Video & Transcript Research : 'emerging technologies'
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KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on State Government.(1-29-26)
State Government
Transcript Highlights:
- During COVID and emergency measures, we started using, you know, Teams meetings, Zoom, WebEx, things
- unless there's a state of emergency unless there's a state of emergency declared,<00:08:49.200><
- <00:10:36.160>
has with modern technology, this has with modern technology, this has certainly - <00:27:08.720>
All Commonwealth Office of Technology. - All Commonwealth Office of Technology.
Keywords:
HB 66 (discussion only) -- 00:05:33
Consideration of HB 213 -- 00:12:16
Consideration of HB 314 -- 00:22:11, 958, all
Summary:
The House State Government Committee opened its first meeting of the year with prayer, the pledge, a roll call, and a reminder of committee procedures, including sign-up rules for public testimony, decorum expectations, and recognition of staff. The chair noted the committee had a quorum and outlined the day’s agenda, which included three bills. Representative Hodgson presented House Bill 66 for discussion only, explaining that it would distinguish between boards and commissions that can meet entirely electronically and larger public agencies that should have a quorum physically present unless there is an emergency. He said the bill also aimed to require agencies to post member information and contact details online so the public can provide feedback. Representative Tipton asked whether the bill would apply to state and local bodies, and Hodgson said it would; no vote was taken on HB 66.
The committee then considered House Bill 213, sponsored by Representative Emily Callaway, on reemployment of retired police officers. A committee substitute was adopted unanimously. Callaway said the bill would reduce barriers to rehiring retired law enforcement officers, allow local agencies and universities to offer health benefits in lieu of retirement benefits, lower the service threshold for this specific rehiring from 20 years to 15 years, and give agencies flexibility on retirement contributions. She emphasized that the bill would not allow double dipping and had no quantified fiscal impact. Members raised a question about review by the Public Pension Oversight Board; Callaway said that had not yet occurred, and the chair noted the committee’s practice that pension-related bills are typically reviewed by that board first. Despite that concern, the committee voted 16-2 to report HB 213 favorably, with two members passing.
Finally, the committee took up House Bill 314, relating to the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and declaring an emergency. After adopting a committee substitute, Representative Matt Lockett said the bill was intended to reorganize oversight of Kentucky Wired by moving KCNA into the Finance and Administration Cabinet under the Commonwealth Office of Technology, abolishing KCNA’s separate executive director, transferring KCNA functions and records to COOT, and restructuring the board with new members and two governor appointments from lists submitted by KACo and KLC. He said the measure was meant to provide stronger oversight and more direct control over the project, and that the emergency clause was needed because of budget implications. Members asked for clarification on the differences between committee substitutes, and Lockett said one prior substitute removed the attorney general from the board at his request, while the current one added the governor’s appointments. He also said a floor amendment would strike language related to a nonprofit board associated with Kentucky Wired. The transcript ends during discussion of HB 314, before any final vote is shown.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Jan 27th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Appropriations and Budget
Transcript Highlights:
- We have legacy systems and critical technology that are outdated.
- We have implemented machine reading technology.
- And that's what the emergency reserve would enable us to do.
- The technology they'll utilize works, as we've seen.
- If the Department of Oklahoma emergency Man or not ari not emergency management faced a flat budget,
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, right now in emergency response or emergency declarations, animal disease is not specifically enumerated
- So these sorts of technologies are, are available to our scientists.
- So, uh, you know, we might get an emergency use on it.
- We're asking for for to prepare now before the emergency comes. Mr.
- Well, now, oh, we got emergency approval. How do we do it?
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force (6-27-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- all's local first responders, emergency all's local first responders, emergency managers,<00:06:
- emac in which is EMAC is emergency emac in which is EMAC is emergency management<00:26:45.039>
you know I was talking to an emergency you know I was talking to an emergency manager<01:24:17.840- body to ask for technology.
- body to ask for technology.
Summary:
The first meeting of the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force focused on the task force’s mission and on recent Kentucky flooding disasters. The co-chairs described the need to better prepare for increasingly frequent and costly natural disasters, including flooding, tornadoes, wildfires, and ice storms, and emphasized coordination among local, state, federal, and interstate partners. The discussion also stressed the importance of budgeting for mitigation, infrastructure resilience, housing, insurance, and recovery planning, with several members sharing personal experiences with disaster impacts in their districts.
