Transcript Highlights:

• But it sounds like in every case, the abuser...that there's never...
• I was fortunate enough to fly in for this hearing today, so thank you.
• The victims in the Cannon Cut case with Joe White and Cannon Cut.
• He came from Japan, but it just so happens… …that this hearing is today.
• That voice is silent, but we hear these other voices, the overcomers, as Ashton said.

Bills: HB128, HB34, HB128, HB621, HB748, HB2259, HB2960, HB3113, HB4749, SB835

Keywords: heat illness prevention, workplace safety, administrative penalties, advisory board, employee protection, HB 128, sister city, sister-city agreement, international exchange, municipal diplomacy, local government, state agency, political subdivision, foreign adversary, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Taiwan, major non-NATO ally

Transcript Highlights:

• May we all be blessed by the hearing of these ancient words.
• <00:06:34.160> of May we all be blessed by the hearing of May we all be blessed by the hearing
• transfer that case transfer that case to<00:17:51.840> the<00:17:51.920> federal<00
• Well, you're taking a state case that's a state case and the plaintiff alleged some harm.
• <00:31:16.320> that<00:31:16.440> has case involving one state that has case involving

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• involving social worker, such as dependency, neglect, and abuse cases.
• <00:03:14.400> and<00:03:14.560> abuse<00:03:14.879> cases.
• dependency neglect and abuse cases. dependency neglect and abuse cases.
• , preliminary hearings to get those cases, preliminary hearings to get those cases, then<00:15:24.880
• Another issue: we are in the process of adopting a new case management system.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Commonwealth’s Attorneys, County Attorneys, Prosecutor’s Advisory Council 00:00:18 Approval of Minutes 00:20:09 State Treasurer 00:20:33, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with testimony from representatives of the Prosecutor’s Advisory Council, including county and commonwealth attorneys, on their proposed budget. They described the scope of their work in district and circuit court, juvenile and dependency cases, specialty courts, guardianship, involuntary hospitalization, and the Rocket Docket program. The witnesses emphasized that their budgets are overwhelmingly personnel costs and warned that proposed cuts could lead to layoffs, reduced retention, and loss of recently added positions. They also said the General Assembly’s recent salary classification plan had improved recruitment and retention, and that underfunding could reverse those gains. A major topic was the Rocket Docket program, which they said speeds lower-level cases through the system, reduces jail costs, and saves money for both counties and the state. They reported that in one circuit, average jail time for certain cases dropped from about 50 days to about 6 days. They also raised concerns that the Rocket Docket line item may not be clearly included in the committee substitute and asked for clarification on how the budget would treat it. In response, the chair said the intent was to move some of those items into the base budget, though the exact structure was still uncertain. The presenters also discussed a 2022 subsidy for county attorney employees tied to retirement contributions, saying it totals about $1.3 million and should not be reduced because the obligation remains. They said the budget would need to support the salary classification plan extensions, House Bill 8 subsidies, and a new case management system that they described as essential to modernizing operations and improving communication with victims and law enforcement. The chair thanked them for the testimony and indicated the committee would continue reviewing the budget. The committee then heard from Deputy State Treasurer Russell Weber, who reported that the treasury has now returned more than $90 million in unclaimed property to Kentuckians. He said the office faces ongoing fraud issues and requested funding for a dedicated legal counsel and a fraud investigator, along with outreach money to educate the public about unclaimed property. He also outlined several capital requests, including the final year of a printer-system lease and replacement of HVAC equipment in the treasury building. Members briefly joked with him about a mineral-rights bill and coal, but no votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't call that being the case. Since actually, yes, yes. Yes.
• Yes, that's the case. But I'd be >> Mr.
• So in this case, let's send it to the General Register.
• I hear lots of tape turning.
• What you're Talking about each of these cases to me is that you are making the case that we have actually

Bills: HF2185, HF1849, HF3719, HF3721, HF3845, HF3720

Keywords: flag display, residential property rights, homeowners association, HOA, covenants, restrictive covenant, deed restriction, subdivision regulation, local ordinance, rental agreement, property rights, patriotic display, United States flag, Minnesota flag, POW/MIA flag, military flags, armed forces flag, Blue Star flag, Gold Star flag, common interest community

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, just as we did for the prior hearing, we will begin by hearing remarks from the representatives
• As a reminder, just as we did for the prior hearing, we will begin by hearing remarks from the representatives
• Great participation here in the last hearing, and look forward to the participation here on this hearing
• In cannabis, that's not the case.
• That is not the case. Am I right?

