Transcript Highlights:

• We're here for interact on behalf of Ag. We're here for any<00:16:26.920> questions.
• As a young athlete, I played in a Pop Warner championship game there.
• What's your interaction with financials that comes to the area?
• What's your interaction with financials that comes to the area?
• What's your interaction with financials that comes to the area?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard multiple governor’s messages for confirmation to the Agribusiness Development Corporation board and one appointment to the Aloha Stadium Authority. For GM 606, David Ige Hinazumi was supported by ADC and DBEDT, with testimony highlighting his private-sector experience, technology background, and ability to help with risk management and finances. He told senators he had attended board meetings since 2018, saw ADC as a state business arm for agriculture, and supported expanding land, facilities, and even aquaculture if resources allowed. Senators asked about ADC’s role relative to the Department of Agriculture, and he said the department’s strength is research/regulatory work while ADC should focus on business development, support, and facilities for farmers and aquaculture businesses. For GM 607, Jason Watts was strongly supported by ADC leadership, DBEDT, and many agricultural and community groups, with one opposing testimony from Hawaii Farm Bureau. Supporters praised his governance, accountability, transparency, and frequent communication with the agency. In questioning, Watts said ADC’s top priority should be increasing land holdings, and he discussed ADC’s role in water systems, including preserving agricultural water sources and inventorying systems statewide. He also said ADC could potentially help small farmers comply with environmental permitting through a broader, regional approach if authorized by the Legislature. The committee also heard from Joshua Uyehara for GM 682, who was supported by ADC, county officials, and farm groups. He said his priorities would be accelerating ADC projects, expanding capacity, and possibly using ADC as a center of expertise for water systems and for helping farmers with environmental requirements; he also said biofuel crops and food production can be complementary, though food should be prioritized when water is constrained. The committee then considered GM 513, Tracy Lester Smith’s appointment to the Aloha Stadium Authority. The stadium authority and DBEDT supported her, citing her experience in NASCAR, boxing, and Bellator MMA as useful for marketing, attracting events, and commercializing the stadium. Smith said she was eager to serve and would bring experience from both the landlord and tenant perspectives, helping the board think about venue operations, sponsorships, and event attraction. Senators asked about improving public perception and execution, and she emphasized accountability, timelines, and building a venue that can draw major sports and entertainment events. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the century you know I I do a game of the century you know I I do a game of the century you know
• up there that we can put them games up there that we can put them games up there right there just be
• in here what y'all think I hope the game in here what y'all think I hope the game in here what y'all
• in a record-breaking 29 inning game in a record-breaking 29 inning game in 1966 that same year he led
• I think we think this stage of the game I think we think this stage of the game I think we need our

Bills: SJR 36, SJR 2, SB 4, SR 45, SR 47, SR 63, SR 66, SR 70, SR 85, SCR 14, SB 10, SB 11, SB 10, SB 11

Keywords: SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, constitutional amendment, homestead exemption, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval, November 2025 ballot, local government, Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, as far as bringing visitors here, it wasn't—there's no game being played here, right?
• It's about the media attention that we're getting in the Sofi Stadium, where the games are being played
• Their games.
• Since we're on the topic of, um, permanent interactions group groups, can I ask when was the last time
• group car so Caroline I interaction group car so Caroline I wasn't<04:31:06.960> there<04:31:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House and Senate tourism briefing focused on the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s interim action plans, current projects, contract oversight, destination management action plans (DMAPs), and the impact of recent legislation and audit findings. Interim CEO Caroline Anderson said she accepted the temporary role to help address agency challenges, emphasized rebuilding trust, and said HTA is reviewing the state auditor’s concerns and posting its response publicly. She also described HTA’s mission and organizational structure under SB 1571, including reporting lines to the governor, the director, and the board, and outlined staff additions in finance, brand marketing, destination stewardship, and planning. A major topic was the permanent CEO search. HTA board chair Tata Po said the goal is to select a CEO within about four months, with the search firm still engaged, the position description being revised to reflect the new law and compensation changes, and approvals still needed before the job can be reposted. Members expressed frustration that the recruitment had been paused and questioned whether HTA has sufficient qualified leadership and staff during the interim period. Board leadership said the current staff is limited by vacancies but that they have confidence in the team and will add resources if needed. Members also pressed HTA on the role of the destination stewardship team and the CNHA/Kilohana contract, asking how staff oversight works and whether staff members were effectively wearing multiple hats. HTA explained that the stewardship team provides direction to contractors and that the work is divided among specialists overseeing projects such as tour guide certification, technical assistance, community tourism collaboratives, and a destination app. The committee also discussed whether the board can still vote on budgets under the new structure; the Attorney General’s office was cited as confirming that the board may advise, but the department director retains budget authority. HTA said it is working with CNHA and HVCB on contract and budget timing, with a goal of shifting to a calendar-year process so recipients know funding earlier.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I feel like I'm on a game, so... We'll feel like I'm on a game show. You and I both.
• Help them get home and us get home and us to continue to interact with you in the community.
• Because we're still Home and us to continue to interact with you in the community, because we're still
• It would help law enforcement know how to better interact with people with brain injury.
• It would just be a clear indication that you are interacting with somebody that has a brain injury and

