Transcript Highlights:

• We do keep budget increases to a minimum, and our budget request for fiscal year 2027 is only slightly
• We're estimating that it will cost a minimum of around $25,000 to upgrade our license system.
• likely<00:09:27.279> will<00:09:27.519> cost<00:09:27.760> a<00:09:28.000> minimum
• <00:09:28.320> of<00:09:28.480> around likely will cost a minimum of around likely
• will cost a minimum of around $25,000<00:09:30.160> to<00:09:30.480> upgrade<00:09:31.200

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 22 January, 2026; 8:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The hearing began with the State Board of Architecture’s budget presentation. The executive director described the board’s mission to regulate architecture, landscape architecture, and certified interior design to protect public health and safety. He highlighted the board’s consolidated structure, license totals, high reciprocity rate, recent rule changes to reduce barriers to practice, and a proposed FY 2027 budget of $368,123, which included a 5% staff salary increase and higher operating costs. He also noted a newly identified need to modernize the licensing system, estimated at at least $25,000, and asked that the board not be reduced below the requested level. A board member also praised the small staff’s responsiveness and effectiveness. The State Board of Public Accountancy then presented its budget and policy requests. The executive director said the board regulates CPAs and CPA firms, oversees the CPA exam process, and has about 3,600 active individual licensees and 800 firms. The board requested only a 3% compensation increase for staff, plus a special request to allow an audit supervisor to repay the cost of a Becker review course through payroll deduction as part of succession planning. She also described a board-approved waiver program that began January 1, eliminating application fees for CPA exam candidates and retakes; 42 candidates had used the waiver in the first two weeks. In response to questions, she said the board does not assist CPAs with IRS disputes, but it does investigate complaints from the IRS, SEC, PCAOB, or others. Finally, a representative presented for the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors. She explained that the board regulates licensed counselors and psychotherapy providers, meets frequently, and has two staff members. The board’s main request was for additional investigative capacity: a full-time investigator and related funding, because complaints are currently handled by part-time investigators, contractors, and sometimes board members, which can require recusals from hearings. She said the state auditor had recently flagged complaint backlogs at regulatory agencies, supporting the request. The board also sought funding for a contractual administrative position, salary progressions, and a one-time technology increase to modify its new licensing system for the counseling compact and better search functions. Members questioned the board about its large cash balance, which was reported at about $860,000, and whether it should provide fee relief or other benefits to members; the presenter said the board would look into that and noted that revenues had increased significantly in recent years, partly due to out-of-state and telehealth-related licensing demand.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Heintzman's daughter, and we did—$50 at this event, and I think we split it so it's under the minimum
• We've got new spending based on fully funding the SCIU PCA CFSS contract, which increases the minimum
• We've been making minimum wage forever and not today's minimum wage—a minimum wage from the '70s.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 749FN would require public high schools to provide a minimum of one hour of instruction on
• districts are already empowered to incorporate this content where appropriate, and mandating a one-hour minimum
• 01:05:35.680> 1-hour appropriate and mandating a 1-hour appropriate and mandating a 1-hour minimum
• statewide<01:05:38.240> program<01:05:38.799> infringes<01:05:39.440> on minimum
• statewide program infringes on minimum statewide program infringes on local<01:05:40.000> control

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These reports shall include, at minimum, an assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of the pilot program
• These reports shall include, at minimum, an assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of the pilot program
• 01:35:00.960> shall<01:35:01.159> include<01:35:01.440> that<01:35:01.600> minimum
• <01:35:01.960> and reports shall include that minimum and reports shall include that minimum

