Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:27.880><c> um</c> I'll just uh hone in on first um I'll just uh hone in on first um some<00
• </c> so many of you may be from this first so many of you may be from this first group<00:34:01.919><
• </c> like face suspension on their first like face suspension on their first offense<00:54:24.319><c>
• Let me first tell you about myself.
• </c> is appealed it would go to the first is appealed it would go to the first circuit<01:57:13.920><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not about grades, Mr. Speaker.
• These first specialized training.
• First order, protect us and criminals. First order, protect us from<02:23:55.040><c> criminals.
• Speaker, I worked hard in school, but the grade I'm proudest of is getting the first F ever issued by
• I met first and families broken.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• “This is not your first time on the housing and homelessness prevention committee.
• time on the housing and first time on the housing and homelessness<00:15:01.959><c> prevention</c><00
• we can look at policy of things first we can look at policy that<00:20:16.039><c> can</c><00:20:16.240
• If you look at all the bills that were dropped in the Senate and had their first reading on Thursday,
• You grade us on academic performance and graduation rates.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bill in this committee, but the first bill in committee.
• Yeah, we have Kyle first, and then CJ. Very good. Thank you.
• When the NFA was first passed, the barrel length was actually 18 inches.
• The 1934 National Firearms Act was the first federal regulation of guns in America.
• The 1934 National Firearms Act was the first federal regulation of guns in America.

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1596, which would remove short-barreled rifles from the list of prohibited weapons in the Texas Penal Code. The author, Sen. Hagenbuch, said the bill would align state law with federal realities and argued that the current prohibition is arbitrary and unnecessary. Supporters, including representatives from Gun Owners of America and Texas Gun Rights, said the bill would reduce confusion, protect lawful gun owners, and preserve the ability to use shorter firearms for self-defense, hunting, and for smaller shooters. One supporter also described a recent case in which an AR pistol was mistaken for a short-barreled rifle and led to a state charge that was later dismissed. Public testimony was split. Supporters said stabilizing braces and shorter firearms can improve accuracy, safety, and accessibility for women, children, and smaller-statured shooters. Opponents, including Texas Gun Sense and two Santa Fe shooting survivors, argued that short-barreled firearms are more concealable and dangerous, and pointed to the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting as evidence of the risks of easier access. They urged the committee to keep the existing restrictions in place to protect public safety. After public testimony closed, the committee took up pending business. Senate Bill 1505, relating to the Compassionate Use Program, was reported favorably to the full Senate on an 8-0 vote. Senate Bill 17, relating to the acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities, was first amended by adopting a committee substitute and then reported favorably to the full Senate by a 7-1 vote. The committee then recessed until after the Senate’s adjournment or final recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• They’ll be the first to tell me that their major university was founded before ours.
• Hey, boy, congrats on buying your first house. Welcome to the world of crushing debt.
• Hey boy, congrats on buying your first house. Welcome to the world of crushing debt.
• Lowest grade a person could get: no good SOB. Easy.
• So we hit the first one, loaded it up, pushed it to the front of the stock trailer.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First order of business is roll call. We do have a quorum present and are ready for business.
• Representative Tanner: I don't want to see 864 advance unless we could amend it first to take out the
• Hearing is the first thing that happens with newborns. They can't see.
• Representative Healy: Hearing is the first thing that happens with newborns.
• So this falls under that, which is why we put that through yesterday first. Thank you.

