Transcript Highlights:

• Please begin your testimony. Uh, thank you. Thank you to the committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Tim Engstrom, please state your name and begin your testimony. Thank you, Chairman.
• Please come to the table and state your name for the record and begin your testimony.
• Please state your name with the proper pronunciation and begin your testimony.
• Rinsky: Thank you for your testimony. I appreciate it.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House File 733, which would restore electronic pull-tab features such as open-all, free play, bonus games, and similar functions that were restricted in 2023. The bill’s supporters, including representatives of Allied Charities of Minnesota, the American Legion, and a Bloomington school activities foundation, argued that the 2023 changes reduced revenue for charitable gambling operations and, in turn, cut funding for veterans programs, youth sports, food shelves, school needs, and other local community services. Several supporters cited early revenue declines since the new rules took effect, including double-digit drops and one example of a Bloomington site reporting a 29% year-over-year decline overall and a 44% drop in e-tab revenue. They also argued that restoring the features would help charities without meaningfully increasing casino play. Opponents, including Citizens Against Gambling Expansion and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, said the bill would expand slot-machine-like gambling in neighborhood bars and restaurants and increase problem gambling and related social harms. They argued the features in question mimic slot machines, are especially concerning in non-age-restricted locations, and would amount to a major expansion of gambling. The tribal representative also said the 2023 clarification was appropriate, that charitable gambling revenues do not translate efficiently into mission funding, and that tax relief or other policy changes would be better ways to help charities than restoring the disputed features. The chair reminded testifiers to keep comments neutral and not partisan. After testimony, a member discussion began, with Representative Ray Rower thanking the testifiers and expressing support for their work. The transcript excerpt does not show a final vote or disposition beyond the bill being recommended to be re-referred to the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• begin your testimony. begin your testimony.
• We've talked appreciate your testimony.
• with your testimony when you're ready. ready. ready.
• Um, thank you for your testimony.
• Um, thank you for your testimony. done. Um, thank you for your testimony.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard testimony on the use of artificial intelligence in therapy and mental health settings. Representative Lisa Willner and Brenda Rosen of NASW Kentucky argued for “guard rails” on AI chatbots so they cannot present themselves as licensed therapists or replace school counselors, psychologists, or social workers. They said AI can support licensed professionals, but warned that chatbots cannot reliably recognize nonverbal cues, escalate crises, or provide accountable care, and they cited examples of harmful chatbot interactions, including a suicide case and a chatbot telling a user to “Please die.” The witnesses also raised concerns about data privacy, commercialization of sensitive mental health conversations, and the use of personal clinical content to train AI models. They said minors should require parental consent and suggested transparency about how a chatbot is trained and who created it. They distinguished between unvetted consumer chatbots and AI tools that have been scientifically validated or approved as digital therapeutics, noting that some evidence-based tools may be useful for specific conditions such as depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. Committee members asked whether regulation should be handled by the legislature or by professional boards, and whether a multi-state model would be preferable to 50 different state approaches. The witnesses generally favored expert-led standards and said a board or panel of experts could review and approve mental health chatbots, but members cautioned that boards can become too restrictive and that legislation should preserve flexibility and avoid discouraging children from seeking help. The discussion ended with a request for the witnesses to restate their proposed policy ideas, including privacy protections, bans on commercialization, limits on training AI with clinical content, transparency requirements, and informed consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Secretary of State's testimony.
• Thank you so much for your testimony.
• appreciate your testimony. appreciate your testimony. Okay. Okay. Okay.
• <01:20:31.960> about We've heard a lot of testimony about We've heard a lot of testimony about
• <01:20:41.720> the testimony we've heard from the testimony we've heard from the Department

