Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> prior to this hearing, prior to this hearing, um<00:09:19.000><c> I</c><00:09:19.080><c> got</c
• </c> We can hear you. Go ahead. We can hear you. Go ahead.
• </c> you'll be hearing about today. you'll be hearing about today.
• I certainly We hear me all right?
• </c><00:25:42.520><c> I</c> for me prior to this hearing. I for me prior to this hearing.

Bills: HB1626 , HB1643 , HB1668 , HB1550 , HB1974 , HB1858 , HB1871 , HB1966 , HB1972 , HB1973

Committee: House Health

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 847, which would create a Kauai pilot program allowing qualified psychologists limited authority to prescribe psychotropic medications. The Board of Psychology supported the bill’s intent but asked for amendments to delay the effective date or extend the pilot so rules could be written first, and to clarify the education/training language. Supporters, including the Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Mental Health Coalition, and several psychologists, argued that prescribing psychologists have long safety records in other jurisdictions and that the pilot could improve access to care on Kauai, especially amid ongoing mental health needs and storm-related stress. They cited studies and examples from New Mexico, Louisiana, the Department of Defense, and other places. Opponents, including the Hawaii Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Queen’s Medical Center, and a Department of Health representative, said the bill needed substantial work, raised concerns about training, liability, and workforce impacts, and urged a team-based model with psychiatrist oversight rather than independent prescribing. Some testimony also referenced a GAO report, with witnesses disagreeing over its meaning and cost-effectiveness. No vote was taken during the discussion, and members asked questions about how the bill would address the workforce shortage and whether a psychiatrist on Kauai could already meet the need. The committee then moved to SB 2271 on hospital licensing and SB 2272 on home health care licensing. The Department of Health, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported both measures, which were described as streamlining and clarifying licensing oversight by relying on accreditation or certification reports. A member asked whether the bill language on hospital accreditation reports was duplicative, and the response was that the second provision was intended to strengthen enforcement by requiring hospitals to provide the actual report to DOH. The committee did not take final action in the portion of the hearing provided, and the chair noted that all bills on the agenda would later be considered for decision-making.

Transcript Highlights:

• They just couldn't hear it.
• </c> didn't show up to that hearing either. didn't show up to that hearing either.
• Hearing Miss Bernstein and then hearing you say that, this is something that almost appears pervasive
• Don't hear a confession.
• Don't hear "That's fine. Don't say mass. Don't hear a<01:14:04.320><c> confession."

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and in many cases, hearing.
• Um, when it comes to, like, hearings, our contested hearings, every agency is required to have rules
• ,</c><00:44:37.359><c> our</c> um when it comes to like hearings, our um when it comes to like hearings
• We did hold that public hearing. The notice of public hearing was posted up on the register itself.
• Representative Aani. to then proceed to a hearing? Um, so to then proceed to a hearing?

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:

• hearings, is precisely, Ms.
• hearings, is precisely, Ms.
• over the course of hearings and subsequent hearings on any bills that are introduced in response to
• I guess a retort that I hear frequently talking I guess a retort that I hear frequently talking to my
• But what I hear you say, and maybe I misunderstood this, what I hear you say is actually that, given

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you hear me okay? Yes? Okay. Mr.
• And I appreciate you hearing the bill. Excellent.
• Thank you for hearing my bill today.
• Again, thank you for hearing the bill today.
• We're about to hear testimony. Yes. Mr. Chair? Yes. Oh, sorry, we're about to hear testimony.

