Transcript Highlights:

• </c> know-your-rights educator here on Maui. know-your-rights educator here on Maui.
• spending power.
• 00:58:34.800><c> political</c><00:58:35.160><c> spending</c> that already possess political spending
• I corporations political spending power.
• </c> spending uh politically. spending uh politically.

Bills: SB1166, SB888, SB2387, SB2471

Keywords: insurance, climate change, responsible parties, damages, Hawaii Property Insurance Association, Hurricane Relief Fund, civil action, climate disasters, extreme weather, SB888, Hawaii, consumer protection, smart home security, smart household security device, home security camera, video doorbell, Ring, Nest, connected devices, internet of things

Summary: The committee heard SB 1166 SD2, a bill on insurance and climate-related damages that would authorize the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and, in amended versions discussed during testimony, other public and private entities to pursue civil actions to recover losses tied to climate disasters and extreme weather. DCCA’s Insurance Division and the Department of the Attorney General raised legal concerns, saying the bill’s scope may not fit the insurance code section being amended, that it could create subject-matter and title issues, and that some subrogation language may be duplicative of existing rate-filing practice. Lawyers for Justice opposed the measure, arguing it conflicts with existing subrogation law and recent Hawaii Supreme Court rulings that treat the judicial lien process as the exclusive remedy. The American Petroleum Institute also opposed, warning the bill would add liability and litigation risk for companies operating under existing permits and could undermine energy reliability and investment. Supporters said the bill would help shift climate-related insurance costs away from residents and onto fossil fuel companies and other responsible parties. Testimony in support came from the Polluters Pay Hawaii Coalition, Center for Climate Integrity, Hawaii Island Council, Our Hawaii, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and others, who described recent flooding, storm damage, rising premiums, non-renewals, and underinsurance as evidence of a worsening climate-driven insurance crisis. Several supporters urged amendments to give the Attorney General explicit authority to recover insurance-related losses for the Hurricane Relief Fund, HPIA, and private insurers, and to ensure recovered amounts benefit policyholders. Committee members questioned whether HPIA is a private entity, whether the Attorney General could represent it, whether the bill could create double recovery or affect pending climate litigation, and whether insurers would have standing or damages if they are only paying contractual claims. The committee then took up SB 888 SD2, a consumer protection bill that would restrict smart household security device operators from sharing user data with law enforcement without consent or a judicial order, and would bar conditioning device use on such consent. The Office of Consumer Protection testified in support and said an Illinois law could serve as a useful template for exceptions to the warrant requirement. An individual supporter said the measure would protect immigrant communities, judges, and others from surveillance and misuse of private data. No vote was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the chair noted additional written testimony submitted in support of SB 1166.

Transcript Highlights:

• An attorney representing children receives $25 an hour higher than it is for a non-board certified attorney
• To spend, I mean, if you're literally spending an entire day to drive across, you know, to see the child
• HB 3382 will provide families and children with a higher standard of representation from court-appointed
• They lose access to the education and training vouchers that help cover the additional expenses of going
• When families, educators, law enforcement, and the public are in full awareness, they are better equipped

Bills: HCR10, HB1814, HB2160, HB2353, HB2643, HB2971, HB3282, HB3382, HB3996, HB4507, HB4509, HB4805, HB5551, HB1863, HCR10

Keywords: family abduction, child safety, custodial rights, parental kidnapping, awareness day, marriage license, informal marriage, family code, identity verification, child support, family law, child custody, court interview, parent-child relationship, child welfare, attorney ad litem, compensation, legal representation, government entity, HB 2643

Transcript Highlights:

• Some internal references in higher education are corrected.
• Some internal references in higher education are corrected.
• Some internal references in higher education are corrected.
• The Education Committee spend years. but I do ask for a no vote tonight.
• , in workforce development, in higher education, in natural resources, in child care. ...higher education

Bills: HB2289

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• In higher education, one of the larger items is a cost shift to the operating fees account, which generates
• That essentially shifts funding from the higher education building accounts in the operating budget and
• education employees in the higher education grouping.
• So in the House Chair's operating budget, $239 million from the higher education building accounts is
• Thank you for finding a creative solution to avoid deep budget cuts to higher education this year.