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Commonwealth Office of Technology 00:01:00 Department of Education 00:21:00 Transportation Cabinet 00:35:30 Secretary of State 00:45:15 Cabinet for Health and Family Services 00:56:11 Discussion of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and Related legislation 01:09:11, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and then focused first on the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s legacy systems and two specific projects. COT officials said many agencies have made progress moving off legacy applications, with remaining mainframe systems slated to be retired through RFPs or other work orders. They also described a legacy funding pool of $10 million per biennium used to help agencies transition. The two projects discussed were the Kentucky aerial photography and elevation data program, which provides statewide aerial imagery and lidar data for GIS, E911, environmental, transportation, and other uses, and a citizen identity and access management system intended to give residents a single login for state services. Officials said the GIS program costs about $1.2 million annually to host and maintain, with data acquisition costing several million more per year, and that the citizen identity system would cost about $2.5 million per year after an initial three-year COT investment. Members asked about duplication of funding, licensing, local government use, and whether multi-factor authentication would be required; COT said the GIS data is being acquired as statewide unlicensed data and that MFA would be available but not yet mandated statewide. Committee members pressed COT on costs, overlap with cabinet-level IT spending, and the practical benefits of the GIS and identity projects. COT explained that GIS hosting is generally covered through enterprise assessments billed quarterly to agencies, while the new aerial data is intended to benefit the whole state and local partners. On the identity project, officials said it would centralize authentication for citizens who use state systems, improve compliance with zero-trust and NIST-related security expectations, and reduce help desk and maintenance burdens through self-service account tools. Members also discussed whether the system would extend to local governments; COT said it would be a Kentucky.gov-style state login for users inside the state identity infrastructure, not a local-government system. The Department of Education then testified that it does not operate mainframes or major legacy systems, having moved long ago to cloud-based, off-the-shelf products and vendor-supported services. KDE officials described a strong emphasis on staff cybersecurity awareness, standardized statewide systems, vendor risk-sharing, and reducing sensitive data exposure, including efforts to move away from student Social Security numbers. They also highlighted a transition from Microsoft Active Directory to Identity Automation, which they said will improve identity management and make multi-factor authentication universal across K-12. In response to questions about Kentucky Wired and internet service, KDE said all 171 school districts and KDE agencies have been moved to a new next-generation internet service through ENA by Zayo, with strong satisfaction, e-rate savings, and better reliability. Officials warned that any internet disruption would immediately affect attendance, grades, student records, payroll, security systems, and communications across the K-12 system.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair your testimony.
• I'll uh, Lee and Kristen's testimony.
• Identify yourself and go testimony.
• Uh, up Thank you for your testimony.
• <00:38:10.400> Thank<00:38:10.480> you, testimony. Yes. Thank you, testimony.

Bills: HF630, HF1435, HF1607

Keywords: short-call substitute, substitute teacher, substitute teaching license, pilot program, teacher shortage, education workforce, school district, charter school, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, background check, paraprofessional, education support personnel, temporary license, substitute training, retaliation, teacher pay, daily substitute pay, Minnesota education law, education innovation

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we ready then to begin testimony? Nothing further?
• as we detail in our written testimony as we detail in our written testimony this<00:26:35.279>
• If you'd identify yourself for the record, we're pleased to have your testimony.
• as some of the previous testimony.
• I really do appreciate all the testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the testimony, and we're going to close the testimony and is there a motion to move into
• I’m going to hand in to the committee testimony from Forum Energy.
• I’m going to hand in to the committee testimony from Forum Energy.
• Thank you for your testimony, Senator Ros. Thank you, Mr.
• <02:09:50.199> I'm described in my prior testimony I'm described in my prior testimony I'm

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And by your testimony, we can see that that's not the case.
• And by your testimony, we can see that that's not the case.
• Just give me a moment to find it in my testimony here.
• Just give me a moment to find it in my testimony here.
• Hanmi touched on it in her testimony.

