Transcript Highlights:

• It is a more complex data request than we were able to do in seven days.
• This is just 18 months of data.
• Chairman, there's some data here that I'm not seeing.
• I want to make sure I'm understanding the data here.
• Are we able to see that aggregated data?

Transcript Highlights:

• Bringing in flexibility for expanded data capture on trades and projects not currently tracked.
• Let me tell you the data that we have on the number of people who are teleworking today.
• there's no data we're the fourth largest economy.
• And as making data-informed decisions, that's what I do on a daily basis and I love my job.
• The state's own data shows that telework saves millions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And third, the data access provisions are overly broad.
• It's a really important Data whenever demographic data was voluntarily collected on any other demographic
• Mandate to access that data, they also will not be able to.
• But it really is about getting more data to the care teams.
• I am here today to give you all data.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 16, which would require county behavioral health directors to create clear pathways for clinicians to be authorized to initiate 5150 involuntary holds. The author and supporters argued the bill would reduce reliance on law enforcement and create more consistent crisis response standards statewide, while county behavioral health directors opposed it as an unfunded mandate that could increase law enforcement involvement and create implementation burdens. Members raised questions about county costs and funding, but the author emphasized the bill’s role in building a more clinical response system. SB 561 would require public guardians to acknowledge conservatorship referrals, make determinations within a reasonable time, and provide status updates on request. Supporters said the bill would reduce delays that leave vulnerable adults in limbo, while the opposition from public guardian representatives was removed after amendments. SB 381 drew extensive public testimony in support; it would allow California-born adoptees, and descendants of deceased adoptees, access to original birth certificates, with a nonbinding contact preference form for birth parents. Supporters framed the bill as a matter of dignity, identity, and health, and there was no formal opposition on the record. The committee also discussed SB 880, which would give tenants and prospective owner-occupants notice and a first opportunity to make an offer when institutional investors sell certain homes. Supporters said it would expand homeownership opportunities and preserve neighborhood stability, while opponents warned about conflicts with federal law, bundled-sale restrictions, and impacts on build-to-rent and affordable housing projects. Members and the author discussed possible amendments to address those concerns. SB 1238 would impose a duty of care and additional transparency requirements on HOA managers and boards; supporters said it would protect homeowners from mismanagement, while the main opposition argued the duty should remain contractual and could increase litigation. Finally, SB 423 would require disclosure of emergency-service records related to private detention facilities, and SB 28 would make changes to the CARE Court process, including a statewide ombudsperson and expanded oversight; both drew support and opposition, with concerns focused on transparency, privacy, implementation, and the balance between treatment and coercion. SB 574, discussed at the end, would require disclosure and human oversight for AI use in courts and legal practice and create a complaint process for ADR providers, with the State Bar noting requested amendments related to complaint handling and confidentiality.

Transcript Highlights:

• Behind me is a map; all those little data points are people we've served in Hawaii.
• Behind me is a map; all those little data points are people we've served in Hawaii.
• Looking at our data, it's about 3% of all of our telehealth claims is audio-only.
• </c> challenges with some of the data challenges with some of the data analytics<00:58:13.079><c> needs
• and analytics needs um because data and analytics needs um because quality<00:58:26.200><c> data</c>

