Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:05.199><c> affect</c> of how campaign finance laws affect of how campaign finance laws affect
• Um, also healthcare law and litigation.
• > are</c> accountable uh when those laws are accountable uh when those laws are broken.<00:21:15.440>
• Maringer Law Firm. I'm an attorney and Maringer Law Firm.
• </c><00:29:42.799><c> Uh</c> within the law is very important. Uh within the law is very important.

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• of Law.
• Immigration Law Clinic within the University of North Dakota School of Law.
• I'm just confused exactly what an immigration law clinic in a law school is. Senator Wabama. Mr.
• The purpose of having it in the law school then is they have law students participate in the research
• And we protect those of those that are law-abiding.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum call, then approved journal corrections and moved to elect Senator Kyle Davison as President Pro Tem. Davison was nominated, elected by unanimous ballot, escorted to the rostrum, sworn in, and gave remarks thanking his family, colleagues, and faith, emphasizing relationships, service, and stewardship. The chamber also recognized National Public Health Week with a floor statement honoring public health workers and training programs, and that statement was ordered printed in the journal. The Senate then considered several House bills, beginning with HB 1485, which increases the personal needs allowance for Medicaid residents in certain facilities by $15 per month and indexes it to inflation; the amendment was adopted and the bill passed 46-1. HB 1018, the State Historical Society budget, was amended to adjust one-time and ongoing funding for museum exhibits, repatriation compliance, archives storage, local historic grants, and the military gallery project, then passed 42-0 with one senator excused from voting due to a conflict. HB 1181, defining gender in state code as an individual’s sex and removing a broader application section, passed 41-6. HB 1144, adding a penalty and enforcement mechanism related to transgender student accommodations and restroom use in public schools, passed 40-7 with its emergency clause. The Senate also passed HB 1600, creating an immigration law clinic at the University of North Dakota School of Law and shifting its funding to the strategic investment and improvements fund, by 34-13. HB 1019, the Parks and Recreation budget, was amended to fund deferred maintenance, technology, sewer work, matching grants, and other park projects, add language requiring legislative approval for new or renamed state parks, and clarify use of the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library line of credit; a proposed amendment to remove funding for the International Peace Gardens cactus conservatory failed 20-27, and the bill then passed 39-8. HB 1417, dealing with parole/probation violations, court fees, and a study of criminal justice fees, passed 40-7 after amendments. The most extensive debate centered on HB 1450, which would require parent or guardian access to a minor’s medical exam room and notice of questions asked of the minor, with exceptions for emancipation and suspected abuse or trafficking. Supporters framed it as a parental rights and transparency measure, while opponents warned it could hinder screening for abuse, neglect, mental health concerns, and confidential care; multiple senators shared personal experiences on both sides. A proposed amendment to narrow the bill failed 21-26, and the transcript ends amid continued debate on the bill itself, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• To our law enforcement and military in the room, thank you for serving us.
• the law.
• Select members are already enrolled in credentialed state law enforcement programs.
• This agency should receive its four law enforcement-rated offshore long-range vessels.
• We also oversee law enforcement recruitment bonuses for the state.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.

Transcript Highlights:

• We now open the Senate Children and Family Law Committee.
• </c> this this law this this law you<00:52:26.760><c> know</c><00:52:27.079><c> there</c><00:52:27.240
• </c> it's an in we would agree if this is Law it's an in we would agree if this is Law and<00:54:57.799
• </c><01:02:25.440><c> to</c> know per say hand out this law to know per say hand out this law to parents
• remedy in some other RSA or common law, right?

Committee: Senate Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• law this law not currently utilizes this law this law not only<00:06:43.840><c> extends</c><00:06:44.240
• Thank you, Rabbi. of this law uh I find that to be of this law uh I find that to be somewhat<00:09:29.720
• </c> report those to the appropriate law report those to the appropriate law enforcement<00:29:17.279
• And we're not creating new law here.
• and we're not creating new law here.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 19, which would require a daily moment of silence or reflection in Kentucky public schools and clarify that students may use the time as they choose without coercion or religious direction. The sponsor and supporters, including representatives of the Kentucky Jewish Council, argued the bill is nonsectarian, intended to promote calm and focus, and supported by research and prior bipartisan backing. Opponents from the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass said they supported the anti-coercion language but objected to making the moment of silence mandatory rather than permissive, citing concerns about the statute’s interaction with the Lord’s Prayer language already in law. After discussion, the committee voted to pass SB 19 unanimously with favorable expression. The committee then considered SB 83, which revises the KEES scholarship program so homeschool and non-certified school students can receive awards using an ACT-to-GPA conversion and be treated more comparably to public school students. The sponsor described the bill as a recurring measure and walked through how the award amounts would be calculated under the substitute. There was no opposition raised during the hearing, and the committee adopted the substitute and passed SB 83 unanimously with favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard Senate Joint Resolution 55, directing Kentucky public postsecondary institutions to combat anti-Semitism. The resolution would require campuses to adopt policies using the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, notify students of Title VI and state-law complaint rights, recognize Jewish organizations as community resources on the same basis as other religious organizations, take action against student groups supporting designated terrorist organizations, and collect and report campus anti-Semitism data. The presenters and supporters described a sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents on campuses after October 7 and said schools have not responded adequately. The committee adopted the substitute and began hearing testimony on the resolution, but the transcript cuts off before any final vote on SJR 55.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> three that employs active law three that employs active law enforcement<00:07:43.120><c> members
• </c><00:07:59.120><c> enforcement</c> existing municipal law enforcement existing municipal law enforcement
• 08:16.000><c> hired</c> Municipal law enforcement officers hired Municipal law enforcement officers hired
• </c> of Visa's members, in fact three law of Visa's members, in fact three law enforcement<00:08:37.760
• So, H. 762 is session law that will amend an act that we passed back in 2024.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not being Corrected by law enforcement by OBn.
• And I've been a law dog for a long time.
• You know, our whole goal is to enforce the laws that are out there.
• And then the legislature writes the laws that we follow.
• And that's our job as the executive branch to implement those laws.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, those victims often have no avenue for civil protection.
• enforcement and the victim is cooperating with law enforcement.
• enforcement and the victim is cooperating with law enforcement.
• You know, I'm not in law enforcement, obviously, but were I a law enforcement officer trying to do my
• You know, I'm not in law enforcement, obviously, but were I a law enforcement officer trying to do my

