Transcript Highlights:

• By your vote, Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1562 is reported favorably. Thank you.
• By your vote, show Senate Bill 888 reported favorably. Congratulations. Yes.
• By your vote, show Senate Bill 888 reported favorably. Thank you. Congratulations.
• By your vote, show Senate Bill 1516 reported favorably.
• Seeing no objection, show that the motion is adopted to count those votes.

Summary: The Commerce Committee on Tourism met and first took up Senate Bill 1562 by Senator Trumbull, which was amended with a strike-all amendment. The substitute bill would apply only to new vehicle brands, set a 1,000-vehicle sales threshold, and limit any one dealer or dealer group to no more than one-third of statewide sales to promote competition and dealer diversity. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the committee substitute favorably by roll call vote, with Senator Smith later recording a negative vote and Senator Yarbrough requesting an affirmative vote on the tab. The committee then considered Senate Bill 888 by Senator Martin, which limits professional services contracts for architects, engineers, surveyors, and landscape architects so they can be held liable only for their own negligence or that of those under their supervision. The bill extends existing protections from public contracts to private contracts, voids broader indemnity clauses, requires a professional standard of care, and bars additional-insured requirements. After no questions or debate, the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1516 by Senator Garcia on misleading or inaccurate caller identification. The sponsor cited the volume of robocalls and scam losses, especially affecting older adults, and said the bill would create new statutory provisions requiring telecommunications companies to address spoofed caller ID and implement STIR/SHAKEN authentication or a comparable alternative. Testimony in support came from the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar and AARP, and the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. The chair then noted the committee would not reconvene later that evening and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any no votes any votes members present. Any no votes any votes or<02:04:44.080> reservations?
• Any no votes? Any votes or present. Any no votes? Any votes or reservations?
• Any no votes or reservations? >> No vote. >> No vote for Senator DeCorte. Any other no votes?
• Any no votes? present. Any no votes? >> No<02:08:02.719> vote. >> No vote.
• votes? Any votes or reservations? votes? Any votes or reservations?

Bills: HB1694, HB1695, HB1986, HB1797, HB1879, HB2034

Keywords: sustainable aviation fuel, tax credit, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, Hawaii, economic development, carbon footprint, aviation sector, renewable fuels, local production, energy resilience, agricultural innovation, job creation, clean fuel standard, alternative fuels, carbon intensity, emission reduction, greenhouse gases, transportation, autonomous vehicles