Summary: The committee held an oversight hearing on a state audit examining California’s community college transfer process and whether streamlining it could improve access to bachelor’s degrees. Opening remarks from legislators emphasized that California’s transfer system is central to equity and workforce development, but that only about one in five transfer-intending community college students complete a transfer within four years. Members highlighted disparities by race, region, campus, and major, and pointed to confusion created by differing requirements across the UC, CSU, and community college systems, including limits and inconsistencies in the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), TAG, and major-specific prerequisites. State Auditor’s staff said the audit found that while UC and CSU systemwide enroll more transfer students than the Master Plan target, individual campuses and high-demand STEM programs often do not. The audit identified barriers including unclear and varying course requirements, limited counseling and education plans, insufficient counselor staffing at some campuses, and weak equity plans. It also found that many students never even apply because they do not accumulate enough units or cannot navigate the process. The auditor described examples where transfer students with strong preparation were denied at selective campuses and noted that articulation alignment across systems remains limited. Representatives from UC, CSU, and the Community Colleges responded that transfer remains a top priority and described ongoing reforms. UC cited a new public dashboard, data-sharing agreements, new transfer pathways, and an ADT pilot at UCLA, while saying campus-level capacity and program differences limit how much can be standardized from the system office. CSU said it admits more than 90% of eligible transfer applicants, is expanding transfer planning tools and direct outreach, and is implementing SB 640’s Transfer Success Pathway Program. Community Colleges said transfer reform must focus on clearer credit mobility, more consistent articulation, and broader ADT adoption. Members pressed the systems on inconsistent major requirements, the need for better coordination, and whether campuses are fully prioritizing transfer students; no votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we first saw this as a budget amendment, and we filed written testimony.
• I don't think we heard testimony to that. I'm a history major in college.
• We heard testimony to that. As a history major in college, maybe I agree with it.
• Yeah, so just looking at this, so we've got our meeting on the 14th, which does have testimony.
• That's important testimony that we have.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism met to hear testimony from Chief James Hicks of the Natick Police Department, who chairs the Municipal Police Training Committee, and Chief Thomas Fowler of the Salisbury Police Department. They described the statewide civil-rights-officer model for hate-crime response, the HEART Unit, and MPTC training authority under POST, and urged the commission to recommend incorporating the IHRA definition of antisemitism into police training and to fund that effort. Commissioners asked about how law enforcement should handle antisemitic incidents that may not rise to crimes, the 2022 Mapping Project, masking during protests, and the role of HART; the chiefs said departments can update training quickly, that every department should have a trained civil-rights officer, and that HART’s expertise should be integrated statewide. The commission also approved the October 16, 2025 minutes after correcting an initial procedural error. The rest of the meeting focused on the draft report, especially the prefatory statement and the definition section. Commissioners broadly praised the report’s scope and the chairs’ work, but offered many edits aimed at tightening language, reducing advocacy tone, and clarifying the “Massachusetts way” of combating antisemitism. Several members wanted stronger emphasis on Massachusetts values, education, moral leadership, and the distinction between hate incidents, hate crimes, and statutory offenses; others urged clearer references to constitutional protections, First Amendment limits, and Attorney General review of legal statements. There was also discussion of whether to keep or remove references to alternative definitions of antisemitism: some commissioners argued that only the IHRA definition should be centered, while others said acknowledging other definitions was factually important and would reflect the range of testimony. Commissioners also raised specific substantive edits for later sections, including adding examples such as the 2022 Mapping Project, strengthening language on online intimidation, academic boycotts, and divestment campaigns, and clarifying that some conduct may be hateful even if lawful. In the higher education section, members praised recommendations on mandatory training, bystander intervention, trauma-informed responses, mental health supports, and campus climate surveys, while suggesting a few technical edits and additional best-practice examples. No final votes were taken on the draft report during this portion; the chairs said they would incorporate feedback into a revised draft before the remaining meetings and eventual vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we have time, we will open for public testimony at the end of the three panels in case there are people
• Well, as I said also in my testimony, you know, there is a request from the End the Epidemics coalition
• But I also wanted to query you, though, because I think, and during your testimony, you, you, you, you
• Is there anybody here that wishes to give public testimony that hasn't?
• Is there anybody here that wishes to give public testimony that hasn't?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please introduce yourself and begin your testimony. >> Thank you, Mr.
• Uh, please introduce yourself and then begin your testimony. >> Sure.
• So that's the end of my testimony.
• <00:13:04.000> Thank testimony. Thank you very much. Thank testimony.
• And hearing testimony public waters.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For the committee's practice, there is a two-minute time limit on testimony, although members often have
• , that was envisioning 7 to 10, testimony, that was envisioning 7 to 10, not<00:13:32.959> 247.
• As indicated in our written testimony, we are in strong support of this measure.
• As indicated in our written testimony, we are in strong support of this measure.
• So we'll stand on our written testimony and thank you for allowing me to offer additional comments in

