Transcript Highlights:

• The point is there's no state fiscal cost. We received 15 aye votes in Assembly BMP.
• Hawaii Fong Fong present Mark Gonzales hot Pacheco Pacheco present Pellerin Pellerin present Salache
• They do not need a slush fund set up through the state. It's a failed approach.
• And also the state is also underfunding these, or not underfunding, but they're funding these.
• It is against the law in the state of California to solicit a minor of any age.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• can get their voting rights back and also to require the Pardons and Parole Board and Secretary of State
• And I would hope that the DAs around the state, given that factual scenario, would not want to prosecute
• at the top of the list almost in the country for the number of people we have incarcerated in the state
• the DAs around the state given that factual<00:13:45.519> scenario<00:13:46.160> would
• incarcerated in the state of Alabama. incarcerated in the state of Alabama.

Bills: SB24, SB83, SB142, SB140, SB94, SB24, SB83, SB142, SB140, SB94, HB132, HB37, HB51, HB105, HB54, HB7, HB158, HB188, HB189, HB111, HB13, HB192, HB149

Keywords: body-worn camera, public records, law enforcement transparency, recording disclosure, civil rights, adult-size changing table, changing station, accessible restroom, public bathroom, public building, public entity, ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, accessibility, restroom renovation, new construction, grant program, state grant, local government facilities, historic property

Transcript Highlights:

• I am Tenecia Herring, and on behalf of the California, Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP's 50-plus
• The NAACP California and Hawaii State Conference strongly believes that SB 437 is a necessary and thoughtful
• The NAACP, California, Hawaii State Conference strongly believes that SB 437 is a necessary and thoughtful
• state in the United States and its overseas territories is California.
• The other states of the United States, they don't have it right.

Summary: The committee heard several higher education bills. It first approved the consent calendar, which included SB 67 and SB 619. The main discussion centered on SB 437, which would direct the CSU system to develop a fair, evidence-based process for verifying whether someone is a descendant of a person enslaved in the United States, as part of the state’s reparations work. Supporters said the bill fills a gap left by the Reparations Task Force and would create a transparent, credible lineage-verification process; opponents argued genealogy methods already exist, the bill would waste money and delay action, and some raised constitutional concerns. The committee took a vote on SB 437, but the roll was left open after the initial tally showed three ayes and three noes. The committee then heard SB 790, which would allow California to join the interstate reciprocity agreement for online postsecondary education. The author and supporters said the bill would improve consumer protections for California students taking out-of-state online courses and help California institutions compete more effectively by reducing the burden of seeking separate state approvals. Opponents, including University of Phoenix and other groups, argued the bill conflicted with the existing reciprocity framework, could exclude some institutions, and might not actually secure California’s entry into the agreement. The committee voted 3-1 to pass SB 790 as amended to the Business and Professions Committee, with the roll left open. The committee also heard SB 391, which would authorize the Community College Chancellor’s Office to charge fees for research partners seeking access to data. Supporters said the office is absorbing significant unfunded workload from data requests and that fees would help recover costs; opponents, including the California Teachers Association community college association, warned the fees could create barriers for faculty and smaller researchers. Members discussed possible exemptions and implementation details. The committee voted 5-1 to pass SB 391 as amended to the Appropriations Committee, with the roll left open. Finally, the committee heard SB 685, a pilot program to provide cost-of-attendance assistance at four CSU campuses for students who experienced homelessness in high school. Supporters said it would help students cover housing, food, and transportation costs and reduce dropout risk; members asked about eligibility and implementation, and the author explained the bill would use McKinney-Vento homelessness designations and target students at risk of “summer melt” and college homelessness.

Transcript Highlights:

• STATES.
• FROM STATE TO STATE OR INTERNATIONAL BACK TO THE STATES.
• OR INSIDE OF THE STATE ITSELF.
• >> YES MA'AM, CURRENTLY EVERY STATE IN ALL 50 STATES ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMPACT AND WE ARE ACTUALLY NEXT
• I WANT TO THANK THE STATE FOR HAVING THIS PLACE.