Summary: The Health and Welfare Committee approved the March 12 and March 20 minutes, then took up House Bill 864, a drug scheduling bill. Members discussed whether to move it to the floor without recommendation or hold it for a date certain while a related Senate bill continued moving. Supporters of holding the bill said they wanted both bills available for committee review and amendments, while others wanted it advanced to preserve options. The motion to send HB 864 to the floor without recommendation failed on a 6-10 roll call, and the committee instead voted to hold HB 864 in committee until March 27. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1294 as amended, which would require newborn hearing-loss screening or referral for infants born outside hospitals, including births in birthing centers and other attended out-of-hospital settings. Representative Healy said the bill closes a gap in newborn screening and allows parents to decline, while supporters cited early intervention benefits and personal experiences with delayed diagnosis. Testimony from Lisa Coleman and several members emphasized that missed screenings can lead to language deprivation and costly long-term impacts, and that many out-of-hospital births currently are not screened. Some members raised concerns that the bill’s “shall” language sounded mandatory and could burden parents or providers, while others said it regulates providers and still preserves parental opt-out rights. Questions also focused on reporting results to the Idaho Early Intervention and Special Education/Deaf and Blind program and the bill’s federal funding contingency. The committee ultimately approved SB 1294 as amended on a 9-7 roll call and sent it to the floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee then adjourned and announced it would not meet the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And first of all, I... We do.
• And first of all, I want to acknowledge and thank both the maker of this striking amendment and the Vice
• school director's authority to limit the use of telecommunication devices by doing the following: first
• school director's authority to limit the use of telecommunication devices by doing the following, first
• He also noted there was not much time between the effective date of the bill and the date of the first

Bills: SB6278

Keywords: teacher preparation, principal preparation, educator preparation, alternative route certification, teacher certification, principal certification, Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, PESB, field placement, student teacher, residency, mentoring, school district partnerships, K-12 education, preK-12, high-need schools, Title I, special education, English language learner, rural schools

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona welcomed its first new anesthesiology residency program in 25 years.
• Arizona welcomed its first new anesthesiology residency program in 25 years, bringing the state total
• The bills under introduction and first reading are as follows: SB 1405, environment; citizen suits in
• SB 1810, eighth grade social studies civics. SB 1811, school policies; internet wireless devices.
• We'll move the first one though. Go ahead, Mr. Kavanagh. Thank you, Mr. President, Pro Tem.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this bipartisan action for the first this bipartisan action for the first time<00:12:12.399><c>
• <c> for</c> First, the rule provides for First, the rule provides for consideration<00:20:59.760><c>
• First and foremost, Mr.
• 57.520><c> are</c> Your billionaire first policies are Your billionaire first policies are driving<01
• </c> was first it was a museum that was first was first it was a museum that was first authorized<01:

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, oh, we should do a little housekeeping since we're at our first public hearing.
• And has expanded a number of programs over recent biennia, looking at those programs first and really
• The first $500 million plus inflation of that goes to the Education Legacy Trust account, and dollars
• So, first, diving into human services, this is an area where, unfortunately, we did have to take some
• First, thank you for your investment in special education last year.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, including limits on testimony, amendment deadlines, confidentiality expectations, and professionalism rules. Chair Ormsby also reviewed housekeeping for the public hearing, noting the meeting was recorded and live streamed, and that testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ups. The committee then began its work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, presented by OFM Director Katie Chapman, who outlined the state’s fiscal pressures: higher caseloads in major programs, a revenue forecast decline of about $390 million, federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, inflation, and a relatively small ending fund balance. She said the governor’s budget solves about a $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, use of about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, and some tax preference changes, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, behavioral health, wildfire response, housing, and IT modernization. Chapman also explained that the proposal does not fully balance over the four-year outlook under the state’s statutory assumptions, but said the governor relied on the budget-balance law’s exception tied to BSA use and low employment growth. A question from Rep. Connors about credit ratings was answered with the view that the impact is difficult to predict and that Washington’s strong pension funding and balanced-budget framework remain positives. The public hearing drew testimony from state officials and many advocates, most of whom opposed specific cuts or fund shifts in the governor’s proposal. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to proposed sweeps from the corporations and charities fund and the library archives account, citing prior cuts, layoffs, cyberattack-related costs, and the need to upgrade aging systems. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove urged restoration of wildfire prevention funding, saying the proposed amount was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and that underfunding would increase suppression costs and risk to communities. Many education witnesses opposed reductions to Working Connections Child Care, transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, and higher education across-the-board cuts, arguing they would harm access, equity, and workforce development. Higher education leaders from community colleges, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Evergreen State College described staffing cuts, program reductions, and pressure on student services, while K-12 groups and OSPI said the budget would deepen existing funding gaps. A large portion of testimony focused on human services, health, housing, and civil legal aid. Child welfare and youth-serving organizations supported some targeted investments but opposed cuts to child care, child welfare network administration, and youth programs; advocates for foster youth, homeless youth, and mentoring programs asked for continued or increased funding. Health care and long-term care providers warned that proposed Medicaid and rate changes would reduce access for seniors, people with disabilities, and safety-net patients, while Planned Parenthood and abortion access advocates urged full restoration of the Abortion Access Project and related reimbursements. Housing and legal aid witnesses backed the governor’s proposed right-to-counsel funding but asked for more support, and homelessness advocates sought contingency funding for federal housing programs. Crime victim and domestic violence service providers repeatedly said the proposed $12 million was far short of the roughly $21.38 million needed to avoid service cuts and closures. Other testimony addressed the Climate Commitment Account shift for the Working Families Tax Credit, with environmental advocates opposing the diversion of CCA dollars and workforce advocates supporting the governor’s economic security and employment programs. No votes or formal committee action were taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, good first draft of this bill as indicated in my floor remarks back on January the 27th when we first
• Uh, good first draft of this bill as indicated in my floor remarks back on January the 27th when we first
• > this</c><00:13:53.200><c> bill</c><00:13:53.600><c> as</c> good first draft of this bill as good first
• </c> January the 27th when we first January the 27th when we first introduced<00:13:57.839><c> the</c
• First, I don't believe it's short.

