Transcript Highlights:

• <03:41:04.000> to opportunities, and broadens access to opportunities, and broadens access
• This lenders and access to financing.
• <03:57:35.120> to affordability, and increase access to affordability, and increase access
• on these vendors, helping them access on these vendors, helping them access technology<04:19:01.120
• I want hurting local access to banking.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 9, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we can access data. We can get. access to information.
• And the fifth area is technology and digital access. And, Mr.
• Employees access to sensitive information and that they're getting employees access that's removed when
• Is it, you know, are you trying to access the software?
• to. access to, criminally, to hijack the benefit.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate the intent of the House draft 2 of expanding access for patients to get certified.
• to certifying providers is limited. ...patients on outer islands where access to certifying providers
• Patients need better access, especially when there are so many illicit forms of cannabis that could be
• Patients need better access, especially when there are so many illicit forms of cannabis that could be
• We do believe this is necessary for increased access, and so the bill as it currently stands in House

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 302, which would repeal the requirement that a provider-patient relationship for medical cannabis certification be established in person first. The Department of Health said it supported the House Draft 2 version as a way to expand patient access, and several testifiers from the medical cannabis community and dispensary industry supported the bill, especially for patients on outer islands or those unable to travel. One witness asked that earlier language removed in committee be restored to further improve access. Representative Shimizu asked whether follow-up in-person visits would still occur, and DOH responded that this varies by provider, with some continuing in-person care and others moving to telehealth for chronic conditions. The committee then took up House Bill 712, relating to the federal 340B drug pricing program and contract pharmacies. The Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office both said they supported the bill’s purpose but wanted it clarified and possibly moved into a standalone chapter rather than chapter 481B. Supporters, including Hawaii Pacific Health and the Queen’s Health Systems, said the bill is needed to protect safety-net funding and access to discounted drugs, citing large financial benefits from 340B and losses caused by manufacturer restrictions on contract pharmacies. PhRMA opposed the bill, arguing the issue is not access to discounts but accountability and transparency in how contract pharmacies distribute benefits, and said it was willing to discuss amendments. Members asked follow-up questions about whether there was data showing misuse; PhRMA said it did not have numbers, while hospital witnesses said the program is federally audited and used appropriately in Hawaii. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1482, HD1, which would tighten hemp and controlled-substance definitions to exclude Schedule I cannabinoids from manufactured hemp products and clarify the treatment of artificially derived cannabis. The Department of Health supported the measure, saying it adds clarity to existing prohibitions. Kūre Hawaii and other supporters said it would close loopholes involving Delta-8 and similar products. An individual testifier urged stronger language to also cover compounds such as HHC, THCA, THCP, and THCO. In response to questions about enforcement against mislabeled hemp products, DOH explained that THC percentages are relative to product weight, that some products can remain under the hemp threshold while still containing significant THC, and that hemp flower is already prohibited from direct retail sale, though enforcement can be complicated and involves both administrative and criminal authorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't like 'special needs'; please use 'accessible.' I'm available if you have any questions.
• Thank you. with accessible um Recreation with accessible um Recreation playgrounds<00:23:46.200> thank
• We don't like 'special needs'; please use 'accessible.' I'm available if you have any questions.
• <02:17:05.160> violates threatens Public Access violates threatens Public Access violates
• <02:35:27.439> Recreational to accessible Recreational to accessible Recreational Equipment

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1233, relating to storm management systems, which would add safety and maintenance requirements for detention and retention ponds. Supporters, including Alison Schafers of the Ki Injury Prevention Coalition and Kristen Herstead of the Hawaii Lifeguard Association, said the measure is needed because poorly maintained ponds can become hidden drowning hazards, especially for children, and argued that fencing, signage, and life-saving equipment would have minimal cost. Schafers described the death of her daughter in a detention pond and said the bill reflects recommendations in the Hawaii Water Safety Plan. Members asked about whether the issue should be handled at the county level; testifiers responded that a statewide standard is needed, though counties would likely handle permitting. No vote was taken on the bill during the excerpted discussion. The committee then heard HB 867, relating to recreational facilities, which would require accessible playgrounds. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said it submitted comments and that state parks do not generally have recreational facilities affected by the bill, while most such facilities are under county jurisdiction. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Disability Communication Access Board, and the Disability Rights Center all supported the bill’s intent but recommended changes, including replacing the term “special needs” with “accessible,” focusing the requirement on new and renovated playgrounds, and specifying wheelchair-accessible swings. Testifiers emphasized that accessible play spaces promote inclusion for children with disabilities and benefit all children. No final action or vote was reported. The committee also took up HB 1358, relating to a public land trust working group. DLNR supported the measure and said it had provided written comments, while the Office of Hawaiian Affairs strongly supported the bill and described longstanding problems with incomplete land inventories, self-reported revenue data, and disputed public land trust payments. OHA said an audit it funded suggests the state owes more than current payments reflect, and other supporters said the bill is needed for transparency, accountability, and a complete inventory of public trust lands, including submerged lands. Committee questions focused on how the public land trust information system is maintained, who updates it, and how revenue reporting works; DLNR said the system is older, has limited dedicated IT staffing, and relies on agency self-reporting rather than independent verification. No vote or final committee action was announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but again, it's about accessibility, right? And that parking is a piece of accessibility.
• Um, but again, it's about accessibility, right? And that parking is a piece of accessibility.
• Um, but again, it's about accessibility, right? And that parking is a piece of accessibility.
• Um, but again, it's about accessibility, right? And that parking is a piece of accessibility.
• student access across the system. student access across the system.