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the Department of Cannabis Control’s report on the condition and health of California’s cannabis industry. Department staff reviewed the evolution of state cannabis law, the creation of the current regulatory framework, licensing and compliance efforts, and enforcement against illicit cannabis and hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids. The department said the licensed market has grown in production and retail units sold, while active licenses and retail sales value have declined, and that the illicit market remains a major competitive factor. The department also highlighted consumer education efforts, product testing and recalls, and coordination through the state enforcement task force and other agencies. The department’s economist said the data show continued growth in licensed production and a rising share of consumption through the licensed market, but falling wholesale and retail prices have reduced overall industry value. He identified major headwinds as taxes and fees, illicit-market competition, local prohibitions that limit retail access, regulatory costs, and broader business pressures, while noting opportunities in product innovation and possible hemp-market changes. Committee members pressed the department on enforcement, public health concerns, equity ownership and employment, delays in grant administration, pesticide testing, and whether the legal market is truly viable for small businesses and farmers. Several members argued that stronger enforcement and lower costs are needed, while one member raised concerns about cannabis-related health harms and said the hearing focused too narrowly on supply-side issues. Public commenters from industry groups and advocacy organizations largely echoed concerns about high taxes, regulatory burdens, limited retail access, and the size of the illicit market. Many urged the Legislature not to let the excise tax rise from 15% to 19% and called for tax relief, compliance reform, more enforcement, and broader retail access. Some speakers said the report was too optimistic and did not reflect business failures, debt, and closures, while others emphasized the need to protect small farmers, address wildfire insurance, and support equity businesses. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• at the Texas State Capitol that was just a few years after the case here in Kentucky.
• /c> ago abandoned the lemon ago abandoned the lemon test<00:03:37.200> the<00:03:37.400> case
• in Kentucky was the Adland case, and that at the Circuit Court in that case said, while we have recognized
• <00:04:05.879> in Kennedy case in Kennedy case in 2022<00:04:08.000> the<00:04:08.200
• Chairman, for hearing the bill.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:25 Attendance Roll Call: 00:31 HJR 15 (Rep. Baker): 01:15 HB 462 (Sen. Nemes for Rep. Dietz): 09:01 HB 6 (Rep. Williams): 10:18 HB 73 (Rep. Johnson): 15:21 Adjournment: 18:48, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government first considered HJR 15, a resolution to return a Ten Commandments monument to the new state Capitol grounds. Representative Shane Baker described the monument’s history, its removal to storage in the 1980s, and a prior 2000 effort that was blocked by the courts. He argued recent Supreme Court decisions, including Van Orden and Kennedy, support a history-and-tradition approach and said the resolution would direct the Historic Properties Advisory Commission to retrieve and reinstall the monument in Monument Park. Senator Herron raised concerns about religious neutrality and whether other faiths would also be represented at the Capitol. Baker and Chair Petrie responded that the resolution was limited to restoring a specific historical monument and did not bar future proposals for other displays. Senator Armstrong voted no, saying the legal landscape remained uncertain and the state could face costly litigation. The committee approved HJR 15 on an 8-1 vote. The committee then took up House Bill 6, which would limit administrative agencies from issuing regulations with an economic impact of more than $500,000 over two years, with exceptions for imminent public health or safety threats, protection of federal or state funds, and compliance with certain court orders. Representative Wade Williams said the bill would rein in costly agency rulemaking and cited LRC data showing only about a dozen regulations in 2024 would have met the threshold, with roughly six after closer review. Senator Chambers Armstrong expressed concern that the bill could tie the government’s hands in emergencies, but the bill passed 8-1. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 73, which had a committee substitute. Representatives Johnson and Tipton explained that one part would add We Lead CS to the list of educational service providers allowed to administer their own retirement program participation, and the other would require the Teachers’ Retirement System actuary to provide additional information on each employer’s share of unfunded liability. The committee approved HB 73 unanimously, 10-0, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Representative Inan, I think it's a case-by-case determination.
• When we receive cases and go to our prosecutors, we often look for the benefit of having our cases go
• <00:48:00.920> go the benefit of having uh our cases go the benefit of having uh our cases
• we've had some very high-profile cases we've had some very high-profile cases in<00:48:12.920>
• Next bill up is Case 130.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Chief Hearing Officer and Agency Head of the Administrative Hearings Office.
• We're up to 3,440 hearings.
• Three main hearing types, those implied concern, are DWI licensure application hearings.
• , additional hearings.
• officer assigned for that case.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• through a thorough hearing in bedding. through a thorough hearing in bedding.
• "Um, so I hear that.
• "Um, so I hear that.
• what is the case for the hearing<03:05:02.680> officer<03:05:03.680> so<03:05:03.920><
• Just that in this really was came out of a case where about five days before the hearing, 2,700 pages

