Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome everyone to the joint committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary.
• Senate Draft 1 relating to consumer Senate Draft 1 relating to consumer protection.
• National Consumers League. National Consumers League.
• Aloha, Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.
• Committee on Commerce and Consumer Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Bills: SB2386, SB2804, SB2852

Keywords: employment, wage transparency, job listings, salary disclosure, labor rights, monopoly, health care access, insurance rates, competition, stock acquisition, digital accessibility, web accessibility, website accessibility, app accessibility, ADA, disability rights, civil rights, public accommodations, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, HCRC

Summary: The committees met in decision-making sessions on several bills and generally advanced them without opposition. Early actions included SB 2386, which clarifies job-posting pay disclosure requirements and lowers the small-employer exemption threshold, and SB 2804, both recommended to pass unamended. SB 2852, addressing accessibility of information and communications technology for people with disabilities in public accommodations, was also recommended to pass unamended. SB 2975 on marine life conservation districts was advanced unamended despite a noted defective effective date. The CPN committee then acted on SB 3019, a consumer protection bill, recommending passage with amendments to require refunds of certain fees upon cancellation and to defect the effective date to July 1, 2050. SB 3231 on agricultural districts, SB 2378 on housing, and SB 3062 on liquor were all recommended to pass with amendments and a defective effective date set to July 1, 2050. SB 3255, concerning cash payments and rounding guidance, was reconsidered after discussion with small business stakeholders and was also advanced with amendments. In the later regular CPN agenda, SB 2607 on landscape architect licensure drew support from the board and professional groups and was recommended to pass with board-requested amendments and a July 1, 2050 effective date. SB 2623 SD1 on pharmacy technician registration was recommended to pass with clarifying amendments from the Board of Pharmacy. SB 2396, which would create a registry for agents managing property for absentee owners and require on-island contact information for certain condo owners, received mixed testimony: supporters emphasized accountability and enforcement, while opponents from community associations raised implementation concerns and asked for further work. The committee ultimately recommended SB 2396 with amendments from the Hawaii Council of Community Associations and a July 1, 2050 effective date.

Transcript Highlights:

• can bring affordability benefits to the consumer.
• I think we can all agree that it is a basic service.
• to the consumer to decide where to apply that.
• Where there's competition and multiple choices for the consumers, there's some consumer down pressure
• So this is the portfolio of services: 534.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, it is not always easy to attain permanent excusal from jury service.
• , allowing those over 80 to permanently opt out of jury service.
• Others in support: Thank you for your service.
• My name is Dorothy Alther, and I am with California Indian Legal Services.
• It's very important for consumer protection.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that service. that service. All<00:44:50.640> right.
• . service. service.
• Call our customer service.
• Call our customer service.
• Call our customer service.

Bills: HB0098, HB0075, HB0041, HB0101

Keywords: gun control, Second Amendment, constitutional rights, misdemeanor, law enforcement, virtual currency, kiosk, financial institutions, regulation, Wyoming Money Transmitters Act, penalties, death benefits, retirement, survivor support, public safety, guardianship, monitoring, ward protection, financial independence, case management

Transcript Highlights:

• The portion of the fuel consumed inside Washington is subject to sales tax.
• This includes online arrangement services, and tour operators generally provide some or all of the services
• These are facilities that provide a wide array of services to older adults.
• Services may include health, nutritional, educational, and social services as well as recreational activities
• Once a disabled veteran or service member Once a disabled veteran or service member receives one of the