Bills: HF4479, HF4368, HF4889

Keywords: higher education, public university, college campus, postsecondary institution, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, University of Minnesota, town hall, town hall meeting, elected official, legislator, public forum, constituent meeting, campus access, free meeting space, parking fees, civic engagement, public outreach, chapter 135A, HF4368, Minnesota State

Summary: The committee approved the April 9 minutes and then took up House File 4479, which would require public postsecondary institutions to make space available for town halls and similar official events by elected officials, with limits intended to keep the events on the official side and not campaign-related. Representative Frederick said the bill is meant to prevent universities from creating barriers such as fees or parking charges and to ensure a neutral, accessible venue for community conversations. The bill was laid over for possible later action. The committee heard supportive testimony from Jim Dimmick of Minnesota State University, Mankato, who argued that town halls should be public, open, moderated, and dialogic rather than speeches, and said universities should be centers for public discourse. He also said charging fees can undermine neutrality and that using partisan student groups to sponsor events can create the appearance of bias. Minnesota State official Mr. Omen said campuses often host these events, fees are set locally to cover costs, and student government sponsorship can sometimes avoid charges; he also noted the fee at Mankato is discounted and depends on room size. Several members raised concerns about the bill. Representative Scott, Chair Robbins, Representative Schwarz, Representative Allen, and others argued that campuses should not be required by statute to give legislators special treatment, that fees and parking costs cover real expenses, and that universities should remain focused on education rather than political events. Questions also focused on who would decide what room size is reasonable, how disputes would be handled, and who would pay for security if protests or safety issues arose. Representative Frederick responded that room selection would be a good-faith partnership with the university, that the bill does not require a town hall or guarantee a specific room, and that security funding is not spelled out in the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• to justice is accessible for all individuals regardless of their circumstances.
• <00:35:39.320> to critical to ensure that equal access to critical to ensure that equal access
• > all justice is accessible for all justice is accessible for all individuals<00:35:43.240>
• <00:36:24.400> to help.org or if they need access to help.org or if they need access to technology
• I'm talking about who feel isolated, who are angry, who have rage, and who have access to guns.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are expanding access to care.
• Early detection and timely access to appropriate intervention saves lives.
• Again, your zip code should not determine your access to healthcare.
• As you know, access to healthcare in rural Texas is critically important.
• These essential resources allow us to provide affordable access.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• access to be able access to to language access to be able to<00:50:23.599> understand<00:50:24.000
• loved ones couldn't access medication. loved ones couldn't access medication.
• Um, so our provide access to that.
• Hi, good access board. Welcome.
• disability and communication access disability and communication access board.<02:52:16.319>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard testimony on two immigration-enforcement bills: HB 1886 HD1 and HB 2540 HD1. HB 1886 would limit state and federal collaboration in immigration enforcement, require visible identification and restrictions on facial coverings for law enforcement officers, and create offenses for improper masking, lack of identification, and unauthorized civil immigration interrogation, arrest, or detention. HB 2540 would also limit state and federal collaboration, require law enforcement agencies to adopt and publicly post written civil immigration enforcement policies, prohibit stops or arrests based solely on immigration status, and restrict state and county participation in civil immigration enforcement in certain places. Most testimony supported both measures. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Office of the Public Defender, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and several private individuals said the bills would increase transparency, accountability, and community trust, and would help protect constitutional rights and reduce fear among immigrants and other community members. Several testifiers emphasized Hawaii’s history and the need to keep local law enforcement separate from federal immigration enforcement, while others said the bills would help people feel safer going to court, school, work, or public protests. A retired police officer also supported visible identification and uniform standards for officers, including federal agents operating in Hawaii. A few testifiers opposed the use of masked or unidentified officers and argued that local police should not be diverted from ordinary public safety duties to immigration enforcement. One ACLU witness noted that the federal government has increasingly used local and state agencies to expand immigration enforcement, and said the task-force provisions in the bills are important to prevent blurred lines between agencies. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the meeting provided, but it recorded very large numbers of supportive testimonies for both bills, with only a small number in opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can have access without trespassing.
• You can have access without trespassing. You can have access without trespassing.
• Road looking for an access point. There Road looking for an access point.
• So, um, wasn't accessible.
• accessible to everyone. accessible to everyone.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:05.440> this people that just can't not access this people that just can't not access
• this<00:08:06.879> because or will not access this because or will not access this because
• <00:45:16.680> to students in Minnesota have access to students in Minnesota have access to
• <01:14:52.280> to educational barrier limit access to educational barrier limit access to
• <01:15:01.120> to discrimination lack of access to discrimination lack of access to equality

