> um fire mitigation State Fire Marshall um fire mitigation State Fire Marshall and<04

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee held an informational briefing with the University of Hawaiʻi, led by new President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance Calbert Young. Hensel outlined the university system’s scope, student demographics, research activity, and campus missions, emphasizing four strategic priorities: serving Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi, student success, workforce development, and economic diversification through innovation and research. She highlighted the system’s enrollment, research funding, and the roles of Mānoa, Hilo, West Oʻahu, the community colleges, and specialized institutions such as JABSOM and the Cancer Center. Young then reviewed the budget request, focusing largely on making prior one-time appropriations permanent and supporting recurring needs. Items included funding for Mānoa athletics, the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology, K-12 teacher education, Pamantasan Council support, Hilo programs, Windward’s mental health technician certificate, Maui’s practical nursing bridge program, and student support positions such as financial aid and admissions counselors. He also described workforce-related requests tied to nursing expansion at Mānoa and West Oʻahu, as well as facilities support at West Oʻahu. A major portion of the testimony addressed the university’s two Kakaʻako medical facilities. Young explained that declining tobacco settlement and cigarette tax revenues are no longer sufficient to cover debt service for JABSOM and the Cancer Center, so the governor’s budget includes general fund support to supplement those obligations. He also described a regents-approved request not included in the governor’s proposal: expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise financial aid program to the four-year campuses, estimated at about $11–12 million. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to leave police and fire alone.
• They provide a lot of services, and I continue to support them.
• I don't feel police and fire need to be included.
• We provide a lot of services. Vice Chair talked about legal services.
• So, like, police and fire, they are doing these things already.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations met for its final meeting of the 2026 session and took up SB 312 by Senator Talbot, a bill concerning labor organizations, employee dues and fees, withdrawal from unions, annual notice requirements, and related reporting and notification provisions. The committee first adopted a technical amendment set, then debated a larger amendment set that shifted the cease-withholding request to the employer, required electronic confirmation, placed certain administrative costs on the labor organization, and added language about employer notification and authorization procedures. Members discussed whether the bill was needed, whether employees already have the ability to opt out, and whether the amendments would create confusion or unnecessary bureaucracy. Supporters said the bill protects employee choice and ensures dues stoppage happens at the nearest payroll period; opponents argued the added language was unclear and burdensome. The committee also adopted a separate technical amendment adding mass transit employees to the list of exemptions. Testimony came from the bill author and several stakeholders. Senator Talbot said the bill is meant to ensure workers know they do not have to join a union, can revoke dues authorizations, and can stop deductions without waiting for a fixed annual window. Representative Eccles defended the amendments as employee protections and a way to shift administrative costs away from taxpayers. Jim Patterson of LABI supported the amendments, saying they protect public employers and taxpayers from administrative costs. After the amendments were adopted on a roll call vote, union representatives Matt Wood of the Louisiana AFL-CIO, Peter Robbins-Brown of the AFL-CIO, and Larry Carter of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and School Employees testified in opposition to the amended bill, saying they had worked in good faith on a simpler opt-in/opt-out framework and objected to the new cost and bureaucracy provisions. Several members also spoke in favor of the bill as a matter of freedom of choice and employee control over paycheck deductions. At the end of debate, Representative Wilder moved to report SB 312 with amendments. The motion passed on a roll call vote, and the bill was reported from committee with amendments. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We operate statewide services.
• of both fire mitigation.
• fire mitigation.
• And the real genesis of this is really around the issues of fire mitigation and fire recovery.
• The next slide is Transportation Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> a commitment to personal service, a commitment to personal service, McCartney<00:08:16.720><c>
• </c><00:18:10.799><c> to</c> thank him for his dedicated service to thank him for his dedicated service
• </c> Randy Masinelli for his years of service Randy Masinelli for his years of service and<00:19:02.559
• </c> advocate for improving customer service advocate for improving customer service at<03:16:40.960>
• to improve services at the IRS.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 27, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If not, they can't take out of service the truck, but they can take out of service the truck driver.
• </c> lives on the line fighting our fires. lives on the line fighting our fires.
• </c> firefighter is into an active fire firefighter is into an active fire situation<00:23:34.880><c>
• </c> fighting fires in the state of Wyoming. fighting fires in the state of Wyoming.
• </c> do right by our fire districts. do right by our fire districts.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a much-needed service.
• a much-needed service.
• Certainly, there's more than one veteran service organization that can provide that service as long as
• service officers.
• service officers.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety met on January 31, 2025, and first heard House Bill 1062, a housekeeping measure relating to the Hawaii Air National Guard. Testimony in support came from representatives of the Adjutant General and other National Guard witnesses. A member raised a technical question about language allowing the Guard to hold the rank authorized by the Department of the Air Force, and the response was that the bill should not require additional HR language; no vote was taken. The committee then heard House Bill 674, which would authorize allowances for TRICARE dental and vision coverage for Hawaii National Guard personnel ordered to active duty for more than 30 days. The Department of Defense supported the bill through Brigadier General Ross, Director of Joint Staff, and Terry Heiti also testified in support. There were no questions or action taken on the measure. House Bill 652, relating to veterans’ rights and benefits and regulating compensation for advice or assistance on veterans’ benefits, drew the most discussion. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Hawaii supported the bill, arguing it would protect veterans from illegal or exploitative practices and noting its own service to more than 2,000 veterans in fiscal year 2024. Opposition came from the National Association for Veterans Rights and Veteran Benefits Guide, which argued the bill would restrict access to needed services and that some for-profit providers operate legally and should not be barred. Committee members questioned the scope of the bill, accreditation requirements, and whether nonprofit or pro bono services would be affected. A Department of Defense veteran services official said veterans can be vulnerable to exploitation and that some legal fee arrangements can be abusive, while also noting pro bono options exist. The committee did not reach a decision on the bill during the excerpt. The committee also began hearing House Bill 1058, which would create a veteran cemetery board within the Office of Veteran Services to help state veteran cemeteries comply with federal standards. The Office of Veteran Services and Terry Heiti testified in support. Members asked about the board’s membership, timeline, and consultant selection, and were told the working group was still in an organizational stage and no construction timeline had been set. The final measure discussed was House Bill 503, which would appropriate funds for a consultant to evaluate locations and designs for a Hawaii First Responders Memorial. The Department of Accounting and General Services supported the bill, and testimony in support was received from county and city officials, UPW Hawaii, and individuals. Members asked about the working group, timeline, and budget, and were told the project was still in early planning; no final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• , fire suppression, emergency medical services, and emergency management is reserved for local officials
• We have also got to look at our volunteer fire service. What do you mean by that?
• The fire service sends in other locals that we bring in, and that mutual aid is supported and coordinated
• On a multiple alarm fire, big apartment fire...
• So, you know, it's kind of like, I set the fire, I put the fire out, but thank me for putting the fire