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Greer's USTR nomination hearing.
• Greer, for your hearing. Hearing. Mr.
• But you've got to know who's making the case.
• In many cases now, negative margins.
• That's exciting to hear.

Transcript Highlights:

• some of these cases.
• We review cases.
• We had 1,222 cases, maternal mortality. 2021, we had 1,222 cases, maternal mortality.
• We hear bad news occasionally about some, but that is not the case. End of one and far.
• And that is just not the case.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard a detailed annual presentation from Dr. Thomas Arnold, chair of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, on maternal mortality trends and review findings. He explained the committee’s structure, the de-identified review process, and the distinction between pregnancy-associated and pregnancy-related deaths. He said national maternal mortality has declined from its 2021 peak, but mental health conditions, substance use, overdose, suicide, cardiovascular disease, hemorrhage, infection, and embolism remain major causes. He emphasized that many deaths are preventable, with especially high rates among non-Hispanic Black women and in the American Indian/Alaska Native population, and noted that a large share of deaths occur after 42 days postpartum. Committee members asked about suicide, domestic abuse, pregnancy testing in unexplained deaths, and the role of home births and midwife training. Dr. Arnold said the committee is adding a caseworker, exploring post-mortem pregnancy testing in suspicious cases, and working with coroners and forensic officials; he also said home births and untrained midwifery pose safety concerns and that better public education and facility-based care are important. The committee then heard from State Fire Marshal Dr. Matt Clark on cigarette ignition propensity standards and fire prevention. He recommended updating North Dakota’s cigarette ignition legislation to the current national standard and also considering legislation requiring fast-breakaway oxygen tubing, citing fatal fires involving smoking around home oxygen. He explained that his office verifies manufacturer testing and maintains certification for cigarettes sold in the state, but does not itself conduct the testing. Members asked about implementation, cost, and whether the standards apply in tribal communities; Clark said he would follow up with cost information and additional details, and that he had not seen evidence of a major issue on tribal lands but would look further. Christine Greff of the Department of Health and Human Services presented the North Dakota Stroke System of Care report. She described the statewide network of two comprehensive stroke centers, four primary stroke centers, and 30 acute stroke-ready hospitals, along with the stroke registry and quality-improvement efforts. She reported that most strokes are ischemic, that the median stroke patient age is 71.5, and that common risk factors include hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and diabetes. She highlighted improvements in door-to-CT, thrombolytic treatment times, dysphagia screening, EMS pre-notification, and interfacility transfer performance, and said new priorities include hemorrhagic stroke quality measures and standardized EMS stroke screening tools. Members asked about the VA hospital’s participation, and Greff said she would pursue outreach. After a break, the committee heard testimony from Taha Khan of Vertex Pharmaceuticals as part of the prior authorization study, focused on non-opioid pain treatment. He argued that prior authorization can delay access to acute pain treatment and may push patients toward opioids, especially in the critical 24- to 72-hour post-discharge window. He cited data showing that even short opioid exposure can increase the risk of long-term use and said prior authorization is often a barrier for physicians and patients. Khan recommended open access with a quantity limit rather than prior authorization, suggesting a 14-day limit supported by the product’s data and an episode-of-care approach. Members asked about dental use, payer discussions, and cost; he said the product’s wholesale acquisition cost is about $16.10 per tablet, with patient assistance available, and that he would follow up on payer and comparison-cost questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is all one-time funding in this case.
• Okay, and so I think I'm hearing you say you're going to look to Medicaid, but we are hearing so much
• and an Ebola outbreak in Uganda with nine cases.
• California had its first human case in a farm worker.
• Well, I want to say, number one, it's so exciting to hear good news.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you hear the word I said? Madam Chair, do you hear the word I said? Dios.
• We are seeing about 40% of our cases being fentanyl, with approximately 5,000 cases a year.
• I prosecuted these cases for years.
• I look forward to hearing what the representative has to say.
• I hear, well, whatever you think would be the best. To get this fixed pretty quickly. I hear you.