Committee: Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2787, which would bar the state and its political subdivisions from using personnel or financial resources to enforce or cooperate with the federal Mexican wolf reintroduction program, while exempting the Livestock Loss Board’s livestock loss program. Sierra Club and animal welfare advocates opposed the bill as harmful to wolf recovery and unnecessary given the livestock loss reimbursement data. The committee approved HB 2787 on a 4-3 vote. Members then considered House Bill 255, which would create a Brackish Groundwater Recovery Program Fund and authorize the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority to administer projects using long-term water augmentation funds. Opponents argued brackish groundwater is still groundwater and pumping it could cause localized impacts and land subsidence, while supporters framed it as a water-supply solution. The bill failed on a 2-4 vote. The committee next advanced House Bill 2782, requiring disclosure rules for regulatory assets included in utility rates, and House Bill 2781, which would impose financial assurance, insurance, decommissioning, and site-restoration requirements on solar energy power plants. HB 2781 drew stakeholder testimony from solar industry, utilities, and local-government interests; an amendment to revise financial assurance and remove a remediation fund was adopted, but the bill itself then failed on a 4-4 vote. The committee also approved House Bill 2975, which would suspend State Land Department solar scoring maps and require new mining and housing resource maps, despite opposition that it would reduce transparency and favor certain land uses over solar. Later, the committee approved House Bill 2696, as amended, directing the Arizona Commerce Authority to prioritize fuel and gas price reduction and create a fuel resiliency task force, after debate over whether the bill should focus more broadly on energy resilience and whether the ACA was the right agency. The committee also passed HCM 2009, urging Congress to streamline mining access, compensate states for subsurface mineral rights, and require legislative approval for new national monuments, and HB 2889, which would fund ADEQ monitoring of uranium contamination and create a statewide registry and tribal-partnered monitoring program. Finally, the committee heard HB 2763, which would require a legislative joint resolution before the Game and Fish Commission could close a shooting range; Game and Fish said it would add another step to the closure process and mainly affect the Ben Avery facility, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call to order our House Housing Committee hearing for Friday, March 20th.
• >> Yes, which requires a public hearing.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Yes, which requires a public hearing. &gt;&gt; Yes, which requires a public hearing.
• . hearing. hearing.
• </c> All right, reconvening our House Housing Committee hearing.

Bills: SB2069 , SB2177 , SB2342 , SB2060 , SB2544 , SB3011 , SB2061 , SB2552

Committee: House Housing

Summary: The House Housing Committee opened its Friday morning hearing by noting potentially catastrophic flooding on the island and acknowledging that some members were absent helping their communities, so quorum for voting was uncertain. The committee then heard testimony on several housing-related measures, with most bills drawing support from housing agencies and community organizations and little or no opposition in the room. On SB 2069 SD2, SB 2177 SD2, and SB 2342 SD2, witnesses largely supported the measures. HHFDC supported SB 2069 and SB 2177, and HPHA supported SB 2342. For SB 2342, HHFDC raised concerns that the bill would alter the Qualified Allocation Plan outside the normal open, public process required by federal law and could exclude stakeholders; Kathy Charities echoed those concerns and also objected to changing point allocations in ways that could raise rents and weaken long-term affordability. Members questioned HHFDC about how the QAP is normally updated, the meaning of the point system, and whether a legislative working group could mandate changes; HHFDC said recommendations would still need public hearing and board approval. The committee also heard SB 2060 SD2, which would create a mixed-income subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund. HHFDC said the subaccount would likely use tier-two funds, estimated at about $100 million total, to support mixed-income projects above 60% AMI, citing Front Street Apartments as a possible example. Members asked about project selection and funding needs. On SB 2544 SD2, OHA opposed the bill’s Chapter 6E-related exemptions and mandatory review timelines, arguing that burial review protections should not be weakened and that the SPEED Task Force process was a better venue for streamlining. The sponsor later clarified that the bill was not meant to eliminate the 60-day review process but to make the deadline clearer. For SB 3011 SD1, which concerns public housing and pet ownership, HPHA and several humane organizations supported the measure, saying it would help low-income residents and seniors keep pets and benefit from animal companionship. HPHA explained its existing pet policy, including deposits, monthly fees, and restrictions, and said the requested funding would support ADA-accessible pet areas and related administration. Finally, on SB 2061 SD2, HCDA supported the bill while OHA opposed it unless protections for Hawaiian Crown and Government lands were strengthened. Committee members questioned the project’s 60/40 split between income-restricted and market-rate units, the 10-year owner-occupancy restriction, and the procurement exemption; the sponsor said the exemption was tied to a real estate transaction and that the project would still use 103D-like solicitation procedures. No votes were taken during the hearing, and several items were left for later action because quorum was uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• The focus of today's hearing is on homelessness.
• And as I said, I rarely hear that articulated.
• We are hearing from our providers.
• So with that, that wraps up our hearing. for being here to everybody that participated in the hearing
• Thank you for focusing today's hearing on HAP.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 met to hear an information-only agenda focused on homelessness. The chair and vice chair opened with remarks about affordability, accountability, and the need for flexible but effective state responses. The committee then heard an update from Dr. Ryan Finnegan of UC Berkeley’s Turner Center on homelessness trends, data limitations, and program impacts. He said homelessness remains high, with 2024 point-in-time counts showing about 187,000 people experiencing homelessness statewide, though unsheltered homelessness has declined somewhat as shelter capacity expanded. He emphasized that California’s high housing costs and shortage of affordable housing are the main drivers, while also noting persistent racial disparities, high chronic homelessness, and the importance of coordinated housing, health, and social services. He also warned that cuts or changes to federal programs and state funding streams like HAP could threaten progress. Members questioned Dr. Finnegan about the 9% decline in unsheltered homelessness, the timing and methodology of point-in-time counts, how to interpret trends over time, and the role of policy changes such as Housing First, Proposition 47, and Martin v. Boise. He explained that the 9% figure came from 30 continuums of care that had completed 2025 counts, and that HUD’s eventual statewide number would likely differ because not all regions counted that year. He also discussed how different funding sources are layered in local programs, including HAP, local funds, philanthropic support, federal funds, and CalAIM reimbursements. Several members stressed the need for clearer, more comparable measures of effectiveness and outcomes, including whether programs reduce long-term homelessness and move people toward self-sufficiency. The committee then heard from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness on statewide data systems, especially the Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS). Staff described HDIS as the first state-level integrated homelessness data system, built from local HMIS data and used to track demographics, services, outcomes, and program performance across all 44 continuums of care. They said HDIS has enabled statewide dashboards, system performance measures, and new accountability tools under AB 977 and AB 799. Cal ICH also said HAP Round 4 was highly cost-effective under the State Auditor’s methodology, estimating a cost of about $9,172 per person permanently housed, and that new AB 799 dashboards are intended to provide clearer public reporting on outcomes, fiscal data, and progress toward statewide goals. Members asked about measuring self-sufficiency, identifying the best local partners, detecting fraud, and whether the new dashboards will allow better comparisons among program types and funding uses. No votes were taken, and the one scheduled vote was postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair, for hearing the bill.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, for hearing the bill.
• What we hear and see is timeframes longer than that.
• Thank you again for hearing the bill today.
• Thank you again for hearing the bill today.

