Transcript Highlights:

• It had existed in state law until 2013, was repealed, and then added back in 2017.
• We would rather have the law and not have any kind of special legislation that excepts it.
• We would rather have the law and not have any kind of special legislation that excepts it.
• We would rather have the law and not have any kind of special legislation that excepts it.
• And also, there's the thing that's commonly known as the year six rule in the TIF law.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> care, emergency response, law care, emergency response, law enforcement,<00:08:30.919><c> and</c
• </c> member on that existing law. member on that existing law.
• </c> child labor laws. child labor laws.
• </c> participate with federal law participate with federal law enforcement,<01:55:55.080><c> right?
• </c> law enforcement from accessing records. law enforcement from accessing records.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> outlining in in this change of the law. outlining in in this change of the law.
• </c> with the federal law is the thing to do. with the federal law is the thing to do.
• </c> under the New Hampshire law. under the New Hampshire law.
• That happens now, regardless of the federal law or our own laws. Is that correct?
• </c> authorized to enforce the federal law. authorized to enforce the federal law.

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> what law enforcement has found? what law enforcement has found?
• </c><01:40:52.639><c> Law</c> testimony you've had today. Law testimony you've had today.
• </c> at what can be done for law enforcement. at what can be done for law enforcement.
• </c><01:53:39.520><c> laws,</c> compliance with different laws laws, compliance with different laws laws
• </c> change to our law though. change to our law though.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> under this proposed law. under this proposed law.
• </c> cite an area of law. um for case law. cite an area of law. um for case law.
• But the law is the law.
• the law.
• It's already law.

Committee: House Housing

Summary: The Housing Committee opened with a public hearing on HB 196, which would repeal the Housing Champion program. Representative Matt Drew, the prime sponsor, argued the program is an unnecessary and poorly targeted subsidy, saying it rewards municipalities after projects are completed and may not be limited to new housing production. He questioned the transparency of the program, cited difficulty finding required annual reports, and noted a fiscal note suggesting the state could recover up to $3 million if obligations are terminated. Committee members and witnesses debated whether the program’s criteria amount to political favoritism or a standard grant process; supporters said the rubric is specific and that municipalities are evaluated against objective requirements. Representative Priest, Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire, and Karen Benfield of Stay Work Play New Hampshire all opposed repeal, saying the program encourages local zoning and regulatory changes, helps smaller communities participate, and supports housing supply and young people’s ability to stay in the state. The hearing on HB 196 was then closed. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 1405, a bill establishing an affordable housing guarantee program within the Housing Finance Authority. Prime sponsor Representative Chris Muns said the bill would reduce lender risk by guaranteeing up to 80% of principal on qualifying loans for affordable housing, with a cap of $30 million per lender per year and $300 million outstanding at any time. He described the measure as a low-cost public-private partnership backed by the full faith and credit of the state, and said it was identical to a prior Senate bill that had received unanimous bipartisan committee support before dying later in the process. He framed the bill as one part of a broader housing package aimed at financing, infrastructure, workforce, zoning reform, and other housing-related issues. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided. The only formal actions were opening and closing the public hearing on HB 196 and opening the public hearing on HB 1405, with testimony continuing on HB 1405 at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> get a summary of our fence laws. get a summary of our fence laws.
• Um, I think the law goes by federal law, which then forced state law. The law is pretty clear.
• </c> which then forced state law. which then forced state law.
• </c> following us the law. following us the law.
• Is it written law? Is it policy? What is it? >> It's a written law.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, workers' comp coverage says that your independent ownership, you do not have to pay
• Under current law, Ms. Comp coverage says that your independent ownership, you do not do not.
• a court of law.
• There is a specific prematurity statute in our law, Louisiana Revised Statute 23:1314.
• Regular lawyers who do tort work more often, or who do more administrative law and business law and different