Summary: The committee opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a two-minute oral testimony limit and that decision-making would follow after testimony. It then took up SB 20008, which would set 55 mph as the maximum speed limit on all parts of the DKI/Saddle Road highway. The bill’s introducer described it as a response to safety concerns and noted prior public opposition when the speed limit was lowered from 60 mph; the Hawaii Police Department was listed in opposition, while DOT and several individuals testified in support. No vote was taken during the portion provided. The committee next heard SB 20009, requiring new plates/tags or emblems for used motor vehicles transferred between private individuals, and SB 2026, which would require drivers approaching stationary vehicles on the shoulder or roadside to slow down and, if necessary, change lanes. The Attorney General supported SB 2026 but recommended narrowing and clarifying the language by removing references to shoulder/roadside, collision or mechanical problem, and other limiting definitions so the duty would apply more broadly and be easier to enforce; AAA and OMA also supported the measure. Members discussed the practical need for a mandatory move-over rule, especially for roadside workers and tow operators, and the committee heard concerns about enforceability on two-lane roads and in accident scenes. SB 2053 was then heard, authorizing electronic signatures on supporting documents used to transfer ownership of total-loss vehicles to insurers without notarization and requiring insurers to indemnify the finance director for claims arising from those electronic title issuances. The Hawaii Insurers Council, Copart, the City and County of Honolulu, and others supported the bill, with Copart describing it as a modernization that would reduce delays for total-loss settlements; technical amendments were requested. The committee also heard SB 2172, which would allow all-terrain vehicles to operate at night if equipped with lights and a slow-moving vehicle emblem, adjust helmet requirements, define utility terrain vehicles, and include ATVs in motor vehicle insurance law. DOT said it could support the bill only if limited to low-speed areas, and the insurance industry warned it could create a new insurance scheme; the City and County of Honolulu opposed while the Hawaii Farm Bureau and an individual supported. Finally, SB 2253 was introduced to expand first-degree negligent injury to include injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers, with DOT, county prosecutors, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office in support; Honolulu prosecutors said they would oppose a proposed amendment because they wanted the language to preserve the offense as a lesser included offense tied to negligent homicide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators will proceed to vote. Have all senators voted?
• Senators will proceed to vote. Have all senators voted?
• Senators will proceed to vote. If all senators voted.
• Senators will proceed to vote. Have all senators voted?
• Senators will proceed to vote. All senators voted.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no weekend conference. The chamber then took up a long special-order calendar of bills, generally moving each measure through third reading and final passage, often by substituting House companion bills. Early measures included trust law modernization (SB 786/HB 895), military affairs changes and Guard retirement corrections (SB 474), rounding rules for cash transactions as pennies phase out (SB 1074), podiatric medicine regulation and informed-consent requirements (SB 1092), veterans court expansion (SB 50/HB 199), RV park special assessment clarification (SB 118), concurrent jurisdiction for juvenile offenses on military installations (SB 502/HB 351), alcoholic beverage loss deductions (SB 678/HB 1137), and bail bond/pretrial release revisions (SB 600). Most passed unanimously or near-unanimously; SB 600 passed 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and an amendment aligning with the House version and prosecutors’ concerns. The Senate also considered bills on portable electronics and eyewear insurance (SB 772), the linking industry to nursing education fund and health science workforce programs (SB 1246), recovery residences and behavioral health licensing (SB 1030, with a technical amendment on background checks and probationary licenses), felony battery enhancements for repeat offenders and offenses against law enforcement (SB 436), and child welfare changes including foster-home visitor screening, a permanent statewide Step Into Success program, and a best-practices repository (SB 1718). These measures were explained by sponsors as efforts to streamline regulation, improve workforce and health-care training, strengthen public safety, and reduce administrative burdens while preserving safeguards. Votes on these bills were overwhelmingly favorable, with final tallies typically 36-0 or 37-0. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell tribute to Senator Lori Berman. Members from both parties praised her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, and family law. Berman delivered a lengthy farewell reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her caucus leadership, and the importance of dignity, respect, and public service. The Senate adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and then recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Green votes I. McDonald votes I. Mani Hiltsley votes I.
• Green votes I. McDonald votes I. Mmani Hilsley votes I. Omani Hilsley votes I.
• Please vote<01:52:15.119> yes. vote yes. vote yes.
• votes no. >> Green votes aye. >> Green votes aye. >> McDonald.
• >> Francen votes no. Fran and votes no. >> Francen votes no. Fran and votes no.