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation held a hearing on several traffic safety and transportation bills. HB 1163 would update commercial driver licensing rules to meet federal requirements and allow limited-term non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits and licenses; the Department of Transportation supported it as a fix to an FMCSA-identified issue, while Frank Schultz testified in opposition. HB 1166 would appropriate funds for the automated speed enforcement program; the Department of Law Enforcement, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Edgardo Diaz Vega supported it, while Chad Taniguchi opposed and Frank Schultz offered support. The committee then heard HB 1231, which would prioritize photo red light cameras in school zones and direct related fine revenue to the Safe Routes to School fund; DOT supported the intent but cautioned against limiting placement decisions, Judiciary raised concerns about added court workload, and several advocacy groups and individuals supported the bill as a pedestrian and school safety measure. The committee spent substantial time on HB 1471, which would fund traffic-actuated signals, including leading pedestrian intervals and accessible pedestrian signals, and add a $5 vehicle registration fee for the Safe Routes to School special fund. DOT supported the bill with comments, saying its older signal controllers make LPIs harder to implement but that statewide upgrades are underway; the Department of Health also supported the safety and Vision Zero goals and said it is working with counties on public education. Testimony in support came from Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Bicycling League, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Path People for Active Transportation Hawaii, the Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council, and others, with one opposition noted among many supporters. Members asked questions about whether LPIs would address “beg buttons,” how red-light and speed-camera programs interact with county roads, and whether speed humps might be more effective in school zones. DOT explained that LPIs improve visibility but do not solve every signal issue, that newer adaptive signals use camera-based sensing, and that the department coordinates with counties and communities on crash mitigation and enforcement priorities. Officials also discussed the status of Safe Routes to School programs, noting that the federal program remains but is difficult to use and that the state program had been moved out of DOT; county coordinators and related coalitions were said to still be active. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• and it made me feel that as a girl I was not enough because on one hand you have us begging for the minimum
• and it made me feel that as a girl I was not enough because on one hand you have us begging for the minimum
• us<00:40:40.079> begging<00:40:40.480> for<00:40:40.760> the<00:40:40.920> minimum
• c><00:40:41.359> just<00:40:41.560> to<00:40:41.800> play us begging for the minimum
• just to play us begging for the minimum just to play while<00:40:43.040> the<00:40:43.280>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Education met on February 6 at 2:00 p.m. and heard testimony on a series of education-related bills. HB 1200, which would codify teacher ratios in statute, drew support from the Department of Education, the Democratic Party of the Education Caucus, and 11 individuals; no opposition was noted and the committee moved on without questions. HB 1344, concerning mandatory FAFSA completion, received testimony from the Department of Education, Hawaii P20, and a University of Hawaiʻi student who cited unclaimed Pell Grant funds and low FAFSA completion rates as reasons to support the bill. Committee members asked about current outreach efforts, and DOE and P20 described FAFSA tracking data, hotlines, email support, school-based FAFSA nights, and coordination with counselors; members also raised concerns about federal education funding and Pell Grants. The committee then heard HB 1499, which would authorize staff and volunteers to administer certain medications. The Department of Education, Department of Health, University of Hawaiʻi nursing leadership, and the Hawaii State Center for Nursing all testified in support, along with several individuals and the Democratic Party Environmental Caucus. The next measure, HB 902 on the Public Safety Power Shutoff program, was supported by DOE, the Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaiian Electric, but it prompted extensive questioning from the Vice Chair about whether taxpayers should fund a study to help schools remain open during shutoffs. Hawaiian Electric said the bill would help DOE assess impacts in wildfire-risk areas and noted its wildfire safety strategy, outreach efforts, and potential community resource centers, while the Vice Chair argued the utility should bear more of the cost. The committee also heard HB 961, a bill on school libraries and a CASS pilot program, with DOE offering comments and HSTA and the Hawaii Library Association strongly supporting it. HSTA argued certified librarians are important for literacy, research, and digital literacy, and said many schools lack them because of cost; the association and 14 individuals testified in support. HB 962, a related bill on DOE libraries and the system, also drew support from DOE, HSTA, and the Hawaii Library Association, with 15 individuals in support. Finally, HB 730, concerning the Civil Rights Compliance Branch, received support from DOE, White Children’s Action Network, AAW of Hawaiʻi, and many individuals. Testifiers said the branch needs more resources and training and handles more than Title IX, including Title VI, Title VII, and ADA matters. A student plaintiff in a Title IX lawsuit described unequal treatment in athletics and facilities, and another supporter said the bill would help ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are anywhere from at a minimum two to three officers, up to sometimes five or six officers for
• There are anywhere from at a minimum two to three officers, up to sometimes five or six officers for
• anywhere<00:31:15.440> from<00:31:15.799> at<00:31:15.919> a<00:31:16.159> minimum
• <00:31:16.600> two there are anywhere from at a minimum two there are anywhere from at a minimum

