Transcript Highlights:

• applications from fiscal year 2020 to 2023... ...from fiscal year 2020 to 2023 leaves Californians vulnerable

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Emergency Management met to consider Assembly Joint Resolution 11, which urges the President and Congress to restore funding for FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. Chair Rhodesia Ransom and Assembly Member Lisa Calderon described the resolution as a bipartisan effort to preserve funding for hazard mitigation projects that help communities prevent disasters rather than simply recover from them. They cited major California impacts from the program’s cancellation, including losses for wildfire mitigation, seismic retrofits, and dam safety projects in several counties and districts. Support testimony came from Catherine Freeman of the California State Association of Counties and Robin Finning of Cal OES. Freeman said counties rely on BRIC for flexible, proactive disaster-prevention funding and warned that canceling the program would set back years of resilience work. Finning said 49 communities had contacted Cal OES after the cancellation announcement and that the agency had been working closely with them on next steps. Stephanie Stevens of the California Residential Mitigation Program also testified in support, noting the loss of more than $40 million for earthquake soft-story retrofit grants. Members expressed support and noted the importance of the affected district projects. There was no opposition testimony. The committee then voted unanimously to adopt AJR 11 and refer it to third reading, with all members present voting aye. The meeting was then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• SOLUTIONS, OPTIMIZING MANGROVES, LIVING SEAWALLS, OYSTER REEFS AND NATURAL BARRIERS THAT PROTECT VULNERABLE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you and I know this: if unallotment always comes, the first unallotment always goes to the most vulnerable
• </c><02:04:19.840><c> of</c> always goes to the most vulnerable of always goes to the most vulnerable
• which gets me to our most vulnerable which gets me to this<02:04:38.880><c> point</c><02:04:39.119><
• That we can't do that for the very most vulnerable in our society. pushing them into poverty more quickly
• </c> Vulnerable in our society.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> trusted relationships with vulnerable trusted relationships with vulnerable member<01:37:06.560>
• as professional standpoint the difference it makes in the safety of our community and for that vulnerable
• </c><02:03:17.440><c> population</c> ...and for that vulnerable population alone. >> Great.
• And we know that restrictions like these often fall hardest on the people who are already vulnerable:
• , people with substance use vulnerable, people with substance use disorders,<02:16:34.960><c> people<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Children are uniquely vulnerable to opioid exposure.
• Children<01:09:00.159><c> are</c><01:09:00.400><c> uniquely</c><01:09:00.799><c> vulnerable</c><01:09
• :01.199><c> to</c> Children are uniquely vulnerable to Children are uniquely vulnerable to opioid<01:
• I respectfully urge you to support House Bill 473 and help us ensure that no child is left vulnerable
• I respectfully urge you to support House Bill 473 and help us ensure that no child is left vulnerable

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• putting ethanol at every gas pump is whatever, but if we talk about cutting services to the most vulnerable
• </c><00:04:39.759><c> people</c> services to the most vulnerable people services to the most vulnerable
• </c> protecting our most vulnerable protecting our most vulnerable residents.<01:11:45.679><c> We</c>
• Our organization provides essential services to some of Minnesota's most vulnerable.
• Then these are our most vulnerable. So, thank you for pointing that out.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• staff in our facility as well<01:16:53.560><c> as</c><01:16:53.639><c> the</c><01:16:53.840><c> vulnerable
• </c><01:16:54.360><c> adults</c><01:16:55.000><c> fact</c><01:16:55.880><c> the</c> well as the vulnerable
• adults fact the well as the vulnerable adults fact the good<01:16:56.320><c> cause</c><01:16:56.679>
• I alone do not feeling of vulnerability I alone do not have<01:27:34.320><c> the</c><01:27:34.440><c
• 02:30:14.399><c> most</c> care available to Minnesota's most care available to Minnesota's most vulnerable

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:42:41.840><c> economic</c> vulnerable economic vulnerable economic households<02:42:44.560><c> however
• First, each year billions of dollars are wagered on unregulated sites, exposing minors and vulnerable
• exposing wagered on unregulated sites exposing minors<02:47:13.760><c> and</c><02:47:13.960><c> vulnerable
• </c><02:47:14.479><c> individuals</c><02:47:15.439><c> to</c> minors and vulnerable individuals to minors
• and vulnerable individuals to unsafe<02:47:16.200><c> gambling</c><02:47:17.200><c> legalizing</c><02