Kentucky Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson gave the main presentation, responding to questions about the February and April flooding events. He said the February event affected the entire state, with 11,825 individuals registering for assistance and 1,194 public-assistance projects written so far; he also reported 134 households still sheltered, 190 households moved to permanent housing, and three disaster recovery centers still open after a regional consolidation. For the April event, he said 37 counties had individual assistance, 83 counties were still pending public assistance, and no hazard mitigation had yet been declared; 5,893 people had registered for individual assistance, and 144 households were sheltered, with 83 families already moved to permanent solutions. He noted that counties without public assistance would have to cover expenses locally unless state or federal aid is approved.
Gibson also outlined Kentucky Emergency Management’s tools and resources, including a 24/7 state operations center and warning point, embedded National Weather Service meteorologists, five regional warehouses stocked with water, MREs, blankets, and kits, a statewide web-based damage reporting system, laundry trailers, generators, a disaster needs hotline that has received 6,972 calls, and a mutual aid system used to deploy resources such as water tankers. He highlighted ongoing work on urban search and rescue, qualification systems for emergency operations personnel, and aerial documentation of storm damage. No votes or formal actions were taken at this meeting.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/26/25
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- , respond to missing persons emergencies, respond to missing persons emergencies, and<00:16:04.440
- respond to these types of emergencies. respond to these types of emergencies.
- <00:30:36.760>
when covers these kinds of emergencies when covers these kinds of emergencies - , technology, technology, but<00:59:40.320>
I <00:59:40.400>appreciate <00:59:40.920> - emergency medical service providers. emergency medical service providers.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget 3rd Revised Apr 13th, 2026 at 04:30 pm
Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget
Transcript Highlights:
- Could you help me understand why this is an emergency? Thank you for the question.
- Could you help me understand why this is an emergency? Thank you for the question.
- Chair, on the public safety technology revolving fund.
- for when we have... storms and bad emergencies.
- And also, they respond to tragedies and emergencies throughout the country.
Bills:
HB4030, HB4031, HB4032, HB4033, HB4034, HB4035, HB4036, HB4037, HB4038, HB4039, HB4040, HB4041, HB4042, HB4043, HB4044, HB4045, HB4046, HB4047, HB4048, HB4049, HB4050, HB4051, HB4052, HB4053, HB4054, HB4056, HB4057, HB4065, HB4067, HB4071, HB4072, SB1144, SB1145, SB1146, SB1147, SB1148, SB1149, SB1156, SB1157, SB1158, SB1159, SB1161, SB1162, SB1163, SB1164, SB1165, SB1166, SB1167, SB1174, SB1175, SB1176
Keywords:
education funding, budget appropriations, public schools, teachers' retirement, early childhood education, aeronautics, infrastructure, funding, sustainability, Oklahoma, mining, operator fees, coal production, noncoal mining, department of mines, revenue, state budget, budgetary reform, financial legislation, fiscal accountability
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
October 7, 2025 - 12:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- AI IS NOT JUST A TOOL BUT A TECHNOLOGICAL SHAPE OF THE FUTURE FOR INSURANCE.
- THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEEN AROUND AND IN USE FOR A LONG TIME.
- DO YOU FORESEE THE INTEGRATION OF AI TECHNOLOGY TO AFFECT INSURANCE PREMIUMS?
- HOW DO YOU FORESEE THAT, THE AI TECHNOLOGY TO AFFECT PREMIUM PRICES?
- KOVAL, THINK WE ARE IN THE EMERGING STAGES OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND MR.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Mar 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- and direct air capture technologies.
- review of CCS and CDR technologies.
- We've very... ...start the technology review of CCS and CDR technologies. That's well underway.
- So the types of projects that we fund in the emerging opportunities bin are the technologies that lead
- So those, the types of projects that we fund and the emerging opportunities been are the technologies
Summary:
The committee hearing focused heavily on CARB’s broad trailer bill request for regulatory fee authority. Finance and CARB argued the proposal would let CARB develop fees to recover reasonable costs for implementing and enforcing regulations, while the LAO recommended rejection because the authority was too broad, could apply to an entire division of code, and would delegate core legislative taxing/fee-setting power without enough guardrails. Members from both parties raised concerns about the breadth of the authority, accountability, affordability impacts, and whether the Legislature would be put in an up-or-down position after CARB had already developed regulations. CARB responded that fees would still go through a budget change proposal and legislative approval before collection, and cited existing examples such as transport refrigeration units and commercial harborcraft fees.