Bills: HB2289

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm speaking against the governor's proposed cuts to higher education and asking you to seriously consider
• progressive revenue to fund higher education instead of deeper cuts in the supplemental budget.
• progressive revenue to fund higher education education. and asking you to seriously consider progressive
• revenue to fund higher education instead of deeper cuts in the supplemental budget.
• We understand that you have a difficult budget, but higher education and research universities are facing

Bills: HB2289

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee continued its public hearing on HB 2289, the supplemental operating budget. Testimony focused heavily on the governor’s proposal to redirect or supplant Climate Commitment Act revenue, with environmental and public health advocates arguing that the $569 million diversion would undermine climate pollution reduction, wildfire resilience, clean transportation, affordability programs, and long-term climate investments. Several speakers also urged restoration of full wildfire funding under HB 1168, warning that underfunding would increase future costs and risks to communities and ecosystems. A large share of testimony opposed proposed Medicaid and long-term care changes, including freezing or delaying rate rebasing for nursing homes, shifting pharmacy benefit financing, and reducing support for caregiver staffing. Providers said the cuts would destabilize facilities, reduce access for Medicaid residents, and worsen workforce shortages. Other speakers urged continued funding for public health services, the Working Families Tax Credit, food assistance, housing and homelessness programs, right-to-counsel for tenants, disability services, and public defense, arguing that reductions would increase emergency-system costs and harm vulnerable residents. Education-related testimony supported the Ninth Grade Success Initiative, homeless student supports, and K-12 funding, while school and university representatives opposed higher education cuts and called for new progressive revenue. Child care advocates warned that proposed subsidy caps and rate reductions would reduce access and harm the workforce. The committee also heard support for public works infrastructure funding, land conservation and youth outdoor programs, a tribal liaison position at a museum, and continued support for dental access and immigrant legal services. No votes were taken; after public testimony ended, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, educators are concerned about the multifaceted pressures on higher education institutions
• To be clear, this is an austerity budget for all of public higher education, and it follows on a tough
• . besides the media across. ...government and the largest cut in higher education.
• Higher education faces additional strain.
• Western remains the lowest funded institution of higher education on a per-student basis.

Bills: HB2289

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, emphasizing time limits, no visual aids, amendment deadlines, confidentiality, professionalism, and the chair’s authority on parliamentary rulings. The chair also noted the meeting was being recorded and live streamed, and that public testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ins. The committee then heard a work session presentation from OFM Director Katie Chapman on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, followed by questions about the budget’s four-year balance and potential credit-rating effects. Chapman said the proposal addresses a roughly $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, and about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, wildfire response, housing, and some affordability measures. She also explained that the proposal does not fully balance in the 2027-29 outlook, though she said the governor believed the statutory conditions allowed that choice. Chapman outlined major proposed reductions, including a soft cap and lower subsidy rates for Working Connections Child Care, limits on Apple Health Expansion enrollment, reduced increases for assisted living and nursing homes, reductions to transition to kindergarten and Running Start, flat local effort assistance, and across-the-board cuts to higher education and agency operations. She also described shifts of Working Families Tax Credit funding to the Climate Commitment Account, additional transfers from accounts such as Public Works Assistance, and proposed closure of several tax preferences. Agency and stakeholder testimony largely split along these lines: education groups, child care advocates, higher education leaders, and school employees opposed cuts to TTK, LEA, Running Start, and child care; human services and legal aid groups supported or sought restoration of funding for crime victim services, right to counsel, civil legal aid, and youth/foster care programs; and natural resources and local government witnesses objected to sweeps from wildfire, derelict vessel, and infrastructure accounts. Several statewide officials and agency representatives also testified. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to additional sweeps from his accounts and said prior cuts had forced layoffs and service reductions, including at the libraries and corporations division. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said the wildfire prevention funding in the budget was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and warned that underfunding would increase fire costs. Other testimony supported funding for the Office of Civil Legal Aid, the Office of Public Defense, the Human Rights Commission, the Economic Security for All program, and the state employee contracts included in the budget. The committee did not take any votes or formal action during the hearing; it continued taking public testimony on the governor’s budget proposal.

Bills: HB342, HB342, HB168, HB220, SB187, SB270, SB265, SB220, SB242, SB277

Keywords: religious instruction, elective credit, released time, public education, school policy, tax credit, scholarship, education funding, financial aid, federal participation, HB168, Alabama, emergency management, local emergency management organization, mutual aid, mutual aid agreement, disaster response, public safety, public health, state emergency management plan

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:08.160><c> those</c> $40,000 right but for us to spend those $40,000 right but for us to spend
• </c> I would have to spend I would have to spend $100,000<00:11:05.079><c> right</c><00:11:05.800><c>
• </c> onethird per of pupil per pupil spending onethird per of pupil per pupil spending in<00:16:12.120
• </c> and today I'm representing Education and today I'm representing Education Minnesota<00:18:12.039
• </c> important to the zumber education important to the zumber education district<00:45:45.040><c> and

Bills: HF56, HF780

Keywords: HF56, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Hutchinson Area Transportation Services, Hutchinson, McLeod County, transportation facility, vehicle storage, equipment storage, fueling facility, temperate storage, local infrastructure, public works, general obligation bonds, education finance, school funding, state aid, appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:01.960><c> So,</c> education services. So, education services.
• </c> one-time spending, one-time grants. one-time spending, one-time grants.
• , I come from a whole family of educators, a long line of educators.
• You've done some really great stuff with higher education financial relief, but these programs are putting
• </c> facing as educators. facing as educators.

