Bills: SCR12, HB221, HB509, HCR58, SB78, SB25, SB80, SB132, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB228, SB250, SB414, SB433, SB479, SB513, SCR9, SCR58, SB65, SB215, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB490, SB492, SB500, SB514, HCR32, HB17, HB41, HB73, HB223, HB244, HB759, HB906, HB966, HB1006, HB1009, HB1086, HB1107, HB1112, HB1215, HB1242, SB217, SB283, SB469, HB36, HB42, HB74, HB119, HB159, HB259, HB302, HB414, HB459, HB776, HB848, HB956, HB1017, HB1028, HB1095, SB208, SB312, SB382, SB389, HB210, HB258, HB359, HB368, HB468, HB552, HB732, HB784, HB870, HB953, HB1117, HB1236

Keywords: logging, recognition, John Keith, environment, safety, Mississippi River bridge, Trump Expressway, transportation, federal funding, Louisiana highways, injection wells, public hearing, geologic sequestration, environmental impact, public comment, Ascension Parish, state capitol, economic development, community partnership, celebration day

Transcript Highlights:

• Most people wouldn't keep building a bigger emergency fund while making minimum payments on their card
• And I don't see that attitude changing, which is the hostile environment that employers operate here
• And over the last decade, we have passed bill after bill after bill around zoning, around permitting,
• And over the last decade, we have passed bill after bill after bill around zoning, around permitting,
• didn't have that problem in the past because the housing wasn't even getting permitted or it wasn't zoned

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and basis species committee operations and basis species committee operations allow<00:18:46.760
• </c> structural pest control operator structural pest control operator a<01:07:56.440><c> licensed</c
• It's an emergency. It's a biosecurity emergency. Do you think it's the best for this go-around?
• It's an emergency. It's a biosecurity emergency. Do you think it's the best for this go-around?
• </c><01:55:50.440><c> recently</c> trade zone recently trade zone recently fortunately<01:55:52.719><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House and Senate agriculture committees met on January 17, 2025, for an informational briefing on biosecurity and invasive species; Chair Kahaloa opened by noting there would be no public testimony. Members introduced themselves, and the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) program manager Chelsea Arnot outlined the purpose of the briefing and the statewide impacts of invasive species, citing examples such as coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ant, coquí frogs, albizia, and mosquito-borne disease. She emphasized that biosecurity requires coordinated action across state departments, counties, federal agencies, universities, and communities, and highlighted HISC’s role in funding interagency projects, island invasive species committees, research, outreach, and early detection efforts. Arnot and HISC representatives described major funding and program needs, including a requested $4.25 million increase to HISC to raise its baseline budget to $10 million, support island committee operations, research, biocontrol, marine biosecurity, surveillance, and staffing. They also requested $500,000 for the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab, saying it is critical to invasive ant research and little fire ant response. The briefing also noted HISC’s leverage of federal dollars, including a $4.6 million REPI award with HISC providing the match, and cited successful collaborative eradications and responses, including veiled chameleons on Maui, axis deer on Hawaiʻi Island, and a 2023 coconut rhinoceros beetle response on Maui that prevented further spread. Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture officials then discussed implementation of updated administrative rules effective January 20, 2025, which permanently restrict movement of coconut rhinoceros beetle host material and give the department stronger authority to stop movement of infested material. They reported 2024 import activity of about 50,000 ship and aircraft arrivals, inspection/clearance of 20 million pieces, and 16,000 interceptions, with additional staffing from Act 231 expected to increase interceptions. They also described Act 231 funding and current spending status: about 65% obligated and 52% encumbered, with some funds tied to contracts for CRB and little fire ant response, plus an $800,000 green-waste hauling RFP that had to be reissued because of a flaw. The department said 580 Oʻahu homes and 290 Hawaiʻi Island homes are slated for little fire ant treatment, while Maui and Kauaʻi will focus on survey and outreach. Members questioned how homes are selected for subsidized treatment, whether HISC and the island invasive species committees received Act 231 support, and whether the state should direct how contracted funds are prioritized. Representative Martin raised concerns that the RFP limited eligibility to private pest control companies and excluded more experienced entities such as the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab. Department officials said they would follow up on prioritization and funding details, and noted that emergency proclamations and procurement flexibility could help with rapid response and hiring during invasive species emergencies.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also defines what an emergency is and makes technical and conforming changes.
• This measure contains an emergency clause required for a two-thirds vote for its passage with the emergency
• The emergency clause will require a two-thirds vote for its passage.
• Senate Bill 1503 has passed with the emergency clause and the required three-quarters vote.
• There are no SMRs that are commercially operational in the United States.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a series of guest introductions recognizing Maricopa County Community Colleges Day at the Capitol, the Doctor of the Day, Glendale Community College leadership, and other visitors. The chamber also received a gubernatorial communication withdrawing Holly Prangman’s nomination to the State Board of Psychologist Examiners. The body then considered multiple bills in Committee of the Whole. Measures advanced included HB 2342 on planned communities/HOA-related provisions, HB 2456 on small modular reactors and energy siting, HB 2457 on power plant and transmission line siting, HB 2752 on Commerce Authority trade offices, and HB 2923 on mental health court-ordered treatment, with several floor amendments adopted. Additional bills were also advanced from later calendars, including HB 2249 on parents’ bill of rights remedies, HB 2482 on school facilities and building renewal grants, HB 2895 on Native American language instruction certification, HB 2661 and HB 2662 on family law/parenting issues, HB 2793 on annexation procedures, HB 2805 on electronic signatures and nomination petitions, HB 467 on voter registration status, HCM 2005 on foreign government property ownership, HCM 2006 on Endangered Species Act reform, HB 2641 on PFAS firefighting foam prohibition, HB 2673 on incarcerated persons and mental illness treatment, HB 2745 on legislative subpoena/contempt, HB 2763 on shooting range closure conditions, and HCM 2011 on Mexican wolf delisting. The Senate then took up third-reading votes on several measures. HB 2035 on child welfare and placement passed 17-10, with senators citing concerns about kinship care definitions and LGBTQ exclusions. HB 2109, HB 2189, HB 2244, HB 2440, HB 2594, and HB 2932 all passed by varying margins, and HCM 2007 on renaming State Route 69 also passed. HCR 2059, supporting county sheriffs, passed after debate over the “supreme constitutional authority” language, with some senators objecting to what they described as a conspiratorial framing and others defending sheriffs’ constitutional role. SB 1503 on first responders’ state death benefits passed with the required emergency and supermajority votes, and HB 2342 and HB 2456 later passed on third reading. The Senate also agreed to a free conference committee on HB 2000 and adjourned until April 16, 2026, after announcing several conference committee meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would not prevent local law enforcement from responding to other emergencies.
• . emergencies. emergencies.
• . emergency. emergency. 5<00:13:48.560><c> days</c><00:13:48.800><c> after</c><00:13:49.120><c> taking
• We have shifted during operation surge.
• Indeed, it does not regulate federal operations at all.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to tell you a little bit about the emergency part of Wolford Road.
• Currently, it operates as a two-lane facility carrying over 14,000 vehicles per day.
• Oh, Heather, she actually has a family emergency. May I ask, Mr.
• Oh, Heather, she actually has a family emergency. May I ask, Mr.
• law, and so there’s kind of a pretty short list of ones that are allowed to operate.

