Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this is Nicole from Hawaii Children's Action Network.
• <01:25:16.159> Hawaii<01:25:16.560> Children's<01:25:16.960> Action >>
• Hawaii Children's Action >> Thank you.
• Hawaii Children's Action Networks<01:25:17.679> peace<01:25:17.920> and<01:25:18.080>
• Hawaii Children's Action Network speaks in support on Zoom.

Bills: HB1977, HB1764, HB1934, HB2533, HB1790, HB2181, HB1870, HB2140, HB2468, HB2358, HB1588, HB1688, HB1986, HB2030, HB2195, HB1949, HB1695, HB1950, HB2094, HB2115, HB2297, HB2336, HB2416, HB2049

Keywords: maternal health, infant health, mobile application, Medicaid, healthcare access, state programs, music education, public concerts, Hawaii State Library, cultural collaboration, music accessibility, libraries, education, reading programs, early childhood, nonprofit, community engagement, teacher retention, Hawaiian language education, special needs schools

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• requirements on parents with children as young as 10 years old, with no regard for child care or children's

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard two measures after announcing that SB 792 had been pulled from the agenda. The first bill, AB 412, would require affiliated home care aides to receive training on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care. The author and supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association, AARP, and the Home Care Association of America, said the bill would help ensure more consistent and compassionate care for people living with dementia. A witness described difficult personal experiences finding aides who understood her husband’s needs. There was no opposition, and the committee members expressed support and personal appreciation for the issue. AB 412 was moved on a do-pass-as-amended motion to the Assembly Appropriations Committee and passed 7-0. The committee accepted the author’s committee amendments. The committee also heard SJR 3, a resolution urging Congress to avoid cuts to SNAP, known in California as CalFresh. The author and supporters from the California Association of Food Banks and End Child Poverty California argued that the program is essential to reducing hunger, supporting children and families, and sustaining the food economy, and that food banks could not replace lost benefits. Public testimony was overwhelmingly in support, with no opposition. Members from both parties spoke in favor, including one member who shared personal experience relying on SNAP. SJR 3 was adopted 7-0 and sent forward.

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• a nationwide desire among families of all backgrounds to incorporate Bible education into their children's

Bills: SB13, SB278, SB13

Keywords: education, national anthem, patriotism, school policy, constitutional amendment, SB278, released time, religious instruction, elective credit, public schools, K-12 education, Alabama Released Time Credit Act, church-state separation, First Amendment, school choice, parental consent, elective course, off-campus instruction, private religious entity, State Board of Education

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• The Subcommittee on Disease Prevention and Women's and Children's Health will come to order.

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• Stacy Delano, University of North Florida Master of Social Work student/intern, Center for Children's

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met with two bills on the agenda. HB 1055, by Rep. Albert, would make permanent the Center for the Study of Election Law at Florida State University’s College of Law, which was created temporarily in 2023. The sponsor described the center as successful and tied to Florida’s election reputation. There was brief public testimony, including support from FSU-affiliated witnesses, and no debate or amendments. The bill passed unanimously. The committee then heard HB 1105, by Rep. Kinghart-Johnson, a broader education bill affecting Bright Futures and related programs. As explained by the sponsor, the bill would change the Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship requirement from three full credits in one program to three full credits total, align the CTE diploma with scholarship eligibility, add the AP Capstone Diploma as an automatic Bright Futures Academic Scholarship qualifier, and remove barriers for some students whose parents are retired military or public service employees stationed out of state. An amendment was adopted that revised AP Capstone requirements, kept the Gold Seal GPA requirement unchanged, and added the ACE diploma as a qualifier for the Florida Seal of Fine Arts. Public testimony on HB 1105 included two social work students who supported expanding opportunities but warned that the bill could steer students into vocational tracks without enough safeguards, transparency, or access to transportation, internships, and counseling. Several members spoke in support of the bill’s goal of recognizing multiple paths to success, while also acknowledging concerns raised by speakers. In closing, the sponsor said the bill was intended to improve access and correct language that treated vocational pathways as lesser options. HB 1105 passed unanimously as amended, and the meeting adjourned afterward.

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• decisions to make that are going to affect their whole lives and their children and grandchildren. children's

Bills: SJR2, SB4, SJR36, SJR2, SB4, SR42, SR74, SR76, HCR5, SB710, SB710

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

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• And I think you referenced Section 16.012 of the Texas Water Code.
• I'm not certain how TCEQ administers that part of the code.
• Thank you. of the code.
• So they want these... ...tools to write code.
• them normal, correct code.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

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• So, this would be $2,000 object code 0231.
• <01:09:27.920> 7433 code 7433 code 7433 I<01:09:30.319> think<01:09:30.400> I<01
• we're spending our children's we're spending our children's inheritance,<01:34:56.239> in
• Director, would you please remind the committee of the color coding in this copy? >> Mr.
• We staff did color-code this for you.