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico is one of only two states that does this; Hawaii is the only other state, and I know that
• of New Mexico or remain in the state.
• that leaves the state.
• Providers and our patients across the state.
• The other state that taxes health care is Hawaii, and their rate is only 4%.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:17.600> board<00:15:17.839> of state agencies from the state board of state
• , and those are Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, and a couple of other New England states as well.
• You look at the top six states for electricity prices: Hawaii, California, the New England states I mentioned
• red states.
• They have the bad fortune of being one of the highest-price states, but not as high as Hawaii.

Bills: HF3298

Keywords: underground storage tanks, petroleum, reimbursement program, environmental regulation, pollution control, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of you are aware that I am domiciled in the state of Hawaii, live on Maui.
• You are aware that I am domiciled in the state of Hawaii, live on Maui, because somebody has to live
• that the state has.
• It is a legal intervention by the state. The state is saying we must interfere in your life.
• This state has a good law.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The joint Senate and House Behavioral Health committees held an informational meeting focused first on the Oregon State Hospital (OSH). OHA Director Sajal Hathi introduced the hospital’s incoming permanent superintendent, Sean Murphy, and praised interim superintendent Jim Deagle for stabilizing operations, restoring CMS compliance, and helping drive a culture change centered on safety, accountability, and transparency. Deagle and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Amit Bavon described OSH’s role as the state’s highest-level forensic psychiatric hospital, the patient populations it serves, its partnerships with courts, counties, jails, hospitals, and advocates, and recent leadership changes across the hospital. They also reported improved accreditation and regulatory status, including Joint Commission accreditation and CMS compliance, and said the hospital is now using daily safety huddles, incident review meetings, stronger escalation procedures, and revised seclusion/restraint practices to reduce risk and improve oversight. Members pressed hospital leaders on past seclusion practices, asking how prolonged seclusions could have occurred under federal standards. Leaders said they could not explain past decisions but emphasized that current leadership has changed processes, training, reporting, and oversight so that seclusion and restraint are reviewed in real time and cannot be normalized. Questions also covered staffing, falls, and future planning. OSH said it is generally staffed to budget, though it still has RN and mental health technician vacancies and is working on recruitment, training, and better staffing distribution. Hathi said the hospital is building a public dashboard with key performance and safety metrics, including workforce data, and described the long-term goal as a consistently safe, disciplined, high-functioning institution that responds quickly to mistakes and remains accountable to the public. The committee then shifted to an informational overview of civil commitment. Oregon Judicial Department representative Chanah Newell explained the civil commitment process, including who can initiate it, the role of community mental health providers and courts, the five-day timeline to hearing, and the standards for danger to self, danger to others, and inability to meet basic needs. She summarized changes made in House Bill 2005, including revised statutory language and new provisions allowing a second diversion period, but cautioned that the data are too early to show clear trends. Testimony from NAMI Oregon’s Chris Bonif and psychiatrist Dr. Stephanie Lopez argued that Oregon still relies too heavily on jails and state hospital commitments because the broader community system lacks enough treatment, housing, and less restrictive alternatives. They urged the legislature to focus on upstream services, supported housing, and possible outpatient commitment tools so people can receive treatment before reaching crisis. The meeting ended with acknowledgment that additional reports and follow-up discussions are expected, including on residential treatment capacity and related behavioral health system reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• capacity across the state.
