Transcript Highlights:

• And every so often in this process, you get hit like a ton of bricks.
• And every so often in this process, you get hit like a ton of bricks.
• a streamlined public hearing process, allowing for local input and a public negotiation process between
• Yes, as a matter of fact, this has nothing to do with the approval process.
• Senator Rizul, I want to thank you for this, just how the process works.

Summary: The committee first confirmed six appointees on a single roll-call vote, then took up a series of bills, many of them on land use, housing, public safety, child welfare, education, and professional licensing. Early debate centered on CS/SB 208, which would require development fees to better reflect review costs and impose objective compatibility findings for residential projects. An amendment folded in additional housing-related provisions, including manufactured housing and a study of urban development boundaries, prompting extended discussion about Miami-Dade’s Everglades protection area and local control. A late-filed rural-boundary amendment was withdrawn. The bill was reported favorably after support from business, housing, and advocacy groups, with some senators voicing district-specific concerns. The committee then approved CS/CS/SB 686 on agricultural enclaves after amendments added conservation easement, wildlife corridor, and critical state concern protections, plus a further Everglades-related amendment. Members discussed balancing smart growth, infrastructure costs, and protecting environmentally sensitive areas. Other land-use and growth bills also advanced, including CS/SB 1434 on infill redevelopment, CS/SB 1138 on qualified contractor pre-application review, and SB 218 limiting the reach of prior hurricane recovery zoning protections in counties not affected by the 2024 storms. SB 1474 on biosolids management was amended to reduce the distance threshold for land application restrictions and delay the effective date, and SB 1708 on veterinary licensure by endorsement removed a three-year recent-practice requirement to address shortages. Several public safety, health, and family-related measures also passed. CS/CS/SB 436 expanded felony battery enhancement to include resisting an officer with violence and certain law-enforcement battery offenses. SB 830 extended public-records protections to county and city administrators and related family information. CS/CS/CS/SB 600 revised bail bond rules, and an amendment preserved the current treatment of charitable bail funds and nonprofits; the committee heard testimony from The Bail Project and others on both sides. CS/SB 914 expanded dry-needling supervision options for occupational therapists, CS/SB 1092 clarified podiatric use of certain cellular/tissue products, and SB 1504 and SB 1718 updated insurance licensing and educator certification pathways. On the education side, CS/CS/SB 7038 made broad postsecondary changes, including tuition waivers, residency clarification, and licensure rules, while CS/SB 186 required seizure-response training and action plans in schools. The committee also advanced multiple child welfare and health bills. CS/CS/CS/SB 560 streamlined psychotropic medication procedures for children in state custody and added youth-voice and insurance-review provisions. CS/CS/CS/SB 902 combined several Department of Health changes, including medical marijuana distance rules, autism microcredential eligibility, a neurofibromatosis grant program, and NICU nutrition information. SB 1002 expanded child welfare definitions to address parental drug abuse and neglect, and SB 1708 eased endorsement licensure for out-of-state veterinarians. Most bills were reported favorably on roll-call votes, with several amendments adopted along the way and limited opposition or abstentions noted on some measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, first we'll talk about the capital budget process that MMB facilitates.
• budget process that MMB facilitates. budget process that MMB facilitates.
• You also have our procurement processes.
• Um obviously our procurement processes.
• <00:53:47.839> when having an open competitive process when having an open competitive process