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. The journal was approved as corrected, several Senate files were given second reading, and House files 5099 through 5102 were introduced. The Rules and Legislative Administration report placed a large group of bills on the May 4 calendar with pre-filing requirements for amendments. The first major floor bill was House File 3426, the annual LCCMR bill appropriating about $102.036 million from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for 108 projects, including a new community grants program. Members spoke in support, emphasizing natural resources, outdoor recreation, and added integrity safeguards; the bill passed 117-15. The House then passed House File 4151, a bipartisan occupational licensing bill for private detectives and protective agents. It ends partnership detective licenses and requires background checks for controlling officers and qualified representatives, while preventing licensure of people with disqualifying offenses from other states or federal law. The bill passed 133-0. After that, the chamber took up Senate File 4760, a public safety package incorporating multiple previously heard House bills and additional provisions. The package included items on recognizing Canadian protective orders, sextortion penalties, gift card fraud, firearm age restrictions, restitution, juvenile detention licensing, corrections data and terminology, chemical irritant disclosure, victims’ rights, BCA fraud statutes, and the private detective bill. Several amendments to Senate File 4760 were adopted, including one inserting House language, one changing the effective date for public-employer discretion provisions, one allowing the Office of the Legislative Auditor to request BCA fingerprints for federal tax information compliance, and one clarifying jail medication provisions. Another amendment, A3, drew a roll call after Representative Duran argued it would keep the current juvenile delinquency age and allow more time to build infrastructure; Representative Feist urged a no vote, citing opposition from other stakeholders. The transcript ends during discussion of that roll call, before the final outcome on A3 or the overall public safety package is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• A yes vote is a vote for SNAP and WIC.
• Members will record their votes by electronic device.
• Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a five-minute vote.
• Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a 15-minute vote.
• MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THIS IS A 15-MINUTE VOTE.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I now move that Senate Bill 953 be voted due pass. Is there any discussion?
• But if there is a vote, I believe you have to recuse yourself from that vote. Okay. Thank you, Mr.
• we can just vote this part down, this part down, I would really appreciate it if we can just vote this
• By your vote of six ayes and five noes, you have voted House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 953
• Representative Wellenkamp: I vote. It's not plastic. I vote. It's not plastic.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Conservation and Natural Resources Committee first took up Senate Bill 953, as amended by a House committee substitute combining provisions from House Bill 1885 and Senate Bill 1397. Members discussed changes to the Missouri Clean Water Commission’s conflict-of-interest rules and a provision giving a person who contracts for storage rights in a Corps of Engineers reservoir exclusive rights to return flows. The committee also added House Bill 1376 language to exempt certain non-point source agricultural activities from permitting. Some members raised concerns about conflicts of interest and potential impacts on neighbors and water quality, while supporters said the changes were cleanup language and would not change pollution levels. The substitute was adopted and the bill was voted do pass by a 6-5 roll call, with one present. The committee then heard House Bill 3193, a plastic waste reduction bill for Missouri state parks and historic sites. Sponsor Representative Wellenkamp said the bill would reduce plastic bottles, bags, and Styrofoam/styrene containers in parks and encourage alternatives, while allowing exceptions where needed. Supporters from conservation groups, a bird observatory, and private citizens said plastic waste harms water quality, wildlife, tourism, and cleanup efforts, and several noted the need to consider accessibility and disability-related needs such as straws and packaging. One opponent from the beverage industry argued that plastics are highly recyclable and that education and recycling are better solutions than bans. No vote was taken on HB 3193. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3320, the Drinking Water Transparency and Accountability Act. The bill would direct DNR to assign A-F grades to community water systems based on violations, finances, operations, and infrastructure, post the grades publicly, and impose stronger oversight on systems graded D or F. Supporters, including Missouri American Water, the Missouri Chamber, and some public witnesses, said the bill would improve transparency and help communities understand and address aging infrastructure and financial problems. Opponents from municipal utilities, water associations, and the Missouri Municipal League said the information is already available, that a single letter grade would oversimplify a complex system, and that the bill could create confusion, alarm, and unnecessary costs. The hearing on HB 3320 ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'd bale hay, and it wasn't with this big fancy machine we have now.
• I thought, well, maybe I can get her to vote for me, you know, if I'm really nice and ask really nice
• votes. I was so close to getting 60%. votes. I was so close to getting 60%.
• vote to me?" vote to me?"
• And she said, "Paul, I've been voting And she said, "Paul, I've been voting for<00:04:30.120>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Torkelson gave a long farewell-style floor speech reflecting on his legislative career, thanking colleagues, staff, family, and voters, and sharing anecdotes from his early campaigns and years in office. He emphasized the importance of listening to constituents, working across party lines, and not holding grudges after disagreements. He also praised the Minnesota Capitol, Cass Gilbert’s design, and the renovation work, and noted his service on committees including Transportation, Capital Investment, Ways and Means, and redistricting. A major theme of the speech was bipartisanship and institutional respect. Torkelson described working with members from both parties, including House leaders and committee counterparts, and said the House’s tied balance had forced more work to the committee level and produced bipartisan outcomes. He warned against using redistricting as a political weapon and urged Minnesota not to follow that path. He also thanked specific staff members and mentioned his family, including his daughter, who works as a lobbyist. The speech did not involve a bill debate or recorded vote. It concluded with a call for legislators to keep learning from one another and to find practical paths forward while staying true to their values, ending with a quotation from Ecclesiastes and applause.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the way I understand process they hear them and then vote vote them back to the full committee and
• Finally, the TXDMV offers many motor vehicle transactions by self-electronic offering. to customers throughout
• There's another requirement, which is an electronic system for dealers to submit transactions to tax
• Online, electronically.
• Electronically, okay, and then what happens and then it will come to the DMV and we have contracted with