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The fire burned for several days. It prompted evacuations.
• The requirements of that bill at the time of the fire this year.
• batteries are on fire, they are difficult to extinguish and manage.
• In addition to the fire at Moss Landing, there was a fire in a battery energy storage facility in Southern
• other sources, and was an incredibly complex fire to extinguish.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy met without a quorum at first and began as a subcommittee, then later established quorum and heard several measures. The main policy bills discussed were SB 24, which would restrict investor-owned utilities from using ratepayer funds for political advertising, lobbying, and efforts against municipal utilities, and SB 283, the Clean Energy Safety Act of 2025, which would strengthen safety standards for battery energy storage facilities after the Moss Landing fire. The consent calendar also included SB 80, SB 491, SB 593, SB 804, and SCR 25, which were taken up without debate. SB 24 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates, who argued that ratepayer money should not be used for political or promotional activity and that current rules lack meaningful consequences. Opponents from the utilities and business community said the bill was too broad, could interfere with shareholder-funded advocacy and legal work, and might unintentionally affect public service communications and expert consulting. Several committee members shared support for the bill’s goal but raised concerns about its breadth, especially around legal fees and communications; the author said he was willing to work on amendments, including on consultant fees, and accepted committee amendments. SB 283 received broad support from firefighters, local governments, utilities, labor, and business groups. Supporters said the bill would improve fire safety, require fire authority consultation and inspections, and prevent battery storage from being sited in unsafe indoor combustible facilities. The author described the Moss Landing fire and said the bill would add standards based on NFPA guidance while preserving local governments’ ability to adopt stricter rules. No opposition testimony was presented. The committee voted SB 283 out 16-0, and SB 24 was also approved after a roll was held open and later closed, ultimately passing 11-1. The consent calendar passed 16-0, and the meeting adjourned after the final roll calls were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• How do you put out a fire of batteries? I know how to put out regular fires.
• I mean, you can try to plan to not have a fire. You can still have a fire. Yeah.
• County fire code. Yes.
• fires with batteries.
• We do have an ancillary service that’s being dispatchable, dispatchable reliability reserve service,

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . services. services.
• And if there are no fire services in our local communities, that increases home insurance.
• </c><01:23:05.600><c> services</c><01:23:06.000><c> in</c><01:23:06.239><c> our</c> if there are no fire
• services in our if there are no fire services in our local<01:23:06.800><c> communities,</c><01:23:08.239
• . services. services.

Keywords: 916, all