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I hear you and I've heard you through this process.
• I was just processing for a minute. I think what it just gets hard.
• So I'm just processing through those pieces.
• <00:41:24.079> Um just processing through those pieces.
• Um just processing through those pieces.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Seclusion Working Group met for its final meeting on January 28 and first approved the prior meeting minutes after correcting two roll-call vote errors involving Miss Woodward. The chair then gave an extended recap of the history of seclusion policy, including the pre-2023 emergency-only framework, the 2023 ban on seclusion for children birth through grade 3, the 2025 introduction of SF 1830 to restore prior law, and the compromise amendment that allowed limited seclusion in grades 1 through 3 with added safeguards. The chair also reviewed the working group’s timeline, noting it had met from August 2025 through January 2026 and was required to submit findings by January 30, 2026. The main substantive discussion focused on the chair’s proposed timeline for eliminating seclusion and an alternative proposal from Mace. Several members criticized a Minnesota Department of Education letter that opposed parts of the working group’s recommendations, arguing it mischaracterized district practices, questioned informed consent and mental health professional provisions, and did not reflect the realities faced by schools. Members supporting the current use of seclusion said districts already use MTSS, PBIS, Ukeru, and other interventions, but still need seclusion in limited emergency situations. They also said the department’s comments felt inflammatory or unsupportive. On the timeline issue, Mace proposed allowing limited seclusion for students in grades 1 through 12 receiving certain special education services until July 1, 2036, with data collection on outcomes and related interventions. Some members supported a “runway” toward elimination, saying it would allow time to build alternatives and avoid an abrupt ban, while others said they could not support including grades 1 through 3 in any extended timeline and preferred elimination sooner. Members also questioned whether MDE currently collects enough data on law enforcement interventions and related outcomes. The meeting ended with continued discussion of the timeline proposal, but no final vote or report approval was recorded in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:14:14.639> That process.
• That process.
• <00:24:49.760> um establish just a formal audit process um establish just a formal audit process
• <00:27:14.960> is<00:27:15.279> descertification process is descertification process is
• Is there really any due process there?

Keywords: Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency - Room 210; 28 January, 2026: 10:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first nominated and elected Senator Lane Taylor as secretary by voice vote, with no opposition. It then took up several bills and reported each one out after brief explanations and no recorded opposition. Senate Bill 2372, from the Department of Archives and History, would allow county filing-fee revenues now used only for preservation of historic records to also support records management, historic preservation, and museum services in counties. Barry White said the money is not for capital projects, but could fund services such as building assessments and recommendations. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2378, which would raise court reporter transcript fees from $2.40 to $4.00 per page; the sponsor said most costs are paid by litigants, while county funds are mainly affected in indigent criminal appeals. Both bills were advanced. The committee next considered Senate Bill 2401, relating to Accelerate Mississippi. Senator Sparks said it would extend the repealer to 2029, update procurement and reporting provisions, change some federal terminology, move the annual report deadline from October 1 to November 1, and repeal obsolete workforce-area references. It was reported out after a brief question about the obsolete sections. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 2402, the Amy Act, which removes the five-day grace period for lobbyist registration so registration must occur before a person begins lobbying; sponsors said the goal is transparency and tracking misinformation, not changing the definition of lobbyist. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2445 on community mental health centers. Department of Mental Health Executive Director Wendy Bailey said the bill would create a formal performance audit process, with standards developed by June 30, 2027 and audits beginning in FY28 every two years. Centers failing standards would be placed on probation, and continued failure could lead to temporary replacement of leadership by DMH-selected contractors until compliance is restored. Members asked about current probation and decertification procedures, the number of struggling centers, and whether consolidation would be preferable; Bailey said the department wants to preserve local centers and use the process only as a temporary intervention. The bill was discussed but the transcript cuts off before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, it's not that I don't distrust—I actually trust the process, and I think that these kind of
• processes, again, when you create a require cooperative effort, you end up with a better outcome.
• So the executive has a role in the current process would have a role in this contingency process.
• <00:26:40.480> would has a role in the current process would has a role in the current process
• So I guess my question is more of a process one.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then people are—it goes through a process. And so...
• Arizona should only have to pay a minimal processing fee.
• They should pay what it costs to actually process the fees.
• Sorry, so there is a whole process... Excuse me.
• But it's administrative action, and after that process of certification, there is another process where

Bills: SB1003, SB1006, SB1029, SB1037, SB1038, SB1039, SB1040, SB1053, SB1057, SB1060, SB1061, SB1068, SB1069

Keywords: election, canvass, certification, ballot tabulation, write-in candidates, registration, voting procedures, campaign finance, contribution limits, reporting requirements, political action committees, elections, campaign contributions, candidate committees, posthumous provisions, termination process, Arizona Revised Statutes, voting systems, vote tabulation, election security

Transcript Highlights:

• They gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process and work experience, as well as insight into
• I am so thankful that not only has she learned the process, but she has been thriving along with her
• It gives young people the chance to step into the heart of the legislative process.
• Make a difference in his community by contributing to the legislative process.
• Actually, the model creates a clear, as you noted, two-step process.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, heard an invocation, dispensed with the previous journal, and received a House message. Members also recognized Dr. Namita Bardwaj as doctor of the day. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 554 honoring Christopher “Chris” Jake Stone of Santa Fe for his heroism during the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, with several senators and the lieutenant governor offering remarks about his sacrifice and the ongoing impact on his family and community. The Senate also signed a number of bills and resolutions and adopted Senate Resolution 533 recognizing the Texas Legislative Internship Program class, with multiple senators highlighting individual interns and the program’s role in developing future public servants. The floor then took up and passed several bills, often by suspending the regular order and the three-day rule. These included HB 1639 on a study of cancer incidence among female firefighters; HB 102 granting early registration for students in military-related programs; HB 4325 increasing civil penalties for barratry; HB 5342 creating a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline trust fund and related funding study; HB 3370 allowing late timberland appraisal applications after an owner’s death; HB 3376 requiring certain guardians to complete dementia/Alzheimer’s training; HB 132 extending confidentiality protections to information about hostile acts by foreign adversaries; and HB 1978, which sought to restrict ERCOT interconnections, but its motion to pass to engrossment failed on a 20-11 vote. Additional measures passed included HB 511 on unsolicited voter registration mailings, HB 2187 on nurse staffing, retaliation, and overtime protections, HB 2510 creating offenses for unlicensed assisted living operations, HB 694 on DFPS notification timelines, HB 1893 making license plates in law-enforcement video nonconfidential for public information requests, HB 2733 updating barratry and solicitation laws for digital communications, HB 4506 allowing opt-in electronic zoning notices, HB 3751 transferring a TxDOT property to DPS, HB 3033 creating a grant program for nonprofits supporting injured or killed DPS employees, HB 4273 on Medicaid fraud prevention and eligibility verification, HB 3211 on vision care benefits, HB 4529 exempting certain DoD-certified child care facilities from state licensure, HB 2522 easing fingerprinting requirements for certain vehicle dealers, HB 4219 tightening public information request response requirements, and HB 4783 requiring a report on opioid antagonist programs. The Senate also received a House message noting passage of SB 9, and a nominations committee report was announced for future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill does not mandate a specific amount of forest treatment or the technologies used to process
• And having gone through the process recently of selling a home that had solar on it, there...
• Schultz, but I want to thank the author for engaging me as well in this process. Yes, yes.
• Well, I want to respect the process. Oh, hey, how's it going? I mean it. But I responded.
• Well, I agree that their internal processes are constantly... I'm hearing it.

Summary: The committee heard several energy and utilities bills, with testimony largely focused on wildfire mitigation, affordability, clean energy planning, and utility accountability. AB 706, by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, would create a fund to support projects that use forest biomass waste from wildfire mitigation and forest restoration; supporters said it would reduce open burning and emissions while providing reliable renewable power, and the bill later passed 13-0. AB 39, by Assembly Member Zbur, would require larger cities and counties to adopt electrification planning strategies for transportation and buildings; it drew broad support from clean energy, labor, environmental, and local government advocates and passed 9-0. AB 1167, by Assembly Member Berman, would restrict investor-owned utilities from charging ratepayers for lobbying, promotional advertising, and similar shareholder-benefit expenses; supporters framed it as an affordability and transparency measure, while utilities argued the bill was overly broad and already covered by existing rules. It passed 7-0, with some members not voting and the roll left open. The committee also considered AB 1417 on offshore wind community funding transparency, which was amended to remove new fees and instead require reporting on developer support for local and tribal community capacity-building; opposition was withdrawn and the bill passed 9-0. AB 367, by Assembly Member Bennett, would require water districts in high fire-risk areas of Ventura County to have backup power, full tanks during red flag warnings, and hardened facilities; water agencies opposed unless amended due to cost and liability concerns, but the bill passed 10-0. The consent calendar, including multiple additional measures, was approved 11-0. Other bills drew more divided testimony. AB 745 would allow securitization to finance utility undergrounding and prohibit a return on equity for undergrounding projects; supporters said it would lower ratepayer costs, while utilities warned it would effectively discourage undergrounding and could raise other rates. The bill passed 7-4 and was left on call. AB 1423 would apply reliability standards to publicly funded EV chargers installed before 2024; supporters said taxpayers should get functioning chargers, while charging-network representatives objected to retroactive requirements and possible conflicts with existing agreements. It passed 13-0. AB 388 would create a narrow exception to utility regulation to facilitate green hydrogen projects using private power lines; supporters said it would unlock low-cost renewable hydrogen and jobs, while utilities raised concerns about customer protections and grid planning. It passed 12-0. The committee also began hearing AB 825, which the author said would address the high cost of financing major transmission and generation buildout, but the transcript cuts off before the full presentation and action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We pushed hard in the first through the whole process to have ratios considered.
• We pushed hard in the first through the whole process to have ratios considered.
• We pushed hard in the first through the whole process to have ratios considered.
• I have lots of conversations with people to try to bring about generic change or process change.
• They are the people we hire to be the experts, and yet they're so detached from the process.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:21.599> the machines as part of that process the machines as part of that process the
• “The permitting process and, like I said, the only reason he got through the permitting process was due
• process process correct<02:10:42.760> obviously<02:10:43.119> that<02:10:43.239> any
• <02:20:50.319> of through the process of through the process of taking<02:20:51.520> your
• <02:20:59.520> from separating separate process from separating separate process from scratch