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of transportation-related bills. SB 21 on water carriers would create an inflationary cost index mechanism; DOT, Agriculture, DCCA, the PUC, and several harbor and logistics interests supported it, while Pacific Transfer opposed. SB 1478 would require vessel masters to follow harbor master evacuation orders during emergencies; DOT clarified it applies only to commercial ports, with support from Hima and the Harbor Users Group and opposition from the Hailongm Association. SB 108 would authorize DOT to regulate vessel noise near commercial harbors; the White Harbor Users Group opposed, while DOT said it supported the intent but warned the bill may be preempted by federal law. SB 1475 would raise the bond ceiling for harbor improvement projects from $100 million to $600 million, and SB 1473 would cap central services assessments on DOT funds at $5 million and tie them to CPI; DOT supported both, and Budget and Finance explained the central services fee is generally a 5% deduction from special funds with some statutory exceptions. The committee also heard SB 1402 on securing mooring lines in state commercial harbors, which drew support from the General Contractors Association of Hawaii and the Hawaii Longline Association. SB 1522 on vehicle title transfers was supported by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Customer Services. SB 599 would require DOT or counties to scan deceased cats and dogs for microchips before disposal; DOT said it would provide scanners, the Hawaiian Humane Society and a private witness strongly supported the bill, and the committee discussed that the measure would not charge pet owners and that Oʻahu microchip rates are about 80% for dogs and 70% for cats. SB 1025 would allow service and non-service animals on mass transit under certain conditions; DHS offered comments, Maui and Honolulu opposed, while the Hawaiian Humane Society, the Environmental Caucus, and others supported it, and an opponent raised concerns about large pets, service animals, and the need for size and off-peak restrictions. Later, the committee heard SB 1096 on license plate-flipping devices, with DOT and Honolulu police supporting it. SB 384 would expand victim restitution in DUI-related negligent homicide cases to include child support for surviving minor children; DOT, MADD, and the Kiki Injury Prevention Coalition supported it, while the Public Defender opposed, arguing the restitution amounts would be unverified and better handled through civil remedies. SB 597 would extend the deadline for the administrative driver license revocation office to issue decisions, and the Attorney General, police, and Maui prosecutors supported it because of drug-testing delays, especially on neighbor islands. Finally, SB 1285 would create a lower-level impaired driving offense and authorize administrative action; the Attorney General and Public Defender both raised concerns about charging discretion and resource impacts, while county, public health, alcohol policy, and victim advocates strongly supported the bill as a life-saving measure. The transcript ends partway through testimony on SB 1285, with no final committee votes or actions recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have minimum standards for education.
• <04:44:58.480> We<04:44:58.718> have minimum standards for education.
• We have minimum standards for education.
• So, supporting this resolution is the bare minimum that we could possibly do in this committee and in
• <05:08:03.520> that resolution is is the bare minimum that resolution is is the bare minimum

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But families need and deserve more than the bare minimum.
• Meeting the minimum sets a floor, but building that strong access creates a bridge.
• <01:51:28.639> New deserve more than the bare minimum.
• New deserve more than the bare minimum.
• > floor,<01:51:45.599> but<01:51:45.920> building the minimum sets a floor, but