Committee: House Health

Summary: The House Health Committee held its first hearing of 2025, with Chair Greg Takayama and Vice Chair Representative Leoy opening the meeting and outlining housekeeping rules, including a two-minute limit for testifiers and Zoom etiquette. The committee first heard HB 303 on health care preceptors. The Department of Health, Department of Taxation, University of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, and several health care organizations supported the bill, saying the existing preceptor tax credit program has been successful and that expanding eligibility to additional professions and students would help address workforce shortages. In response to questions, the Department of Health said the annual tax credit cap is $1.5 million, about 650 to 670 credits are currently used each year, and the bill applies only to unpaid preceptors. The committee then moved on to HB 441, which would raise cigarette taxes. The Attorney General, Department of Health, University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, Hawaii Public Health Institute, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and others supported the measure as a way to reduce smoking, especially among youth, and to support tobacco control and cancer-related programs. Opponents, including the Taxpayers Protection Alliance and the Cigar Association of Hawaii, argued the tax is regressive and unreliable as a revenue source. The Department of Health noted the last cigarette tax increase was in 2011, and one witness urged a larger increase than proposed. No vote was taken on either bill in the portion of the hearing provided. The committee also heard HB 557 on telehealth. The Department of Health supported the bill so long as it did not displace executive budget priorities, and the Hawaii State Health Planning and Development Agency and Hawaii Primary Care Association supported it. HPCA said the bill would conform state insurance law to recent Medicare changes expanding audio-only telehealth coverage beyond mental health services, and it emphasized access for rural residents, kupuna, and people with disabilities. HMSA opposed the bill as written, saying it strayed from the intent of Act 107 and that audio-only telehealth should remain limited because of quality-of-care concerns, though it supported continued access and asked for a different amendment approach. A telehealth provider also testified that payment disparities limit provider expansion and that audio-only access remains important for patients with serious illness. The hearing ended in the excerpt before any committee action or vote on HB 557.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cameron’s really doing a lot of work with folks trying to get data, trying to analyze data.
• I know there were a lot of questions about costs and... ...trying to analyze data.
• , but that was one of the overarching data points.
• So, again, let me point to an interesting data point coming out of Utah.
• So back in 96 and 97, Point to an interesting data point coming out of Utah.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is going to help guard against opportunities for the Chinese party state to collect data today
• This data on the screen is what Lunisand collected with our GRT technology. This...
• This data on the screen is what Lunisand collected with our GRT technology.
• Travis Hardy is our data scientist, and then Katrina is our director of marketing.
• So we can actually—it’s a data science problem versus a physics one.

Committee: House House Science & Technology Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Science and Technology heard Senate Bill 1046, which would prohibit critical telecommunications infrastructure in Arizona from using equipment manufactured or owned by a foreign adversary, require annual certification to the Corporation Commission, impose civil penalties for noncompliance, and bar violators from receiving certain public funds for telecom infrastructure. Marina Macklin testified in support, arguing the bill would reduce cybersecurity and national security risks tied to Chinese-linked telecom equipment and that states have an important role in procurement and infrastructure protection. Members asked about examples such as Huawei, the cost of compliance, whether the threat is current, and whether the bill duplicates federal efforts; Macklin said the measure targets public procurement, addresses existing risks, and complements rather than conflicts with federal action. The committee then voted 5-1 to return SB 1046 with a do pass recommendation, with one member citing concerns about timing and implementation. The committee also received a presentation from Craig Luxbacher of the University of Arizona on mining technology and the state’s role in critical minerals. He described Arizona as a hub for mining innovation and discussed university work on autonomous equipment, microgrids, pilot processing, tailings recovery, workforce training, and heat-stress monitoring. Members asked about microgrids, legal and policy changes needed to de-risk domestic mining, tariffs, workforce decline, and whether AI and automation would reduce jobs; Luxbacher said automation is driven by economics, not just regulation, and would likely create more skilled maintenance and technical jobs rather than eliminate the workforce. Jeremiah Pate of Lunisand then presented on subsurface imaging technology using geo-radio-tomography, which he said can image deep underground from airborne platforms and help locate critical minerals, aquifers, tunnels, and buried military infrastructure. Members asked about applications for archaeology, identifying mineral types, water detection, uniqueness of the technology, and possible defense uses. Pate said the company is working toward better mineral identification, can detect aquifers readily, and is currently the only company fielding this type of airborne subsurface imaging. The chair closed the meeting after thanking members and speakers, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then technology and innovation: investing in digital health tools, telehealth, data sharing, and
• Through that, we will be building a platform that integrates our siloed data sources to improve rural
• Data infrastructure. Is it for state-owned infrastructure? Yes. To help state-owned enterprise?
• Data infrastructure. Is it for state-owned infrastructure? Yes. To help state-owned enterprise?
• And according to their data, it can increase some of the precipitation by upwards of 30%.