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The public hearing opened on HB 728-FN, which would authorize video lottery terminals at charity gaming facilities and repeal historic horse racing licensing. Representative Om explained that the bill would convert the current historic horse racing terminals into true video lottery terminals/slot machines and change the revenue split, reducing the operator share from 75% to 70% while increasing the state share from 25% to 30%. He also noted the bill would increase the amount going to charities and other state beneficiaries. Former State Rep. Pat Brammy, who had served on the Charitable Gaming Study Commission, testified in support of the bill’s basic structure. He said a consultant’s report found historic racing machines cost facilities 12% to 18% more to operate because of totalizer and track-related fees, and that slot machines would be cheaper because there are more manufacturers and more competition. He argued that although the operator share drops by 5%, facilities could still benefit from lower operating costs, and he said the commission concluded that moving to slot machines would increase revenues to facilities, charities, and the state. He also said the bill would create a more stable stream of funding for problem gambling, since the current HHR “breakage” funding mechanism is limited and dependent on a single vendor. Brammy also discussed the commission’s concerns about market concentration in HHR machines, saying the commission found the market was dominated by only a few manufacturers and recommended legislation to address that issue under Article 83 of the state constitution. He interpreted the bill as allowing a phase-in of slot machines upon passage, with the remaining HHR provisions phasing out by January 1, 2028, and said facilities would likely transition as leases expire. Committee members asked about HHR contracts, machine programming, testing, and whether removing HHR would reduce competition; Brammy said he believed leases were likely short-term, machines are tested by a lab, and the legislature could decide whether the change is appropriate. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Randolph, this measure takes a substantial step forward to make Randolph elections a more inclusive process
• Further, once a political designation is created, there's no process in which it can be dissolved, even
• We would fix the processing messes and confusion and fix the ballot return deadline so that slow mail
• What was that process, and how was it determined that five would be reviewed but the rest would not?
• I couldn't understand the process. I think it was very confusing.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on several election-related bills, with most testimony focused on voting access, ballot administration, and election procedures. Senator Driscoll testified for S. 509, a Randolph home rule petition to require bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole, and Randolph officials and community members strongly supported it, saying it would improve access, confidence, and participation for Haitian Creole speakers. Other speakers, including advocates and residents, described language barriers as a form of voter suppression and urged favorable action. Leader Donato testified on H. 822, which would remove the word “physical” from the absentee voting disability standard, and on a bill to raise the signature threshold for creating political designations and allow dormant designations to be dissolved. Senator Rausch testified on several bills, including one expanding the State Ballot Law Commission’s jurisdiction over presidential primary candidate placement and a broader elections infrastructure bill that would change registration deadlines, primary dates, reporting systems, ballot design, mail voting procedures, and voter outreach. Representative Cattelda also testified on a bill to rename the ballot title for governor’s councilor to “governor’s counselor.” The Massachusetts Town Clerks Association, through Tom Joyce and Ben Kaufman, said it supported a number of the bills and offered local election administration expertise. Former Representative Lenny Mera and Sandra Cato testified for S. 536, a bill on accountability for defective and spoiled ballots, citing a disputed 2022 Revere recount and arguing that spoiled ballots should be documented and publicly inspectable so improperly rejected ballots are not lost. Emma Chinman of Partners in Democracy supported multiple reforms, including the elections infrastructure bill and a bill allowing unenrolled voters to serve on boards of registrars. After testimony concluded, the committee accepted written testimony by email and then adjourned without taking any votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• By switching to a refund process, this means purchasers will have to apply to the Department of Revenue
• So the amendment specifies the refund process and caps the amount of tax that may be refunded for each
• We would also like to avoid fixing the issue that one stakeholder has with the current process at the
• You know, and I've kind of been—I have a thought process as I'm looking at it.
• You know, and I've kind of been—I have a thought process as I'm looking at it.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard three bills. First, the committee considered Senator Osgood’s home hardening products bill (CS/SB 78). An amendment was adopted that changed the sales tax exemption for impact-resistant doors and windows into a refund process, limited eligibility to homeowners with site-built homesteads valued at $700,000 or less, capped the refundable tax at $500,000 per property, and set the refund period for two years beginning July 1, 2026. After the amendment, the bill was reported favorably. The committee then took up Senator McClain’s SB 208 on land use and development regulations. The bill would define compatibility and infill residential development, allow administrative approval of certain infill projects, and set standards for local development-related fees. Several members and stakeholders discussed possible changes to the compatibility and fee provisions. Testimony included opposition from Audubon Florida, the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities, and 1,000 Friends of Florida, who raised concerns