The committee then reviewed CARB’s request for permanent resources to implement SB 905 on carbon capture, utilization, storage, and carbon dioxide removal. CARB said the Legislature had previously authorized limited-term positions and funding, but it had struggled to recruit and retain staff with specialized regulatory and technical expertise, and that the work had included pre-rulemaking contracts, technology review, and permit-related preparation. Members questioned the pace of work, the use of limited-term positions, and whether additional permitting authority would be needed. CARB said it hoped to begin rulemaking later in the year if permanent resources were approved.
Members also discussed the cap-and-trade spending plan, noting lower-than-expected auction revenues but higher interest earnings, and the need to monitor the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and possible May Revision changes. The committee then heard overviews of the zero-emission vehicle package, the Community Air Protection Program, demand-side grid support, and e-bike incentives. CARB described ongoing investments in community-based transportation equity, drayage trucks, harbor craft, and other clean technology demonstrations, while members pressed on affordability, program duplication, and whether enough funding was being directed to incentive programs. No formal votes were taken during the portion provided, and the chair repeatedly indicated that the hearing was intended to surface concerns for later budget negotiations.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 14, 2026 - 01:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- What are the technologies that they're going to be needed to support that?
- So the say they are highly advanced technology already available.
- Help with the OEM certification support integration with technology.
- And so am current technology that's being proposed to propellers are smaller.
- I mean, that's the amazing technology that's here today.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee Apr 30th, 2025
Communications and Conveyance
Transcript Highlights:
- Gerald Ducci from Emergent Global. Solutions to Terry Nicole Baca from AT&T.
- provider, or necessary emergency services.
- Members, customer demand is driving this technology evolution.
- and emergency communications to make more resilient.
- Additionally, sending modern emergency notifications and information such as wireless emergency alerts
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Jun 21st, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies
Transcript Highlights:
- Technologies.
- , defense technology, and so much more.
- technology, and so much more.
- Innovation isn't just about technology; it's about people.
- Innovation isn't just about technology; it's about people.
Summary:
The committee on Economic Development held a hearing on the DRIVE Act, a proposal to invest $400 million in Massachusetts research and innovation without new taxes. Governor Healey and administration officials said the bill would direct $200 million to public higher education research and regional partnerships and $200 million to a research funding pool for hospitals, universities, and other institutions, with the goal of retaining talent, leveraging private and philanthropic dollars, and offsetting major federal R&D cuts. They argued that research is a core economic engine for the state, supporting jobs across labs, construction, services, and surrounding businesses, and said the bill would help protect the Commonwealth’s tax base and competitiveness during a period of federal uncertainty and cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs.
Committee members raised concerns about whether Fair Share surtax dollars should instead be used for K-12 and other community needs, whether the proposal is enough given the scale of lost federal grants, and how the money would be allocated. The governor responded that the funds are one-time surplus dollars, that most surtax revenue already supports education, and that the bill is meant as a bridge to stabilize public higher education and research. She also said the legislation includes a review board and could support a revolving or matched-fund approach in some cases. Several members pressed for more detail on selection criteria, future funding, and whether private companies and large endowments should contribute more.
University of Massachusetts leaders and researchers testified that federal grant cancellations and delays are already causing layoffs, furloughs, rescinded admissions, and lost research capacity. UMass officials said the bill would help preserve faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and research programs in medicine, climate science, marine science, Braille instruction, and AI decision-making. They emphasized that the funding should be merit-based and that the state needs to act quickly to prevent talent from leaving Massachusetts. Business, labor, and industry groups, including MassBio, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, AIM, the AFL-CIO, and Building Trades, supported the bill, saying it would protect jobs, sustain the innovation ecosystem, and reinforce Massachusetts’ national leadership in research and life sciences. No vote was taken in the hearing.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:08:52.760>
that how Ted mentioned, technologies that how Ted mentioned, technologies that - , technologies, technologies, um<00:09:13.080>
again, <00:09:13.360>I <00:09:13.400> - First up, HB 2310, making an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services.
- 31:55.000>
the emergency appropriation to the emergency appropriation to the Department<00:31: - HB 2173. the same pathway for emergency the same pathway for emergency appropriation<00:35:09.040>
Keywords:
cesspool, wastewater systems, public health, environmental protection, affordable upgrades, coral reefs, water quality, Hawaii legislation, cesspools, wastewater, environment, pollution, Hawaii, sustainable development, sewerage system, real estate, disclosure, environmental impact, wastewater management, housing
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several cesspool-related measures. HB 1730 HD2 would create a cesspool conversion implementation working group to help the Department of Health review rules and practices and develop changes to make conversions more affordable. DOH and DLNR stood on written testimony, while environmental and wastewater advocates strongly supported the bill, emphasizing the need for dedicated staffing, technical expertise, and smaller, more focused advisory groups. Members discussed the high cost of upgrades and the need for new technologies that reduce excavation and leach field costs. The bill was passed with amendments, including clarifying the DOH director’s discretion over the size of the working group, and the committee noted DOH’s appropriation request for consideration.