Bills: SB193 , SB132 , SB35 , SB145 , HB2 , SB193 , SB132 , SB35 , SB145

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law, agricultural water, farmers, Rio Grande, acequia association, forest land protection revolving fund, state fund transfer, irrigation projects, SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're asking for why don't we use that data on...
• If you're asking for why don't we use that data on the retention component, the diagnostic data versus
• the screening data, I am amenable if that is a better data point.
• I just want to use the right data point.
• So I want to use the right data point that we can make a good decision on.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of education bills, with several measures passing on bipartisan votes. Early items included SB 1632 on career readiness assessments and college credit pathways, SB 1594 requiring principals to be trained in special education law, SB 2045 establishing 30 minutes of daily recess for younger grades, and SB 1630 allowing districts to count a day of virtual instruction when high school students are taking statewide assessments. Other bills passed addressed school security funds (SB 1251, adding licensed mental health services as an allowable use), teacher association access (SB 1884), library book complaints and penalties (SB 1250), human trafficking survivors’ access to higher education (SB 1262), reduced-price meals moving students into free meal status (SB 1374), high-dosage tutoring for early literacy (SB 1292), and the repeal of the sunset on the Innovative Pathways to Teaching Program (SB 1432). Votes were generally favorable, though SB 1251 and SB 1884 drew the most debate and both passed 8-3, while SB 1250 passed 7-3 and SB 1374 passed 9-1. Several bills generated extended discussion over local control, school safety, and teacher retention. SB 1251 drew concerns that school security funds were being broadened beyond physical security, while supporters argued mental health supports can also improve safety. SB 1884 prompted questions about whether it would open collective bargaining or negotiation meetings to other associations; the author said the intent was to prevent “closed shops” and ensure equal access, while opponents argued equal access already exists and the bill could create confusion. SB 1790, the Protected Learning Environments Act, drew testimony from educator Dr. Elizabeth Pleasant about classroom discipline, teacher burnout, and student behavior; the bill would direct SDE to provide guidance for a three-tier discipline matrix, and it passed 7-2. SB 1481, increasing recess to 40 minutes and prohibiting it as punishment, and SB 1614, limiting adjunct teachers in early grades, also passed after brief discussion. The committee also heard broader policy proposals on federal uncertainty and school leadership. SB 1489 would prepare Oklahoma for a possible federal block grant of IDEA funds, fold some parent-rights and principal-training provisions into state law, and address the cost and backlog of special education dispute resolution; it passed 9-0. SB 1718 proposed an Oklahoma Principal Leadership Development Program for new and early-career principals, with discussion focused on program structure, portability, and stipends. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly emphasized teacher support, student safety, and the balance between state guidance and local district discretion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amber Miller, Director of Finance, Len Moore, Chief Data Officer, and M.B.
• Amber Miller, Director of Finance; Len Moore, Chief Data Officer; and M.B.
• Our track-and-trace system data belongs to OMMA, belongs to the state.
• And what we do know, and I give you the data on it, providers who are, for And I give you the data on
• This is a carve-out number which does not have historical data behind it.

Summary: The subcommittee heard budget presentations and questions from several health and human services agencies, with members repeatedly emphasizing that agency numbers had been posted since October and that questioning should stay focused and brief. The Office of Juvenile Affairs said its $5.45 million request would support 162 employees receiving a pay adjustment, and members asked about juvenile care conditions and staffing. The Department of Human Services discussed major changes to child care subsidy funding, including a reduced subsidy request, a $11.5 million child care teacher recruitment/retention request, and planned eligibility and reimbursement changes; it also reviewed SNAP administrative cost shifts under federal law, the state’s SNAP error rate, and the risk of large future state costs if the error rate is not reduced. DHS also addressed TANF reserves, the DDS waiver wait list, the Greer Center buildout, the Advantage waiver supplemental, and meal service options for waiver members. OCCY described a largely personnel-driven budget, requests for more oversight staff, and workload pressures in juvenile competency evaluations. The Office of Disability Concerns reported a flat budget and said it relies mainly on mediation and informal resolution rather than enforcement. OSU Medical Authority said its Tulsa expansion, VA skybridge, and c-section suites remain on schedule, that psychiatric residency funding is being phased in over several years, and that it is working to reduce contract labor and evaluate service lines. J.D. McCarty Center reported its new ABA outpatient clinic is on time and on budget and is nearing full capacity. OMMA said its lab is following required standards, its FTE count is below budgeted levels because hiring depends on lab accreditation and other unknowns, and dispensary numbers continue to decline as the market matures. Oklahoma Rehabilitation Services said it needs about $1.4 million to avoid a maintenance-of-effort penalty and discussed aging campus capital needs and staffing vacancies. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority then outlined a very large budget requirement driven by utilization growth and the shift to value-based care, saying FY26 is currently stable but FY27 would likely require additional appropriations if the request is not fully funded.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to quote you some data from their hearing.
• What kind of data, what studies are you looking at?
• That is the data. The genesis of it because that's a genesis. It's not data.
• Data is numbers. It is.
• The data, not ideology, should guide our decisions.