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.

Summary: The Arkansas House convened in an extraordinary session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. Members granted several leaves of absence and recognized visiting state troopers and the nurse of the day. The clerk then read the governor’s proclamation calling the special session, which cited the state’s strong finances and outlined the session’s purposes: reducing individual income tax rates to a top rate of 3.7% and corporate tax rates to a top rate of 4.1%, along with authorizing payment of legislative expenses and per diem for the special session. The House adopted motions to suspend House Rules 41A and 41B, which normally require bills to be on the desk for 24 hours before final passage and limit how soon filed bills can be placed on committee agendas, as well as Rule 60A on committee meeting notice requirements, for the duration of the special session. House Bill 1001, a revenue and tax bill, was then read a second time. The House also directed the clerk to notify the Senate and governor that it was ready for business. Before adjourning, the House set a meeting of the Revenue and Tax Committee for 5:15 p.m. that day. A motion to adjourn until 9:30 the next morning was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I vote yes. I vote yes. Member from Jericho.
• Members, please listen to the results of your votes. Those voting yes, 65. Those voting no, 77.
• urging us to vote yes. urging us to vote yes.
• Members, please listen to the results of your vote. Those voting yes, 102. Those voting no, 39.
• Those voting yes, 63. Those voting no, 74.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House returned from recess and took up S. 208, a bill on standards for law enforcement identification. The House Judiciary Committee explained that it had rewritten the bill into a model-policy approach focused on Vermont state and local agencies, rather than imposing direct requirements on all law enforcement, because of constitutional and preemption concerns raised by a recent Ninth Circuit decision. The amended bill would direct the Law Enforcement Advisory Board to develop a statewide policy on officer identification and facial coverings by July 2027, require agencies to adopt a consistent policy by October 1, 2027, and deem agencies to have adopted the model policy if they do not act. The committee reported the bill favorably on a 6-5 vote. Members then debated an amendment offered by Representatives Berbeco and McGill to restore federal officers to the bill. Supporters argued that public authority should not be anonymous, that visible identification is necessary for transparency, accountability, and public trust, and that the bill should apply to federal agents as well as state and local officers. They said the amendment included exemptions for undercover work, tactical teams, protective equipment, and safety concerns, and argued Vermont should not wait for courts to resolve every constitutional question before acting. Opponents on the Judiciary Committee said the language remained likely unconstitutional and could jeopardize the bill’s passage; the committee had found the amendment unfavorable on an 8-1 vote. The floor debate continued with several members speaking in favor of the amendment, including arguments that other states have adopted similar requirements and that Vermont should lead on the issue. One member raised a point of order that was not sustained, and the Speaker ruled federal authority relevant to the question. The transcript ends while debate on the amendment was still underway, after a request for a roll-call vote was granted, with no final floor vote on the amendment shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The problem is that the publishers require licenses for libraries to purchase these electronic materials
• The one profession, the number one profession that votes in the highest percentage, are librarians.
• Staff follow collection development policies, as voted upon by their Board of Trustees.
• I urge you to vote in favor of Senate Bill S. 2328 and House Bill H. 3594.
• I believe it was $20 for the hardcover copy. would cost with the electronic thing.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on several bills related to access to library materials, including measures addressing book bans and censorship in public and school libraries, as well as legislation on digital library collections and e-book licensing. Committee leaders said testimony would be limited to three minutes and encouraged written submissions. Early testimony from Chair Brian Murray highlighted H. 3595, which would address challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections by limiting restrictive publisher-library contract terms, protecting patron confidentiality, and creating a special legislative commission to study the issue. A large number of legislators, librarians, authors, students, publishers, and advocacy groups testified in support of the free expression bills, including H. 3594 and S. 2328, arguing that book challenges in Massachusetts disproportionately target LGBTQ+ and BIPOC titles and that librarians and educators need protection from retaliation and harassment. Witnesses described local incidents of book removals, threats, and pressure campaigns, and several said the bills would create transparent challenge procedures, keep materials available during reviews, and ensure decisions are made by trained professionals rather than political actors. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s office also submitted support, and multiple speakers cited national trends and Massachusetts-specific censorship attempts. Testimony on the digital access bills emphasized that e-books and audiobooks are essential for readers with disabilities, homebound patrons, students, and others who rely on accessible formats, but that current licensing terms are far more expensive and restrictive than print purchasing. Library representatives said libraries spend millions on digital content, face long wait times for popular titles, and often must repeatedly re-rent the same materials. Legal and library experts supported the proposed commission as a practical step toward fairer licensing and stronger bargaining power for libraries. The hearing ended after extensive testimony; no votes or final committee action were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We decided to vote on the passage of HB 2.
• here for, How to adjust them in as much as we voted here for 70 million.
• at the Or 2025 when we were voting on this bill.
• what we voted on, that's a problem.
• They wanted to know why they should vote for me.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do currently have sandbag machines.
• We do currently have sandbag machines that are owned by us that we deploy out into the state of Arkansas
• We do currently have sandbag machines that are owned by us that we deploy out into the state of Arkansas
• Cartwright, you've got two items on F1 and F2, and we'll batch these together under one vote.