Bills: HCR32, HB493, HB679, HB745, HB896, HB1000, HB1024, HB1050, HB1159, HB1172, HB1173, HB1207, HB1208, HB1218

Keywords: Saint Claude Avenue Bridge, Port of New Orleans, backup motors, infrastructure, traffic management, expropriation, property rights, Amite River Basin, drainage, East Feliciana Parish, St. Helena Parish, government authority, traumatic brain injury, identification card, law enforcement training, medical verification, disability rights, special permits, transportation, tandem loads

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on April 21 and considered a series of transportation, licensing, tolling, and public safety measures. It reported favorably House Bill 745, extending special permits for tandem loads hauling containers to and from port facilities; House Bill 1000, a DOTD cleanup bill that clarifies Highway Priority Program reporting and raises the letter-bid contract threshold from $1 million to $3 million; and House Bill 1050, which clarifies commercial driver’s license rules, including age and intrastate/interstate driving limits. The committee also approved House Bill 1172 naming a portion of U.S. Highway 165 in Oberlin the Coulin Brooks Manuel Memorial Highway, House Bill 1218 naming a portion of Louisiana Highway 1090 the Lewis Pat Miramon Memorial Highway, House Concurrent Resolution 32 urging backup motors for the St. Claude Avenue Bridge, and House Bill 1207 on public contracting standards and competition in public bidding. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 896, which responds to tolling issues at the Belle Chasse bridge project. The bill would require toll signage, local toll customer service centers, dispute procedures, and limits on administrative fees, with amendments addressing effective dates, in-person assistance, appeal deadlines, law-enforcement exemptions, and limits on certain charges. The author and witnesses described high administrative fees, long travel distances to customer service locations, and problems with toll bills, while committee members noted the issue was complex and ongoing. The committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also heard House Bill 1159, allowing Jefferson Parish municipalities to use automated speed enforcement devices again under local control. Supporters from Gretna, Westwego, Harahan, and Kenner said photo enforcement reduced crashes, improved safety, and helped limited police resources, while opponents were not emphasized in the transcript. After discussion about whether the measure should be voluntarily or involuntarily deferred, the committee ultimately deferred the bill. House Bill 493, which would prohibit expropriation by the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District in East Feliciana and St. Helena Parishes, drew extensive testimony about reservoir fears and local opposition; the committee voluntarily deferred it. House Bill 679, as substituted, created a driver’s license designation for people with brain injuries and required related law-enforcement training; witnesses described personal experiences with brain injury and the need for officers to recognize communication and behavioral effects, and the committee reported the substitute favorably. House Bill 1173, which waives late fees for certain reinstatement-relief payment plans for driver’s licenses, was also reported favorably, and House Bill 1024 creating a Louisiana Democratic Party prestige plate was approved as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• At 17, he thought he was interacting with a young girl, only to find out that the person on the other
• It's not the whole game, but this is a really big win. that these apps offer and they cannot be that
• <00:52:37.839> That content, cannot interact with them.
• That content, cannot interact with them.
• , but this is a really big whole game, but this is a really big win.<00:53:08.000> Thank<00:53