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on February 12 at 2 p.m. and heard several measures related to corrections, re-entry, law enforcement, retirement benefits, and gun violence prevention. On HB 10002, which would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify unannounced inspection authority, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it had no objection to the term length or to 24/7 unannounced access. The commission’s chair, Commissioner Mark Patterson, asked for a longer term, saying the commission needs more time and stability to manage reform efforts after years without staff during COVID. Community Alliance on Prisons and Carolyn Eaton also supported a longer term, with both suggesting six years would better insulate the position from politics. The chair noted he had asked Chair Bot for background on the prior committee’s changes and said that could be discussed during decision-making. The committee then heard HB 67, which would require DCR to help inmates obtain civil identification documents such as IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards as soon as practicable, including for people in furlough or community placement programs. DCR said it supported the bill and described ongoing work with the city and county on ID machines and with agencies on certificates and Social Security cards. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Oversight Commission, Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Office of Public Defense all supported the measure, emphasizing that identification is essential for housing, employment, and successful re-entry and noting the disproportionate impact of incarceration on Native Hawaiians. On HB 1183, which would classify certain law enforcement administrators and Department of Law Enforcement employees as Class A members for retirement purposes, the Department of Human Resources Development, the Employees’ Retirement System, and the Department of Law Enforcement all supported the bill. DHRD said it would help recruitment and retention, ERS said it had technical amendments to suggest, and DLE said the change would help with succession planning and allow the governor to appoint the most qualified leader. The committee also heard HB 1045, an emergency appropriation bill to cover payroll fringe benefits for Department of Law Enforcement personnel after salary funding had been shifted to other departments; Budget and Finance and DLE explained the need for the supplemental funding, and no opposition was noted. Finally, the committee took up HB 664, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a grant program, a resource bank, and a special fund. The Attorney General recommended adding standards for grant awards and warned of overlap with the existing Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission, suggesting consolidation and repeal of the older commission to avoid duplication. Supporters included the Brady Campaign, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action Hawaii, a physician, and an Army veteran, who argued the office would centralize data, coordinate prevention efforts, and help secure outside funding. Testimony was mixed, with the chair noting 37 supporters, nine opponents, and three commenters, but no vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will actually undo protections for this vulnerable group of Granite Staters.
• It will actually undo protections for this vulnerable group of Granite Staters.
• Lyn Lipid: These bills remove freedoms and inflict harm on a vulnerable group of people.
• more power than they already have to enact violence and discrimination against one of our most vulnerable
• </c> against one of our most vulnerable against one of our most vulnerable groups<04:06:13.760><c> this

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, just a small observation, mostly about safety for the most vulnerable, the children, and also
• Thank you. for most vulnerable the children and for most vulnerable the children and also<04:17:05.880
• The genesis of the bill is to keep the schools for the students and to protect that vulnerable population
• The genesis of the bill is to keep the schools for the students and to protect that vulnerable population
• The genesis of the bill is to keep the schools for the students and to protect that vulnerable population