about sprawl, public participation, the 100-acre infill threshold, and impacts on rural lands and the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Support came from Highland Homes and several groups that waived in support, including AARP, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Associated Industries of Florida. The bill was reported favorably after debate. Finally, the committee heard Senator Trumbull’s SB 118 on special assessments for recreational vehicle parks. The bill clarifies that if a local government levies a special assessment on an RV park space or campsite, the assessed square footage cannot exceed the maximum square footage allowed for a recreational vehicle. An amendment clarified the maximum square footage as 400 square feet. After brief discussion and no opposition, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• with individuals to figure out how to expedite and facilitate the state intergovernmental permit process
• Um, there is a current section in DBEED that allows for facilitated permit process, but to our research
• 17.600> for<00:05:18.039> facilitated<00:05:19.039> permanent<00:05:19.440> process
• allows for facilitated permanent process allows for facilitated permanent process but<00:05:20.560
• If it is linked to the facilitated permitting process under DBED. Not to our knowledge.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs heard two concurrent resolutions. HCR 33 proposed asking the U.S. Postmaster General to relocate the Pearl City Post Office from Kamehameha Highway and Acacia Road to Navy property on the Pearl City Peninsula. Testifiers, including Pearl City Neighborhood Board chair Larry Verrett and resident Lena Ala Baiton, supported the move, citing severe congestion, narrow access, safety concerns, and the potential to improve traffic flow and support transit-oriented development. Members noted a similar Senate measure had already passed, and HCR 33 was recommended to pass unamended. The committee then considered HCR 157, which would establish a task force to simplify permitting for enhanced economic development and coordinate state and intergovernmental permitting processes. Testimony in support was submitted by representatives connected to DBED/HHFDC and others. In discussion, members questioned whether such a task force was necessary, what projects it would address, how often it would meet, whether it could include housing and local-level projects, and what the cost might be; the response was that the resolution would provide more structure, no similar project had been executed before, and costs were not yet known but could be addressed later. The committee ultimately recommended HCR 157 pass unamended, and the recommendation was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um process of reviewing those records.
• This is where we are in the process.
• This is where we are in the process.
• <01:19:31.120> and have been through the whole process and have been through the whole process
• process we'll come with you. Go ahead. process we'll come with you. Go ahead.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a very smooth disbursement process.
• was a very smooth dispersement process was a very smooth dispersement process uh<00:19:49.200>
• services uh through the variance process services uh through the variance process which<00:26:11.600
• for states in the middle of that process for states in the middle of that process that<01:36:44.159
• public health emergency renewal process public health emergency renewal process um<01:37:51.400>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee met on February 6, 2025, for an update on emergency medical services (EMS) policy and implementation. Senator Seberger described the work of the EMS Task Force, which traveled statewide to hear concerns from providers about staffing, reimbursement, and retention. She said the task force led to the Sprint Medic model and two innovation zones in Otter Tail and St. Louis counties, and she urged continued monitoring and possible reconstitution of the task force to evaluate what is working and what could be expanded statewide. She also said future EMS work should continue to explore alternative response models and telemedicine, but that the most immediate need is additional funding, especially to address unpaid non-transport calls. Dylan Ferguson, director of the newly formed Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services, gave a detailed update on the office’s structure and priorities after the transition from the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board. He described the office’s three divisions, the appointment of deputy directors, the first meetings of the advisory councils, and work on a statewide EMS strategic plan. He also reviewed the $24 million emergency ambulance aid program, explaining its 40-40-20 formula, the emphasis on rural services, the reporting and spending deadlines, and the positive response from ambulance providers. He noted that the $6 million Sprint paramedic grant program is underway, with Otter Tail County moving forward and St. Louis County still finalizing its application. Ferguson also outlined the office’s budget request for modest staffing and contract-cost increases, two rulemaking efforts to update outdated ambulance vehicle standards and expand medication options for basic life support services, and ongoing data collection on workforce needs, violence against EMS providers, and ambulance crashes. He highlighted the paramedic scholarship program administered by the Office of Higher Education, saying nearly 300 scholarships have been awarded. Members and Senator Seberger praised the EMS reforms and emphasized that non-transport calls create significant unreimbursed costs, especially for rural and volunteer services, but no votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• complaint process um to weaponize it complaint process um to weaponize it against<00:54:35.680> um
• forwards through their own process moves forwards through their own process investigation<00:55:48.720
• > the investigation process um which is the investigation process um which is the stark<00:55:
• <00:57:28.079> that not aware of avenues or processes that not aware of avenues or processes
• <00:57:48.319> to<00:57:48.640> verify a process to verify a process to verify So<00