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Trial judges were referring to obsolete law or mistakes.
• Trial judges were referring to obsolete law or misstatements of law after the change to Federal Rule
• Like I mentioned earlier, this is a neutral change in the law.
• It's a change in the law.
• This law is dangerous. This law is a long path.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill ensures that law enforcement officers receive this specialized training.
• The bill ensures that law enforcement officers receive this specialized training needed to recognize
• The bill provides training for law enforcement to recognize and respond to transnational repression.
• Who are the impacted diaspora communities that law enforcement must reach out to in order to develop
• This bill would give the force of law to this threat that we have been facing.

Summary: The committee met to hear seven Senate bills, first approving two consent items, SB 352 and SB 804, on motions to do pass to Appropriations. SB 542 (Limón) would require public notice and comment before issuing a financial responsibility certificate for an oil pipeline and require hydrostatic testing before restarting pipelines idle for five years or more; it was supported by the Center for Biological Diversity and passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 616 (Rubio) would create an independent community hardening commission within the Department of Insurance to coordinate wildfire mitigation and insurance-related recommendations; it drew support from the Department of Insurance and several local and industry groups, while water agencies, special districts, and the building industry raised concerns about water infrastructure standards, and it passed on a due-pass motion to Insurance. SB 429 (Cortese), which would establish a public wildfire catastrophe model and related university-based research and education program, received support from the Department of Insurance and outside groups and passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 256 (Perez) would strengthen wildfire mitigation and emergency response by expanding planning, improving PSPS communication, requiring utility coordination with emergency centers, and directing removal of permanently abandoned electrical facilities; utilities and business groups were generally neutral after amendments, while the author emphasized the bill’s connection to recent wildfire losses, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 509 (Caballero) would require specialized training for local law enforcement on transnational repression targeting diaspora communities; it received support from the California Police Chiefs Association and immigrant-rights advocates, but drew extensive opposition from Hindu and civil-rights organizations concerned about bias, implementation, and First Amendment issues. Committee members discussed amendments to clarify cultural competency, diversity, and constitutional protections, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. After the hearing, the committee took final roll-call votes on the bills, with the consent items and SB 429, SB 256, and SB 509 moving forward, while SB 542 and SB 616 were also reported out on earlier motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> understand where the need for for a law understand where the need for for a law like<00:17:00.560
• Thank you very much. existing law uh adequately protects the existing law uh adequately protects the
• </c> it engendered among government and law it engendered among government and law enforcement<00:29:
• law to county contractors.
• law to county contractors.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 1324, which would require the Judiciary to contract for legal services for residential tenants in landlord-tenant disputes and allow attorneys, paralegals, and law students to provide those services, with an appropriation. The Department of the Attorney General recommended removing reference to Hawaii Public Housing Authority tenants because HPHA eviction proceedings are administrative and could conflict with the bill. Hawaii Appleseed and other testifiers strongly supported the measure, citing studies showing much higher tenant retention when counsel is available, and suggested adding notice of the right to counsel at key points such as rent increases, eviction notices, and lease signing. The committee adopted amendments, including the Attorney General’s suggested change and a technical amendment, and passed the bill out with a recommendation to move it forward; members voted aye, with one member voting with reservations and several excused. The committee then heard House Bill 126 on property forfeiture, which would increase transparency and accountability in civil asset forfeiture by clarifying covered property, changing disposition rules, and removing language requiring liberal construction of the forfeiture act. The Attorney General said forfeiture remains an important law enforcement tool and that the bill would not impair its use. The Office of the Public Defender supported the measure but argued civil forfeiture is broadly problematic because many people cannot meaningfully challenge it and are not entitled to counsel. Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, saying forfeiture is useful in fighting illegal activity and that added procedures would delay enforcement and reduce operational funding from forfeiture proceeds. Community Alliance on Prisons, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and other supporters urged reform or abolition of civil forfeiture, citing transparency concerns and the risk of abuse. No vote on HB 126 was taken in the portion provided. The final measure discussed was House Bill 166, which would require the state to defend professionally licensed or certified state employees in certain civil actions, allow employees to hire their own counsel at their own expense, and set a process for the Attorney General to transfer or withdraw representation if the state declines to defend. Testimony from the Hawaii Association for Justice and labor representatives was in strong support, describing the bill as a negotiated clarification that balances employee protections with accountability and noting it had passed previously but died in conference. The transcript cuts off before any committee action on HB 166.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the law is the law.
• the law.
• But the law is Uh and I'll get to that. But the law is the<03:29:34.399><c> law.
• It's already law.
• It's already law.