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It is believed that the bill will have no significant impact on the state's critical access hospitals
• It is believed that the bill will have no significant impact on the state's critical access hospitals
• It is believed that the bill will have no significant impact on the state's critical access hospitals
• <01:44:37.159> uh<01:44:38.159> Health access uh Health access uh Health promoting<01:44
• They're looking for a way to access these drugs, and knowing the way that clinical trial access or beyond

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ...allow better access to those properties.
• <01:09:43.600> so this and and then they are accessible so this and and then they are accessible
• that project is to improve accessibility that project is to improve accessibility with<01:19:48.280
• <01:19:52.480> to<01:19:52.719> all building is accessible to all building is accessible
• those key Concepts ranging from access those key Concepts ranging from access uh<01:25:35.800>

Bills: HF1250

Keywords: outdoor heritage, land acquisition, wildlife management, conservation easements, environmental restoration, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Mike used access to treatment matters.
• > means<00:08:13.240> more Expanding access to treatment means more Expanding access to
• which many patients cannot access. which many patients cannot access.
• <01:25:14.120> to use disorders, and limited access to use disorders, and limited access to
• access to affordable child care. access to affordable child care.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Legislative Budget Office has access the Legislative Budget Office has access to<00:53:56.720
• that this expands their access to?
• access that this expands their access access that this expands their access to?
• <00:58:22.280> It requirement of access to data. It requirement of access to data.
• <01:02:45.520> to access to access to to<01:02:47.280> the<01:02:47.440> concern

Bills: HF1234, HF3528, HF3672, HF3679, HF3680, HF1944

Keywords: payment transparency, public contracts, contractor rights, government accountability, construction payments, barbering, licensing, examinations, barber schools, public safety, certifications, Barber Examiners Board, data transparency, Legislative Budget Office, state agencies, fiscal notes, public data, standard time, federal law, time zone

Transcript Highlights:

• When businesses cannot access capital, jobs are not created.
• The issue is access.
• > capital<00:04:02.720> for unlock access to debt capital for unlock access to debt capital
• banking access. banking access.
• access capital, jobs are not created. access capital, jobs are not created.

Bills: HF3707, HF3732, HF2581, HF3731

Keywords: unemployment insurance, judicial officials, paid leave, economic development, worker protections, workforce development, unemployment benefits, youth training, grants, job creation, grant funding, revolving loan, underserved communities, disadvantaged groups, electrical licensing, installation, Class A installer, regulations, labor and industry, 1183

Summary: The committee first adopted the minutes from February 26 and then heard House File 2581, authored by Representative Frazier, which sought $1 million for Fortis Capital, a nonprofit economic development lender. Frazier and Fortis CEO Brian Smith described Fortis as a gap-financing lender that helps underserved entrepreneurs who cannot meet traditional bank underwriting standards. They said the organization has made 37 loans totaling more than $4 million since 2021, leveraged another $29.5 million, and created 314 jobs. Smith said Fortis typically charges around 6.5% interest, has had two defaults, and uses a revolving loan fund model that recycles repayments; members discussed how the proposal fits with other state economic development programs and whether Fortis should instead be part of a competitive grant process. The chair laid HF 2581 over for possible inclusion in a budget bill. The committee then heard House File 3707, brought by Representative Berg, which would extend confidentiality protections to unemployment insurance and paid leave judges and related staff by adding them to the definition of judges for purposes of protecting personal information. Berg and testifiers from the Department of Economic Development and MAPE said the bill responds to harassment and safety concerns, including threats, doxxing, and an attack near an office, and is intended to protect people making sensitive determinations. MAPE supported the bill as an update to existing protections for similar workers. Members raised concerns that the bill’s language was too broad, especially the reference to the paid leave division, and questioned whether it should cover only judges or also call-center and other staff. Department and committee members agreed the language likely needed narrowing and discussed possible amendments and whether to move the bill to Judiciary and then revisit it. No final vote was taken on HF 3707 during the discussion, and the bill remained under consideration for further language work.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a non-accessible risk pool.
• We are a non-accessible risk pool.
• We are a non-accessible risk pool.
• We are a non-accessible risk pool.
• We are a non-accessible risk pool.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That access control...
• If SB7 passes, I won't just lose access to a restroom; I’ll lose access to my future in this community
• access is necessary for humans.
• They are designed to be accessible to every person.
• These spaces make restrooms more accessible and safe for all. This makes restrooms more accessible.

