Video & Transcript Research : 'electoral process'

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FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

February 5, 2025 - 09:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • There is a process in place to do that.
  • This process starts with our local communities.
  • How the local planning and prioritization process actually works.
  • We're an integral part of that process for the data collection.
  • We're an integral part of that process for the data collection.
Summary: The committee heard introductory remarks from Chair LaMarca and members, then received presentations on electric utility planning, transportation infrastructure, and broadband deployment. Public Service Commission staff explained how Florida’s utilities plan for reliability and cost through 10-year site plans, demand forecasting, and economic dispatch. The presentation emphasized Florida’s residential-heavy load, growing EV demand, expanding solar and battery storage, continued reliance on natural gas combined-cycle plants, and the role of nuclear power. Members asked about energy efficiency, rates, renewable options beyond solar, cybersecurity, grid resilience, data centers, and small modular nuclear reactors; the witness said efficiency programs are reviewed every five years, utilities must balance reliability and affordability, and large new loads like data centers generally must pay for their own infrastructure needs. Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue described FDOT’s five-year work program, decentralized district structure, and funding mix, noting that the agency is predominantly state-funded and prioritizes maintenance and preservation before expansion. He highlighted record investment levels, major congestion-relief projects, toll-road revenues, seaport and airport partnerships, spaceport investments, workforce and equipment needs, and emerging technology such as advanced air mobility. Members asked about project timing, MPO planning, rail and ferry funding, airport governance, winter storm preparedness, and flooding/sea-level rise; Perdue said faster delivery depends on resources, local governments lead transit operations with FDOT as a capital partner, and coastal and drainage projects are designed around storm surge and resiliency. The Office of Broadband reported on six grant programs supporting infrastructure, community facilities, digital connectivity, and future digital capacity and broadband expansion. Director Leo Garcia said the office has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars across most counties, leveraged significant private investment, and focused heavily on rural areas. He noted that broadband efforts are intended to support telehealth, education, workforce development, and economic growth, and said the state has reduced the number of unserved locations from more than 400,000 to a projected 170,000 after current awards are completed. He also said the office needs additional budget authority for the upcoming digital capacity program and that the larger federal/state broadband deployment program will be used to reach remaining unserved and underserved areas.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