• I also want to say that I'm new to the state, and the state just wows me; it's incredible.
• Is that important to our state? Absolutely. Important to our state.
• That is new at the State. This is the state tax credit.
• And this was more on a statewide, state-to-state effort.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of you are aware that I am domiciled in the state of Hawaii, live on Maui.
• You are aware that I am domiciled in the state of Hawaii, live on Maui, because somebody has to live
• What do we represent in the state? We are a state-run forensic psychiatric hospital.
• that the state has.
• This state has a good law.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The joint Senate and House Behavioral Health committee met for informational presentations on the Oregon State Hospital and civil commitment, followed by a planned tour of the hospital. Oregon Health Authority and Oregon State Hospital leaders reported that Sean Murphy will become the next permanent superintendent on July 13, with Sarah Castle to follow as permanent chief nursing officer on July 20. They described recent leadership turnover, a major organizational restructure, and efforts to build a culture of safety, transparency, and accountability. Officials said the hospital regained Joint Commission accreditation and CMS compliance, and they highlighted daily safety huddles, incident review processes, stronger escalation procedures, and improved management of seclusion and restraint. Committee members pressed hospital leaders on past prolonged seclusion practices, falls, staffing, and the need for better public reporting; OHA said it is building a public dashboard of key safety and workforce metrics. The committee then heard a civil commitment overview from the Oregon Judicial Department. The presenter explained that civil commitment is a separate legal process from criminal cases, usually beginning with a hospital hold, investigation, court review, appointed counsel, and a hearing within five days. She summarized changes made in House Bill 2005, including revised standards for danger to self, danger to others, and basic-needs commitments, plus a second 14-day diversion option. She cautioned that the new law has only been in effect since January and that it is too early to draw firm conclusions from the data, though there has been a recent uptick in commitments and a decrease in diversions. Testimony from NAMI Oregon and a forensic psychiatrist emphasized that Oregon still relies too heavily on jails and state hospitals because community services, housing, and outpatient supports are insufficient. They argued that the state needs more less-restrictive alternatives, including better use of assisted outpatient treatment or outpatient civil commitment, and more supported housing so people do not cycle between homelessness, incarceration, and hospitalization. A family member described a relative remaining psychotic in jail for more than 120 days before ending up back at the state hospital, urging faster intervention and better collaboration among courts, counties, hospitals, and state agencies. Committee members and witnesses also discussed workforce shortages, the expansion of secure residential treatment beds, and the need for broader system reforms beyond the hospital itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your state and my state, and several others have gone through quite a lot since late September with Hurricane
• California has contributed more to the recovery of other states than any other state in the Union.
• regard for whether a state is red or blue or green or yellow.
• And listen, we've got urban centers in my state as well.
• I look forward to visiting your state as well. Good. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• As well as the United States' broader strategy in the region.
• with the United States and minimal warning for launch among those nuclear states.
• of each state.
• Including the United States, Guam, Hawaii, and so forth, to achieve what we need to do in the information
• And I thank the state of Michigan for their diligence. in it.