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But at an absolute minimum, recognizing that, wow, my kid is going through a really hard time, wouldn't
• But<03:09:42.880> at<03:09:43.040> an<03:09:43.279> absolute<03:09:43.760> minimum
• <03:09:44.560> recognizing But at an absolute minimum recognizing But at an absolute minimum
• Would you at least agree to that minimum standard?
• I need to uh address this and a minimum I need to uh address this and a<03:38:52.319> good<03

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The minimum wage for classified staff that year went to $16.17, and all contracted employees received
• a minimum of 4% of a raise. flagged among the um the lowest 5% in flagged among the um the lowest 5%
• Uh the minimum wage for for teachers.
• Uh the minimum wage for classified<01:06:37.119> staff<01:06:37.359> that<01:06:37.599>
• <01:06:46.640> of<01:06:46.960> 4% a minimum of 4% a minimum of 4% of of<01:06:48.960

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 0:25 Approval of Minutes – 3-50 2025 RS SB 253 – 4:25 Computer Science and AI Literacy – 27:36 Fayette County School District Budget Update – 51:46 Adjournment – 2:09:46, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including roll call, introductions, and approval of the previous meeting minutes by voice vote. It then heard a presentation on SB 253, focused on expanding support for teacher apprenticeship and teaching-and-learning pathways. Senator Hickman and staff from the Kentucky Department of Education and Nelson County Schools described how the program uses dual credit, work-based learning, and registered apprenticeship to help students earn an associate degree in high school and continue toward a teaching degree. They said the goal is to address the teacher shortage by creating a sustainable pipeline into the profession. Witnesses emphasized that the main barrier is cost. Mary Taylor said Kentucky’s youth apprenticeship model has been successful in other fields and that education should be added as an in-demand sector, but an associate degree alone will not solve the teacher shortage because teachers still need a bachelor’s degree and certification. Laura Arnold of Nelson County Schools described the district’s Lead Nelson program, saying the district has invested more than $800,000 since 2021, currently has 37 students in the pathway and seven committed apprentices, and spends about $85,000 per apprentice from freshman year through certification. She said district staffing, planning, and university partnerships are also significant hurdles. Members asked about job guarantees, tenure, and retirement; Arnold said employment is performance-based and retirement issues are being considered. Senator Hickman said the bill would use lottery funds to help cover tuition and dual credit costs so more districts can participate, noting that a prior version died because of a high fiscal note. Representative Payne and Representative Tipton praised the program but stressed the need for funding and noted inconsistencies between statute and budget language on Work Ready Kentucky and dual credit support. Representative Tipton also cautioned that lottery revenue may not keep pace with demand and said the General Assembly may need to make broader funding decisions. After the apprenticeship discussion, the chair moved the committee to the next agenda item on computer science and AI literacy, where Code.org began a presentation on the importance of computer science for all students.

Transcript Highlights:

• that's minimum.
• <00:38:18.160> $1<00:38:18.840> million<00:38:20.000> um there's a minimum $1
• million um there's a minimum $1 million um I<00:38:21.160> guess<00:38:21.400> liquidated<
• It could be a lot larger that's minimum.
• It requires at a minimum that agencies evaluate how the action or regulation affects private property

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• amount<00:35:06.240> of<00:35:06.480> protections<00:35:06.960> that minimum
• amount of protections that minimum amount of protections that everybody<00:35:07.760> should<
• It would have to be if it didn’t involve a disciplinary proceeding that would at least involve a minimum
• It would have to be if it didn’t involve a disciplinary proceeding that would at least involve a minimum
• <01:21:34.880> of that would at least involve a minimum of that would at least involve a minimum