Summary: The Citizens Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on August 6, 2025, with five commissioners present and a quorum. The commission approved the May 7, 2025 meeting minutes and welcomed new commissioner Scott Edwards, who introduced himself. Staff also confirmed the September meeting date had been changed to September 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. to accommodate his schedule, and noted that testimony questions for the public hearing would be used at that meeting. JLARC staff then presented preliminary 2025 tax preference performance reviews covering nine preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but do not meet emissions-reduction goals, and recommended continuing the public utility tax and natural gas use tax exemptions while modifying reporting requirements; they also recommended continuing the marine-use LNG sales tax exemption and considering the Department of Revenue work group’s findings. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the small-beneficiary rate appears to support smaller firms, while the larger-beneficiary rate should be reviewed and both should have clearer objectives and metrics. For nonprofit low-income housing development, staff said the preference is helping produce housing but the current metric does not align well with the objective, data/reporting problems remain, and the legislature should decide whether to continue and possibly modify the exemption, including considering annual renewal. Staff also reviewed the multipurpose senior citizen centers exemption, concluding it meets its objective and recommending continuation, with possible consideration of making it permanent. For disabled veteran adapted housing, staff said the preference has very low uptake despite eligible veterans and recommended continuing it but modifying it in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve use. For trade convention attendance, staff said the preference aligns Washington with other states and recommended continuation. For agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, staff said the exemption reduces tax layering and recommended continuation, with clarification on whether it is exempt from expiration/performance-statement requirements. For agricultural crop protection products, staff said the preference met its revenue-growth metric and recommended extending it while considering better metrics or recategorizing it as tax relief. Finally, for energy sales to a silicon smelter, staff said the preferences were unused because the facility was never built and recommended allowing them to expire. The meeting ended with reminders about written testimony and the September public testimony session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Services on on food waste diversion. Services on on food waste diversion.
• a department of environmental services a department of environmental services and<01:18:59.840><
• approach such as restricting consumer approach such as restricting consumer access<01:33:04.000>
• current uh law says about consumer current uh law says about consumer access<02:00:44.159> to
• Um, I'm here to support consumers.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for joining us as well, and for your service today.
• And I've been so lucky to have been serviced, which receives services from those doctors.
• Many substances essential to life can be harmful if consumed in excess amounts.
• Less than 2% of artificially fluoridated water is actually consumed by humans.
• Thank you to the... and animals that consume six species.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing focused on children’s health, disease prevention, screening, treatment, and pharmacy-related bills. The chair explained that the session was for public testimony only, with no votes or decisions taken that day, and outlined the three-minute limit for individual testimony. The committee then heard testimony on a range of bills, including H. 2413 on adding electromagnetic sensitivity to the state’s MAVEN registry, S. 1508 and H. 2433 on creating an amputation prevention task force, H. 2535 and S. 1551 on establishing a naloxone purchase trust fund, S. 1635 on authorizing pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment, H. 2385 on creating a special commission on avian influenza, and S. 1497 on patient safety and non-FDA-approved compounded drugs. Testimony on H. 2413 came largely from advocates and individuals who described electromagnetic sensitivity as a real health condition and argued that adding it to the registry would improve data collection, provider education, and public awareness. Testimony on the amputation prevention task force bills came from the American Diabetes Association and podiatry groups, who said diabetes-related amputations are often preventable, disproportionately affect people of color, and could be reduced through earlier screening, better care coordination, and improved insurance coverage for preventive foot care. On the naloxone trust fund bills, a representative, emergency physician, and nurse testified that hospitals often cannot reliably send overdose patients home with naloxone because of billing and reimbursement barriers, and that a bulk-purchase fund would expand access at no added cost to payers or providers. The committee also heard strong support for S. 1635 from pharmacists and public health researchers, who said community pharmacists could safely initiate and maintain buprenorphine treatment and help close gaps in opioid use disorder care. On H. 2385, a local board of health chair supported a special commission on avian influenza, citing gaps in emergency preparedness and the need for clearer coordination across agencies. On S. 1497, a pharmacy representative opposed restrictions on compounded drugs from outsourcing facilities, warning that changes could reduce access to life-saving medications and harm patient safety. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It establishes clear rules for permissible services, prohibited practices, and transition.
• for non-attorney immigration service providers.
• So SB 1734 is the Florida Kratom Consumer Protection Act.
• We worked with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services all summer.
• If the vendor fails to return the money or complete the services, it creates staggering.