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education to require objective, science-based evidence for pedagogical methods. The prime sponsor said the bill is a verbatim reintroduction from the prior session and argued that current federal definitions are too vague, allowing subjective surveys and other weak evidence to justify teaching methods. He said the bill is limited to pedagogy, not subject matter, and is intended to improve student outcomes, reduce fad-driven practices, and potentially save money by limiting unnecessary retraining and new materials. Members asked repeatedly about the bill’s scope, including whether it would affect classroom teachers, curriculum content, and existing instructional approaches such as phonics versus whole language or queuing. The sponsor said the bill applies to state and local education bodies and educator training policies, not individual teachers in their classrooms, and that teachers would retain flexibility. He also said standardized testing could be part of a scientific study but is not itself a study, and that textbook providers could be asked to furnish the studies supporting instructional guidance included in their materials. Several members raised concerns about the fiscal note and possible cost shifts to local districts and taxpayers. The sponsor disputed the idea that the bill would necessarily create major new costs or require additional staff, saying any costs would likely be limited and that the department is already applying federal evidence-based rules. He also said if some current methods are not science-based, updating them would be justified even if there were some initial expense. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• including our elder population, understand the ways that they can prevent themselves from being vulnerable
• including our elder population, understand the ways that they can prevent themselves from being vulnerable
• Persons with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to abuse and victimization due to their dependence
• She's probably one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet, and she's also one of the most vulnerable
• But she's also one of the most vulnerable people you will probably meet.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held its sixth public hearing on the Governor’s H-2 budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, focused on public safety and judiciary agencies, at the Foxborough Community Center. After opening remarks and local welcomes, the committee heard first from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, led by Secretary Gina Kwan, who outlined a $1.72 billion budget, up $69.8 million from FY26. She said the proposal emphasizes core operations, readiness, and partnerships with municipalities, and highlighted work on firearms-law implementation, State Police reform, DOC reentry efforts, hate-crimes prevention, emergency response, and planning for major events including the World Cup. Members also raised concerns about DNA backlog reporting, State Police academy boxing and training standards, ICE communication, disaster relief funding, crime lab staffing, EMS placement, and diversity in public safety leadership. Several exchanges focused on specific operational issues. Secretary Kwan and her team said the State Police are tracking the influx of forensic work from local sheriffs, that the boxing program remains suspended pending an IACP review and likely will not return in its prior form, and that EOPS has no direct communication with ICE but supports law-enforcement coordination where appropriate. On disaster preparedness, officials said the new disaster relief fund is being developed with MEMA and A&F, currently capitalized at $14 million with another $14 million expected, though members urged a more permanent funding source. On the crime lab, staff said the roughly $4.5 million increase is intended to cover core operations and a structural funding gap rather than expand services. The secretary also said EOPS is not ready to absorb OEMS from DPH at this time, though she would keep an open mind. The committee then heard from district attorneys, led by Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden, who said the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association is seeking a 10% increase in operating budgets, including about $16.7 million for staffing salaries, to recruit and retain prosecutors, advocates, and support staff. He said the request reflects rising workload and the need to keep the criminal justice system functioning efficiently and fairly. The hearing was recessed briefly after the district attorneys’ opening remarks, with additional testimony expected to continue afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• including our elder population, understand the ways that they can prevent themselves from being vulnerable
• including our elder population, understand the ways that they can prevent themselves from being vulnerable
• in the the population understand the ways that they can prevent themselves and being vulnerable in the
• Persons with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to abuse and victimization due to their dependence
• She's probably one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet, and she's also one of the most vulnerable

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• different people based on their personal characteristics, their economic situation, their economic vulnerabilities
• That is very much like the fox guarding the hen house on policy, health care policy, for our most vulnerable
• have gone on for a really long time, and with this package, we are looking to protect the most vulnerable
• have gone on for a really long time, and with this package, we are looking to protect the most vulnerable
• have gone on for a really long time, and with this package, we are looking to protect the most vulnerable

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, March 20, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• signals are combined with powerful AI systems, they can reveal patterns about mood, cognitive vulnerability
• This bill is about protecting people at vulnerable moments in their lives and ensuring that technology
• This bill is about protecting people<02:19:27.000><c> at</c><02:19:27.160><c> vulnerable</c><02:19:27.639
• ><c> moments</c><02:19:28.080><c> in</c><02:19:28.200><c> their</c> people at vulnerable moments in their
• people at vulnerable moments in their lives<02:19:29.280><c> and</c><02:19:29.400><c> ensuring</c><02

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, where<00:11:55.920><c> are</c><00:11:56.079><c> the</c><00:11:56.240><c> vulnerabilities</c><
• 00:11:56.800><c> in</c><00:11:57.040><c> our</c> where are the vulnerabilities in our where are the vulnerabilities
• We only have 21 varieties of coffee, and that makes us very vulnerable to pest and disease.
• We only have 21 varieties of coffee, and that makes us very vulnerable to pest and disease.
• We only have 21 varieties of coffee, and that makes us very vulnerable to pest and disease.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing focused on how federal policy changes, tariffs, funding cuts, the federal shutdown, and delays in the farm bill are affecting Hawaii agriculture and food access. Opening remarks emphasized Hawaii’s heavy dependence on imported food and farm inputs, the state’s vulnerability to disruptions in USDA services, and the need for stronger state, county, and community coordination. Speakers also noted that immigration enforcement and broader global supply-chain pressures can affect local farm labor, production, and food availability. Sharon Herd, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, described both positive and negative federal impacts. She said Hawaii has benefited from some recurring grants and a large new $8.8 million federal grant, but also reported about $22 million in losses from suspended or terminated grants, including farm-to-school and water-related projects. She said some USDA programs, such as microgrants for food security and FISMIP, are currently suspended, while the specialty crop block grant remains active. She also said Hawaii farms declined from 7,328 to 6,569 between the 2017 and 2022 censuses and argued the state cannot rely on imports alone to feed its people. Amanda Shaw of Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii presented findings from federal funding cut reports. She said the first report, in March, identified about $88 million in potential cuts, and the newer report found $64.7 million in confirmed cuts and about $175 million in potential cuts. She said federal shifts are creating uncertainty for farmers, food-system organizations, and school and community food programs, and noted that 4,000 to 5,000 Hawaii farmers could receive less money because of changes to payment-factor provisions for socially disadvantaged farmers. She also said Hawaii has lost 18% of local USDA staff since September 2024, with possible further national reductions expected. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, and the chair noted that any legal questions, including the reported SNAP changes, would be for the Judiciary Committee to assess later.