HB 1985 HD1 would extend certain cesspool conversion deadlines and authorize funding for consultants, while also advancing outreach and education. Testimony split sharply: advocates supported the education component but opposed deadline extensions as premature, arguing the state still has many years before the 2050 mandate and should not weaken the conversion timeline. The committee agreed to amend the bill to delete the deadline-extension portion, keep technical changes, and note DOH’s position request. HB 1749 HD2 would require sellers to disclose cesspools to buyers before a real estate purchase contract is executed and direct DOH and the Real Estate Commission to create a standardized form. Realtors supported the intent but asked to avoid duplicative statutory form requirements, and advocates stressed that disclosure should be prominent and not buried in paperwork. The committee adopted amendments removing the standardized-form mandate and passed the bill.
HB 1921 HD2 would allow certain existing cesspools in priority level three areas to continue serving dwellings with additional bedrooms under conditions. DOH brought the measure, and supporters from the real estate and environmental sectors discussed innovative wastewater technologies, retrofits, and composting toilets as ways to reduce costs while improving treatment. The committee amended the bill to require DOH director-approved wastewater technology using solid waste separation for bedroom-count increases and to clarify priority-level determinations using block-level data from the Hawaii cesspool prioritization tool, then passed it. The committee also heard HB 2310, an emergency appropriation for the Department of Human Services to restore funding used to keep SNAP benefits flowing during the federal shutdown; DHS, public health, children’s advocates, and others supported it, and members questioned why it was not handled through the budget. The discussion clarified that the bill sought new money to move quickly for ACA-related premium support. No final vote on HB 2310 was shown in the excerpt.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Yeah, it's a different type of technology.
- For advanced nuclear technologies to be viable, they need to achieve technological maturity, demonstrating
- It also gives time for this technology to develop.
- This is a small and diverse technology.
- Emergency management during a governor-declared disaster or emergency is crucial.
Keywords:
licensing, reciprocity, regulation, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, interstate agreements, nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 132, Texas Government Code Chapter 418, Public Information Act, confidential records, homeland security, foreign adversary, terrorism, critical infrastructure, emergency response, law enforcement
Summary:
The meeting was a thorough exploration of multiple bills, most notably focused on innovative energy solutions and public safety enhancements. Key discussions centered around HB14, which aims to bolster the state's nuclear energy capabilities through the establishment of a Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office. Senators and expert witnesses discussed the potential of nuclear power as a clean energy source and a strategic necessity for Texas's growth. There was strong support for the bill, with various stakeholders highlighting its importance for the future energy landscape. Additionally, other bills like HB132 addressed the need for enhanced confidentiality protections regarding sensitive information, while HB1584 sought improvements in power restoration procedures during emergencies. Overall, the committee engaged with multiple viewpoints, balancing innovation with safety and ethical considerations.
NJ
New Jersey 2026-2027 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Appropriations Jun 24th, 2026
Senate Budget and Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- It's an emergency response bill, and the window is open.
- Emerging industry as a whole.
- technology.
- So to begin, Platforms and all the other platforms underneath this emerging technology.
- We are concerned it sends a troubling message that New Jersey is hostile to emerging retail technology
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Happy to stand for any questions. prioritized technology investments, prioritized technology investments
- ><00:49:05.320>
in supporting emergence of consortiums in supporting emergence of consortiums - Um, but I don't know much technology Um, but I don't know much technology really<00:50:15.760>
<01:31:51.880>shelter capital investments in emergency shelter capital investments in emergency - two emergency shelter units. two emergency shelter units.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Ways & Means Oct 16th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- As we came into the public health emergency, you can see as we move into the PHE in '21 and '22, that
- If you did, I'm sorry, but I wondered what kind of hit we can expect on the emergency rooms across the
- If you did, I'm sorry, but I wondered what kind of hit we can expect on the emergency rooms across the
- So we will likely see increased utilization of emergency rooms.