Summary: The committee first took up a committee substitute for SB 752, which would require newspapers and television stations to remove online reports later found to be false or defamatory in certain circumstances, and would change when the statute of limitations begins to run. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address lasting harm from false accusations that remain searchable online. Several speakers opposed the measure, arguing it would chill reporting, punish accurate historical coverage, and create vague legal risks for the press. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee then approved CS/SB 846, a bill aimed at preventing immigration service fraud by non-attorneys and misuse of the term "notario." Supporters, including an immigration attorney, said the bill would protect vulnerable immigrants from bad advice and fake legal services. The committee also approved CS/SB 800, which updates battery labeling and recycling requirements to reduce fires caused by discarded batteries; waste and recycling representatives supported it, while a battery industry group warned the bill could effectively ban battery-embedded products. CS/SB 578, dealing with wine container rules and allowing recyclable inserts and boxes up to 5.16 gallons, was also reported favorably. The committee next approved CS/SB 1734, the Florida Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which sets product standards, labeling rules, age limits, testing, and enforcement provisions. Supporters said it reflects current science and consumer safety needs, while opponents warned it could burden small businesses and overregulate the market. SB 918, which would loosen state child labor restrictions for certain minors and align Florida law more closely with federal standards, drew extensive opposition from advocates, students, and labor groups who said it would increase exploitation and harm education; several senators also raised concerns, but the bill was still reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 854 on unlicensed contractors and deposit fraud, and confirmed several appointments to state boards and commissions. A separate bill on online encryption and child safety, SB 868, was taken up with an amendment and public testimony, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• Where can a state regulate an interaction of a digital service engaging with consumers in the state?
• It's kind of their service delivery team, if you will.
• It's kind of their service delivery team, if you will.
• Terms and conditions of retail electricity service is usually a state public service commission issue
• So the first choice has been to have networked service.

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, establishing its purpose as a study and policy-development body rather than one aimed at producing many bills. Majority Leader Hogue urged members to move quickly, focus on federal and other states’ AI laws, consider possible federal preemption, child protections, and the siting and economic impacts of data centers. Committee leadership echoed that the goal is practical, balanced governance that protects North Dakota while allowing innovation to continue. Legislative Council staff provided a background memo and NCSL presented a detailed overview of AI concepts and the current state legislative landscape. The presentations distinguished narrow AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and theoretical AGI/ASI, and summarized major state policy themes: comprehensive AI laws in states such as Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois; targeted laws on deepfakes, chatbots, health, education, notifications, and digital likeness; and growing use of appropriations and agency inventories. Members asked about Colorado’s repeal and reenactment, Texas’s sandbox and training provisions, oversight structures, and whether AI regulation is bipartisan; presenters said most issues cut across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfakes but more division on broader regulatory approaches. The federal update focused on executive orders, preemption, and congressional activity. NCSL described a White House framework favoring a single federal standard, a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department review of state laws, and possible funding conditions tied to state AI policy, though no formal state-law challenge had yet occurred. The presentation also covered a recent executive order creating a voluntary federal vetting process for advanced frontier models after safety concerns, and congressional proposals including a failed 10-year state moratorium, Senator Blackburn’s child-safety bills, the Kids Online Safety Act, a House-passed children’s digital safety package, a Senate data center moratorium proposal, and a House ratepayer/data-center bill. The committee took no formal action beyond receiving testimony and asking questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• General Services.
• So it's providing the services to a person, providing the service for the concession itself.
• So it's providing the services to person, providing the service for the concession itself.
• Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Division of Consumer Protection, with comments.
• Department of Human Services with comments on Zoom. The issue, services and raised in request.

Bills: HCR93, HCR14, HR85

Keywords: image-based sexual abuse, working group, gender-based violence, Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women, prevention efforts, survivor protections, new technologies, legal reform, HCR14, House Concurrent Resolution, perpetual easement, non-exclusive easement, state submerged lands, submerged lands, shoreline easement, drainage outfall, stormwater outfall, lagoon outfall, pipelines, Kahala Hotel & Resort

Transcript Highlights:

• Students and faculty are largely unaware of how their personal information on these digital services
• Action, Consumer Federation of California, Kapoor Center Advocacy, Secure Justice, and Tech Oversight
• work as soon as services are needed.
• Postal Service. This is a positive bill to give school districts much-needed flexibility.
• Motion is due pass to the Senate, privacy, digital technologies, and consumer protection.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are reconvening on Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee bills with our colleagues from
• the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee.
• on Commerce and Consumer Protection.
• Next up we have HB 1052, HD 1, SD 1, relating to the Universal Service Program.
• We are reconvening the Conference Committee for Consumer Protection and Commerce and Commerce and Consumer

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I had to give up a job with a financial services company that had good health insurance.
• to find itself into our Human Services to find itself into our Human Services programs<00:31:32.799
• It is largely based in their administrative fees, which are then passed on to consumers.
• get paid any more money for services get paid any more money for services they<01:11:04.520>
• Private practices won't get more money from those insurance companies for services they provide.