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Louis courtroom with her law degree.
• The enforce American laws in the water.
• Vulcan followed the its lawful rights.
• If you break the law, there are consequences.
• If you break the law, there are consequences.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not a new law. It's just eliminating a sunset. This is not a new law.
• This has been a significant issue for law enforcement.
• This is a valuable tool for law enforcement.
• But the law enforcement piece of this is not going away.
• I mean, we've worked a lot with law enforcement.

Bills: SB97 , SB55 , SB40 , SB38 , SB120 , SB113 , SB116 , SB117 , SB118

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:30.640><c> The</c> who abide by and uphold the law. The who abide by and uphold the law.
• They can property for law enforcement.
• Thank you. law that a valid judicial warrant is law that a valid judicial warrant is required<00:35:04.640
• </c> the ones that are breaking the law? the ones that are breaking the law?
• </c> be law be law &gt;&gt; represent<01:21:40.719><c> uh</c><01:21:40.880><c> Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is already state law.
• Well, let's take a look at what the law actually does different in state law.
• We fixed those laws.
• That's what this law does.
• But we should not be writing laws to benefit one side or the other.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the only way you could have the regulations governing it for it to be law.
• The only law says that you could have one. It doesn't say how many delegates.
• The only law says that you can have one.
• Congress has the last word on every law that the local government passes.
• JFK is still globally respected for his vision of world peace through world law.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs

Summary: The hearing of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs was opened by Chair Joe McGonagle and Vice Chair Senator Mike Rush, who noted that Chair John Velis was deployed with the Massachusetts National Guard. The chairs explained the hybrid format, three-minute testimony limit, live streaming, and filing deadlines, and said the committee would hear 11 House bills and eight Senate bills dealing with federal and overseas issues. Much of the hearing centered on competing resolutions about Article 5 constitutional conventions, along with related resolutions on D.C. statehood, child labor, Citizens United, and Cambodia. Supporters of H. 4692 and S. 284, a joint resolution to rescind all prior Massachusetts Article 5 convention applications, argued that old resolutions from the 1930s and 1970s could be used to count Massachusetts toward the 34-state threshold for calling a federal constitutional convention. Testifiers from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, Reproductive Equity Now, labor groups, and others warned that a convention would have no clear rules, could not be reliably limited to specific topics, and could put civil rights, reproductive rights, labor protections, and other constitutional protections at risk. Several speakers also cited a recent federal lawsuit and said the safest course was to remove outdated applications from the books. A large opposing panel testified in support of H. 3888, a resolution calling for a Convention of States to propose amendments limiting federal power, imposing fiscal restraints, and establishing term limits. Supporters argued that Article 5 provides a lawful way to address federal overreach, debt, and congressional stagnation, and said the process would be limited by state applications and ratification by 38 states. Some committee members and witnesses raised concerns about a runaway convention, broad language in the resolution, and whether Congress could or should set rules for such a convention. Representative Gentile also testified in support of several related resolutions on overturning Citizens United, D.C. statehood, and the child labor amendment, while Representative Howard and Representative Tongue supported a Cambodia resolution condemning political oppression and urging free and fair elections. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• What all is confidential under the current law and under this bill?
• And our answer time and time again was that state law does not prohibit it.
• efforts, protect critical election materials, and uphold the rule of law.
• And we could change that law.
• We're actually not passing a law. We're going through committee and discussing.

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that current law? I think we can get Mr. Gonzalez to help us out on that one.
• My mother-in-law is.
• My mother-in-law is.
• The current law, they are eligible. The current law is, and it's 60 days.
• And Amendment 2 is repealing that present law provision, RS 15828.4.

Bills: HB54 , HB55 , HB125 , HB133 , HB158 , HB161 , HB168 , HB169 , HB191 , HB245 , HB280 , HB296 , HB399 , HB821 , HB995

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m wondering how that’s changed your engagement with the community as law enforcement.
• And when you can get help from law enforcement, you can actually get civil restraining orders.
• That recommendation on identifying or improving law enforcement training? Absolutely.
• And as I’ve heard from many of you, our laws and budgets are a reflection of our values.
• The law must close that gap.