Summary: The committee first considered the reappointment of Troy L. Campbell to the Arizona State Liquor Board. Campbell described his nearly 10 years of service, his role as chair since 2019, and his focus on fairness, public safety, and applying the law consistently. He answered questions about the board’s workload and authority, noting it hears roughly 40 to 50 cases a year and does not issue fines. With no public testimony, the committee voted 6-0 to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard several liquor and consumer-related bills. SB 1478, an annual liquor-policy cleanup bill, made technical changes to liquor statutes, including conforming the definition of cider to federal tax law and clarifying other terminology. The bill drew support from industry stakeholders and neutral testimony from the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control; the committee adopted a clarifying amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. SB 1108 would require Swedish rounding of cash transactions when pennies are unavailable, with signage and enforcement provisions; an amendment removed an individual-item exemption and clarified tax calculations, and the bill passed as amended with support from business groups. SB 1205 would regulate private-property vehicle booting by setting signage, notice, fee, and recordkeeping requirements and making violations a misdemeanor; members raised concerns about appeals and signage on non-parking property, but the committee adopted a technical amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. The committee also took up SB 1241, which would allow private permitting providers to conduct plan reviews and inspections for single-trade residential projects without municipal or county approval. Supporters argued it would reduce delays and costs for homeowners and help cities focus on higher-priority work, while cities and counties opposed the bill on public-safety and local-control grounds, warning about private incentives and inspection quality. After adopting an amendment granting immunity to municipalities that rely on private providers, the committee recommended the bill do pass as amended by a 5-2 vote, with some members explaining their votes and asking for further stakeholder work. Finally, the committee heard SB 1366, which creates a Public Property Towing and Impound Practices Study Committee to review towing fees, standards, insurance, background checks, and related DPS policies, and to report recommendations by the end of 2026. Supporters said the study would help address inconsistent standards and consumer concerns before permanent changes are made. Some members objected that the study committee did not include minority-party appointments, but the sponsor said that could be addressed later. The committee adopted a strike-everything amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. The committee then began SB 1431, a housing-design bill limiting municipal design standards and restrictions on certain shared features, but the transcript cuts off during extended debate and no final action on that bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know if that's specifically what you wanted to hear from us.
• And that's why we want to hear from you.
• I hear, well, we don't offer it or we don't.
• It makes no, I hear, well, we don't offer it or we don't.
• So if I don't hear anything, we'll try to get into the 25th.