Keywords: 916, all

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• So, I'm one of three education cabinet secretaries and work closely within the children's cabinet with
• 23.120> the secretaries and work closely within the secretaries and work closely within the children's
• 24.040> with<00:05:24.240> all<00:05:24.400> of<00:05:24.480> our The children's
• think it's a lot to this very dedicated expansion to your point of the zero to five focused, on children's
• After going to Cincinnati Children's Hospital for a sleep disorder study.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its September 24 meeting after a motion and second. It then heard a presentation from New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Secretary Elizabeth Gragensky on that state’s early childhood system and planned universal child care rollout. She described how New Mexico consolidated multiple prenatal-to-age-five programs into a cabinet-level department, expanded pre-K to a longer day, and uses a cost model to set reimbursement rates intended to cover true provider costs, including wages, benefits, occupancy, food, and reserves. She also said the state created an Early Childhood Trust Fund and secured a constitutional amendment to dedicate 0.60% of the land grant permanent fund to early care and education, with the department’s budget growing from about $400 million in 2021 to just under $1 billion this year. Gragensky said families can begin applying for universal child care on November 1, with participation voluntary for both families and providers. She reported that New Mexico is aiming to expand capacity by adding 1,000 registered home providers, 120 group homes, and about 55 more centers, supported in part by a $13 million low-interest loan fund and a request for an additional $20 million. She said the state has seen growth in early childhood professionals, including a 64% increase over the last three to four years, and pointed to reported outcomes such as a 21% increase in literacy and a 75% kindergarten readiness rate, while noting that some measures are new and baseline comparisons are still being developed. Members asked about the funding sources, provider profitability, workforce development, and measurable outcomes. Gragensky said the program is designed to support provider sustainability through rates tied to true cost and includes allowances for sick leave, vacation, benefits, and reserves. She also said maternal labor force participation is 10% higher than the national rate and attributed that in part to child care access. The committee then moved to a separate presentation by Department for Community Based Services Commissioner Lisa Dennis and Division of Family Support Director Roger McCann on anticipated cuts to TANF and SNAP, beginning with an overview of TANF as a federal block grant with a fixed annual Kentucky allocation of about $180.7 million.

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• We also heard from a doctor in a pediatric subspecialty at a children's hospital in Minnesota.
• sub specialty doctor in a pediat atric sub specialty at<00:15:00.279> a<00:15:00.399> children's
• <00:15:00.920> hospital<00:15:01.279> in<00:15:01.639> Minnesota at a children's
• hospital in Minnesota at a children's hospital in Minnesota even<00:15:02.839> though<00:15:03.000
• our youngest son and took his brother's wingman in life, his best man when he marries, and his children's

Bills: HF1355, HF1469, HF1768

Keywords: commercial diving, scuba diving safety, aquatic plant management, workplace safety, environmental regulations, HF1469, Minnesota, workforce development, job training, job skills training, reentry, reentry services, formerly incarcerated, ex-offenders, inmates, recently released inmates, felony conviction, felony-level offense, corrections, prison release

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• Madam Chair, [laughter] from farmers was in favor of the seed from farmers was in favor of the seed coding
• coding ban. coding ban. >> Okay.<00:41:51.200> Thank<00:41:51.359> you.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

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• As homes are the primary reason contributing to children's lead poisoning, the most effective way to
• As homes are the primary reason contributing to children's lead poisoning, the most effective way to
• As homes are the primary reason contributing to children's lead poisoning, the most effective way to
• Listening to the other testimony here as a parent and a nurse, it hurts my soul to hear that our children's
• Listening to the other testimony here as a parent and a nurse, it hurts my soul to hear that our children's

Keywords: 1189, house, all

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• does robotics foster a deeper conceptual understanding of mathematics, physics, electronics, and coding
• 58:23.839> and mathematics, physics, electronics and mathematics, physics, electronics and coding
• 25.599> um<00:58:25.839> it<00:58:26.079> also<00:58:26.400> develops coding
• literacy, um it also develops coding literacy, um it also develops early<00:58:27.200> development
• participate in robotics by starting a garage team, where parents use their money to help their children's

Bills: HB1813, HB2429, HB2423, HB1996, HB1851, HB2546, HB2028, HB2583, HB2490, HB2545, HB2114, HB1859, HB2534, HB2474, HB1863, HB2475