Bills: HB195, HB279, SB30, HB234, HB292, SB100, SB23, SB221, SB261, SB264

Keywords: medical malpractice, judgments, independent providers, insurance, personal assets, settlements, healthcare, healthcare privacy, electronic medical records, reproductive health, gender-affirming care, data protection, location tracking, confidentiality, SB30, induced abortion, abortion reporting, vital statistics, public health reporting, medical records

Transcript Highlights:

• of elder abuse in Texas, up from 60,000 cases reported in 2022.
• The chair hears none. The motion prevails.
• We heard the bill during our Monday hearing. Are there any questions?
• Seeing none, hearing no objection, substitute is adopted.
• We heard the bill during our Monday hearing. There is a substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're taking cases which in the past were old, cold, dead cases, because when we talk about statute
• These are hard cases. ...it into the real world today, these are hard cases. Let's be clear.
• Just to tell you where we are with these cases, there's a case pending in Paterson.
• They deserve to have a similar hearing. They deserve to be heard. You should hear their stories.
• hearing about, is electronic shelf labels.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• outcome of the case.
• <01:05:29.680> But text as the outcome of the case. But text as the outcome of the case.
• in the case.
• They do it on a case-by-case basis upon request.
• They do it on a case-by-case basis upon request.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held an information briefing on expungement and record clearance, with Chair David Tarnis and Vice Chair Mahina Poo Poy emphasizing second chances and the legislature’s recent work on state-initiated relief. The chair reviewed prior measures, including Act 62 (2024), which created Hawaii’s first state-initiated expungement pilot for certain non-conviction cannabis-related arrests, Act 159 (2023), which required automatic sealing or removal of expunged records from the judiciary’s public database, and Act 241 (2024), which created the Clean Slate Task Force. He said the committee invited the Clean Slate Initiative and Code for America because of their national experience with state-initiated record clearance systems. Phil Hickden of the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and Attorney General’s office reported that Act 62 was implemented using existing resources and no new funding, initially covering single-charge, pre-2020 arrests in Hawaii County for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and later expanded by Act 005 (2025) to all arrests under HRS 712-1249 regardless of drug type. He said the project identified 2,268 potentially eligible records, with 1,072 processed so far, 989 granted and 83 denied, and that the work has taken about 872 staff hours and roughly 45 days per expungement. He also said the office has identified about 412,000 people who could potentially qualify for expungement under broader legislation, though that estimate does not include case-by-case research. Michelle Acasta of the judiciary explained that Act 159 changed the process so HCJDC now digitally transmits expungement certificates to the court, eliminating the applicant’s second step of filing paperwork with the court. She said the courts still manually review eligibility, but the process is easier because certificates now include a case ID and HCJDC provides additional information to help locate records. She reported that since implementation the courts received 125 certificates in July and 87 in August, with 17 court orders filed in July and August, including 81 in the First Circuit, 14 in Maui, 7 in the Third Circuit, and 15 in the Fifth Circuit. She also noted that the Hawaii Supreme Court’s State v. Rogan decision affects procedure by requiring a written request or motion, an opportunity to be heard, and written findings for sealing court records, and that new Supreme Court rules are expected for public comment. Members asked about qualitative outcomes and whether the process could be expanded statewide; staff said they do not track recidivism or personal stories, and the chair encouraged further discussion before the next session to identify barriers and capacity needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you don't hear yourself coming through the speaker above you, that means YouTube can't hear you either
• Judges have to make a case-by-case determination. We can't automatically seal records.”
• In fact, most of the judges are very good that when you come for your return hearing on an eviction case
• ,<00:21:37.039> they return hearing on an eviction case, they return hearing on an eviction
• Can you hear me? >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.