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Committee met to discuss possible changes to North Dakota’s higher education funding formula, with a particular focus on separating the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences MD program from the general formula. Dr. Jenkins outlined several options for the MD program, including a fixed-funding model, a hybrid model, or keeping it in the formula, and emphasized the need to preserve strong support for medical education while making future funding clearer. He also discussed efforts to increase the share of North Dakota students in the MD program through ND85, expanded recruiting, early acceptance pathways, MCAT prep, a four-plus-one program, and the Primary Care Accelerated Track, along with future cost pressures such as AI licensing and residency growth. The committee then reviewed a simplified funding model from the University System Office that would base funding more heavily on student FTE, credentials awarded, and a few incentive factors such as small institution and research adjustments. Members questioned the use of placeholder numbers, the lack of a clear methodology for the small institution and research factors, and whether the model would adequately account for differences among institutions, high-cost programs, and graduate education. Several members raised concerns that arbitrary factors would be hard to defend politically and could distort funding or create competition between schools, while others said the exercise was useful as a starting point for discussion. Alex presented a second alternative that kept the current SIP-code structure but increased CTE weighting, added a progressive economic size factor, and separated out the MD program. His model also added an on-campus face-to-face headcount component and a credentials component, with the intent of rewarding in-person enrollment and completions. Members questioned the use of headcount instead of FTE, how hybrid, online, dual-credit, and off-campus students would be treated, and why face-to-face enrollment was weighted more heavily than completion. No formal votes or final actions were taken; the committee instead continued discussion and asked members to provide direction on which elements, if any, should be developed further.

Transcript Highlights:

• members of the subcommittee are present here in Room 112, so we can establish a quorum and begin our hearing
• For today's hearing, all items are vote only.
• The issues we're voting on today have been discussed in several subcommittee hearings over the last couple
• With that, before we close the hearing today, members, we wanted just to share a few of our thoughts
• Thank you very much for the way that you have conducted these hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do not register until you hear the bell. The House will now proceed to register.
• Do not vote until you hear the bell. The House will now proceed to vote.
• Do not vote until you hear the bell. The House will now proceed to vote.
• Do not vote until you hear the bell. The House will now proceed to vote.
• Hearing none, other than everybody's voice, so ordered.

Transcript Highlights:

• Carrie, can you hear us? Can you talk real quick so we can make sure we hear you? I apologize, Mr.
• You all hear me? We can, but not very loud. Okay, Carrie, can you keep talking?
• We can hear you okay. I apologize, Mr. Chair, members of the committee.
• Can you hear me better now? We can. Okay, perfect.
• Can you hear me? Yep. We can hear you. Okay, thank you.

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Having the full bonding committee there allows them to ask questions of the engineers or hear from the
• And so, it's really great to hear the presentations and just hear what they've done so far and what their
• </c> ask questions of the engineers or hear ask questions of the engineers or hear from<00:01:47.759>
• </c><00:01:54.720><c> the</c> it's really great to hear the it's really great to hear the presentations
• what they've done so um and just hear what they've done so far<00:02:00.479><c> and</c><00:02:00.719

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so we have two bills to hear today: AB 160 and AB 226.
• We will open the hearing for Assembly Bill 226.
• Thank you for hearing AB 226 today. I will be brief.
• I apologize I didn’t make it down here quick enough for the hearing, but I did hear one question regarding
• Okay, so we will go ahead and close the hearing on AB 226.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Please register at the kiosk located in the hallway behind the hearing rooms.
• The chair hears none, and the bill will be left pending. Thank you.
• The chair hears none, and the bill is left pending.
• The chair hears none, and the bill is left pending. Is there a second?
• Hearing none, the committee stands adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