Bills: HF837

Keywords: health insurance, premium security plan, federal funding, state innovation waiver, Minnesota, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Of some consumers in that process.
• He has stayed late. of some consumers in that process.
• But at any rate, invaluable service. Otherwise, we would have to spend time.
• But at any rate, invaluable service.
• And there are other people, too, that use this service. It's just so easy.

Summary: The House opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the previous day by roll call vote, 126-0. Members then offered several points of personal privilege, including recognition of National Fentanyl Awareness Day and a moment of silence for journalist Ray Hartman. The chamber also welcomed numerous student groups, interns, and other special guests in the gallery. The main floor action centered on the conference committee report for House Bills 2637 and 3155, a very large public safety/criminal justice package. Supporters said it refined earlier legislation, including narrowing juvenile certification to certain A and B felonies, sex offenses, and repeat offenses, adding mental health and cyberstalking provisions, addressing sex offender registry issues, and including a drone-related section with an emergency clause. Critics argued the bill was overly long, multi-subject, and difficult to vet. The House adopted the conference report 124-13, passed the bill 119-18, and then adopted the emergency clause 125-15. The House also passed Senate Bill 834, a consumer protection measure on mortgage modifications and residential sale-leaseback transactions, by 139-1 after members described it as a companion to a House bill and a way to protect homeowners from predatory practices. Senate Bill 937, a land transfer bill authorizing the governor to dispose of certain state properties, passed 137-2 after amendment. Senate Bill 938, which raises recording fees to support the land survey program and recorder of deeds offices, passed 121-21-2 after supporters said the fee had not been increased since 1969 and was needed to keep the program operating. Finally, House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 973, dealing with wholesaler disclosures and land banks, passed 110-36 after an amendment removed a school property right-of-first-refusal provision and added land bank language. The House then moved several other bills to the informal calendar, made announcements, and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public cemetery districts are funded primarily through taxes and assessments or fees for services.
• But as we're talking about cost savings, what is—what is—what is— savings to the consumer.
• I represent more than 5,000 health and social service workers employed by the state of California.
• “That, I’m afraid, is not only very poor consumer affairs treatment.
• We want to thank Senator McGuire for his authorship of this consumer protection bill.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 1312 by Senator Richardson on abandoned endowed-care cemeteries. Richardson described vandalism, theft, and neglect at abandoned cemeteries and said the bill would define abandonment, create a process for local governments to declare a cemetery abandoned, and allow the Bureau to act as conservator of endowment funds. Support came from Marin County, while county and special district groups opposed or had concerns, arguing the bill could shift burdens to local governments or public cemetery districts without enough safeguards. Members expressed general support but noted the need for further work; the bill was discussed but no final vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up SB 758 by Senator Umberg, which would restrict retail sales of nitrous oxide to curb misuse. Supporters, including the League of California Cities, narcotic officers, counties, pediatricians, and other local governments and health groups, said easy access at smoke shops and convenience stores has fueled recreational abuse and health harms. There was no opposition testimony, and members voiced strong support for a statewide approach over city-by-city bans. The bill was well received, with the author closing in support. Dr. Weber-Pierson presented SB 1094, a health care affordability bill on biosimilars and biologic substitution. The bill would allow pharmacists to substitute biosimilars under certain conditions, require advance notice to providers and patients, and add reporting on savings; the author said amendments would strengthen provider notice and preserve the ability to mark prescriptions “do not substitute.” Supporters from health plans, insurers, pharmacies, labor, business, and some provider groups argued the bill would lower costs and expand access. Opponents, including dermatology and rheumatology groups and biotech interests, warned about non-medical switching, prior authorization delays, and patient harm. After extensive discussion, the committee voted 13-0 to pass SB 1094 to the Committee on Health. The committee also passed SB 849 by Dr. Weber-Pierson, which would bar reinstatement of physicians who surrendered their licenses while a sexual misconduct accusation was pending. The Medical Board and California Medical Association were generally supportive or neutral, and members praised the bill’s patient-protection focus. SB 993 by Senator Ochoa Bogh, which limits routine disclosure of identifying information for mental health professionals in correctional and psychiatric settings while preserving complaint processes, also passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 1002 by Senator Niello, extending the David Hall Act to allow certain patients in remission to continue telehealth care with out-of-state specialists, drew strong patient support but opposition from the Medical Board and CMA over licensure and oversight concerns; the committee voted it out on a split roll with some members not voting. Finally, SB 1263 by Senator McGuire, aimed at protecting wildfire survivors and workers by requiring licensed, trained contractors for post-disaster residential debris removal, received support from labor and the Contractors State License Board, with contractors raising a narrower amendment concern about scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:13:03.720> in arrangements and Event Services in arrangements and Event Services in Missouri
• <00:24:06.919> uh to fairness and customer service uh to fairness and customer service uh
• the dignity they deserve there service the dignity they deserve there service to<00:44:57.520>
• <02:11:39.559> to lifetime of extraordinary service to lifetime of extraordinary service to
• Foreign Affairs and financial services Foreign Affairs and financial services and<06:55:19.440><