Bills: SJR85 , SCR29 , SCR38 , SCR42 , SB23 , SB39 , SB209 , SB227 , SB240 , SB330 , SB527 , SB584 , SB618 , SB619 , SB636 , SB663 , SB715 , SB732 , SB758 , SB801 , SB825 , SB826 , SB843 , SB844 , SB847 , SB870 , SB884 , SB912 , SB957 , SB1013 , SB1020 , SB1065 , SB1143 , SB1152 , SB1164 , SB1183 , SB1257 , SB1299 , SB1325 , SB1349 , SB1413 , SB1455 , SB1539 , SB1558 , SB1574 , SB1583 , SB1624 , SB1642 , SB1643 , SB1667 , SB1717 , SB1718 , SB1727 , SB1734 , SB1756 , SB1757 , SB1784 , SB1789 , SB1832 , SB1868 , SB1870 , SB1883 , SB1896 , SB1920 , SB1924 , SB1963 , SB2010 , SB2018 , SB2024 , SB2037 , SB2052 , SB2073 , SB2111 , SB2161 , SB2196 , SB2207 , SB2253 , SB2268 , SB2322 , SB2323 , SB2332 , SB2349 , SB2371 , SB2533 , SB2570 , SB2601 , SB2626 , SB2692 , SB2705 , SB2717 , SB2774 , SB2788 , SB2877 , SB2920 , SB2 , SB260 , SB1786 , SB1 , HJR4 , SJR36 , SJR50 , SJR63 , SJR85 , SJR84 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SCR38 , SCR42 , SCR29 , SCR4 , SCR18 , SCR43 , SCR46 , SB2023 , SB825 , SB2010 , SB1870 , SB62 , SB666 , SB847 , SB284 , SB854 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB1539 , SB1505 , SB583 , SB957 , SB1502 , SB507 , SB1026 , SB1349 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1376 , SB1585 , SB1772 , SB2016 , SB1163 , SB619 , SB1122 , SB732 , SB731 , SB397 , SB508 , SB1436 , SB287 , SB261 , SB1882 , SB618 , SB393 , SB1791 , SB826 , SB1257 , SB870 , SB529 , SB209 , SB1883 , SB2024 , SB2429 , SB1999 , SB511 , SB2309 , SB510 , SB1860 , SB2037 , SB1924 , SB2253 , SB2018 , SB2206 , SB1963 , SB1643 , SB1299 , SB841 , SB668 , SB584 , SB1085 , SB2431 , SB1490 , SB1868 , SB2314 , SB434 , SB2046 , SB1667 , SB1727 , SB2127 , SB1975 , SB1760 , SB1734 , SB1335 , SB2246 , SB2439 , SB1624 , SB1244 , SB1468 , SB2717 , SB1612 , SB1262 , SB604 , SB2395 , SB1832 , SB1745 , SB1746 , SB2207 , SB1784 , SB1524 , SB528 , SB437 , SB269 , SB1137 , SB968 , SB636 , SB747 , SB1325 , SB1789 , SB1455 , SB2056 , SB1940 , SB2052 , SB1579 , SB2068 , SB3034 , SB844 , SB1920 , SB1558 , SB1236 , SB1044 , SB884 , SB463 , SB227 , SB240 , SB517 , SB1200 , SB1410 , SB1626 , SB1845 , SB1863 , SB2216 , SB2681 , SB1717 , SB2141 , SB2323 , SB2200 , SB2332 , SB2199 , SB1642 , SB1757 , SB2050 , SB1138 , SB2626 , SB2458 , SB1864 , SB2201 , SB1862 , SB1583 , SB1055 , SB2660 , SB1898 , SB2662 , SB2161 , SB2964 , SB2881 , SB1065 , SB801 , SB2743 , SB2533 , SB1413 , SB2073 , SB3014 , SB3013 , SB2774 , SB2702 , SB2629 , SB2443 , SB2349 , SB2167 , SB2145 , SB2121 , SB758 , SB648 , SB647 , SB512 , SB438 , SB1721 , SB2268 , SB1495 , SB2705 , SB2366 , SB1422 , SB1369 , SB1013 , SB682 , SB2692 , SB2570 , SB2797 , SB2111 , SB1896 , SB1164 , SB1020 , SB663 , SB2371 , SB1152 , SB2196 , SB2383 , SB2581 , SB2798 , SB330 , SB646 , SB843 , SB1998 , SB1418 , SB2788 , SB1169 , SB2873 , SB1754 , SB1534 , SB1718 , SB2779 , SB2004 , SB1143 , SB1756 , SB912 , SB2119 , SB2032 , SB527 , SB1580 , SB1952 , SB2601 , SB2322 , SB2448 , SB1777 , SB1283 , SB407 , SB2392 , SB2076 , SB2786 , SB3031 , SB2877 , SB2876 , SB2284 , SB2225 , SB1540 , SB2920 , SB2929 , SB1395 , SB1972 , SB2540 , SB1183 , SB2742 , SB2595 , SB2217 , SB2117 , SB715 , SB2330 , SB1964 , SB1383 , SB500 , SB1640 , SB39 , SB2001 , SB2080 , SB2722 , SB506 , SB2514 , SB2623 , SB2658 , SB1574 , SB2900 , SB23 , SB2753 , SB2398 , SB401 , SB1241 , SB2927 , SB2173 , SB2538 , SB898 , SB467 , SB1449 , SB2529 , SB1531 , SB2846 , SB2476 , SB2031 , SB986 , SB1181 , SB2075 , SB2154 , SB2864 , HB135 , HB 1109 , SCR48 , SB31 , SB2880 , SB1359 , SB2386 , SB771 , SB2844 , SB2550 , SB1351 , SB1423 , SB1931 , SB2245 , SB2589 , SB2707 , SB2807 , SB2351 , SB410 , SB659 , SB816 , SB2776 , SB2693 , SB2580 , SB1980 , SB1886 , SB1234 , SB739 , SB482 , SB456 , SB127 , SB1666