Summary: The Senate Labor Committee met on March 14 and adopted the prior minutes. It voluntarily deferred Senate Bill 358, which would have addressed workers’ compensation coverage for independent contractors and sole-proprietor subcontractors. Senator Abraham said the bill would instead be studied to determine whether such workers should be able to buy occupational accident coverage or be required to carry workers’ compensation coverage, particularly where no employees are involved. The committee then heard House Bill 456, which would expand and clarify workers’ compensation petition requirements and broaden employers’ and payers’ ability to file disputed claims beyond fraud and medical-director appeals to other disputes under the chapter. The bill drew strong support from business groups and strong opposition from injured-worker attorneys, who argued it would revive problems seen in 2012 when employers could sue injured workers without a ripe dispute, burden unrepresented claimants, and increase litigation and administrative costs. Supporters said it would improve access to the courts and help employers investigate questionable claims. After debate, the committee voted 5-1 to report HB 456 favorably, with Senator Barrow voting no. The committee also heard House Bill 549, which creates the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program, or Bayou Works, a proposed statewide workforce training grant program aimed at helping employers quickly train workers for specific skill needs. The sponsor and Louisiana Workforce Commission representatives said it would be privately funded, modeled on Michigan’s “Going Pro” program, and coordinated with technical colleges, apprenticeships, internships, and other workforce partners. Members asked about statewide reach, youth pipeline efforts, and timing; the department said implementation would likely begin later next year. The committee reported HB 549 favorably by unanimous consent and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wood mentioned case law.
• What is the state of the law today?
• I don't think the law speaks explicitly to the question.
• I'm here on my own behalf and on behalf of the Texas Business Law Foundation.
• Under the existing law, consumer cases can come in as a supplemental claim.

Bills: SB1538 , SB2883 , HB1734 , HB2340 , HB2350 , HB3376

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• Educate me here in the formula that I'm reading in the bill, and this is pre-existing laws.
• I understand the initial intent of the law was to protect that homestead.
• Many people credited all the standards in our home equity law.
• The law that's worked so well is held up.
• In closing a home equity loan, it updates an antiquated, unworkable law.

Bills: HB1342 , HB2889 , HB3002 , HB3254 , HB4820 , HJR40 , HJR40

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, DHR kind of operates as a quasi-law enforcement.
• Many of these cases start with law enforcement, schools, or even the private sector.
• DHR and law enforcement work together in these cases.
• Generally, I'm thankful for law enforcement; we could not do our jobs without them.
• enforcement... ...mutual agreement between DHR and law enforcement.

Bills: SB140 , HB235 , HB276 , HB317 , HB340

Committee: House Children and Senior Advocacy

Keywords: Coach Safely Act, youth athletics, noncompliance penalties, Department of Public Health, youth athlete, social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety

Transcript Highlights:

• An act to amend the General Business Law and the Executive Law in relation to school security guards.
• An act to amend the General Business Law and the Executive Law in relation to school security guards.
• An act to amend the General Business Law in relation to requiring prescription drug manufacturers to
• An act to amend the General Business Law in relation to requiring prescription drug manufacturers to
• An act to amend the General Business Law in relation to requirements for the rental of helmets.