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up House File 4138, a bill aimed at limiting harmful social media features for children and requiring social media companies to report potential mass-shooting threats to the BCA. Members first reconsidered and then adopted the Smith amendment (A13), while a proposed amendment to that amendment (A18) failed on a 67-67 tie. Representative Bonner then introduced a technical amendment (A14) but withdrew it after explaining it needed further work to avoid liability and legal problems. The bill was then read for third reading as amended. Debate centered on the bill’s approach to child safety online. Supporters, including Representatives Scott, Eng, Feist, Greenman, and Gilman, argued that social media is addictive, harmful to children’s mental health, and too often exploits kids, and they said the bill is an important bipartisan first step. Several members also emphasized that parents should be involved, though some questioned whether parents can realistically understand the technology and legal terms well enough to make informed decisions. Representative Leeing raised concerns about location privacy, parental consent, possible liability waivers, and whether the bill should instead restrict addictive features for all children rather than only those whose parents consent. The discussion also broadened to related public-safety issues. Representative Greenman contrasted the difficulty of advancing this bill with the Legislature’s inability to move gun-related provisions, arguing that organized interests like the gun lobby and big tech are blocking stronger protections for children. Representative Bonner later described specific cases of children harmed through social media, including sextortion and fentanyl-related deaths, to argue that the bill does not yet cover all vulnerable youth and should be strengthened. No final vote on passage is included in the transcript excerpt, but the amended bill advanced to third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• nursing homes have in the past offered alcohol to their residents in a kind of a happy hour social interaction
• . ...offered alcohol to their residents in a kind of a happy hour social interaction, and the DPS said
• Department of Public Safety, and specifically within the department, the division, the AGE, the alcohol, gaming

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , and I don’t know if you remember that program, but it helped communities basically elevate their game
• And that is a whole other game-changer for us as communities, to be able to find some of that revenue
• They like interacting with residents face-to-face. They like seeing each other.
• They like interacting with residents face-to-face.
• They didn't have that public comment portion where they were able to speak and interact with residents

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on Governor Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll’s Municipal Empowerment Act, with administration officials and municipal leaders broadly supporting the bill as a package of tools to help cities and towns manage rising costs, staffing shortages, and service demands. The administration highlighted procurement reforms, including raising Chapter 30B advertising thresholds, clarifying cooperative purchasing, and removing the Commbuys notice requirement; permanent authority to amortize emergency-related deficits over three years; expanded authority and enforcement for removing double poles; continued flexibility for hybrid and remote public meetings; regionalization options such as regional boards of assessors and intermunicipal agreements; cybersecurity reporting to EOTSS; and several local revenue options and other municipal finance changes. They said the bill was shaped by listening sessions with municipal officials and was intended to increase flexibility, efficiency, and stability without imposing broad mandates. Committee members asked about regionalization, cybersecurity costs, Commbuys, hybrid meetings, and double poles. Administration witnesses said cybersecurity reporting would help the state target resources and that existing Community Compact and capital grant programs, including IT and municipal fiber funding, could support local needs; they said EOTSS would absorb reporting within existing resources. On procurement, they said the Commbuys notice change would be optional and that other public notice methods would remain available. On hybrid meetings, they emphasized flexibility for different types of boards and the burdens a one-size-fits-all mandate could create for small towns and volunteer boards. On double poles, they said the bill’s main change from last session was to give utilities more time and improve the removal process while keeping enforcement mechanisms aimed at speeding removal rather than raising revenue. The Massachusetts Municipal Association, MAPC, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and multiple mayors and town managers testified in support. They described the bill as a practical modernization measure that would help local governments operate more efficiently and respond to fiscal pressure. Witnesses from Northampton, Lynn, Gardner, Cambridge, Franklin, North Andover, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Ashland praised the hybrid meeting provisions, procurement changes, regional service-sharing, and emergency deficit amortization. Several also urged adoption of local revenue tools, including meals and lodging tax options and other local fees, as ways to preserve services and staffing. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had a fair amount of interaction, particularly with the shutdown of the mine and the power plant
• I'm trying to figure out how would this collaborative interact with a pre-K child, for that matter, a
• So I would really love to hear how this would interact with those children. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Ahead of the game, it's something that I've been working on.
• I'll just say one word though, that in some of my interactions in the past, PFAS investigations don't