Keywords: taxation, general excise tax, use tax, exemptions, Hawaii Revised Statutes, tax expenditure, tax expenditure evaluation, tax credit review, tax incentive, tax exemption, use tax exemption, income tax credit, DBEDT, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, Department of Taxation, fiscal oversight, budget accountability, tax policy, revenue loss, public spending

Summary: The committee opened with HB 1813 on taxation and HB 2429 on tax expenditure evaluation, taking mostly written testimony and limited oral discussion. On HB 2429, the Tax Foundation and Department of Taxation raised privacy and federal-law concerns, warning that the bill could require taxpayers to file duplicative returns and could risk disclosure of federal tax information if released publicly. Members and witnesses discussed using anonymized or summary reporting instead of individual public release, with the department saying summarized data would be preferable and that the state can ask for the information as a policy matter, but individual public release could create problems. The committee then heard HB 2423 HD1 on biodiesel, where Pacific Biodiesel said it can supply all biodiesel needed for B5 in Hawaii without imports and asked to move the implementation date earlier to November 2027 to allow rollout planning. HB 1996 HB1 on hearing aids drew broad support; a disability access representative said earlier insurance-based efforts had run into administrative problems and that this bill would immediately lower costs for consumers. HB 1851 HD1, also related to hearing aids, received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, while the Tax Foundation argued the program would be better funded directly rather than through the tax system, citing overhead costs and blank provisions that should be filled in before passage. On HB 2546, the research activities tax credit, HCDC said the credit supports long-term R&D and should be converted from a first-come, first-served system to proration so more applicants receive some benefit; the agency described the credit as helping companies move from idea to commercialization and noted the state is leaving potential jobs and federal dollars on the table. HB 2028 HD1, relating to Labor Day for construction workers, drew support from labor representatives who said it recognizes construction workers and helps offset cost-of-living pressures, while the Tax Foundation opposed it as an industry-specific subsidy and flagged technical issues with undefined terms and blank credit amounts. The committee also heard HB 2583, HB 2490, HB 2545, HB 2114, and HB 1859 HD1. HB 2490, concerning coastal erosion at Mokuhiki Bay, received strong support from a temple representative who described severe shoreline loss, years of temporary emergency work, and the need for a long-term, nature-based solution in coordination with state agencies. HB 2545, involving HCDC and SBIR commercialization, was supported as a way to turn R&D into economic development; HCDC said it had more applications than it could fund and that the bill could help create high-wage jobs. HB 2114, the Hawaii Benefits Hub, received comments from ETS and DHS emphasizing support for the concept but cautioning that operational, policy, cybersecurity, and data-sharing standards must be carefully aligned. HB 1859 HD1 on workforce development drew strong support from workforce and philanthropic groups, who said Hawaii faces a long-term gap between projected living-wage jobs and the number of young people entering the workforce, and argued the bill would create durable infrastructure for coordination and long-term planning. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

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• Medical Assistance will spend about $11.2 billion in federal funds through Medicaid, and then the Children's
• Medical Assistance will spend about $11.2 billion in federal funds through Medicaid, and then the Children's
• 00:07:02.440> the funds through Medicaid and then the funds through Medicaid and then the children's
• <00:07:03.080> health<00:07:03.319> insurance<00:07:03.800> program children's health
• insurance program children's health insurance program otherwise<00:07:05.000> known<00:07:05.240

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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• Procurement code is across the board. Okay.
• Procurement code<00:32:13.279> is<00:32:13.600> across<00:32:13.919> the<00:32:14.159
• <00:32:14.799> all code is across the board. Okay. all code is across the board.
• My name is Malia Suchia on behalf of Hawaii Children's Action Network speaks.
• Um, Malia Suchia, on behalf of Hawaii Children's Action Network: I'd like to add a few more comments.

Bills: SB2024, SB896, SB2613, SB494, SB2391, SB2125, SB2614, SB2615, SB3262, SB3325, SB3118

Keywords: charter schools, public-private partnership, school facilities, education funding, community need, education, capital improvement, reporting, transparency, technical expertise, public school land transfer, Department of Education, DOE, land conveyance, fee simple title, tax map key, TMK, Act 307, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, Act 139

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• morbidity among black women in the state for the Subcommittee on Disease Prevention of Women and Children's