Bills: SB800 , SB1534 , SB2055 , SB2310 , SB2431 , SB2786 , SB3039 , SB1242

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, higher education, student safety, orientation policies, health physics, workforce development, nuclear energy, radiological safety, scholarship, education, Texas Leadership Scholars Program, student funding, transparency, degree requirements, certificate programs, student transfer, foreign language

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair hears none. Senate Bill 519 will be left pending.
• Hearing none, the substitute is adopted.
• I really, really appreciate you hearing this.
• Chair hears none. HCR 83 will be left pending.
• The chair hears none. House Bill 5259 will be left pending.

Bills: HB370 , HB738 , HB2935 , HB3227 , HB4103 , HB5259 , SB519 , SB1350 , SB1247 , SB1248 , SB2112 , HCR81 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR59 , HCR109 , HCR111 , HCR135 , SCR6

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: HB 370, Events Trust Fund, Texas events funding, sports eligibility, women's sports, girls' sports, biological sex, transgender athletes, sex-segregated sports, athletic competition, event subsidies, tourism funding, site selection organization, anti-trafficking plan, female athletes, public funding, economic impact, sports policy, Rosenwald Schools, historical preservation

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, so ordered.
• Hearing none, it is so ordered.
• Hearing none, it is so ordered.
• Hearing none, so ordered.
• Hearing none, it is so ordered.

Bills: SB208 , SB628 , SB777 , SB1042 , SB2354 , SB2477 , SB2521 , SB2523 , SB2608 , SB2703 , SB2778 , SB2835 , SB2965 , SB2367 , SB3044

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• While we wait for other members to come in, we're going to start the hearing. March 26, at 1:30.
• Welcome all to the Local Government Committee hearing.
• Protesters have appeared at some of our legislative hearings.
• removed from the hearing room.
• Measure is out 0-0, and with that, we're going to close the hearing.

Committee: House Local Government

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee met on March 26 and, after beginning without a quorum, proceeded as a subcommittee before later establishing quorum and taking formal votes. The chair reviewed hearing rules, including in-person testimony only, limits on disruptive conduct, and procedures for public comment. Four bills were on the agenda, with AB 1030 placed on the consent calendar. AB 59 by Assembly Member Aguirre-Curie would remove the sunset on Reclamation District 108’s authority to participate in hydropower projects, allowing the district to plan long-term financing and pursue small hydropower facilities in existing canals. The author, local officials, and water district representatives supported the bill as a way to reduce energy costs and improve water stewardship; no opposition was heard. The committee later passed AB 59 unanimously. AB 417 by Assembly Member Carrillo would clarify and streamline laws governing enhanced infrastructure financing districts (EIFDs) and community revitalization and investment authorities (CRIAs), with supporters saying it would improve local governments’ ability to fund infrastructure, affordable housing, and economic development. One opponent objected specifically to CRIA eminent domain authority and urged an amendment to remove that power. After quorum was established, the committee passed AB 417 on a 6-0 vote. AB 533 by Assembly Member Flora would restore expired authority for health care districts that own or operate hospitals or clinics to use the design-build process for construction projects. Supporters said the measure would help districts secure financing and complete projects efficiently without changing public contracting rules; there was no opposition. The committee passed AB 533 7-0. AB 1030 was also approved on the consent calendar, and the hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Howard, yes, we did hear both of those bills.
• I believe it is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday.
• </c> representative Howard yes we did hear representative Howard yes we did hear both<00:01:57.680><c
• for a hearing Wednesday uh action<00:02:06.439><c> after</c><00:02:06.719><c> that</c><00:02:06.840>
• I, uh, there is a mic, or can you hear me?

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing no objection, the Journal is approved as corrected by the chief clerk.
• Hearing no objection, the reports are adopted.
• Hearing no objection, the motions prevail. Announcements. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• no objection the journal is hearing no objection the journal is approved<00:05:08.280><c> as</c><00:
• no objection the reports adopted hearing no objection the reports are are are adopted<00:05:29.120><