Committee: Senate Consumer Protection

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Consumer Protection held its first meeting of the year on January 28, chaired by Senator Rachel May, with Ranking Member Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and several other senators present. Chair May said the committee would focus this session on consumer protection issues such as surveillance pricing and the use of technology to target consumers unfairly. The ranking member briefly agreed on the importance of protecting vulnerable consumers and wished the committee a successful session. The committee then considered six bills, all of which had previously passed the Senate. The measures covered school security guards (S.194B), notice to the Attorney General about arrangements that delay generic drug introductions (S.488A), warranties and protections for purchasers of new and used motor vehicles (S.5597), a cap on credit service charges in retail installment contracts (S.5600), requirements for rental helmets to address concerns about damaged helmets (S.6985), and making renewed appearance enhancement and barber licenses and certificates available online in downloadable PDF form (S.7483). There was little discussion on most bills, though Senator May noted that the helmet bill was intended to address situations where rented helmets may have been damaged or consumers may not know their condition. Each bill was moved, seconded, and approved by the committee without opposition, with one bill reported to the Finance Committee and the others reported to first reading on the calendar. The meeting then adjourned after concluding legislative business.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's firmly established in law.
• It does not touch the overtime law, AB 1066.
• And there are different laws that apply, of course, at different levels.
• We believe current law accomplishes that balance.
• State law.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> is Senate Bills 2798 relating to law is Senate Bills 2798 relating to law enforcement.<00:09:39.600
• law enforcement officers.
• </c> And this one was uh relating to law And this one was uh relating to law enforcement.<00:12:31.519
• And uh we had law enforcement officers.
• Um, some of these defending its laws.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 3040, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Supporters, including Moms Demand Action and a crime-victim advocate, argued the office would improve data collection, research, and coordination to help reduce gun violence. Opponents, including several gun-rights advocates, said the proposal was duplicative, lacked oversight, and would exclude the firearms community. The chair noted 41 testimonies in support and 77 in opposition, but no vote was taken on the bill in the portion provided. The committee then moved through a series of decision-making items and adopted the chair’s recommendations on several measures. SB 17 on wildfire mitigation passed with amendments from multiple agencies and a report date shifted to the 2028 session. SB 2730 on criminal justice reform passed with a defective effective date amendment, SB 2749 on sentencing passed with a defective effective date, SB 2688 on compassionate release passed with amendments narrowing eligibility and adding notification and funding language, and SB 2798 on law enforcement passed with a defective effective date to make the agricultural enforcement pilot program permanent. SB 2645, a short-form bill, was amended to insert substantive provisions and recommitted to the committee. SB 2383, which would have provided a $15,000 retention bonus for sworn law enforcement officers, was reconsidered and held in committee because it was identified as a duplicate. The committee also passed SB 2575, relating to firearms, with amendments adopting a proposed SD1 that would establish minimum mandatory prison terms for certain class A firearm felonies and add clarifying language. SB 2720, which would create a Hawaii firearm injury restitution fund funded by firearm manufacturer licenses, also passed with amendments clarifying the fund’s scope and eligible injuries. Later, the committee began hearing SB 3107 on parole eligibility. The Office of the Public Defender and the Hawaii Paroling Authority supported language allowing the parole board to waive certain program requirements, while the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission opposed the bill, warning it could keep people incarcerated longer if program access remains limited. The Department of Corrections said it is working on classification changes and a pilot project to move inmates through the system faster.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, but, but according to state law, I mean, according to state law, I mean.
• , which these are laws right now.
• So if we were just more compliant with the law that's already in place, this is the same law.
• There is already a law in place.
• So creating a law to enforce a law seems redundant. So I'm going to be a no. Thank you. All right.

Committee: Joint Education Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• illegal under federal law, SB 701 would allow local law enforcement to take direct action to protect
• Today, however, HIV is still singled out in the statute. ...laws in the country.
• Senate Bill 524 by Senator Arrigain and others, relating to law enforcement agencies.
• This would make the state law consistent with federal law, which defines wages broadly to include, for
• This bill will implement the five-step test standard to our child passenger safety laws.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a long floor file with many Senate bills. Early procedural actions included unanimous-consent motions, a successful roll-call to rescind prior action on SB 351, and a 54-vote suspension of Joint Rule 61(a)(3) to allow floor amendments on SBs 80, 351, and 415. The chamber also made several referrals, moved one item to the inactive file, and welcomed new Assembly Member Natasha Johnson and other guests. The bulk of the meeting consisted of concurrence and third-reading votes on a wide range of measures, many of them passing with little or no opposition. Topics included tribal gaming grants (AB 221), State Bar fee and bar exam changes (SB 253), AI guardrails in community colleges (SB 241), consumer arbitration clauses (SB 82), due process for law enforcement in Racial Justice Act cases (SB 734), dental payment fee disclosures (SB 386), HOA balcony inspection reports (SB 410), farmland protection and EIFD rules (SB 5 and SB 516), emergency shelter zoning (SB 340), HIV confidentiality (SB 504), election signature-cure reforms (SB 3), contractor workers’ compensation compliance (SB 291), fire training funding (SB 345), wage theft enforcement (SB 355 and SB 261), food allergen disclosures (SB 68), ride-share insurance coverage (SB 371), housing and disaster recovery measures (SB 233, SB 625, SB 21), midwifery education (SB 520), mobile home insurance access (SB 525), epinephrine in schools (SB 568), health facility emergency licensing (SB 582), hair relaxer enforcement (SB 236), wastewater surveillance (SB 317), and several tax, transportation, and public health bills. A number of bills drew brief policy debate or opposition. SB 388, creating a California Latino Commission, prompted criticism from some members who argued the money should go directly to community needs rather than a new commission; it still passed. SB 50 on digital safety for victims of abuse, SB 20 on silicosis prevention, SB 306 on prior authorization reform, SB 373 on oversight of out-of-state special education placements, and SB 437 on reparations descendant-status verification were among the more substantive and discussed measures. Most bills passed by wide margins, often unanimously, and several urgency or tax-levy measures required 54 votes and were approved. The session ended with continued passage of remaining file items and multiple items retained or passed temporarily for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:42:56.160><c> In</c> conform and comply with the law. In conform and comply with the law.
• </c> Businesses want to comply with this law Businesses want to comply with this law and<00:48:15.599
• ,</c><00:48:17.680><c> but</c> and need to comply with this law, but and need to comply with this law
• . law. law.
• And at a very certain point in law.