Bills: SB7, SB14, SB 7, SB 14

Keywords: gender designation, civil penalties, private civil rights, multiple-occupancy spaces, Texas Women's Privacy Act, law enforcement, confidentiality, personnel files, employee records, misconduct, abortion, civil liability, abortion-inducing drugs, qui tam actions, Texas Citizens Participation Act, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, healthcare regulations, impact fees, water conservation, reuse projects

Transcript Highlights:

• to medical cannabis flour have access to medical cannabis flour and<00:29:21.600> medical<00:
• So ensuring that those patients have access to the medical products, only not adult use, and that the
• So ensuring that those patients have access to the medical products, only not adult use, and that the
• ensuring that those patients have access ensuring that those patients have access to<00:33:43.919
• program and need access to their medication<00:34:13.760> are<00:34:14.079> able<00:34

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• issues in the state's continuing access issues in the state's emergency<00:15:37.240> and<00:
• It has the access and functionality things we need."
• It has the access<00:17:30.160> and<00:17:30.280> functionality<00:17:30.920> things
• <00:17:31.280> we access and functionality things we access and functionality things we need
• It's a format that you can put your information on, especially access and functional needs.

Bills: SCR180

Keywords: wildfire, fire hazard, Lahaina, West Maui, Maui wildfire, vegetation management, fuel reduction, defensible space, fuel breaks, invasive grasses, emergency access, evacuation route, fire lane, state lands, public safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal, community risk reduction, hazard mitigation, brush clearance, wildland-urban interface

Summary: The committee opened by noting it was likely its last hearing of the 2026 session, then took up several resolutions. SCR 54, on appointing a hydrogen fire safety expert and training on hydrogen-related protocols, and SCR 59, on allowing certain health care professionals to practice without a license during a state of emergency, drew no testimony. Members discussed SCR 59 as a response to past emergencies and the need for pre-approved, updated registries of professionals who could be deployed quickly in emergencies. SCR 62 SD1, which asks the 911 Board to form a working group with the disability community to address access issues in emergency and 911 responses, received testimony from disability advocates and the 911 Board. Testifiers said the measure should ensure an integrated system with EMS infrastructure, real-time access for dispatchers and field personnel, and public education about the system; they also noted that Smart911 is no longer being used on Oahu and Maui and that a statewide, integrated approach is needed. Members agreed to work the suggested language into the resolution. SCR 179, urging Maui County to enforce fire code provisions on brush clearance, fuel breaks, roadside vegetation clearing, and emergency access, was noted as having no testimony but continuing to raise important issues. SCR 74, calling for an audit of no-bid contracts issued under emergency proclamations from 2020 through 2025, drew strong support from a late testifier who tied the measure to emergency procurement concerns after the Lahaina wildfire and COVID-era contracting. The witness argued that procurement rules should not be waived in ways that compromise safety, and described concerns about unlicensed contractors and construction problems in a state housing project. Members asked about the scope of the audit and whether it would interfere with criminal investigations; the witness said the audit should cover a broad range of contracts, including nonprofit contracts, and should not be limited to the wildfire period. The committee also heard SCR 28 SD1 on creating a Hawaii Vietnam Veterans Medal, with support from the Department of Defense and veterans advocates, who said the resolution is intended to do the groundwork for a future appropriation and to determine eligibility and distribution procedures. Finally, SCR 60 SD1, requesting updates on the “Breaking Cycles” rehabilitation and restorative justice study, received support from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Correctional System Oversight Commission, and reform advocates. The department asked that reporting be annual rather than quarterly because of the complexity of the OCCC project, and supporters said the measure would promote transparency and help ensure the study’s recommendations are implemented. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:02:37.119> Uh easy and unrestricted access. Uh easy and unrestricted access.
• by people who shouldn't have access at this age to this material.
• by people who shouldn't have access at this age to this material.
• by people who shouldn't have access by people who shouldn't have access<01:04:54.160> at<01:04
• access at this age to this material. access at this age to this material.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all