- So we're working very hard on working with our technology changes to put those into practice, but also
Summary:
The Ways and Means Committee held a work session to review how H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) could affect Washington’s Medicaid, long-term care, developmental disabilities, and food assistance programs, with a focus on implementation challenges, fiscal impacts, and likely coverage losses. Staff and agency officials explained Washington’s Medicaid financing structure, eligibility categories, caseload trends, and the role of the Health Care Authority and DSHS in administering Apple Health and related services. They also described how Medicaid expansion increased access to behavioral health services and how H.R. 1’s provisions are expected to affect the expansion population most directly.
Health Care Authority and DSHS officials outlined several major H.R. 1 changes: new work and community engagement requirements for the Medicaid expansion population, six-month redeterminations instead of annual renewals, changes to immigrant eligibility, limits on provider taxes and state-directed payments, new cost-sharing requirements, reduced retroactive coverage, and changes affecting long-term care eligibility. They said Washington is still awaiting federal guidance on many details, but estimated that about 620,000 Apple Health expansion enrollees could be subject to work requirements, that roughly 30,000 immigrants could lose Medicaid eligibility under the new definition of qualified alien, and that some long-term care and developmental disability clients could be indirectly affected. Officials also said the state is working with other agencies to build shared verification systems and may seek a delay waiver, though they do not expect broad federal flexibility.
The committee also heard that H.R. 1 immediately blocks Medicaid reimbursement for Planned Parenthood services for one year, with the state planning to backfill about $11 million to preserve access. In addition, officials warned that the law could reduce federal Medicaid revenue by billions over time and strain hospitals and emergency rooms as more people become uninsured. They noted that Washington’s rural health transformation grant application is due November 5 and could bring some funding, but not to offset coverage losses. No votes were taken; the session was informational only. The committee then heard a separate presentation on food assistance, where staff and DSHS described H.R. 1’s SNAP changes, including expanded work requirements, immigrant eligibility restrictions, higher state administrative costs, and a possible future state share of benefit costs tied to payment error rates. DSHS estimated a four-year fiscal impact of about $750 million for food assistance changes and said the state is working on system and policy changes across agencies before the new requirements take effect.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- In doing so AB 1053 will improve the quality of educational technology and ensure that educators have
- I think all, as technological savvy folks, know that Wi-Fi at best has its issues.
- technological solution.
- It will be before you in an emergency.
- In the case of the general fund, emergency loans such as that provided to Inglewood Unified.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Emergency Management Committee Apr 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- My name is Katerina McNulty, and I've been involved with emergency dispatch for 23 years.
- Is it at the emergency operating center? Yes. So thank you for that great question.
- When people call 911, they are facing very real emergencies.
- This is important life-saving technology. Other states are deploying Next Generation 911.
- But if you had up-to-date technology, we wouldn't be here. And I wouldn't be here right now.
Summary:
The committee heard several bills related to public safety, emergency response, wildfire prevention, and environmental protection. AB 2152 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez would streamline CEQA litigation for new fire station projects and add best-practice requirements; supporters, including firefighters, said it would help communities and firefighter safety, while opponents argued the project labor agreement requirements would raise costs and limit participation for small and nonunion contractors. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2041 by Assembly Member Carrillo would expand reporting related to 911 dispatcher pre-arrival medical instructions; after amendments and stakeholder agreement, opposition groups said they would remove their opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2101 by Assembly Member Gipson would require human trafficking notices and training at disaster sites and for disaster response workers; supporters said it would protect vulnerable workers, while broadband, city, and county representatives raised implementation concerns, especially in rural disaster areas. It passed to Appropriations despite a no vote from Vice Chair Hadwick.
The committee also considered AB 1805, which would require an audit and stronger oversight of the state’s Next Generation 911 project after concerns about major spending and delays. CalNENA supported the bill’s transparency and accountability provisions, and the measure passed to Appropriations. AB 1536 by Assembly Member Addis would tighten safety and public review requirements for offshore oil pipeline restarts and require decommissioning of certain spill-prone pipelines; environmental and coastal government groups supported it, while the Western States Petroleum Association warned it would threaten fuel supply and pipeline operations. The bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. AB 1964 would direct the State Fire Marshal to survey home hardening in fire-prone areas and estimate costs; it passed to Appropriations with broad support.