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this is a bill prohibiting games in which the object is to capture a pig.
• Um, this is a bill prohibiting games in which the object is to capture a pig.
• Um, this is a bill prohibiting games in which the object is to capture a pig.
• Um, this is a bill prohibiting games in which the object is to capture a pig.
• They are definitely not willing participants in this game.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this will be a game-changer for a lot of our communities that will not absorb all their funds
• I think this will be a game-changer<00:52:47.080> for<00:52:47.200> a<00:52:47.240>
• lot<00:52:47.400> of<00:52:47.480> our game-changer for a lot of our game-changer for
• <00:52:58.920> So,<00:52:59.080> again,<00:52:59.360> thanks game-changer uh
• So, again, thanks game-changer uh here.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, knowing your role and knowing how you interact with those other agencies, why do you think it
• And I'm sure that they've probably, that those interactions have happened and you have done some, you
• The firm interacted with the department on a daily basis.
• You're ahead of the game. It's a great question, Senator Shope, and I'm grateful for it.
• Gaming is a perfect example.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, knowing your role and knowing how you interact with those other agencies, why do you think it
• And I'm sure that they've probably, that those interactions have happened and you have done some, you
• The firm interacted with the department on a daily basis.
• You're ahead of the game. It's a great question, Senator Schopen, and I'm grateful for it.
• Gaming is a perfect example.

Summary: The Committee on Director Nominations met with four members present and approved the prior minutes without objection. Chair Jay Kaufman outlined the committee’s role in reviewing executive nominations and explained the hearing process for three nominees: Mary Foote for the Office of Economic Opportunity, Debbie Johnston for the Department of Health Services, and Chuck Bassett. Foote did not appear for her hearing, and members discussed her absence and alleged omissions in her disclosure materials, including prior service with Planned Parenthood-related organizations. The committee then moved to reject her nomination, and the motion passed 3-2, recommending that the full Senate reject Mary Foote. Debbie Johnston, nominee to lead the Department of Health Services, appeared and gave an opening statement describing her Arizona background, prior Senate staff work, and more than 20 years with the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association. She said her priorities at ADHS include rebuilding trust in public health licensing, improving stakeholder engagement, standardizing rulemaking communication, addressing alleged religious discrimination and retaliation concerns in licensing, and using technology and AI to improve efficiency. In questioning, senators pressed her on her management style, conflict-of-interest safeguards given her prior industry role, enforcement priorities, budget pressures, behavioral health and assisted living oversight, and the department’s response to COVID-19. Johnston said she would follow statutes, recuse herself from enforcement matters involving former contacts, and resign if directed to carry out an unlawful policy. She also said the department does not regulate therapy itself, only facilities, and that it would rely on legal counsel regarding the governor’s conversion-therapy executive order and related federal civil-rights allegations. Several senators focused on public health trust and the department’s pandemic response, with Johnston acknowledging concerns about closures, data collection, and communication during COVID-19 while saying she would review past after-action materials and be better prepared in the future. Public testimony from stakeholders in aging services and health care strongly supported her confirmation, praising her accessibility, responsiveness, and collaborative approach. After testimony, the vice chair moved to recommend Johnston’s confirmation to the full Senate. The roll call was underway when the transcript ended, with several members voting aye and one member expressing reservations about her not reviewing the pandemic after-action report before another crisis occurs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is everyone playing these games on driving games and they think they can take it out on the real road
• Why are they all playing these little games when they're 16, 17, and they think they can take it out
• c><00:54:03.200> they're convince customers that they're convince customers that they're interacting
• with<00:54:04.080> their<00:54:04.760> their<00:54:04.880> trusted interacting
• with their their trusted interacting with their their trusted institution. institution. institution.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• business owners about their interaction business owners about their interaction with<00:52:06.640
• It is extremely stressful as a small business to interact with some of the agencies, not at fault of
• <00:57:35.400> with<00:57:35.560> some a small business to interact with some a small
• business to interact with some of<00:57:35.840> the<00:57:35.920> agencies,<00:57:36.840
• , which is now all of my lacrosse game, which is now all of my weekends,<01:06:58.800> um<01:06

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They place their trust in the adults responsible for making sure their games and competitions are safe
• They place their trust in the adults' response for making sure their games and competitions are safe
• in the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people every year, protecting the integrity of the games
• Okay, I feel like I’m on a game show. Okay, we are not funding Mexican students, that’s correct.
• Coaches may be the only adults interacting with athletes every day and are often the first to hear when

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our kids interact with each other.
• with each other stores our kids interact with each other this<00:08:17.560> is<00:08:17.720><
• 00:08:51.560> an<00:08:51.800> achievable<00:08:52.800> long<00:08:53.200> game
• <00:08:53.560> solution<00:08:54.000> that is an achievable long game solution that
• is an achievable long game solution that can<00:08:54.600> create<00:08:55.080> a<00:08