Bills: HF4213, HF4198, HF3930, HF3585, HF3451

Keywords: education finance, school funding, K-12, prekindergarten, pre-K, early childhood education, general education aid, special education, literacy aid, school meals, free school meals, school breakfast, school lunch, charter school lease aid, charter schools, nonpublic pupil aid, private school aid, transportation aid, desegregation aid, integration aid

Transcript Highlights:

• This is from educators. This is from higher ed and industry leaders, as you’ve heard from.
• In its first six months, the network is partnering and connecting schools, higher education, tribes,
• into higher education into career.
• This is what we like and believe our state deserves, and our students certainly deserve, for higher education
• In addition to K-12 educators throughout the state, we represent a number of higher ed institutions throughout

Bills: HB40, HB100, HJR1, SB64, SB19, SB44, SB83

Keywords: educational retirement, annuity adjustments, cost of living, non-compounding payments, retirement benefits, STEM funding, education, innovation, public education, New Mexico, nominating committees, boards of regents, student representation, political party registration, New Mexico constitution, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> District as the renal Board of Education District as the renal Board of Education chair<00:01:52.040
• </c> the rising costs of providing education the rising costs of providing education declining<00:02:
• </c> entity if the if you are an education entity if the if you are an education District<01:15:25.120
• </c> entity for all special education entity for all special education students<01:15:42.280><c> the<
• With that, members, Education Policy stands adjourned until our Education Finance meeting on Thursday

Bills: HF827, HF1258, HF2387, HF2388, HF2534, HF2016

Keywords: education, school funding, consolidation aid, financial support, Minnesota Statutes, education finance, ice arena, school districts, cooperation agreement, equal sports opportunities, school milk program, nutrition, food waste, kindergarten, public schools, supplemental revenue, charter schools, funding, state appropriations, general education funding

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what frustrates me—that we in this building have for years treated special education and public
• education disgracefully because we have been just warehousing people, treating them all the same regardless
• It makes no sense that I'm standing before you where I am, but because of my education and because of

Keywords: special education, legislation, Texas, personalized education, families testimonies, education reform, committee meeting

Summary: The committee meeting featured strong dialogues focused on improving educational provisions for special needs students in Texas. A key highlight was the discussion around legislation aimed at personalizing educational programs to cater to individual needs, which included testimonies from families who have benefited from similar initiatives. The overall sentiment was one of urgency to rectify past shortcomings in the education system and to foster an environment where every student is given the chance to thrive. Members also expressed frustration over delayed bills and a commitment to continue fighting for progress as the session approached its end.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the Commission on Higher Education may— >> All right. Are there any questions on the amendment?
• Jim Purcell from the director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, better known as ACH, I think
• And the whole point is that their expertise through a commission on higher education is they work really
• And the whole point is that their expertise through a commission on higher education is they work really
• </c><00:22:39.039><c> education</c> on higher education on higher education &gt;&gt; and<00:22:40.000

Bills: SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233, SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233

Keywords: sex-based terminology, gender identity, male, female, man, woman, boy, girl, single-sex spaces, women's rights, privacy, safety, fairness, anti-discrimination, vital statistics, birth certificate, intersex, DSD, differences in sex development, transgender

Transcript Highlights:

• What about the young couples that we spend so much money...
• They would come out of the base appropriation to our higher education and career tech schools.
• I could say that if we spend $4 billion a year in public education times 4 years, that's $16 billion.
• Every time you go and get higher education, whether you're going To go be a doctor, a lawyer, any type
• It talks about the length of vacancies, our turnover rate, and distance to institutions of higher education

Bills: SJR50, SJR51, SJR52, SJR53, SJR54, SJR39, SB1290, HB4028, HB4029, HB4073, HB4074, HB4075, HB4076, HB4077, HB4078, HB1250, HB2951, HB2961, HB3151, HB3581, HB3705, HB3970, HB3972, HB3980, HB3981

Keywords: Medicaid, federal funding, state law, healthcare, low-income adults, Oklahoma Constitution, healthcare regulations, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, permanent rules, joint resolution, OHCA, health care rules, administrative rules, major rule, Title 75, Title 317, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 317:30, health policy, state health programs

Transcript Highlights:

• When it's put that way, I could say that if we spend $4 billion a year in public education times four
• They spend a great amount of time in history. They spend a great amount of time in theology.
• Every time you go and get higher education, whether you're going to go be a doctor, a lawyer, any type
• Every time you go and get higher education, whether you're going to go be a doctor, a lawyer, any type
• education.