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations and took executive recommendations on several Department of Human Services divisions, including Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services; Children and Family Services; County Operations; Developmental Disability Services; and Medical Services, with most divisions showing little or no significant change in total appropriations. Staff and agency witnesses repeatedly explained that many large appropriations are maintained for flexibility, federal matching requirements, or contingency needs, even when actual spending is much lower than the authorized amount. Members also raised concerns about staffing vacancies, long-vacant budgeted positions, and the use of excess appropriation authority across DHS. In Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health, members questioned federal funding levels for mental health and substance abuse grants, the status of senior centers and Meals on Wheels, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, community alcohol safety grants, and the veterans mental health grant. Agency officials said federal block grants are largely committed, that senior center funding had been delayed by shutdown timing but was now back on track, that the tobacco settlement program had been moved internally within DHS, and that the veterans mental health appropriation remains unfunded. Senators also criticized the adequacy of support for seniors and asked for more detail on how transportation, meal services, and local contributions are funded. In Children and Family Services, members asked about rising appropriation levels, foster care and adoption subsidies, professional fees, the number of children in foster care, and the Children’s Trust Fund. DHS said increases reflect added flexibility for residential treatment, adoption subsidies, and prevention services, while the foster care population has remained fairly steady at about 3,400 children. The Children’s Trust Fund was described as supporting primary prevention programs such as Baby and Me and community schools, and members asked whether it could be administratively combined with other efforts. Questions also covered TANF subgrants, with DHS explaining that it had reduced outside subgrants after discovering over-obligation and was rebuilding reserves. In County Operations, members focused on the summer EBT program, SNAP employment and training, the farmer’s market program, and the state’s TANF reserve position. DHS said summer EBT is still being funded through temporary appropriations because it is a newer program, SNAP employment and training is largely federally funded and may expand under a pending policy change, and TANF reserves were drawn down after prior over-obligation but are now being stabilized. In Developmental Disability Services, members asked about vacancies, human development center staffing, facility construction funds, and the Booneville work program, and DHS said the program has reopened and staffing recruitment continues. In Medical Services, members asked about FMAP, the Our Kids B CHIP program, school-based Medicaid reimbursements, nursing home distress funds, and several large appropriation lines that far exceed actual spending; DHS said these are maintained for claims payment, nursing home receivership contingencies, and other flexibility needs. Each division reviewed was adopted by executive recommendation after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have different efforts at that with our electronic meters notifying our customers of their losses.
• Our new electronic meters are part of the effort because those are more... ...accurate, so the losses
• They will all have brand new ultrasonic meters that are electronic and give hourly reads.
• Is there a comparison associated with that through your electronic metering system?
• However, last year, the board voted to dedicate $700 million to addressing water loss issues.