January 14, 2025 - 03:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm still new to this process.
  • I guess my question, I wanted to know how that work group was going to be processed or what the process
  • We are about to move through an annual programmatic monitoring process.
  • The same with transparency and improvements to procurement processes. Absolutely.
  • I can speak firsthand as having gone through the licensing process... ...to build.
Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee held its first meeting of the term and heard introductory remarks from the chair, vice chair, ranking member, and members, who broadly described their interest in child welfare, mental health, aging services, homelessness, and agency accountability. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction, including child welfare, mental health and substance abuse safety net services, domestic violence, developmental disabilities, elder services, and child support, and introduced the Department of Children and Families (DCF) as the first agency panel for the term. DCF presented an implementation update on HB 7089, a 2024 law aimed at increasing accountability and transparency for community-based care (CBC) lead agencies that deliver most child welfare services under contract. The department said the bill was prompted by forensic examinations that found problems such as noncompetitive procurement, related-party transactions, excessive executive compensation, and weak financial oversight. DCF described new contract requirements and monitoring tools covering board governance and annual training, conflict-of-interest disclosures, financial penalties for noncompliance, fidelity bond requirements, limits on direct service provision by lead agencies, related-party procurement rules, procurement thresholds, real-property approvals, compensation caps, expanded public reporting, and a new Future of Child Protection and Funding Work Group. DCF reported that some lead agencies had completed required board training, others were still on schedule, and two agencies exceeding the direct-service threshold had been referred to the Auditor General. Members asked DCF about the reasons for the bill, the impact on children, the work group’s regional representation, aging-out youth, the Embrace Families transition, board training requirements, and whether enforcement actions had been taken. DCF said the bill was intended to protect funds for children and families and improve oversight, and clarified that the Central Florida lead agency contract was awarded through competitive procurement rather than an absorption. DCF also said the board training was designed to be meaningful but not overly burdensome, with timing left partly to lead agencies as they implement the new requirements. The committee then heard from two CBC leaders, who generally supported the accountability goals of HB 7089 and said their agencies had already addressed most of the new governance and disclosure requirements. They reported that board training had been completed or was being scheduled, but both agencies said the fidelity bond requirement has been difficult or impossible to obtain in the market as written, though they were able to secure the separate performance bond. The CBC witnesses also warned that recruiting providers is increasingly difficult, especially for higher-acuity children and group-home placements, due to limited provider supply, regulatory burden, insurance costs, and rising risk. They said these pressures are contributing to budget deficits in some areas and urged lawmakers to consider the funding model, insurance and indemnification issues, and the risk of overregulation reducing provider participation.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Judiciary (02/05/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • mentioning where there was a process mentioning where there was a process where<00:27:34.600>
  • So instead of forcing them to figure out the 11-step process or even knowing such a process exists and
  • <02:31:59.240> currently 11 Step technical process currently 11 Step technical process currently
  • or even knowing such the 11 step process or even knowing such a<02:32:11.600> process<02:32:12.080
  • <02:36:36.000> take that processing take that processing take place<02:36:38.080> great
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232 from prime sponsor Representative Mark Pearson, who said the bill is intended to protect conscience rights for health care professionals and students, especially in relation to abortion and sterilization-related procedures. He argued that protecting ethical objections would help retain and recruit medical workers in New Hampshire, reduce moral injury, and preserve patient access to care. Pearson said the bill is not meant to allow discrimination based on protected characteristics and emphasized that it is limited to objections to specific procedures, with an amendment added to address concerns raised by Chairman Lynn. Members questioned Pearson closely about the scope of the bill and amendment, including whether it could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers or receptionists, whether a provider could refuse emergency care, and who would determine when an emergency exists. Pearson said the bill does not apply to emergency situations or to treatment after an abortion has already occurred, and he stated that emergency triage would control in obvious emergencies. He also said the intent was not to allow a person to take a job and then unexpectedly refuse duties, and he suggested the amendment could be tweaked to clarify its application to facilities and staff. Additional questions focused on whether the bill should be broader than the procedures listed, how it would interact with federal conscience protections, and whether it could affect contraception-related services, including pharmacies. Pearson responded that the bill addresses the specific issues raised by people he and his wife had spoken with, and he was open to revising the amendment to reduce ambiguity. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary (7-2-26)

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • the bulk of our uh hearing uh process. the bulk of our uh hearing uh process.
  • It just means that process starts over.
  • Victim's rights in the parole process.
  • So though it's not an appeals process.
  • And then chairperson salary is about 94. process and it still works today. process and it still works
Bills: HB60
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/12/26

Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:
  • And then the process uh of the trash.
  • This can easily be processed if we don't see it.
  • This can easily be processed if we don't see it.
  • employees at all waste processing employees at all waste processing facilities,<00:29:46.840>
  • So, thank you Senator audit process.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee 3/2/26

Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • > is The STS certification process is The STS certification process is overseen<00:04:04.200><
  • Anytime we receive a complaint process.
  • internally to um vet those process internally to um vet those processes<00:28:36.240> to<00:28
  • , If you think about our current process, If you think about our current process, um,<00:30:27.480
  • Those incentives have disappeared from this process.
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The committee met on March 2 and approved the February 23 minutes after a quorum was reached. The main presentation was from the Department of Human Services on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), a federally required Medicaid benefit that helps Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees get to medically necessary appointments. DHS said the program served more than 250,000 people in 2025 at a cost of $127 million, with participation up about 14% over five years, and described the seven transportation modes, provider enrollment requirements, STS certification, background checks, prior authorization rules, and planned transitions to a single administrator for parts of the program in 2026 and 2027. DHS officials emphasized fraud prevention efforts, saying NEMT is one of the agency’s high-risk Medicaid services. They described enhanced prepayment review, provider revalidation and site visits, removal of inactive providers, and a provider moratorium in metro counties. Inspector General James Clark said the governor’s anti-fraud proposal would add pre-enrollment risk assessments, more staffing and technology, and electronic visit verification. He also noted that about 80% of NEMT spending is in managed care and that managed care organizations have their own compliance and special investigations units. Committee members raised concerns about fraud, oversight, and privatization. Chair Robbins questioned DHS about the absence of the commissioner and the program’s use of brokers, citing past concerns and asking about the vendor MTM’s history; DHS said the RFP for the new broker had closed and the vendor selection was still underway. Representative Pinto questioned why oversight is outsourced to managed care organizations and suggested bringing more oversight back in house. MTM representative Phil Stahlberger defended the company’s record, said the Missouri dispute was about contract terms from about 15 years ago, and said MTM currently works in Minnesota counties and many other states, with on-site reviews, trip verification, and complaint review processes. No further votes or final actions on the NEMT policy were taken in the portion provided.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Employee Benefits Programs Committee May 7th, 2026

Employee Benefits Programs Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's two bills that we've added since 2001 that followed under that PERS pilot mandate process.
  • There may also be statutory reports required through the Employee Benefits Committee process.
  • You’re talking about the entire process, the entire seven and a half to line 9? Correct, yes.
  • But the Insurance Department was essentially removed from the process.
  • the actuarial report, or at any time during the process.
Summary: The Employee Benefits Committee met to hear presentations on state employee health insurance, compensation, leave policies, labor market conditions, and prevailing wage issues, then later took up committee rules and bill-draft jurisdiction. PERS reviewed the history and structure of the state health plan, noting the state has paid the full family premium since 1979, described cost-control and benefit-enhancement changes over time, and explained current plan options, wellness incentives, employer wellness discounts, and the upcoming bid process for the 2027-29 contract. HRMS then presented compensation comparisons showing state classified pay generally trails private and regional markets, with larger gaps at higher-level jobs, and reviewed benefits and leave policies, including the new enhanced annual leave and new-hire leave, the state’s unpaid family leave structure, and varying tuition reimbursement practices. Job Service reported on labor force trends, low unemployment, high labor force participation, job openings, and wage growth, and OMB said there are no state prevailing-wage requirements beyond federal Davis-Bacon rules for federally funded projects. The committee then considered a proposed amendment to Joint Rule 211 to better align the health insurance mandate review process with recent statutory changes. Members discussed how the rule should reference both the committee’s required actuarial reports and the Legislative Council cost-benefit analysis, and the amendment was adopted on a roll call vote. The committee also discussed how its jurisdiction decisions affect whether a bill draft receives actuarial analysis, with staff explaining that a decision not to take jurisdiction means the bill is not treated as impacting the relevant retirement or health plans for purposes of that analysis. After that, the committee began reviewing bill drafts for jurisdiction. The first draft, bill draft 33, would automatically renew pre-tax elections for dental and vision coverage during open enrollment instead of requiring annual re-election. Members debated whether it had any actuarial impact, noting the state does not pay those premiums directly, and the discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Senate in Session Mar 12th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Do you think she likes this process? She's the stepdaughter of the...
  • I just want to commend you on your patience as we rifle through this process.
  • We didn't really talk a lot about the school bus cameras in this process.
  • We didn't really talk a lot about the school bus cameras in this process.
  • , the process that we have in Florida law is just not fair.
Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of recognitions for interns, staff, and guests. Members also honored retiring Senate staffer Susan Miller and recognized a veteran injured in combat. After routine announcements, the chamber moved to returning messages from the House and began taking up bills and amendments. The Senate concurred in House amendments and passed SB 118 on RV park assessments and SB 572 on ethics for public officers and employees, both by 38-0 votes. It then took up the elections bill, CS/CS/HB 991, which drew extensive debate. Supporters said it would strengthen election integrity by tightening citizenship verification and ID rules; opponents argued it would burden eligible voters, especially students, seniors, disabled voters, and others without the newly required documents. The bill passed 27-12. The chamber also passed the education package SB 182 after adopting a Senate amendment to the House amendment, and approved SB 474 on military affairs, SB 425 on historic cemeteries, HB 929 on local regulation of chickees, and HB 35/SB 1370 on habitual traffic offender designation, all with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The Senate then considered SB 902/ HB 733, the Department of Health package. Members adopted an amendment and amendment-to-amendment that preserved most Senate provisions while modifying or removing several House additions, including some early steps and medical marijuana-related changes, and the bill passed 37-0. The chamber also began work on HB 905, the foreign influence bill, with a strike-all amendment offered to expand restrictions on foreign influence, sister-city agreements, linkage institutes, and related activities, but the debate on that measure was still underway when the transcript ended. Several other returning messages and bills were temporarily postponed, and the Senate recessed briefly before resuming business.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Executive Departments and Administration (10/07/2025)

Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • Yeah, we again, that's certainly going to be part of our process next, right?
  • to be part of our process next, right? to be part of our process next, right?
  • <00:44:31.839> we sure that uh you know in that process we sure that uh you know in that process
  • if if um process for example, right?
  • certification process for sure. certification process for sure.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Environmental Regulation May 8th, 2025

Environmental Regulation

Transcript Highlights:
  • HB4028 seeks to skip that important process. ...process that focuses on more than just spill response
  • way your body processes certain things.
  • It's what's left over once you've processed the wastewater.
  • Okay, so is there a way, is there a process?
  • They are required to process these biosolids.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Committee, June 12, 2026

Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • the animal to the processing plant. the animal to the processing plant.
  • meat processing parts. meat processing parts.
  • <02:39:16.000> Um try to process. Um try to process.
  • in any process.
  • that through the subdivision process. that through the subdivision process.
Keywords: 916, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Legislative Commission on Data Practices 12/11/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • creating efficiencies and processing creating efficiencies and processing these<00:08:54.959>
  • facilitated your process of responding. facilitated your process of responding.
  • our tools our our governance processes our tools our our governance processes as<01:19:43.600>
  • When data is withheld or process.
  • <01:42:05.119> goes very quickly about how a process goes very quickly about how a process
Keywords: 1183, house
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on the Judiciary Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Their rights to privacy and dignity must remain at the center of our legal process.
  • And so the process went on for almost another six months.
  • The legal process was relatively straightforward.
  • We're now in the process of adopting a third child.
  • The government shouldn't be in the process of promoting or mandating products.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee hearing began with opening remarks from the House and Senate chairs outlining procedures for a large public hearing with more than 100 witnesses on 64 legislative proposals. They explained time limits, rules for in-person and virtual testimony, written testimony procedures, and the committee’s reporting deadline. Testimony then moved through a series of juvenile justice, child protection, and civil liberties bills, with witnesses generally urging favorable reports or, in one case, opposing expanded juvenile court transparency and child advocate access to records. Several witnesses supported bills aimed at juvenile justice reform. Representative Hendricks backed H. 1744 to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking, citing federal findings of child labor in seafood processing and calling for stronger penalties and a ban on minors working in such facilities. Senator Gomez supported S. 1131 and S. 1121 to reduce juvenile fees, fines, restitution burdens, and bail-related costs, arguing they worsen racial and economic disparities. Senator Crean and other advocates supported S. 1051/H. 1695 to expand juvenile diversion eligibility, while multiple witnesses from juvenile justice and immigrant advocacy groups supported H. 1657/S. 1058 to expand juvenile expungement and to limit sharing juvenile fingerprints with federal authorities, describing recent ICE detentions of Chelsea students and the resulting fear in immigrant communities. Witnesses also supported H. 1918/S. 1240 to narrow the youthful offender statute, raising the minimum age and reducing mandatory adult-style penalties for youth. The committee also heard testimony on child safety and bodily autonomy bills. Middlesex District Attorney Marion Ryan supported H. 1752 to protect children left in extreme temperatures, explaining it would create civil penalties, allow emergency responders to remove children from cars without liability, and add criminal penalties when serious injury results. Representative Thurber and Senator O’Connor testified for H. 2011/S. 1227, a bill prohibiting coercion or mandates for health-related interventions, including vaccinations, and allowing legal remedies for violations. Senator Jalen supported S. 1136/H. 1847 to prevent false confessions by requiring recording of interrogations and banning deceptive tactics, and several innocence-project and legal-services witnesses described wrongful convictions tied to false confessions and coercive interrogations. Another major topic was H. 1626, which would require age verification for pornographic content and launch an education campaign about online sexual exploitation; Representative Cruz and survivor Udoz Wallace testified in support, describing nonconsensual image sharing and deepfake harms. Not all testimony was supportive. The Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed S. 1035, which would increase transparency in juvenile court proceedings, and H. 1689, which would expand the child advocate’s access to confidential juvenile records, arguing both would undermine privacy and trauma-informed protections for children and families. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the session consisted of opening remarks and public testimony on the listed bills.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (02/17/2026)

Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • . process. process.
  • Chair, again, I’m not willing to do away with the process at all as recommended in the original bill.
  • not willing to do away with the process not willing to do away with the process um<01:00:53.440>
  • As I understand it, that process is sort of continually expanding.
  • So again, the first process in Roman 2, sub A, right?
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (03/11/2025)

Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • fall that election integrity was important and that we want to make sure that we're looking at our processes
  • I processed them. That worked.
  • I processed them. That worked.
  • It also helps the local election officials when they're processing those ballots because they can see
  • He said that if a June primary is in the works, that is a process they will need to take a look at.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Legislative Administration (01/23/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • She said they already have a process for jury duty exemptions and assumed it would follow a similar process
  • She said they already have a process for jury duty exemptions and assumed it would follow a similar process
  • He said there are already checks and balances in the process to ensure the integrity of that process,
  • He said there are already checks and balances in the process to ensure the integrity of that process,
  • He said there is no due process in this as to who makes the determination or what the judicial process
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The meeting was an introductory organizational session for the House Legislative Administration Committee. Chair Greg Hill and Vice Chair Vanessa Sheen welcomed members, introduced the new clerk and committee staff, and described the committee as generally nonpartisan and focused on bills on their merits. They also noted that many bills are handled on a consent calendar after discussion, and that the committee often works closely with staff, House counsel, and the House clerk on procedural matters. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on committee operations and expectations: how committee reports should be prepared and submitted, the use of electronic submissions, scheduling hearings, and the need for clear bill placards at the witness table for livestream viewers. Members discussed the committee’s calendar, including a proposed conflict with the governor’s budget address, and ultimately settled on moving the remaining hearings to February 19. The chair also emphasized advance notice for absences or amendments, and said executive sessions can be scheduled as time allows under current rules. House Clerk Paul Smith testified about his role as a nonpartisan officer and said he would be providing informational testimony on a bill affecting a law he sponsored years ago, as well as on a forthcoming PSLF-related bill for legislators. He also spoke about legislative customs, precedents, and the value of parliamentary procedure. The chair concluded with guidance on decorum: arrive on time, avoid interruptions during testimony, keep food out of the room, use electronic devices discreetly, and route questions through the chair for clarification rather than debate.
DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session - Session 2 - 42nd Legislative Day Jun 30th, 2026 at 02:00 pm

Delaware Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So should this bill pass, and we enter into the regulatory process, will the regulatory process work
  • or changed FERC processes might be.
  • So it’s been worked on in the process for a year.
  • So the police during the process, or the FOP, the DSP, during the process on the House side, did they
  • So the police during the process, or the FOP, the DSP, during the process on the House side, did they
Keywords: 1064, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education May 6th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Through a purchasing process inside our district, we're big enough.
  • Companies, a fund that then processes the claims.
  • Each time, they deferred me to the PIR process.
  • This process has been long and difficult for my family.
  • My memory of the process, and I could be mistaken...
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee Jul 15th, 2026

Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • might help us jumpstart that process.
  • Right now, it’s still a bad ad hoc process.
  • Our intake process, and what we actually look at, looks at people, process, and technology so we can
  • As well as other processing, it takes energy.
  • One is construction work in process.
Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, establishing its purpose as a study and policy-development body rather than one aimed at producing many bills. Majority Leader Hogue urged members to move quickly, focus on federal and other states’ AI laws, consider possible federal preemption, child protections, and the siting and economic impacts of data centers. Committee leadership echoed that the goal is practical, balanced governance that protects North Dakota while allowing innovation to continue. Legislative Council staff provided a background memo and NCSL presented a detailed overview of AI concepts and the current state legislative landscape. The presentations distinguished narrow AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and theoretical AGI/ASI, and summarized major state policy themes: comprehensive AI laws in states such as Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois; targeted laws on deepfakes, chatbots, health, education, notifications, and digital likeness; and growing use of appropriations and agency inventories. Members asked about Colorado’s repeal and reenactment, Texas’s sandbox and training provisions, oversight structures, and whether AI regulation is bipartisan; presenters said most issues cut across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfakes but more division on broader regulatory approaches. The federal update focused on executive orders, preemption, and congressional activity. NCSL described a White House framework favoring a single federal standard, a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department review of state laws, and possible funding conditions tied to state AI policy, though no formal state-law challenge had yet occurred. The presentation also covered a recent executive order creating a voluntary federal vetting process for advanced frontier models after safety concerns, and congressional proposals including a failed 10-year state moratorium, Senator Blackburn’s child-safety bills, the Kids Online Safety Act, a House-passed children’s digital safety package, a Senate data center moratorium proposal, and a House ratepayer/data-center bill. The committee took no formal action beyond receiving testimony and asking questions.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

PSM-HHS, PSM-EIG, PSM DEFER, PSM Public Hearings 03-23-2026

Public Safety and Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:03:43.280> through through EOA and allows a process through through EOA and allows a process
  • Our sister process and invites abuses.
  • <01:03:30.240> And lawful process, are being locked up.
  • And lawful process, are being locked up.
  • <01:04:22.840> of still be going through a process of still be going through a process of
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The joint hearing covered HB 1976, relating to dementia training for law enforcement, and HB 2443, relating to disaster services for people with disabilities and access or functional needs. For HB 1976, the Hawaii Law Enforcement Standards Board opposed the bill’s process and cost, arguing there was no documented training gap because existing CALEA accreditation already includes mental illness response training that covers dementia. Supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association, AARP, disability advocates, caregivers, and several individuals, said dementia-specific training would help first responders better handle real-world encounters and avoid harmful misunderstandings. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, including changing mandatory language to permissive language in several places and removing a deadline for the first annual training cycle; the recommendation was adopted unanimously. For HB 2443, testimony was strongly supportive. The Disability Communication Access Board, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and individual testifiers said the bill would strengthen emergency planning and response by adding a Disability Integration Specialist and better integrating people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into disaster preparedness, sheltering, and FEMA coordination. Several speakers emphasized recent storms and rescues as evidence of the need. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including changes based on Attorney General comments and adding specialized communications and comprehensive communications planning provisions previously contained in another bill; that recommendation was also adopted unanimously. The transcript then moved to a separate mini hearing on HB 1768, relating to immigration enforcement. Supporters, including the ACLU of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, argued the bill would prevent local law enforcement from entering 287(g)-type agreements or otherwise participating in federal immigration enforcement, citing civil rights concerns, community trust, and the need for police to focus on local public safety. One testifier raised concerns that local cooperation could help avoid mistakes in enforcement, while supporters responded that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and that local agencies should not be deputized for civil immigration arrests. The excerpt ends amid extended member questions and discussion, without showing a final vote on HB 1768.