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:04.199> on<00:07:04.400> Commerce<00:07:04.720> and<00:07:04.960> consumer
• the committee on Commerce and consumer the committee on Commerce and consumer protection<00:07:06.599
• So thank you, Dom Ianetti, for all your service to the Senate and the people of Minnesota.
• Dom thank you for your all your service Dom thank you for your service<00:08:13.680> to<00:08
• :13.840> the service to the service to the Senate<00:08:15.680> and<00:08:15.840> the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened under call, completed the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and established a quorum. It then received the executive and official communications listed on the agenda, adopted the committee reports except those related to appointments, and laid the appointment reports on the table. Senate Files 202 and 571 were given second reading, and the bills on the introduction calendar received first reading and referral, with Senate File 824 specifically referred to the Committee on Elections. Under motions and resolutions, the chamber approved the author motions as a group. It also approved a motion to withdraw Senate File 222 from the Judiciary Committee and re-refer it to the Housing and Homeless Prevention Committee, with the understanding it would return to Judiciary after that stop. Another approved motion moved Senate File 621 from Commerce and Consumer Protection to the Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee, with agreement from the co-chairs. Senate Resolution 7 was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. During announcements, Senator Jasinski recognized his assistant Dom Ianetti, who was leaving for a new role after three sessions of service. Senator Limmer was excused from the session. On motion by Senator Johnson, the Senate adjourned until Monday, February 3rd at 11 a.m., and the adjournment motion prevailed.

Transcript Highlights:

• being services results in services being services results in services being provided.<00:07:39.759
• controlling of services and rent costs. controlling of services and rent costs.
• Um, it's not a mandated service.
• Uh, welcome back to human services<00:54:12.640> and services and services and >> so<00:
• <01:45:16.159> I services. So, I'm not entirely sure. I services.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> THANK YOU CHAIRMAN. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
• MEMBERS HB 527 PROTECTS CONSUMERS, PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION AND POSITIONS FLORIDA AS A NATIONAL
• IF A OVERPAYMENT IS MADE AND AI IS USED TO GENERATE THAT OVERPAYMENT TO A CONSUMER, THIS BILL DOES NOT
• AND ON THE DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER SIDE. I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT BUT I WILL SAY IT SIMPLY.
• WE DISCLOSE TO CONSUMERS WHAT WE ARE DOING ON THAT UPON THE REQUEST.

Transcript Highlights:

• , strips New Hampshire consumers, strips New Hampshire consumers, [clears throat]<00:13:16.639>
• > standards<00:16:20.800> we same consumer protection standards we same consumer protection
• The New Hampshire consumers deserve the same protections as consumers in every other state and from every
• The New Hampshire consumers deserve the same protections as consumers in every other state and from every
• Consumers aren't going to say, can.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all