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Please uh note my no vote on GM 636 and GM 692. vote on GM 636 and GM 692. Mahalo. Senator Ihara.
• Smith advocated and voted in favor to Mr. Smith advocated and voted in favor to accept the EIS.
• Robert Smith, I will be note my no vote. Um uh unfortunately note my no vote.
• Any no votes? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes. >> Mr.
• So we'll vote for you. Don't. So we'll vote for you.

Bills: HB1800, HB1860, HB2250, HB472, HB649, HB1391, HB1481, HB1509, HB1511, HB1515, HB1518, HB1541, HB1548, HB1576, HB1618, HB1642, HB1643, HB1661, HB1667, HB1678, HB1682, HB1688, HB1692, HB1707, HB1710, HB1711, HB1713, HB1718, HB1721, HB1728, HB1737, HB1740, HB1741, HB1785, HB1801, HB1802, HB1804, HB1810, HB1815, HB1824, HB1838, HB1839, HB1853, HB1854, HB1864, HB1870, HB1881, HB1888, HB1890, HB1891, HB1894, HB1920, HB1959, HB1960, HB1969, HB1973, HB1974, HB2023, HB2050, HB2078, HB2094, HB2095, HB2104, HB2137, HB2152, HB2158, HB2171, HB2207, HB2218, HB2246, HB2270, HB2271, HB2272, HB2279, HB2282, HB2289, HB2293, HB2297, HB2300, HB2309, HB2310, HB2314, HB2319, HB2329, HB2338, HB2339, HB2344, HB2361, HB2385, HB2395, HB2417, HB2429, HB2443, HB2452, HB2474, HB2475, HB2498, HB2505, HB2547, HB2576

Keywords: supplemental appropriations, state budget, Hawaii budget, biennial budget, capital improvement projects, CIP, general fund, special fund, green fee, special land and development fund, clean energy revolving loan fund, agricultural development revolving fund, community grants, nonprofit grants, Office of Community Services, housing, affordable housing, homelessness, health care, mental health

Bills: HB1800, HB1860, HB2250, HB472, HB649, HB1391, HB1481, HB1509, HB1511, HB1515, HB1518, HB1541, HB1548, HB1576, HB1618, HB1642, HB1643, HB1661, HB1667, HB1678, HB1682, HB1688, HB1692, HB1707, HB1710, HB1711, HB1713, HB1718, HB1721, HB1728, HB1737, HB1740, HB1741, HB1785, HB1801, HB1802, HB1804, HB1810, HB1815, HB1824, HB1838, HB1839, HB1853, HB1854, HB1864, HB1870, HB1881, HB1888, HB1890, HB1891, HB1894, HB1920, HB1959, HB1960, HB1969, HB1973, HB1974, HB2023, HB2050, HB2078, HB2094, HB2095, HB2104, HB2137, HB2152, HB2158, HB2171, HB2207, HB2218, HB2246, HB2270, HB2271, HB2272, HB2279, HB2282, HB2289, HB2293, HB2297, HB2300, HB2309, HB2310, HB2314, HB2319, HB2329, HB2338, HB2339, HB2344, HB2361, HB2385, HB2395, HB2417, HB2429, HB2443, HB2452, HB2474, HB2475, HB2498, HB2505, HB2547, HB2576