Bills: HF4253 , HF4257 , HF3236 , HF4264 , HF4149 , HF4019

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:39.040><c> enforcement</c> is going to require of law enforcement is going to require of law
• </c><00:20:44.840><c> to</c> It still allows law enforcement to It still allows law enforcement to consult
• So, handful of law enforcement officers.
• </c><00:25:53.320><c> enforcement</c> on law enforcement on law enforcement and<00:25:54.920><c> that
• </c> have long upheld drug-free zone laws have long upheld drug-free zone laws without<01:17:13.320><

Bills: SB709 , SB2089 , SB2090 , SB2108 , SB2211 , SB2250 , SB2325 , SB2803 , SB2866 , SB3245

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard SB 709 SD2, which would require the Department of Health to respond to reports involving persons with severe mental illness, assess eligibility for assisted community treatment, and coordinate treatment when appropriate. Testimony from the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health supported the measure, with DOH saying it generally supported the bill but had comments on one section it viewed as unnecessary. The Department of Law Enforcement later explained that the bill would shift certification and standards for crisis intervention officer training from DOH to DLE, while still involving DOH in the training process. Opposition came from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center and an individual testifier, both of whom argued the bill expands state authority over people with mental illness and could worsen forced treatment practices. The Disability Rights Center also raised procedural concerns, saying the bill was effectively moved from a prior administration measure that had not been heard this session, and questioned whether the bill’s changes to assisted community treatment, blood tests, urinalysis, and living arrangements went beyond current law. The individual testifier argued the bill would further entrench harmful psychiatric drugging and urged the committee to defer it. Committee members questioned the administration about the bill’s process, the role of the Attorney General in treatment-over-objection proceedings, and the practical effects of moving CIT certification to DLE. The Attorney General’s office said the bill was intended to fill a gap by allowing it to assist with treatment proceedings, while public defenders would continue to represent respondents and due process protections would remain in place. DLE and DOH said the change would better align certification with law enforcement training needs, improve speed in crisis response, and still keep DOH involved; members also discussed whether WAM counted as a hearing and whether the bill should more explicitly preserve DOH’s role. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The law is enforced by the AG.
• </c> comply with the law. comply with the law.
• Our law follows a similar framework law.
• </c> within the scope of the law. within the scope of the law.
• law a law, there are uh several clear<00:04:50.560><c> requirements.

Bills: HF3794 , HF3408

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, he is interested in law in Sever.
• </c> blockchain technology to assist law blockchain technology to assist law enforcement<01:05:51.599
• It says that this does not apply to law enforcement, a law enforcement officer.
• </c><01:29:37.280><c> A</c><01:29:37.440><c> law</c> apply to law enforcement.
• A law apply to law enforcement. A law enforcement<01:29:38.080><c> officer.