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures. HB 1957, relating to safe entryways, would create enforcement procedures in large cities to prevent personal property from blocking private doorways or entrances. The Department of the Attorney General supported the concept but recommended moving the offense to the criminal code, adding clearer definitions to avoid vagueness, and including notice, inventory, storage, and property-disposition procedures to address constitutional concerns. No other testimony was offered and no questions were raised. HB 25003/HB 253, relating to fireworks, would expand civil asset forfeiture for certain fireworks offenses, revise the definition of aerial device, and clarify air-delivery offenses. The Attorney General supported the bill but suggested removing the 25-pound weight threshold to avoid unequal treatment of similar offenses. The Department of Law Enforcement also supported the measure, saying it would improve clarity for evolving fireworks investigations and prosecutions. The committee took no action during testimony. HB 2137, relating to artificial intelligence, would prohibit certain harmful uses of realistic AI-generated digital imitations, require disclosures, and create civil remedies and fines. The Commission on the Status of Women supported the bill, while the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women opposed it on First Amendment grounds. The Motion Picture Association, Recording Industry Association of America, and SAG-AFTRA also opposed the bill but said they preferred a different framework, the federal “No Fakes” model, and were willing to work with the committee on amendments. The Attorney General had suggested constitutional amendments, which the chair said would be considered later. The committee also heard HB 2198 on prediction markets, with the Honolulu prosecutor strongly supporting inclusion of prediction markets in the gambling definition because of concerns about speculative betting on events and national security-related outcomes. HB 1511 on consumer protection drew support from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Insurance Division, with OCP proposing clearer disclosure for license and registration renewal solicitations. HB 1897 on condominium alternative dispute resolution received supportive comments from the Real Estate Commission and CI. HB 1642 on crypto kiosks drew strong support from OCP and AARP Hawaii for a ban on kiosks accepting U.S. currency, but opposition from Hill Ventures, which argued for regulation and guardrails instead of a ban. HB 1753 on social media account deletion received supportive comments from DCCA on clarifying deletion of unique identifiers and inferences. HB 1654 on anonymous complaints against public employees drew strong opposition from the Attorney General over implementation and due process concerns, while the Government Employees Association supported it as a way to screen baseless complaints; the committee then moved on to HB 1659 on collective bargaining, with testimony beginning as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• 02.640> a know, it was a challenging process, a know, it was a challenging process, a modest<00
• So, we've got an administrative uh process that can do that.
• So, we've got an administrative uh process that can do that.
• So, we've got an administrative process that can do that.
• <00:58:35.119> is know uh until our budget process is know uh until our budget process is