Keywords: Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. military strategy, China military drills, Taiwan, Philippines, North Korea, defense budget, military modernization

Summary: The meeting focused on significant strategic discussions regarding the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and its military posture in the region. Admiral Paparo and General Brunson were commended for their services, with the Chair noting an alarming shift in the balance of power towards China. Key topics included China's aggressive military drills near Taiwan, the increasing coercion against the Philippines, and the need for the U.S. to reaffirm its commitments to its allies in the region. Concerns were raised regarding China's military modernization and its implications for U.S. forces, alongside discussions on North Korea's threats and its burgeoning nuclear capabilities. The committee emphasized the urgent need for military and defense appropriations to counteract these growing security challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• 01:54.880> provides uh or states that Quebec Canada provides uh or states that Quebec Canada provides
• State your name for the record.
• or into the state.
• state any and then the state or into the state any and then you<00:36:42.560> go<00:36:42.640
• So um I the state or into the state.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I will say I took office in the State Assembly.
• You need partnerships with the local community and with the state, whether between the state responsibility
• State budget subcommittee that actually addresses wildfire and resources.
• And later on, we'll get into how the state can be a good partner for that.
• So, you know, whether we create some sort of state, Whether we create some sort of state reinsurance

Summary: The hearing focused on lessons from the 2017 Tubbs Fire and how Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and local partners have changed wildfire prevention, recovery, and rebuilding practices since then. Assemblymembers emphasized that the region has become a model for the state, with a shift from suppression to prevention, and panelists described improvements in defensible space, home hardening, vegetation management, alerting, and community coordination. The discussion also highlighted the continuing importance of sharing Sonoma County’s experience with other wildfire-impacted communities across California and beyond. Fire officials and local leaders described specific prevention measures now in place, including Santa Rosa’s vegetation management ordinance, ignition-free/Zone Zero requirements in rebuilding, restrictions on certain mulches, removal of dead and dying trees near roads and defensible space zones, and expanded prescribed burning authority. They also stressed the importance of community organization through block captains, Firewise/COPE-style networks, and the Mark West Area Community Fund. Speakers said these networks helped residents navigate recovery, avoid fraud and bad contractors, coordinate with local agencies, and support neighbors, but they argued that such efforts need more formal structure and stable funding. Water and permitting officials discussed how the fires changed their work. Santa Rosa Water described new regional coordination, generator and backup power upgrades, emergency training, and lessons learned about wildfire-related contamination in water systems, including the need to restore pressure, flush, and test quickly after a fire. Permit Sonoma said rebuilding was balanced by streamlining permits while still requiring safer, more resilient construction, and noted that reduced fees and one-stop permitting helped speed recovery. United Policyholders described helping residents maximize insurance proceeds, organize information, and avoid scams, while warning that insurance availability and affordability remain major barriers and that insurers are increasingly rewarding risk-reduction measures. Across the panels, the main policy requests were for faster and more flexible grant processes, more stable long-term funding for prevention and community programs, stronger support for home hardening and defensible space, better training and tools for local governments and legislative staff, and continued attention to insurance and utility-related resilience. No formal votes or actions were taken in the transcript excerpt; the hearing was informational and ended with a transition toward public comment and further discussion of remaining statewide wildfire policy needs.

Bills: HB95, HB111, HJR1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM3, HM11, HM14, HM15, HM21, HM34, HB2, HB32, HB33, HB61, HJM2, HM23, HM24, HM26

Keywords: HB95, additional judgeship, district court, judicial district, First Judicial District, Second Judicial District, district judges, court administration, judicial staffing, caseload, access to justice, New Mexico courts, judiciary, judge vacancy, court backlog, state courts, water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order

Transcript Highlights:

• State Library Services is an SLA, or a state library administrative agency.
• State Library services and our uh about State Library services and what<00:02:14.080> we<00:02
• State what is State Library Services uh State what is State Library Services uh State Library
• Library Services is an SLA or a State Library Services is an SLA or a State library<00:04:07.400
• to States program administered by State Library Services.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Continuing the work of this grant program is vital to public library users across the state.
• Continuing the work of this grant program is vital to public library users across the state.
• And as Karen mentioned, right now across the state numerous libraries have identified...
• And as Karen mentioned, right now across the state numerous libraries have identified...
• identified State numerous libraries have identified needs.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , um, I think criminal history background checks of, etc., physicians seeking to transfer into our state
• of Hawaii using the medical licensure compact.
• , um, I think criminal history background checks of, etc., physicians seeking to transfer into our state
• of Hawaii using the medical licensure compact.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And libraries, you know, all the libraries in the state need more funding, of course.
• money that comes from the state library system.
• The State Library manages the funds. And once there... There are different categories of libraries.
• The state library has three bookmobiles, and that is funded.
• It all comes through the State Library.