Bills: HB2227, HB1775, HB1560, HB1642, HB1647, HB2003, HB1640, HB2198

Keywords: eviction, housing stability, tenant screening, court records, writ of possession, foreclosures, public sale, eligible bidders, housing, downpayment, judicial foreclosure, digital financial assets, consumer protection, financial kiosks, refunds, transaction security, HB1642, Hawaii, cryptocurrency ATM, crypto ATM

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on February 5, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills, beginning with HB 227 relating to eviction records. Supporters, including the Public First Law Center and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, argued the bill would help people who prevail in eviction cases avoid long-term housing harm from online court records, while the Public First Law Center said keeping records off eCourt Kokua would not violate the First Amendment because the records would still be available in person. Members discussed access-to-justice concerns, and a witness said legal aid attorneys could still access the records through the attorney-only Jeff’s system and the court’s access-to-justice room. The chair also asked about precedent, and a witness cited a Hawaii Supreme Court case as supporting removal from the online database rather than sealing records entirely. The committee then took up HP 1775 relating to foreclosures, but the transcript only shows in-person opposition comments from the Hawaii State Bar Association Collection Law Section, the Hawaii Credit Union League, and the Hawaii Bankers Association. The credit union and banking groups said they had concerns about broader negative impacts on mortgage lending and other requirements, but no detailed discussion or action was captured before the committee moved on. The next measure, HB 1560 relating to consumer protection, drew support from the Office of Consumer Protection and cryptocurrency companies including Coinflip and America Digital, which said they already use wallet-pinning and other safeguards to prevent fraud. AARP Hawaii did not take a formal position but said the bill addressed a real problem, noting that Hawaii residents, especially in Kona, had lost more than $920,000 in 2024 to cryptocurrency ATM scams and arguing that stronger oversight was needed. The committee also heard HB 1642, which would ban cryptocurrency kiosks. The Office of Consumer Protection supported the ban as the best way to protect consumers from fraud, while Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, and America Digital opposed it, arguing kiosks provide cash-based access to crypto, especially for unbanked or underbanked consumers, and that targeted regulation would be better than an outright ban. AARP Hawaii took no formal position but strongly emphasized the harm caused by scams, saying victims are often frightened into acting quickly and that kiosk transactions currently lack enough friction or intervention. Finally, HB 1647, also on consumer protection, would impose liability on host businesses that provide space for crypto kiosks. The Office of Consumer Protection warned small businesses might not understand the liability, while Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, and America Digital opposed the bill, saying it would unfairly shift enforcement duties to host stores and could discourage businesses from hosting kiosks, effectively creating a de facto ban. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're both hearing health and human services.
• This is phenomenal to hear.
• Let's hear that first.
• cases to now 6,711 cases.
• I'd like to hear how we got to that number. I'd like to hear how we got to that number.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:43.680> to<00:04:43.919> developus particular case to developus particular case
• addressed in policy committee hearings addressed in policy committee hearings uh<00:21:16.960>
• <00:23:50.799> But cases they're very lengthy. But cases they're very lengthy.
• Did I hear you right that the bonding request is going to be in conjunction with what I'm hearing, and
• that's going to conclude our um hearing that's going to conclude our um hearing on<01:30:45.440>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, public hearing.
• We hear their stories every day. life. We hear their stories every day.
• case. This was handled improperly. case. This was handled improperly.
• the case. the case.
• close the public hearing. close the public hearing.

Keywords: 1189, house, all