Bills: SB2055, SB2152

Keywords: civil rights, helpline, investigator, data analysis, Aloha United Way, reporting, confidentiality, community support, mandatory retirement, Hawaii Constitution, judiciary, justices, judges, 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard SB 2055, which would create a Civil Rights Commission helpline for reports of harms from federal deployments in Hawaii and require annual reporting and a public hearing. The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission supported the concept but said the bill should be broadened to cover civil rights and human rights violations more generally, and recommended using existing 211/Aloha United Way infrastructure. Testimony was largely in support, with a few opponents. Members focused on whether the proposed line was really a 24-hour legal hotline or a reporting/referral mechanism, what jurisdiction the commission would have over federal employees, and the estimated costs. The committee chair indicated the bill would move forward with amendments, including adopting HCRC recommendations and adding appropriations for Aloha United Way, database/website development, and staffing. The committee then heard SB 2152, a proposed constitutional amendment to raise the mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices from 70 to 75. Judge Robert D.S. Kim, the Office of the Public Defender, Earthjustice, Community Alliance on Prisons, the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, United Public Workers, the League of Women Voters, ILWU Local 142, CARES, and others testified in support, arguing that experienced judges improve stability, reduce vacancies, and preserve institutional knowledge. Opponents or skeptical comments were limited, but one member questioned whether the measure was just a temporary fix rather than a broader solution to judicial succession and mentoring. Members also asked about existing retention and fitness safeguards, including Judicial Selection Commission retention hearings and the Commission on Judicial Conduct’s ability to investigate complaints about a judge’s physical or mental ability to serve. The discussion noted that the measure would still leave those processes in place. No final vote on SB 2152 was taken in the portion provided, but the committee appeared to be moving toward decision-making after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, ...subject matter expert testimony in our hearings. In fact, Mr.
• Speaker, is there a demand for subject matter expert testimony in our hearings. In fact, Mr.
• We heard testimony from... ...is already in place today.
• When you look at testimony and support of this bill, 25 people in favor, 25 submitted testimony, you
• I looked at the testimony. I was there.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up several procedural motions, including suspending House rules for three legislative days and replacing conference committee members on Senate Bill 2282 and SCR 4007. The chamber also recognized visiting student groups from Grafton/Pleasant Valley and Shiloh School. Later, the House agreed to several conference committee reports and moved a number of measures through final passage or final disposition. House Bill 1428, which would have created a sales tax exemption for clothing sold by thrift stores or nonprofit corporations, drew extensive debate over tax policy, revenue loss, and possible conflicts with streamlined sales tax rules. Supporters argued it would help lower-income shoppers and nonprofit thrift stores, while opponents said it created an unfair advantage and could reduce state and local revenue. The conference report was adopted, but the bill ultimately failed on final vote, 37-54. House Bill 1440, relating to cigar lounges, was amended in conference and then passed 75-17. House Bill 1460, concerning adult foster care for private-pay adults, electronic monitoring, and a legislative study, was also adopted and passed overwhelmingly, 91-1. The House then passed Senate Bill 2224, which revises gaming commission structure and gaming stamp requirements, adds Attorney General enforcement provisions, and includes a $25,000 general fund appropriation, by a vote of 88-0. Senate Bill 2327, which expands uses of the agriculture diversification and development fund and appropriates $15 million to it, passed 74-17 after a member was excused from voting due to a personal interest. Senate Bill 2267, creating a regulatory framework for on-site wastewater treatment systems and shifting licensing authority to the Department of Environmental Quality, passed 82-10, and Senate Bill 2276, addressing joint water resource boards for cross-county projects, passed 90-1. The most contentious debate centered on Senate Bill 2160, which would move the state employee health plan from grandfathered status to a non-grandfathered ACA-compliant plan and appropriate about $6.6 million for the transition. Supporters said it would give the PERS board more flexibility, expand preventive and other benefits, and potentially slow premium growth without charging employees premiums. Opponents warned it could raise out-of-pocket costs, add mandated benefits, and shift costs to employees, while also arguing the bill had not been adequately studied. After extended debate, the House passed SB 2160 by a vote of 55-37. The chamber also concurred in Senate amendments to House Bill 1318, a pesticide labeling bill, and placed it on final passage, but the transcript ends before the final vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• testimony. We'll continue on here. testimony. We'll continue on here.
• And testimony to that during committee.
• <00:59:52.480> was pathway and we also as as testimony was pathway and we also as as testimony
• One person says in the testimony today.
• <01:04:06.960> Any testimony for Miss Peters? Any testimony for Miss Peters?