Keywords: supplemental appropriations, state budget, Hawaii budget, biennial budget, capital improvement projects, CIP, general fund, special fund, green fee, special land and development fund, clean energy revolving loan fund, agricultural development revolving fund, community grants, nonprofit grants, Office of Community Services, housing, affordable housing, homelessness, health care, mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair for the vote. Thank you. Members voting on STR 23.
• The chair's vote. Members voting STR 37.
• vote. Thank you members voting. vote. Thank you members voting.
• Discussion chair for the vote. Members. Voting on STR 182.
• Representative Miake votes aye. Representative Moroka votes aye. Representative Pirick votes no.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation heard and later voted on several Senate resolutions related to transportation, safety, and infrastructure. Early testimony covered STR 23, on studying highway patrol and speed cameras in speeding hotspots, with support from the Department of Transportation and the Aahu Metropolitan Planning Organization and opposition from five individuals. STR 37 and STR 38 concerned Maui road planning for the Kihei area; the Kihei Community Association and DOT supported both, and the committee later advanced them with amendments to correct the county department with jurisdiction. STR 150 SD1, on a working group for subsidizing waterborne cargo transport, drew support from DOT, the Department of Agriculture, and industry groups, but the committee deferred it for further discussion. STR 153, about transferring jurisdiction over Ho‘i roads to Maui County, received support from the judiciary and was advanced with amendments. STR 180 SD1, on sharing safety and performance information about commercial tour operators, drew mixed testimony, including opposition from DOT and helicopter operators and support from Blue Hawaiian Helicopters; the committee advanced it with amendments narrowing the scope to helicopter and air tours. STR 181 SD1, proposing a working group to lower the blood alcohol limit to 0.05, was supported by DOT, the Governor’s office, public health and safety groups, and one individual opposed; it was advanced with amendments naming the DOT director or designee as chair and adding legislative committee chairs. STR 182, encouraging a Honolulu summer streets pilot program, was supported by the Department of Health, Oahu MPO, and the Hawaii Bicycling League, and after reconsideration the committee passed it unamended. STR 184, seeking increased enforcement against improperly registered out-of-state vehicles, had one supporter and was passed as is. STR 200 SD1, on continuing transportation management training programs, was supported by Oahu MPO and one individual and was passed as is. STR 231 SD1, directing DOT to use scanning equipment at airports and harbors to detect illegal fireworks, was supported by DOT and one individual and passed as is.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I vote no. Senator Reed, I. I explain my vote, please limit to two minutes. Thank you, Mr.
• Chair, I vote no.
• Chair, I vote no.
• Chair, I vote no. Senator Wheeler, I. Chair Storm, I.
• <00:32:53.919> Mr Carol vote I and explain my vote Mr Carol vote I and explain my vote Mr