AB 1960, also by Assembly Member Bennett, would use a portion of wildfire prevention grants to encourage community-level home hardening certification. The author said the bill would create incentives and broader public awareness, while the vice chair argued it would favor communities that can already afford hardening and divert resources from higher-need areas; the bill still passed to Appropriations. AB 1863 by Assembly Member DeMaio would clarify that people cannot be charged simply for calling 911 or when no services are rendered, while preserving fees for actual services and allowing billing for legitimate emergency response costs; it passed to the Assembly floor. The committee also took up consent item AB 2517, which passed to Appropriations. After add-on votes for absent members, the meeting adjourned.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you. technology into our local manufacturing technology into our local manufacturing industries
- The shipyard is looking for technology, as you know they are.
- The shipyard is looking for technology, as you know they are.
- The shipyard is looking for technology, as you know they are.
- Right. is why they have an emergency is why they have an emergency fund.<00:41:59.760>
I <00:42
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on HB 449 relating to economic development, HB 1006 relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and then began HB 1467 relating to housing resiliency. On HB 449, Director Wayne Enoy of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and several business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii Food Industry Association, testified in strong support. They said the measure would help local manufacturers and tech-focused businesses adapt to uncertainty around tariffs and federal funding pauses, diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy, and expand workforce training and apprenticeship efforts tied to innovation and manufacturing.
The bulk of the discussion focused on HB 1006 and proposed agritourism authority for ADC. ADC, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and other supporters said agritourism can be a value-added tool that helps farmers diversify income while keeping agriculture as the primary use of the land. One testifier opposed the bill’s direction without stronger guardrails, urging that a high percentage of revenue or land use remain tied to actual agricultural production. Committee members questioned ADC and Farm Bureau witnesses about how much land should remain in production, whether agritourism could expand on public lands, how enforcement would work, and whether responsibilities should be shifted from the Department of Agriculture’s marketing functions to ADC. Witnesses said ADC currently has no tenants engaged in agritourism, but would support standards, annual reporting, site visits, and the ability to reclaim land if production requirements are not met.
No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided. After concluding HB 1006 testimony and questions, the committee moved on to HB 1467 and called the first witness, Luke Meyers, before the transcript ended.
OR
Oregon 2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee On Information Management and Technology 06/17/2026 8:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- I'd like to call to order this meeting of the joint committee on information management and technology
- This is for a variety of reasons, one of which is outdated technology.
- So we've started to see legislation first emerged on this issue just this past year.
- So that, you know, because we all know how technology is so fast.
- Like, you know... ...because we all know how technology is so fast.
Summary:
The committee held a series of informational briefings on information management and technology issues. It first heard from ACLU representatives on data privacy, who argued that Oregon should strengthen protections against private data brokers, government purchases of personal data, reverse warrants, automatic license plate readers, and local police surveillance. They urged data minimization, limits on data sales and retention, and broader transparency and accountability measures. Members asked about practical uses of license plate readers, state sales of data, and how Oregon’s approach compares with other states; the presenters said similar proposals have been adopted elsewhere, including data minimization in Maryland and a state version of the Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act in Montana.
The committee then received a detailed update from the Department of Administrative Services and Enterprise Information Services on licensing system modernization for 14 boards and commissions with the most immediate need. DAS said it is seeking a shared procurement approach through an RFP that would create either one scalable system or two tiers of systems, depending on agency needs and security requirements, with contracts expected by September. Committee members emphasized the need for a more unified, user-friendly statewide login and service experience for businesses and residents, and raised concerns about small agencies “figuring it out on their own” without sufficient cybersecurity or technical expertise. EIS said it is overseeing the investment review, security and architecture review, and future implementation planning, and noted that multiple agency requests may still come back to the legislature in the next session.
The committee also discussed a revised cybersecurity incident notification concept. Staff explained that the earlier bill had raised stakeholder concerns, so the co-chairs directed further interim work with the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council and other local government and K-12 stakeholders. The goal is a narrower, voluntary “911-style” notification process that would let public bodies alert peers and potentially receive assistance after cyber incidents; a temporary voluntary process is being tested now, with a work group developing language for possible 2027 consideration.
Finally, the committee heard updates from the new state chief data officer on data governance, data sharing, geospatial work, and the state transparency website, followed by a briefing on data centers from NCSL and the Technology Association of Oregon. The data officer described efforts to expand data inventories, data governance plans, data literacy, and interagency sharing, along with statewide aerial imagery, geospatial standards, and the open data portal. The data center discussion focused on national and state trends, including rapid growth in data centers, rising electricity and water demand, and legislative responses such as new rate classes, reporting requirements, and cost-allocation rules to protect ratepayers. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only.