Bills: HB0015, HB0017, HB0019

Keywords: right to repair, digital electronics, consumer protection, embedded software, manufacturers, repair providers, tools and documentation, anti-theft measures, blockchain, financial technology, digital innovation, economic development, select committee, trespass, hunting, land use, public access, wildlife, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, in that case, we'll go back to Miss Bears for your testimony. Mr.
• Please introduce yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
• Thank you, Mara Deir, for sharing your testimony.
• Thank you. testimony my name is Barbara Bennett I testimony my name is Barbara Bennett I am<00:35:59.640
• Please introduce yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And thank you also to Senator Farnsworth for helping us secure this testimony.
• Board, after holding a meeting and allowing public testimony on the proposed renewal.
• <01:14:15.480> on meeting and allowing public testimony on meeting and allowing public testimony
• But with that, and in your own testimony, shouldn't such expenses then... clarification so in your testimony
• shouldn't and and in your own testimony shouldn't and and in your own testimony I<01:17:10.960><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You may begin your testimony. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• testimony and you just came in support.
• committee and begin your testimony committee and begin your testimony unless<00:43:11.559> you
• Bergman's testimony. Can you give her a full name? Certainly. Mr.
• <01:16:28.120> um I I'll read um M bergman's testimony um I I'll read um M bergman's testimony

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• regulations and for soliciting testimony regulations and for soliciting testimony from<00:03:41.799
• Okay, thank you for your testimony.
• I appreciate your testimony. Thank you.
• <01:16:37.480> but moment all of the written testimony but moment all of the written testimony
• <01:23:53.960> yesterday written testimony yesterday written testimony yesterday I<01:23:55.199

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Before you begin your testimony, please state your name for the record and then please keep your testimony
• If your testimony veers off subject, I will respectfully ask you to bring your... your testimony, please
• All testimony related to purview.
• However, we will not entertain testimony However, we will not entertain testimony on<00:48:49.680
• :48:53.599> I<00:48:53.760> will testimony veers off subject, I will testimony veers off

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll move in the testimony.
• So, uh, I We'll move in the testimony.
• <00:02:06.799> Thank the testimony. Thank you. Yeah. Thank the testimony. Thank you.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• I will try and keep my testimony today.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We ask that you stand on your written testimony if your oral testimony is different from your written
• testimony.
• Decision-making will occur after we hear from those offering testimony.
• Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony.
• I thought I had submitted my written testimony, but perhaps not.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees met on February 19, 2025, to hear advice-and-consent nominations, beginning with GM 645/GM 650 for Mike Lambert as Director of the Department of Law Enforcement. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state officials, community leaders, nonprofit representatives, and others, who praised Lambert’s collaboration with communities, communication skills, and practical approach to public safety. Several speakers highlighted his work on homelessness, game rooms, community policing, and his ability to work across public health and law enforcement lines. Lambert told the committee he has 22 years of law enforcement experience, including patrol, community policing, training, narcotics/vice, and work on fentanyl, internet crimes against children, and ghost guns, and said his priorities would include building community trust, improving training and discipline, and addressing fireworks and firearms enforcement. Senators asked about fireworks, federal collaboration, ports and airport screening, recruitment, pay parity, and whether the department should expand into a more formal state police force; Lambert said he would need time to learn the new port/shipping environment and would support a state police class and expanded enforcement capacity. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the transcript provided. The committee then heard GM 567 for Jean Dello Jr. as chairperson of the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Supporters, including Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice and Hawaii Paroling Authority staff, described him as honest, ethical, fair, and experienced in balancing public safety with rehabilitation and re-entry. Dello said he came out of retirement in 2021 to serve on the board, and that his background in federal probation and state corrections led him to favor evidence-based practices over simple compliance monitoring. He emphasized the need to weigh public safety with giving inmates a real opportunity to transition successfully back into the community. No final action or vote was announced in the excerpt provided.