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, journalized the prayer, and recognized Read Across America Day with a special resolution congratulating the Maryland State Education Association on the program’s 28th anniversary. Senators also welcomed several guests and student groups, including Eleanor Roosevelt High School students, Maryland Federation of Republican Women members for Red Scarf Day, medical shadows from Johns Hopkins, a student page prospect, and a group from Matthew Henson Elementary School. The chamber then took up multiple Finance Committee consent calendars and individual local alcohol-related bills, all of which were reported favorably, adopted without objection, and ordered printed for third reading. Measures included changes to alcohol license fee refunds for uniformed service members, Anne Arundel County license classifications and compensation for liquor board officials, a Baltimore City racetrack license extension, a Cecil County license quota change, and new or expanded licenses for golf courses, sports venues, and barber shop/beauty salon establishments. The Senate also advanced bills on social work licensing, a rural readiness economic development program, a Maryland-Ireland Trade Commission extension, peer-to-peer car sharing insurance rules, telematics-based auto insurance disclosures and appeals, and veteran status notation on public profiles. Several bills were amended before being advanced, generally with technical or clarifying changes and no recorded opposition. Senate Bill 18 would create a provisional social work license; Senate Bill 351 would regulate insurer use of vehicle telematics data; Senate Bill 395 would revise insurance and liability rules for peer-to-peer car sharing; and Senate Bill 197 would alter comprehensive plan elements in land use law. Senate Bill 439, protecting fire and rescue public safety employees from adverse action based on medical cannabis certification, also moved forward without amendment. One measure, Senate Bill 69, which would make permanent the nonprofit navigator position in the Department of Commerce, was discussed at length after a member raised concerns about oversight of nonprofit grant funding. On request, the bill was special ordered to the next day for further consideration. All other bills discussed in the transcript were advanced to third reading by unanimous or near-unanimous voice action, with no recorded roll-call votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Stand Brown laws.
• ,</c><00:11:42.480><c> which</c> current drug-free zone law, which current drug-free zone law, which
• </c><00:12:21.360><c> and</c> other measures right to work laws and other measures right to work laws
• As noted in the Stan Brown laws.
• ,</c> baseline of the federal law, baseline of the federal law, &gt;&gt; right?

Bills: HB1546

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2083, which would add homeless shelters to Hawaii’s drug-free/safe-zone protections. The City and County prosecutor’s office strongly supported the bill, saying service providers asked for the change because drug activity near shelters can undermine recovery efforts. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, focusing on a possible notice problem because many shelters are not readily identifiable and the bill’s 750-foot distance requirement could be difficult to apply. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii also opposed the bill, arguing it would expand criminalization of poverty and drug use and that drug-free zone laws are ineffective and disproportionately harmful. The prosecutor’s office said it would do more research on the notice concern. The committee then moved on without taking a vote in the transcript provided. The committee next discussed HB 2087, which would change the treatment of abuse of family or household member cases by ending the deferred-acceptance pilot and returning to the prior statute. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying the pilot had not reduced backlog as intended and that domestic violence cases should remain petty misdemeanors without deferral. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Public Defender’s Office both opposed HB 2087, instead urging extension of the pilot for another five years so the legislature can better evaluate how deferred acceptance is working. They said deferrals can be a useful incentive for behavior change and that more data is needed before ending the program. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about why Hawaii should differ from other counties and whether repeat offenders could keep receiving deferrals; the prosecutor said the deferral is available only once and reiterated support for returning to the old statute. The committee then heard HB 2096 on aggravated circumstances in child protective proceedings. The family court and Attorney General’s Office supported the bill, saying current law limits aggravated-circumstances findings to the early return hearing, which can prevent findings in the most serious abuse cases when key evidence is not yet available. They said the bill would allow such findings later in the case and, with proposed amendments, would let the court consolidate aggravated-circumstances and termination-of-parental-rights hearings to reduce delay and appeals. The Libertarian Party of Hawaii opposed the measure, arguing it would expand state power in family matters and could worsen outcomes for parents and children. Committee questions focused on the amended language, including what “another court of competent jurisdiction” means and whether a charge alone would be enough; the judiciary responded that criminal courts are included, but a hearing and opportunity to defend would still be required. Finally, the committee took up HB 1959, another domestic violence measure. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Public Defender’s Office, the Crime Victim Compensation Commission, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and county prosecuting offices testified in support. Supporters said the bill would extend the pilot program while keeping deferred acceptance of guilty pleas in place, giving more time to evaluate whether the program is working and whether a more formal diversion model should be developed. The coalition also suggested technical fixes to ensure judiciary data reporting continues and that the deferred-acceptance statute is not inadvertently repealed. No vote or final action was taken in the transcript before the committee moved on to the next bill.