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• weeks pregnant just a few months ago, my MFM noticed a problem with that ultrasound and sent me to Children's
• weeks pregnant just a few months ago, my MFM noticed a problem with that ultrasound and sent me to Children's
• weeks pregnant just a few months ago, my MFM noticed a problem with that ultrasound and sent me to Children's
• My first would be that I had two failed surgeries with the head of gynecology at Children's Hospital.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened by explaining hearing procedures and time limits, then heard testimony on House 2499, a bill to create a public awareness campaign on menopause and related midlife health issues. Supporters, including a nurse, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, and other advocates, said menopause is widely misunderstood by patients and providers, leading to delayed care, unnecessary suffering, workplace impacts, and inequities in women’s health. Several speakers shared personal experiences with symptoms being dismissed or misdiagnosed and urged the committee to advance the bill. The committee then took testimony on a package of endometriosis bills, including House 2527 and Senate 1564, calling for a task force and broader awareness efforts. Patients, a physician, and advocates described long diagnostic delays, severe pain, infertility, medical gaslighting, and limited access to specialists and effective treatment. They argued for more research, provider education, and a coordinated state strategy, and several asked for favorable reports. The chair also noted the hearing was running behind and extended time to allow more testimony. Later, the committee heard Senate 1579, which would eliminate parental consent and judicial bypass requirements for abortion access for minors under 16. Planned Parenthood representatives, physicians, legal advocates, and students argued the current law creates unnecessary delays and harms vulnerable youth, especially those in unsafe homes or foster care, while supporters said minors can already consent to other reproductive health care. A pro-life witness opposed the bill and emphasized parental involvement and support services. The committee also heard House 2403 and Senate 1560, which would create a Human Service Transportation Consumer Advisory Board; disability advocates and riders described past safety problems and current service gaps, and supported the board as a low-cost way to improve accountability, rider input, and reliability. No votes or final actions were taken in the excerpt.

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• It can have a very enormous impact on children's lives and the health of our students, and especially
• How would that affect school performance, the children's performance?
• I am an attorney working full-time in health care compliance as well as a children's book author.
• Last year, you all unanimously passed Act 409 because you all said protecting children's health and safety

Bills: HB624, HB1022, HB1203, SB82, SB206, SB305, SB376, SB441

Keywords: school safety, emergency operations plan, crisis management, active shooter, drills, training, classroom security, primary health services, behavioral health, school health providers, medical necessity, student health care, education, school week, instructional time, public schools, performance score, student athletes, cardiovascular health, sudden cardiac arrest

Summary: The House Education Committee met on April 23, 2026, with a quorum present and took up several education-related bills. SB 206 by Chairman Miller would require blood pressure screening for student athletes as part of physical examinations, with amendments narrowing the bill to student athletes and removing BESE rulemaking language. Supporters, including Coach Marcus Scott and the American Heart Association, said the measure could help detect undiagnosed hypertension and prevent serious health events. Rep. Freiberg moved to report the bill as amended, and it passed without objection. The committee also heard SB 305 by Chairman Edmonds, which would require a publicly available statewide career-alignment dashboard showing how degree programs connect to workforce outcomes, including graduation, employment, wages, and job placement data. Edmonds, student task force member Cruz Cassard, and supporters from workforce and business groups said the dashboard would help students understand Louisiana job opportunities and reduce outmigration. Rep. Landry moved to report the bill favorably, and it passed without objection. HB 624 by Speaker Pro Tem Johnson would update public school emergency planning language from “crisis management plans” to “emergency operations plans” and align the law with current safety standards. School safety officials said it was a cleanup bill that would not create new mandates or costs. Rep. Carpenter moved to report it favorably, and it passed without objection. The committee then considered HB 1022 by Rep. Jackson, as substituted, concerning school-based health care services. Jackson said the bill was intended to clarify that medical decisions in school-based health centers should be made by licensed health professionals, not school staff, while preserving parental consent and not expanding services. School-based health center providers and health association representatives supported the bill, citing examples of improved access and continuity of care, but several members raised concerns about consent, the role of school staff, instructional time, and whether the bill could shift authority away from schools or create legal confusion. Jackson said he would work on amendments with stakeholders and legal staff. After discussion, Rep. Landry moved to report the substitute bill, and the committee approved it on a 10-4 roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• appreciate your passion, but I think we all want to get this right, because we're dealing with our children's
• 03.839> our right. uh because we're dealing with our right. uh because we're dealing with our children's
• 01:07:06.960> I<01:07:07.039> I<01:07:07.680> know<01:07:07.839> the children's
• future and and I I I know the children's future and and I I I know the passion.<01:07:08.640> I

Keywords: 1136, house, all

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• I'm the director of children's programs at NAMI Minnesota.
• I'm the director<00:01:14.000> of<00:01:14.240> children's<00:01:14.720> programs
• ><00:01:15.040> at<00:01:15.200> NAMI director of children's programs at NAMI director
• of children's programs at NAMI Minnesota.<00:01:16.720> I<00:01:16.960> am<00:01:17.119

Keywords: 1183, house