Keywords: Several minutes after the convene vote and before the introduction failed to properly steam. This version was pulled from a local back up., 958, all

Summary: The House convened with 97 members present, declared a quorum, approved excusing absent members, and suspended the rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The journal for February 25, 2026 was approved. The clerk also reported that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 98 and 122 and requested concurrence. The House then received second-reading reports on a range of bills, including measures on prison educational programs, respiratory care, dietitians, wildlife depredation, temporary structures, military families, civil rights, local boards of education, light pollution, controlled-substance prescribing licenses, youth health services, class sizes for exceptional children, the athletic trainer compact, limited commercial driver’s licenses, and Senate Bill 145 relating to the Department of Agriculture and Alcohol Beverage Control. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including the main budget bills House Bill 500 and House Bill 504, along with measures on workforce investment, data centers, domestic violence, guardians ad litem, domestic relations, health delivery and “food is medicine” initiatives, state personnel, open records, and fish and wildlife resources. House Bill 500 and House Bill 504 were taken from the Rules Committee and placed on the orders of the day. House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill, was then taken up for third reading and explanation. Members presented extensive floor explanations of House Bill 500 and House Committee Substitute 1, describing it as a “good first draft” of the executive budget. Supporters said the proposal emphasizes restrained spending growth, base reductions with exemptions for key areas, employee salary increments, and deposits to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for future one-time investments. They highlighted funding for K-12 education, postsecondary aid and workforce training, Medicaid and behavioral health, public health infrastructure, pensions, veterans, public safety, economic development, tourism, and state technology and facility maintenance. The budget substitute was adopted by voice vote, and the discussion continued with detailed descriptions of the bill’s provisions; no final passage vote was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• More House bills on first reading and introduction. >> House Bill 157, first reading of the bill. >>
• &gt;&gt; House Bill 157, first reading of the &gt;&gt; House Bill 157, first reading of the bill.
• First reading of the House bill.
• First reading of the House bill.
• </c> were up first. were up first. &gt;&gt; Thank<01:04:25.440><c> you,</c><01:04:25.680><c> Mr.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> at grade level. They can't do math. at grade level. They can't do math.
• </c> President John Hansen the first President John Hansen the first president<01:19:18.400><c> of</c
• I remember when I first became a House member and first learned about this trust.
• The first one the leadership the bill.
• The first thing we do, Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one is at 9:45.
• The theft first. Yes. &gt;&gt; Yeah. Yes. The theft first. Yes.
• </c> first. Yes. first. Yes.
• </c> the federal first investigation? the federal first investigation?
• Starting with hindering prosecution in the first degree, it is an offense one class or grade lower, with