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative in support of fully funding the rural library endowment with an additional $29.5 million. The presenters described rural libraries as essential community infrastructure that provide not only books and internet access, but also early childhood programs, adult education, workforce support, telehealth, disaster response, and civic meeting space. They argued that the endowment would provide stable annual support for staffing and operations, help sustain libraries in very small towns and tribal communities, and support new or developing libraries. Members asked about eligibility, county coverage, how funds are distributed, and whether the state tracks broader outcomes such as job placements or certifications; the presenters said the State Library administers the funds and that the initiative itself is a nonprofit capacity-building organization, not the fund manager. Some members raised concerns about whether an endowment is the best long-term model versus recurring annual appropriations, and about the need for better reporting and state-library involvement. The committee then heard from food bank leaders Jill Dixon and Katie Anderson about food security and its economic impact. They said New Mexico’s five food banks and more than 500 partner agencies serve all 33 counties, distribute over 45 million meals, and rely mostly on philanthropy, with some state and local support. They emphasized that SNAP is a major economic driver, supporting grocery access, jobs, and local spending, and that recent legislative growth funding helped food banks respond to a surge in demand during a SNAP disruption. They also highlighted food banks as community hubs that can connect people to health care, job training, and other services, including through clinic referrals and closed-loop systems. In response to questions, they said food access gaps remain in some rural areas, that clients can generally seek food at other distribution sites without barriers, and that longer-term solutions should include more grocery access, healthy corner stores, and stronger broadband and health care infrastructure. The final presentations came from the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce and the Artesia Chamber of Commerce. Gallup-McKinley described a shrinking workforce, youth outmigration, crime, health care shortages, malpractice costs, and gross receipts tax burdens as major barriers to rural economic growth, and urged action on workforce pipelines, housing, public safety, malpractice reform, and tax/regulatory changes. Artesia highlighted its murals, library, sports tradition, oil and gas, agriculture, federal training center, and refinery, while also noting workforce shortages, health care recruitment challenges, housing constraints, and the need for quality-of-life investments and more flexible regulation. The committee also briefly heard a bill presentation proposing a New Mexico-Ireland Trade Commission to promote bilateral trade and investment, especially in technology, agriculture, and energy sectors. No votes were taken because quorum was not reached, and the endorsement item was not acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• money that comes from the state library system.
• The state library manages the funds, and there are different categories of libraries: there's a full
• State Library annual report.
• It all comes through the state library. It's in the state investment council, and they just tell.
• But it's not really part of anything the State Library tracks. ...part of anything the State Library

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She also said she is grateful that the bill states library materials should not be excluded due to the
• Those policies often adopt the ALA's Bill of Rights, which clearly states that libraries should provide
• Passing legislation is an important first step to strengthen our state and school library systems and
• Newton is now infamous among librarians across the state because of the multiple ways our library was
• These bills, however, state that nearly restricting access to books or materials in school libraries

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on several bills related to access to library materials, including measures addressing book bans and censorship in public and school libraries, as well as legislation on digital library collections and e-book licensing. Committee leaders said testimony would be limited to three minutes and encouraged written submissions. Early testimony from Chair Brian Murray highlighted H. 3595, which would address challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections by limiting restrictive publisher-library contract terms, protecting patron confidentiality, and creating a special legislative commission to study the issue. A large number of legislators, librarians, authors, students, publishers, and advocacy groups testified in support of the free expression bills, including H. 3594 and S. 2328, arguing that book challenges in Massachusetts disproportionately target LGBTQ+ and BIPOC titles and that librarians and educators need protection from retaliation and harassment. Witnesses described local incidents of book removals, threats, and pressure campaigns, and several said the bills would create transparent challenge procedures, keep materials available during reviews, and ensure decisions are made by trained professionals rather than political actors. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s office also submitted support, and multiple speakers cited national trends and Massachusetts-specific censorship attempts. Testimony on the digital access bills emphasized that e-books and audiobooks are essential for readers with disabilities, homebound patrons, students, and others who rely on accessible formats, but that current licensing terms are far more expensive and restrictive than print purchasing. Library representatives said libraries spend millions on digital content, face long wait times for popular titles, and often must repeatedly re-rent the same materials. Legal and library experts supported the proposed commission as a practical step toward fairer licensing and stronger bargaining power for libraries. The hearing ended after extensive testimony; no votes or final committee action were taken in the portion provided.