Transcript Highlights:

• How vulnerable are we? There are vulnerable populations on this island.
• One of the things that we really believe will help fill a vulnerability within the Department of Emergency
• But where we see this vulnerability is that if we establish a 24/7 watch office that will continue to
• </c><00:37:57.520><c> is</c><00:37:57.839><c> that</c> where we see this vulnerability is that where
• we see this vulnerability is that if<00:37:58.560><c> we</c><00:37:58.800><c> establish</c><00:37:59.200

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management on its hazard mitigation plan and recent emergency events on Oahu. Chair Dela Botti opened the meeting by explaining that the briefing was intended to review the mitigation planning process, the city’s hazard mitigation plan, and lessons learned from recent tsunami and wildfire threats, building on earlier briefings with state emergency management and transportation officials. Director Collins and hazard mitigation staff officer Ian Kio presented the plan, describing it as a five-year FEMA-required document focused on reducing long-term risk to people and property, not an operations plan for active disasters. Kio outlined how the plan was developed over roughly 18 months with a core team, steering committee, consultant support, and public input, and said it was formally adopted by the mayor’s office and approved by FEMA in July 2025. He said the updated plan was aligned more closely with the state hazard mitigation plan, expanded to cover 15 hazards including climate change and sea level rise, and organized around hazard risk rankings and mitigation strategies. He identified the highest-risk hazards as climate change and sea level rise, floods, health risks, hurricanes, tsunamis, and wildfires, and said the plan includes short-, medium-, and long-term actions such as education, Firewise community planning, flood mapping, and major infrastructure projects like tsunami walls and street elevation work. He also emphasized that the plan will be maintained with yearly updates and ongoing public feedback. Collins then discussed after-action findings from the July 6 Meli fire and the recent tsunami response, noting that reviews are still ongoing. He said the fire response showed strong initiative and teamwork, including police officers helping with fire suppression support and door-to-door evacuation efforts before firefighters arrived, and a staff duty officer who initiated a wireless emergency alert without waiting for higher-level direction. He said these actions reflected a culture of rapid decision-making when lives are at stake. Collins also urged residents to prepare by making family plans, gathering supplies, checking flood and tsunami risk maps, retrofitting homes, and obtaining insurance before disasters occur. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Greater Minnesota communities are especially vulnerable when it comes to cuts to LGA.
• County work is often invisible except for the valuable people that we, the vulnerable people that we
• “County work is often invisible except for the valuable people that we serve, the vulnerable people that
• County work is often invisible except for the valuable people that we, the vulnerable people that we
• </c><01:59:02.719><c> people</c> people that we the the vulnerable people people that we the the vulnerable

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cuts in this program will jeopardize years of progress and make the state more vulnerable to the costly
• Cuts in this program will jeopardize years of progress and make the state more vulnerable to the costly
• Cuts in this program will jeopardize years of progress and make the state more vulnerable to the costly
• Cuts in this program will jeopardize years of progress and make the state more vulnerable to the costly
• Cuts in this program will jeopardize years of progress and make the state more vulnerable to the costly

Bills: HF1587, HF2293, HF2218, HF1208, HF1482

Keywords: HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty

Transcript Highlights:

• Without these services, we are neglecting the people of our state, often leaving them vulnerable to further
• States are stepping up to ensure that vulnerable populations they serve aren't stranded and exposed to
• States are stepping up to ensure that vulnerable populations they serve aren't stranded and exposed to
• So these are our most vulnerable children in Minnesota that we represent.
• Ultimately, our goal at CLC is to help the most vulnerable children and youth successfully transition

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have vulnerable people in our communities, among our friends and family, those with comorbidities,
• h5n1<00:51:20.400><c> and</c><00:51:20.720><c> we</c><00:51:21.000><c> have</c><00:51:21.599><c> vulnerable
• </c><00:51:22.599><c> people</c><00:51:23.000><c> in</c> h5n1 and we have vulnerable people in h5n1 and
• we have vulnerable people in our<00:51:23.599><c> communities</c><00:51:24.599><c> right</c><00:51:24.880
• disqualify people under active investigation for fraud from working in programs serving children and vulnerable

Keywords: 1187, senate, all