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:07 SB 60: 00:00:53 Discussion in Opposition to SB 60: 00:04:41 SB 130: 00:25:36 SB 169: 00:25:44, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 60, a Religious Freedom Restoration Act measure sponsored by Senator Steve Rawlings. Rawlings said the bill would strengthen protections for sincerely held religious exercise by requiring government burdens on religion to be justified by clear and convincing evidence of a compelling interest, expanding remedies including attorney’s fees, and waiving sovereign immunity so individuals could sue the government. A committee substitute was adopted, and the bill drew testimony both in support and opposition. Supporters, including Greg Baylor of Alliance Defending Freedom, argued the bill would protect a fundamental right and that similar laws have existed federally and in many states without the feared consequences. Opponents, including Chris Hartman of the Fairness Campaign, Sam Markusen of the University of Louisville, and Rabbi Ben Fred, warned the bill was overly broad, could undermine local anti-discrimination laws, and might invite lawsuits or allow religious claims to be used to justify discrimination. Senator Thomas questioned whether the bill could affect vaccine requirements and public accommodations; Baylor said public health or other compelling interests could still prevail in court and that the bill would not predetermine outcomes. The committee then voted on SB 60, with several members explaining their votes, and reported the bill favorably. The committee then considered Senate Bill 169, sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll, which would expand the Attorney General’s and Kentucky State Police’s administrative subpoena authority in child exploitation investigations to include social networking companies, mobile payment services, and cloud storage services. Attorney General’s office representatives Will Schroer and Matt Heden said the change would modernize investigative tools to help identify online child predators and obtain limited account-holder information such as usernames, IP addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. Senator Thomas asked about the bill’s use of the term “reasonable cause” instead of probable cause and about the scope of the information obtained; the witnesses said the term is already in statute and that the subpoenas would not authorize searches, only basic identifying information. A motion was made and seconded, and the committee began the roll call vote on SB 169 as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• say because of several things, there's been a little bit of confusion over the bills that will be voting
• One, there's been a little bit of confusion over the bills that will be voted on on the list.
• So probably not voting on anything tonight.
• House Bill 2328 would establish a standardized $25 fee per entity for cases where electronic service
• to make sure you've got the votes.

Bills: HB115

Keywords: public funds, lobbying, political subdivision, government spending, transparency, HB 115, taxpayer-funded lobbying, local government lobbying, county association dues, municipal lobbying, lobbyist registration, Chapter 305, Government Code Section 556.0056, Local Government Code Section 89.002, county government, city government, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, state association of counties, sheriffs association

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence reconvened with a quorum present and announced it would likely not vote that night because of confusion over the bill list; members were told a definitive list would be circulated the next morning and a formal meeting would be scheduled later. The chair then heard a series of bills, generally taking testimony and leaving each pending without action. House Bill 1847 would set maximum caseload standards for private attorneys handling indigent criminal appointments through the Texas Indigent Defense Commission; House Bill 2417 would expand compensation eligibility for some wrongfully imprisoned people; House Bill 2813 would require earlier and more specific victim notice of scheduled court proceedings; and House Bill 2309 would expand state and local authority in certain civil asset forfeiture cases involving human trafficking, health care fraud, and organized crime. Each bill was laid out by its author or a member, with no opposition witnesses registered, and each was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 4733, which would require sealing records for people acquitted of charges when they were not convicted on the related allegation; House Bill 2328, which would modernize expunction service by encouraging electronic notice, setting a standardized fee when electronic service is unavailable, extending clerk retention of expunction orders, and preserving certain mental health commitment orders; and House Bill 115, which would revise Texas’s “junk science” post-conviction writ law by providing counsel, changing the relief standard, requiring written decisions, and easing procedural barriers. Testimony on HB 2328 was mixed: county clerks supported the bill as a cost-saving modernization, while legal advocates warned that permanent retention of expunction orders could undermine true expunction and create privacy risks. HB 115 drew support from innocence and defense organizations, with some concern about a provision affecting subsequent writs. All were left pending after testimony. Later, the committee heard House Bill 2046, which would allow affirmative family-violence findings for any Penal Code offense rather than only Title V offenses; testimony from a Dallas County prosecutor and a committee member emphasized that family violence can involve arson, burglary, fraud, and other non-Title V conduct, and the bill was left pending. House Bill 1765 would tighten restrictions on no-knock warrants by requiring higher-level approval, judicial review, and identifiable officers; members discussed the dangers highlighted by the Harding Street raid and similar incidents, and the bill was also left pending. The meeting ended with the chair noting that some bills had been removed from the agenda at the author’s request and that members should be prepared to finalize the vote list the next day.