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee’s higher education subcommittee met to discuss HB 443, HB 510, and related issues. The chair explained the subcommittee membership and noted that Representative Luno was absent and replaced by Representative Bricky, with other full committee members allowed to participate in discussion but not final votes. No votes were taken during this meeting, and the chair said final subcommittee recommendations would likely come in the first week of November. On HB 443, which concerns terms of appointment to the Higher Education Commission, the chair described the bill as intended to let the governor replace members who are not attending or no longer representing the appointing organization. He said the prior governor supported the idea, but the current governor’s office believes the bill is unnecessary because nonattendance or loss of representation would already amount to resignation or removal. Members raised questions about legal authority and whether the same principle should apply to other boards. The chair said he was leaning toward finding the bill not needed, but would continue discussion later. The committee then spent most of the meeting on HB 510, which would establish due process rights for students, student organizations, and faculty at public higher education institutions and address collective bargaining issues. Supporters, including Representatives Papovich and Brown, argued the bill would provide clear, minimum protections, especially because campus rules are lengthy and vary by institution; Brown also suggested adding an independent ombudsman or representation for students. Opponents, including Representatives Burton and Bricky, said existing campus regulations already provide due process and that the bill could interfere with campus governance and collective bargaining. The chair and others discussed whether the bill’s definitions should be aligned with existing law to avoid confusion, and several members suggested using existing statutory definitions or cross-references. The chair also said the bill would apply only when disciplinary action is involved, not as a general challenge to DEI policies, though members referenced recent national examples involving DEI-related disputes as context.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, your omnibus funds the minimum wage rule for the nursing home workforce standards board.
• The rule provides an industrywide minimum wage of $19 an hour in 2026 and 2050 the year after.
• There are higher minimum wages for CNAs, TMAs, and LPNs.
• omnibus funds the minimum wage rule for<00:47:10.480> the<00:47:10.640> nursing<00:47:
• minimum wages for CNAs, TMAs, and LPNs. minimum wages for CNAs, TMAs, and LPNs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• INCLUDED IN THIS OFFER IS THE 2% PAY INCREASE FOR ALL STATE EMPLOYEES, A MINIMUM 1004 STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Labor to prepare an annual report on the cost of living, poverty rates, and efficacy of the current minimum

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Labor met for its third meeting of the 26th Legislative Session and considered six bills. The agenda included workers’ compensation, labor law, minimum wage reporting, and employer training measures. Senators present included Ferdinandis, Jackson, Mayer, Zellner, and Mattera, with Senator Mayer’s bill on direct deposit for workers’ compensation payments opening the meeting. The committee advanced SB 4467, which would allow certain workers’ compensation payments to be made by direct deposit; SB 4473, which concerns liquidated damages for labor law violations; SB 4514A, which would require an annual Department of Labor report on cost of living, poverty rates, and the effectiveness of the state minimum wage; SB 4832, which would require additional annual reporting by the Workers’ Compensation Board; and SB 6912, which would define mental health practitioners with diagnostic authority under workers’ compensation law. It also advanced SB 4593, which would create a voluntary Department of Labor training and certification program for employers called the Neurodiversity Training Pledge. For each bill, a motion was made and the committee voted to report the measure forward, generally by voice vote with no opposition noted in the transcript. Most bills were reported to the calendar, while SB 4593 was reported to the Finance Committee. The chair closed by thanking members for an effective meeting and inviting them to the next Labor Committee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Throughout 2024, a minimum of 62,000 Texans will experience homelessness, and on any given night, between

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223, HB323, HB524, HB530, HB636, HB762, HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• And if they have accepted, at a minimum, in order to comply with the statutory requirements under section
• How does this, um, how does the minimum, uh, I forget what it's called, the health insurance, um, minimum
• Representative Hall, you asked a question about minimum coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
• individual would have to decide whether the coverage that he or she is buying is going to meet the minimum
• 47:16.080> things,<04:47:16.638> um, Representative Hall, you asked a question about minimum

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:25:51.600> standards<01:25:52.159> and years updating the minimum standards and
• <01:26:29.520> standards<01:26:29.920> to under the rules the minimum standards to
• under the rules the minimum standards to graduate<01:26:30.480> from<01:26:30.639> high
• of 30 minutes that there was a minimum of 30 minutes in<02:00:59.440> in<02:00:59.760> the
• There was no minimum instructional time.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So at a minimum, we would recommend using a general description of the organization in place of its specific