Bills: HB2067, HB2068, HB2127, HB2164, HB2200, HB2201, HB2242, HB2283, HB2284, HB2285, HB2286, HB2287, HB2304, HB2306, HB2399, HB2601, HB2609, HB2760, HB2761, HB2859, HB2887, HB2892, HB2893, HB2894, HB2978, HB4027, HCM2012, HCM2016

Keywords: appropriation, transportation, infrastructure, Apache Junction, funding, Show Low, road extension, special license plates, nonprofits, charitable contributions, Reay Lane, Graham County, HB 2200, State Route 89, SR 89, Chino Valley, Arizona Department of Transportation, ADOT, road widening, highway expansion

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> academic excellence and operational academic excellence and operational efficiency<00:10:07.360>
• Our greatest adversary, China, has 1,200 coal plants operating right now.
• has 1,200 coal plants operating right has 1,200 coal plants operating right now.<01:00:07.800><c> They
• </c><01:14:33.840><c> and</c> allow the construction, operate and allow the construction, operate and
• </c> carbon-free assets within the load zone carbon-free assets within the load zone or<01:58:27.400>

Keywords: House streaming session for Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite what some of you may have been told, on day one, even before the governor designated emergency
• That claptrap can no longer be employed because just this weekend Governor Abbott gave us seven emergency
• intentionally by letting the clock run out last session were such critical priorities. is limiting emergency
• Ladies and gentlemen, this is Operation Runout the Clock, and let me tell you something, your voters
• with the arrival of the railroad in 1881 and the development. of the Zona Libre or the free trade zone

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• offices across the state. ...soon-to-be 10 veterans nursing homes and operates four, soon-to-be five
• And so we contract out for the operation of those, but we do the oversight of those operations.
• My name is Maryam Shafee. ...and I'm the Chief Operating Officer of University Lands.
• Changes that are required to change the zoning of the property must go through the Planning and Zoning
• Zoning is the other one.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FEMA covers emergency debris removal and structural repairs.
• In those examples, it's only for emergency Debris removal.
• So FEMA has a Category A and B, which are emergency.
• As long as there's that emergency, that FEMA money keeps flowing.
• We were able to get an emergency. agreement to start working on this.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> zoning level.
• An a zoning requirement zoning level.
• </c><00:02:54.000><c> we</c><00:02:54.319><c> would</c> not zoned for agriculture. we would not zoned
• </c><00:02:58.720><c> acreage</c> lines instead of a zoning acreage lines instead of a zoning acreage
• . operations. operations.