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills related to bribery and public corruption. On SB 2249, which would increase penalties for bribery under certain circumstances, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and Honolulu Police Department supported the measure, arguing that Hawaii’s current class B felony penalty is probationable and too weak to secure cooperation in corruption cases, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Snyder decision narrowed federal bribery prosecutions. The Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing that elevating bribery to a class A felony and making it non-probationable was excessive, overbroad, and would remove judicial discretion. Multiple individuals also testified in support. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about removing deferred acceptance of plea provisions and asked HPD about the $20,000 threshold; the prosecutor said alternative charges could still be used in plea bargaining, and HPD said the threshold aligns with first-degree theft. The committee also discussed how current law tolls the bribery statute of limitations while an official remains in office, with the prosecutor explaining it can extend up to six years total. The committee then heard SB 2494, which would set a nine-year statute of limitations for bribery offenses. The Public Defender opposed the extension, saying the justification based on the length of federal investigations was too broad and that bribery already has a longer limitations period than most felonies. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the bill, saying bribery cases often involve coordination with federal investigators, that federal and state evidence-gathering methods may differ, and that a longer period would help ensure admissible evidence and allow state prosecution when federal law no longer applies. Members asked whether there were public examples of cases lost to the current limitations period; the prosecutor said he was not aware of any publicly available examples, but maintained nine years was a reasonable period. The committee also considered SB 2737, which would create a misdemeanor for failure by a state or county elected official to report bribery. The Department of the Attorney General offered comments and suggested changing the term to “public servant” for consistency with existing law. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the intent but warned the reporting requirement could create Fifth Amendment issues for witnesses who might otherwise be useful in grand jury proceedings. The bill drew broad public support, with 33 supporters and no opposition noted. Finally, the committee took up SB 3071, which revises sex trafficking and promoting prostitution statutes by redefining “profits from prostitution” and adding an affirmative defense for certain lawful transactions. The Public Defender opposed the measure, saying it still could reach people without the required criminal intent and that the affirmative defense language could be applied unevenly. The Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor supported the bill, saying it better addresses concerns raised by the State v. Ibarra decision while closing loopholes that allow traffickers to disguise profits as loans or gifts. The prosecutor emphasized that traffickers are sophisticated and can structure transactions to evade current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• Read the first message.
• Read the first amendment.
• Read the first amendment.
• Read the first amendment.
• Now, when we talk about destroying the First Amendment and the First Amendment About destroying the First

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first bill we're going to go through today is House Bill 96.
• risks and benefits of social media and how to use social media safely prior to entering the eighth grade
• I think that's her first time. Okay, are there any other questions? Yes...
• This is the first time I've ever actually been here to the Education Policy Committee, other than to
• College age, they are eligible for this grant, and it's for either their first bachelor’s degree or if

Bills: SB92, HB9, HB9

Keywords: K-12 education, wireless communication devices, digital safety, social media education, classroom distraction, three-cueing system, reading instruction, structured literacy, scientific strategies, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:27:38.399><c> to</c> and imposes a $110,000 fine first to and imposes a $110,000 fine first to
• But first of all, it's going to be cited as criminal.
• </c><01:27:28.000><c> that</c> some of these these offg grades that some of these these offg grades that
• </c> Agriculture establishes penalties first Agriculture establishes penalties first to<01:58:35.280>
• First is Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> building</c><00:09:28.720><c> energy</c> first line 44 state building energy first line 44 state
• Um, first let's Members, let's do this.
• We can talk offline first.
• <c> standard</c><01:04:38.079><c> is</c> First, the carbon-f free standard is First, the carbon-f free
• We have We have utility grade solar.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I commend our local first of need.
• first and second<01:43:12.320><c> grade</c><01:43:12.560><c> teacher</c><01:43:12.880><c> at</c><01:
• They had many firsts.
• The oldest astronaut, the first astronaut of color, the first female astronaut, and the first non-American
• They had many firsts. The this week. They had many firsts.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, May 15, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First up on SB 255 is Mr. Cam.
• First up on SB 255 is Mr. Cam.
• Hawaii received a failing grade.
• </c> C or Class A assault in the the first C or Class A assault in the the first class<00:43:28.319><
• We first up is SP 51.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.