Transcript Highlights:

• I tried to look for that data to see how big of a burden it would be, and even that data point was very
• for the existing exemption that data for the existing exemption would<01:29:59.280><c> probably</c><
• point was very informative so that data point was very informative so thank<01:30:17.520><c> you</c>
• data, have a service-connected disability rating.
• uh have a service connected 2020 data uh have a service connected disability<01:31:01.159><c> rating

Committee: House Public Safety

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety heard testimony on several bills. HB 628 HD1, relating to education, would reinstate a prior law allowing veterans whose high school education was interrupted by wartime to receive a diploma. Testimony was generally supportive from the Office of Veterans Services, the Department of Education, the Hawaii Military Affairs Council, and an individual testifier, with one person in opposition. The committee later recommended passage of HB 628 HD1 as is, and the motion was adopted. The committee also heard HB 1158 HD1 and HB 1159 HD1, both relating to commercial harbors. HB 1158 HD1 concerns firefighting at commercial harbors and drew support from the Department of Transportation; the committee recommended passage as is and adopted the recommendation. HB 1159 HD1 would require masters or persons in charge of vessels to comply with a Harbor Master’s order to evacuate a commercial harbor during emergencies. Testimony included support from Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Transportation, and comments from the Hawaii Harbor Users Group. Members raised concerns about small boat operators and safety, and the committee passed the bill with reservations. The committee then discussed HB 1262, relating to the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund, and HB 1296, relating to the major disaster fund. Supporters of HB 1262 included the Climate Advisory Team and AARP Hawaii, while the Department of Budget and Finance cautioned about duplication of benefits with federal disaster aid and the need to preserve the fund’s primary purpose. Members questioned how the bill would interact with federal assistance and whether the fund could be used more broadly; no vote was taken, and the bill was deferred to decision-making. On HB 1296, HEMA and Budget and Finance opposed the measure, citing the need for flexibility in emergencies and concerns that added reporting requirements could hinder response efforts, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii noted the major disaster fund is much smaller than the EBF. The committee likewise deferred HB 1296 to decision-making, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, well, now they have to include that data point, right?
• We don't have all the data yet. We're working on getting the data.
• You'll see some of the data once I get to that in a minute.
• We don't have a lot of new data yet from the other two MCOs, but.
• Once we do get that data, we're definitely going to be looking into that.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:46:17.440><c> center</c> Senate uh testifying on a data center Senate uh testifying on a data
• I don't know if with data centers.
• </c> hours just talking about data centers. hours just talking about data centers.
• Um, on the emissions side of of data.
• </c> Basically, you'll be accumulating data Basically, you'll be accumulating data about<04:12:42.880

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• I obviously haven't seen that data. The data we've been working off of.
• I obviously haven't seen that data. The data we've been working off of.
• I obviously haven't seen that data. The data we've been working off of.
• I obviously haven't seen that data. The data we've been working off of.
• I obviously haven't seen that data. The data we've been working off of.

Bills: SF0059 , SF0053

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Was there any data that suggested that there was? Yes, Mr.
• </c> &gt;&gt; I I know we had there was a lot of data &gt;&gt; I I know we had there was a lot of data
• there there any data that suggested that there was?
• </c><00:53:04.720><c> that</c> does that give us actionable data that does that give us actionable data
• </c> assumptions and the quality of the data assumptions and the quality of the data that<00:59:05.200

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a similar data provision, I believe, in one of the things about... data would be you know you
• </c> programs so the the idea behind the data programs so the the idea behind the data is<01:37:50.599
• I love reports and I love data, so that's great.
• And you know how much I love taking things to Judiciary if there's data privacy, but I agree data privacy
• 46:00.239><c> be</c> probably I think data privacy should be probably I think data privacy should be

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• One more is, you mentioned ABC data. Could you—what is ABC data?
• </c> pilot or is it just looking at data pilot or is it just looking at data related<04:13:18.239><c>
• but in the practices I think the data but in the practices I think the data<04:13:25.720><c> the</c>
• </c><04:14:01.199><c> um</c> more is um you mentioned ABC data um more is um you mentioned ABC data um
• <04:27:46.960><c> collection</c><04:27:47.399><c> reporting</c> data collection reporting data collection

Summary: The committee opened with House Bill 184, which would create a committee to study changing school start times. Members discussed Amendment 0394, which made the study committee’s duties more investigative and adjusted reporting recipients, including the Governor. Several members raised questions about whether the committee should review evidence-based studies, local district decisions, and existing district reports; supporters said the amendment would better allow the committee to gather information and recognize local control. The amendment passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Representative Litchfield noted that no one had testified in opposition and encouraged the future study committee to review an Oyster River School District report on school start times. The committee then took up House Bill 394, concerning cooperative school district budget committees and board member representatives. Amendment 0476 was adopted 17-0 after discussion that it clarified the bill’s language and reflected work with the School Boards Association. The committee then voted OTPA on the bill, which also passed 17-0. House Bill 738, requiring background checks for employees and volunteers at certain non-public schools or education service providers receiving public funds, was moved inexpedient to legislate. Supporters said the bill would create practical and legal problems for private citizens and homeschooling families, and the motion passed 15-2 with no minority report, placing the bill on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 235, which would amend the educator code of ethics and conduct to add responsibilities to parents. Supporters argued parents should be explicitly included in the code, while opponents said parents were already covered in existing ethics language and statute. The bill passed narrowly, 9-8. The committee then returned to House Bill 532 on alternate dispute resolution and individualized education plan team meeting facilitation. Amendment 0480H clarified that different rules would apply separately to neutral conference, mediation, and IEP facilitation; it passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Finally, the committee moved to House Bill 564, concerning adoption of school administrative unit budgets, and voted to retain the bill for further review because members said there was still confusion about how it would apply to single-district and multi-district SAUs.