Bills: HF3474, HF3475, HF3508

Keywords: agriculture, funding, research, agricultural institute, state appropriations, education, leadership council, compensation, research institute, dairy assistance, investment, relief initiative, farm support, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:06.360><c> in</c> LFA and all of these other emerging in LFA and all of these other emerging
• </c> we don't have heavy equipment operators we don't have heavy equipment operators we<00:30:02.399>
• </c><00:41:42.960><c> um</c> conceivably even agricultural zoning um conceivably even agricultural zoning
• </c><01:09:17.520><c> costs</c> it wouldn't affect any operating costs it wouldn't affect any operating
• </c><01:30:37.960><c> on</c> they're regulated they can't operate on they're regulated they can't operate

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several agriculture, water, invasive species, and land-use bills. HB 299 and HB 1220, both relating to invasive species, drew broad support from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, DLNR, the Department of Agriculture, C-GAPS, Sierra Club, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and others. Testifiers said HISC funding fills gaps between agency mandates, supports research and technology, and helps respond to both terrestrial and marine invasive threats. On HB 1220, C-GAPS described a marine anemone infestation in Kāneʻohe linked to aquarium release and said control and restoration would be difficult without the bill’s funding. A committee member asked for tracking information on the species, and the Division of Aquatic Resources said it maintains monitoring data and annual reports. No opposition was noted on either measure. HB 506, relating to conservation enforcement, also received support from DLNR and Malama Pu‘u Ma. Committee discussion focused on the bill’s scope and how the funding would be used. Members asked about a prior boat purchase mentioned in opposition testimony and about whether mainland vendors were being used; the department said it did not buy that boat and that procurement follows the normal state process, with total bid price including delivery, taxes, and other fees. The department explained that the bill’s funding is primarily for marine enforcement work in nearshore fisheries, including herbivore protection around O‘ahu. HB 915, relating to water use, had mixed testimony. DLNR supported alternative water sources and amendments to the water code, while the Department of Agriculture opposed the bill as drafted, saying its irrigation program is designed for non-potable agricultural use and is not structured for residential or mixed-use development. The Department of Health said it needed more information on its reuse guidelines and noted concern about removing the recycled water manager requirement, which it said helps ensure safe operation and maintenance of reuse systems. Members questioned the bill’s preemption language and whether county or state rules would be displaced, and Agriculture suggested county water agencies might be better suited for some of the proposed uses. HB 502, concerning land use, drew support from the Attorney General’s office, the Land Use Commission, Hawaii Realtors, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Farmers Union, with the Department of Agriculture standing on its written testimony. The Attorney General warned that allowing important agricultural lands to be redistricted through a declaratory ruling process could conflict with the state constitution and recommended excluding IAL from the bill. The Land Use Commission said it has an inventory of IAL lands and did not believe the bill would affect them, and it agreed to the suggested protection. Supporters said the bill could help move lands with limited agricultural value into the rural district, reduce pressure on productive farmland, and better align land use with actual farming potential. HB 929, relating to the agricultural land conveyance tax, received comments from the Department of Taxation and opposition from Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Realtors; Farm Bureau said it supports preserving agricultural land but was concerned about unintended consequences and questioned whether speculative flipping of ag land is a current problem.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> What kind of business could ever operate What kind of business could ever operate on<00:53:36.559
• </c> in two or three of these operating in two or three of these operating systems,<00:57:26.480><c>
• </c><01:01:53.680><c> to</c> of funding from agency operations to of funding from agency operations to
• Thank you. at their operating funds for um these at their operating funds for um these different<01:02
• </c> requires digitizing operational data. requires digitizing operational data.

Bills: HF4421, HF1937, HF4675, HF4715, HF4684

Keywords: county cost share, economically distressed county, human services finance, substance use disorder treatment, SUD services, civil commitment, state aid, county levy, poverty threshold, tax-exempt acreage, property tax exemption, Minnesota human services, county fiscal relief, local government finance, chemical dependency, behavioral health, PACE, elderly, Medicaid, health services

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the operate the stadium.
• Zones one and two are the addition. Zone three is the existing current building.
• Zone four is the loading dock area. Zone one, some work summaries that are currently ongoing.
• Zones one and two are the addition. Zone three is the existing current building.
• Zone four is the loading dock area. Zone one, some work summaries that are currently ongoing.