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:11 Executive Budget 00:00:50, 958, all

Summary: The committee met to hear a presentation from Dr. Hicks on the governor’s recommended budget for the next biennium. He reviewed the revenue outlook, noting modest general fund growth, a large rainy day fund balance, and the impact of recent income tax reductions. He said the budget was built around recurring reductions, lower debt service and retirement contribution rates, and the use of excess restricted funds, while protecting K-12 education, Medicaid, postsecondary education, public safety, and pension obligations. Dr. Hicks outlined several major spending and reserve proposals, including $350 million from the Department of Insurance’s excess restricted funds to support Medicaid in the first year, $150 million for the affordable housing trust fund, $125 million for rural hospitals, $100 million to offset lost federal ACA premium tax credits, $75 million for utility assistance, and $50 million for food assistance. In education, the proposal included a phased pre-K for all plan funded by sports wagering tax revenue, a 3% annual salary increase for full-time school personnel, continued full funding of teacher pensions, a 2.5% annual increase in SEEK base funding, and additional support for career and technical education and school facilities. He also discussed Medicaid cost pressures, including higher managed care, pharmacy, behavioral health, and nursing facility costs, and explained the expected effects of federal HR1 changes on Kentucky’s Medicaid program. Those changes include work and community engagement requirements and more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion members, which the administration estimated would reduce enrollment by about 4,300 in the first year and 28,000 in the second year. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting, which was limited to the budget presentation and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• we have process we have process where<00:09:43.360> the<00:09:43.680> legislaturator's
• >> late in the budget process. >> late in the budget process.
• <00:49:51.920> which then come out with a process which then come out with a process which
• Chair, the process was broken.
• Chair, the process was broken.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee began its first meeting on retained education funding bills, focusing on HB 366, which concerns school building aid for eligible projects, and HB 295, which would make school building aid program funds non-lapsing. The chair framed the discussion around broader questions about how school building aid should work, noting the state’s limited available funding, the existing debt service obligations, and whether the current formula should continue or be changed. He also raised concerns about the state’s overall revenue constraints and the need to consider renovation, new construction, and possibly leasing within any future program. Members and the Department of Education representative discussed whether school building aid is a state or local responsibility, the current backlog of projects, and the condition of school facilities statewide. Tim Carney of the Bureau of School Facilities described his background and answered technical questions about current programs. Representative Luno argued that under the ConVal decision the state has responsibility for school buildings, including construction and renovation, and that the program also serves an equity function by helping districts with less property-tax capacity. Representative Papich urged the committee to focus on policy structure and fairness rather than just available dollars, saying the current system creates winners and losers and suggesting a simpler per-capita or similar allocation model, while acknowledging a possible transition for projects already in the pipeline. The discussion also covered CTE facilities and leasing. Carney explained that charter schools, and possibly CTE centers, can receive limited leasing aid, and that CTE capital requests are funded through a state capital process, while federal Carl Perkins funds cannot be used for construction. He and others described a separate rotational funding approach for CTE centers, but several members said that model can leave programs waiting too long and may not match changing workforce needs. The chair and others noted that a report from a related study group on CTE policy and funding was still pending, and that its absence could affect legislation for FY28. No votes were taken and no bill was acted on in the portion of the meeting provided; the discussion ended with interest in modeling alternatives, reviewing the waiting list, and examining the tradeoffs of reducing upfront state aid versus funding more projects overall.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:55:22.960> Seeing process. I recommend an I vote. Seeing process.
• <04:30:36.560> to to be able to manage this process to to be able to manage this process to
• <05:26:34.958> all against this condemnation process all against this condemnation process
• and I think it hones in on the process and I think it hones in on the process that<05:38:12.480>
• Not not deprive it with due process.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That doesn't mean that you can't introduce a review under the Administrative Process Act.
• Given the bill vastly strengthens this process by requiring a court petition, the amendment removing
• Speaker, H.B. 773 basically moves the curing process delayed effective date from the Friday basically
• This legislation relates to elections, absentee, and provisional ballots, a cure process.
• And then lastly, 7 and 8 are technical clarifications, so the administrative review process can exist

Keywords: April 22, 2026 - Reconvened Session, 976, house, all