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1295 HD2, relating to clean energy, and then on Senate Concurrent Resolution 140 and Senate Resolution 158, which seek an Article V Convention of States application. HB 1295 drew brief supportive testimony from listed supporters and one witness who said the bill would help future generations and address pollution, runoff, watershed planning, and cleaner energy alternatives. No committee action or vote was taken on the clean energy bill during the portion provided. Most of the hearing focused on SCR 140 and SR 158. Supporters argued the resolutions would let states, including Hawaii, propose constitutional amendments to address federal overreach, fiscal responsibility, deficit spending, term limits, and the balance of power between Washington and the states. Several supporters said state legislators are closer to the people and that Article V gives states a legitimate role in proposing amendments; some also cited debt, executive orders, and the need for long-term reforms. One witness from Convention of States Action said the movement is active nationwide and that the convention process would still require ratification by 38 states. Opponents, including representatives of Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Common Cause, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, and individual testifiers, warned there are no real guardrails on a convention and that it could open the door to broader constitutional changes. They said the effort is unnecessary, risky, and potentially harmful to environmental protections, social safety net programs, and civil rights, and argued that federal action is sometimes needed during recessions and emergencies. Committee members asked questions about whether the proposal was merely procedural and whether the states should act without Congress; the discussion ended with continued questioning, and no vote or final committee action is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• from child predators, and he's done great work in trying to eliminate child predators from the online games
• That would be something like you interact with on the telephone when you call your bank or your insurance
• to constantly remind the human that the companion is actually not a real human being that you're interacting
• Of what this reporter termed harmful interactions, and she defined those broadly in the interview to
• And so what that came out to was roughly one harmful interaction every five minutes with profiles that

Bills: SB1670, SB1716, SB1521

Keywords: security breach, data breach, cybersecurity, breach notification, privacy, consumer protection, class action, civil liability, Attorney General, district attorney, financial institution, banking regulator, data security, reasonable safeguards, breach notice, Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act, artificial intelligence, AI, generative AI, chatbot

Transcript Highlights:

• It almost feels like you want us to beg for the dollars, and it's kind of this game, and it doesn't feel
• like a good game because people's lives are on the line, because we know what happens when people don't
• And so to me, it isn't a game.
• This must be done by improving the customer service experience of those who interact with the state's
• CaliSeach also provides interactive data tools to our local COCs so they can use to drive local policies

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• road is in the individual interactions road is in the individual interactions in<00:10:52.880>
• /c><00:12:43.920> when<00:12:44.079> I<00:12:44.800> inter<00:12:44.880> interact
• <00:12:45.200> with and I will when I inter interact with and I will when I inter interact
• colors and fruity candy flavors and enticed by cool devices that now even include smartphone and gaming
• even include smartphone and gaming even include smartphone and gaming features. features. features

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Health Services Committee heard a presentation from Dr. Steven Stack, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, on Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Program. He said Kentucky received about $213 million in federal funding, among the highest awards nationally, after a fast application and negotiation process. He emphasized that the grant is time-limited, must be used for the specific goals in the state’s application, and cannot be treated as a general bailout or replacement for existing funding. He also noted the state will use a website, ruralhealthplan.ky.gov, to share the full application, award terms, and future opportunities. Dr. Stack outlined five focus areas: maternal health and prenatal/early childhood supports; EMS and trauma response workforce and transfer capacity; behavioral health crisis care through the EMPATH model and mobile crisis services; oral health access through more hygienists, telehealth, and hub-and-spoke models; and rural community hubs for chronic disease prevention and innovation, including food-as-medicine and healthier lifestyle interventions. He stressed that the program is meant to be transformative, not duplicative, and that it cannot pay clinician salaries, fund new construction, replace EMR systems broadly, or duplicate billable services. He said the state will work with community partners, hospitals, universities, and others, including the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, to begin implementation. Members responded positively overall. Senator Berg praised the award and the goal of integrating care across the state, but raised concerns about access to prenatal care and about possible future changes to water fluoridation, warning both could harm children and rural families. The chair and other members thanked Dr. Stack for the update and congratulated him on the award. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• They provide food, board games, video games, and movies while students are able to study.
• And Colonel, how do you interact for field training?
• So we have to up our game with medical. We don't have a nurse on staff.
• Chair, how do your VSOs interact with... Mr.
• be through health care or from our VSOs or for state benefits, those interactions are logged.