Bills: HF4912, HF4664

Keywords: electronic pull-tabs, pull-tabs, tipboards, gambling tax, Minnesota Racing Commission, Thoroughbred, horse racing, Minnesota-bred horses, breeders, owners, racing purses, industry subsidy, gambling revenue dedication, problem gambling, compulsive gambling treatment, general fund appropriation, state affiliate National Council on Problem Gambling, racing incentives, equine industry, public officers

Transcript Highlights:

• We are first and foremost risk managers because we borrow the operating funds of the state.
• the composition and responsibilities of this operating board.
• also serves as an ex officio member of that operating board.
• also serves as an ex officio member of that operating board.
• So I think the state bank can operate clear of such complications and keep money flowing.

Summary: The committee first received a JLARC work session on the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering nine tax preferences and recommending legislative action on eight. JLARC reviewed natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income housing developers, and several shorter reviews including senior center property tax relief, a disabled veteran adapted housing remittance, trade convention nexus treatment, wholesale sales of fertilizer/pesticides/seed, a hazardous substance tax exemption for pesticides stored for out-of-state shipment, and three energy-related preferences for a silicon smelter. JLARC generally recommended continuing preferences that met stated or inferred objectives, modifying some to improve reporting or performance metrics, and allowing the unused silicon smelter preferences to expire. The Citizen Commission endorsed JLARC’s recommendations, and committee members asked a few clarifying questions, including about trends in travel agent/tour operator beneficiaries and the housing exemption’s performance metric and data issues. The committee then heard a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 5754, which would create a Washington State public bank. A presentation from California public banking advocates and the Bank of North Dakota described public banks as government-owned financial institutions intended to keep public funds working locally, support lending for housing, infrastructure, and community development, and partner with community banks and credit unions. Committee questions focused on leverage, liquidity, constitutional issues, and how the model would interact with existing state investment and debt structures. Staff summarized the bill’s structure, including activation conditions, governance, powers, and fiscal impacts, noting the fiscal note was largely indeterminate and startup costs could be significant. Public testimony on SB 5754 was divided. Supporters included statewide elected officials, county and city officials, labor, educators, community advocates, and residents, who argued the bank could lower borrowing costs, improve access to capital, keep public money in Washington, and help finance infrastructure, housing, and disaster resilience. Opponents included community bankers and county treasurers, who warned about risks to safety and liquidity of public funds, questioned the need for a new institution given existing programs, and argued the proposal lacked a proven track record in Washington. The hearing concluded with no vote taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• We pray that today good will emerge victorious once again and that we all come away knowing you are here
• The local government doesn't have a say in how this will be operated in their municipality?
• I have great confidence this is going to operate much like the other 13 libraries that operate in the
• Emergency rules must be published in the Florida Administrative Code. That is the bill, Mr.
• We would meet families operating those hotels and they lived in the community.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> penalties for the exact emergency penalties for the exact emergency responders<01:09:44.920><c>
• a small UAS that interferes with law enforcement, firefighting, or other emergency response operations
• Only if that conduct was interfering with emergency operations—for instance, a recent event in California
• </c><04:55:46.400><c> Operations</c><04:55:47.400><c> um</c><04:55:47.680><c> for</c> with the Emergency
• Operations um for with the Emergency Operations um for instance<04:55:48.680><c> um</c><04:55:48.878

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><03:43:44.320><c> including</c> active tactical operation, including active tactical operation,
• I want to note that this operations.
• . and other operational challenges.
• </c> zone mismanagement. zone mismanagement.
• </c> the dive operators the dive operators and<05:34:07.560><c> the</c><05:34:07.640><c> aquarium</c>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The status quo waits until dangerous patterns emerge, and often lives are lost.
• some of the most dangerous situations he has seen are people driving 68 in a 35-mile-an-hour speed zone
• He said school zones change from 55 miles an hour when school is not in session to 25 miles an hour when
• hour speed limit. dangerous situations I've seen is people driving 68 in a 35 mile an hour school zone
• I thought, okay, if you’re going over 30 miles per hour, because say you are in a 25-mile-per-hour zone

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a simple injection in the arm emergency a simple injection in the arm I<02:38:15.880><c> hate</c><02
• But if the mother has an ailment, an illness, an emergency situation that's threatening her... aware
• </c><04:20:52.800><c> situation</c><04:20:53.800><c> that's</c> illness an emergency situation that's
• when the operation is done incorrectly.
• botched operations when this operation<05:38:10.400><c> is</c><05:38:10.600><c> done</c><05:38:11.200

Keywords: 1189, house, all