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Rules Committee met to consider a mass motion declaring Senate Bills 1041, 1118, 1168, 1189, 1274, 1286, 1428, 1457, 1497, 1503, 1519, 1582, and 1713 constitutional and in proper form. The Rules Office reported that the measures were generally constitutional and properly drafted, but raised a concern about the Strang-Everting Amendment to SB 1428. Staff said the amendment’s conditional enactment provision could amount to an unlawful delegation of legislative authority because it makes part of the statute dependent on approval by a private outside entity, the Association for Cooperative Research and Development. They recommended removing the conditional enactment section and, at minimum, replacing the specific entity name with a general description to avoid continuity issues. After questions and comments, the committee voted on whether to recommend the measures in the mass motion as constitutional and in proper form. The roll call resulted in seven ayes and one absent, and the motion was approved. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and you’ve heard some other testimony on it, to the home price, it is easily $100,000 to $150,000 minimum
• The question they ask is, what's the minimum size lot you're going to develop? I'll end with that.
• on surface water in an attempt to make sure that we do our best to keep our area subsidence at a minimum
• system is the gold standard for higher-quality developments with better amenities, highly regulated minimum

Summary: The committee heard testimony first from the Texas General Land Office and School Land Board. GLO officials described the agency’s role in managing more than 13 million acres of state lands and mineral interests for the Permanent School Fund, overseeing the Alamo, coastal programs, veterans’ services, and federal disaster recovery. They said the agency has generated about $6 billion for the Permanent School Fund since Commissioner Buckingham took office, and that its disaster recovery portfolio is about $14 billion across multiple events, with more than 22,000 housing units rebuilt or reconstructed since Hurricane Harvey. Members asked about land purchases such as Brewster Ranch, rare earth mineral leasing, SpaceX-related beach access, and whether the lands are public access lands; GLO staff said the holdings are managed to maximize revenue for education, that most land is leased rather than open to public access, and that they are coordinating on coastal access and compliance. On the School Land Board, members sought clarification on the difference between GLO-managed lands and the Permanent School Fund Corporation’s investment role, and staff explained that GLO generates the revenue while the separate corporation invests it. No votes or formal actions were taken. The Board for Lease of University Lands then testified. University Lands officials explained that they steward 2.1 million acres of surface and mineral interests in West Texas for the Permanent University Fund, which supports UT and Texas A&M institutions. They said a 2025 lease sale produced about $50 million in bonus revenue from 28,000 acres, and described the Board for Lease’s role in approving lease forms, lease sales, and development agreements. Members asked about the size and use of the PUF, how distributions work through UTIMCO, whether PUF money can be used for athletics, and how the land is managed; the witness said the fund is a constitutional endowment, the land is largely leased rather than sold, and distributions are generally used for buildings, labs, and other permanent structures, with some institutions also using a portion for operations. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then took up municipal utility districts. Testimony from a law firm, the Texas Municipal League, Fort Bend County Commissioner Vincent Morales, and Johnson Development largely supported MUDs as a financing tool for infrastructure tied to growth. Witnesses said MUDs help fund water, sewer, drainage, roads, parks, and related infrastructure, allowing development to proceed without shifting costs to existing taxpayers and helping keep housing affordable. They emphasized that MUDs are created with disclosure to homebuyers, are subject to the Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act, and are overseen by TCEQ for bond issuance and related financial stress tests. Members questioned whether MUDs are taxing entities, whether they can be created inside city limits or ETJs, how much control cities and counties retain, and whether MUDs are becoming permanent local governments; witnesses acknowledged they levy taxes and debt, can exist within city limits with city consent, and often function as long-term local entities. The committee did not take any formal action during the hearing.