Bills: SJR50, SJR51, SJR52, SJR53, SJR54, SJR39, SB1290, HB4028, HB4029, HB4073, HB4074, HB4075, HB4076, HB4077, HB4078, HB1250, HB2951, HB2961, HB3151, HB3581, HB3705, HB3970, HB3972, HB3980, HB3981

Keywords: Medicaid, federal funding, state law, healthcare, low-income adults, Oklahoma Constitution, healthcare regulations, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, permanent rules, joint resolution, OHCA, health care rules, administrative rules, major rule, Title 75, Title 317, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 317:30, health policy, state health programs

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledges, and several floor recognitions, including the Doctor of the Day, Psychologist of the Day, and Nurse of the Day. Members also honored the OSBI Cold Case Team for its work on unsolved cases, recognized the 75th anniversary of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and welcomed guests for the Prague-Kolache Festival. The chamber then moved into floor action on multiple measures and conference motions. The most significant item was Senate Joint Resolution 39, a property tax constitutional amendment. After extensive debate over the impact on homeowners, seniors, farmers, schools, local governments, and future revenue, the Senate adopted House amendments by a 27-19 roll call and then passed the resolution 40-8. However, the motion to order a special election failed 26-20, so the measure did not advance to a special election call. Senators also rejected House amendments to Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 215 and requested conference on both. The Senate passed Senate Bill 1290 unanimously as an emergency measure, and advanced or passed several House bills dealing with ARPA and funding reallocations: HB 4028, HB 4029, HB 4073, HB 4074, HB 4075, HB 4076, HB 4077, and HB 4078. Other approved measures included HB 1250 creating a Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund for local law enforcement grants, HB 2951 renaming Red Rock Prison as the Chief James Smith Correctional Center, HB 2961 creating a Gold Star Survivor tuition benefit, HB 3151 extending the school year to 173 days, and HB 3581 increasing penalties for riot-related offenses. The Senate also took up HB 3705, which would raise the Parental Choice tax credit cap from $250 million to $275 million, but the transcript cuts off during questioning on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1437 is directing the State Department of Education to establish certain guidelines, administer
• Senate Bill 1338 creates the Education Impact and Innovation Fund.
• So the amendment to the PCS changes the name of the fund to the Education Impact and Innovation Fund.
• Department of Education and the State Board of Education to select those programs and those specific
• And with that, members, on behalf of the vice chair and the chair, we will conclude Education Oversight

Bills: SB1432, SB1338, SB1437, SB1812

Keywords: teacher certification, pilot program, education, state board, alternative pathways, education grants, competitive grants, revolving fund, State Department of Education, State Board of Education, Strong Readers Act, literacy instruction, reading intervention, dyslexia, science of reading, structured literacy, multisensory instruction, school districts, public education funding, education innovation

Bills: SF0014, SF0018

Keywords: literacy, education, reading assessment, intervention program, public school funding, department of education, K-12 education, part-time attendance, public schools, student enrollment, education funding, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome, everyone, to our first Education Committee meeting with the Senate.
• </c><00:01:46.960><c> if</c> the Wyoming Department of Education if the Wyoming Department of Education
• Dicky Shainer and Nate Tajeski with the Department of Education.
• I think it was just education committee.
• </c><00:10:39.360><c> on</c> amount of time we're going to spend on amount of time we're going to spend

Bills: SF0014, SF0018

Keywords: literacy, education, reading assessment, intervention program, public school funding, department of education, K-12 education, part-time attendance, public schools, student enrollment, education funding, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> possible inclusion in an education possible inclusion in an education finance<00:03:42.239><c> bill
• </c> we have a very complicated education we have a very complicated education budget.<00:07:26.720><
• Next up, we have Adosuni, director of ... paper educational benefits forms and the paper educational
• </c> elimination of essential educational elimination of essential educational programs<00:25:22.720>
• </c> the best education for their students. the best education for their students.

Bills: HF1048, HF1049, HF745, HF2210

Keywords: charter schools, education funding, revenue calculation, general education revenue, special education, school library aid, education finance, school districts, funding eligibility, compensatory revenue, task force, free meals, school funding, education equity, HF2210, school unemployment aid, Minnesota Department of Education, general fund appropriation, unemployment insurance, unemployment claims

Transcript Highlights:

• This allows administrators to spend more time coaching and supporting newer probationary teachers.

Bills: SB843, SB1410, SB1317, SB1338

Keywords: school boards, educational governance, conflict of interest, employee relations, Oklahoma statutes, SB1410, Oklahoma agriculture, Ag in the Classroom, agricultural education, K-12 curriculum, teacher incentives, rural schools, urban schools, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, State Department of Education, OSU Cooperative Extension Service, classroom grants, farm education, ag literacy, school outreach