Transcript Highlights:

• about six or eight months now, and until I get to a point where I'm completely comfortable that the data
• It's only going to be based on the data that is available within that portion. The corpus.
• my conversations, I know we've had some conversations on this, my point is, is trying to take that data
• But what we're asking it to do is to pull that data and kind of align those things for us to do the review
• All we're asking it to do is to align data to where the review. For it to make decisions for us.

Bills: SB1280 , SB1316 , SB1433 , SB1455 , SB1456 , SB1457 , SB1459 , SB1461 , SB1463 , SB1465 , SB1466 , SB1721 , HJR1088

Committee: House Administrative Rules

Summary: The committee first advanced Senate Bill 1721, which extends the sunset date for the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education and requires appointed members to represent a tribe or be involved in tribal education. It then passed Senate Bill 1433, a mirror bill requiring agencies to publicly post guidance documents and state that such documents do not have the force of law. Both bills were adopted without opposition and reported out favorably. The bulk of the meeting focused on Senate Bill 1316, which would create a rotating, eight-year review of administrative rules modeled on Idaho law. Members questioned whether the process would duplicate existing rule review, whether it would be used as a rubber stamp or to remove needed protections, and how AI tools might assist. The sponsor said the goal is to verify statutory authority, identify obsolete or duplicative rules, and use a limited AI system built from Oklahoma constitutional, statutory, and code materials only as a research aid, not a decision-maker. The committee then passed the bill unanimously. The committee also advanced a series of sunset-extension bills for various boards and agencies, including oil and gas tax apportionments, the Board of Governors of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Licensed Interior Designers, the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, the Construction Industries Board, the Oklahoma Abstractors Board, OETA, the Polygraph Examiners Board, the Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, and the Advisory Committee on Midwifery. Most passed unanimously, though the Construction Industries Board bill passed 11-1, OETA passed 7-5, and the midwifery bill passed 10-2. The committee also approved H.J.R. 1088, which ratifies education agency rules, by an 11-1 vote. At the end, the chair outlined the committee’s remaining workload and said several bundled rule resolutions and a few major rules would be coming soon, including a large health-agency bundle. Members were asked to return rule assignments quickly so resolutions could be prepared before the end of session. The meeting adjourned after the chair said the next meeting would likely be brief and focused on one or two resolutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have objective data through studies in both Canada and the United States that show there is a strong
• So, Madam Chair, Representative, do we have data for New Mexico that shows that as well?
• So one of my questions was how often does this occur, which is what we were referring to, like the data
• I did have some data. It might take me a second to dig in my phone.
• We ran some preliminary data on injuries for law enforcement officers when there was some conversation

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up its only bill, House Bill 132, which would create workers’ compensation presumptions for police officers for certain conditions, including noise-induced hearing loss/tinnitus, PTSD, and heart injury or stroke occurring within 24 hours of responding to or returning from a call or emergency. The sponsor described the bill as a bipartisan effort developed with input from workers’ compensation officials, PERA, and the Albuquerque Police Department, aimed at easing the burden on officers to prove causation while still allowing employers to rebut claims. An amendment was adopted first, refining definitions and adding language that preserves an officer’s ability to prove causation even when the presumption does not apply, and tying the heart/stroke presumption to the existence of a physical training program and medical screening requirements. Supporters included representatives of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, the Workers’ Compensation Administration, New Mexico State Police, AFSCME/NMFL, and a workers’ compensation attorney. They argued the bill recognizes the cumulative physical and psychological toll of law enforcement, could improve treatment and retention, and would reduce disputes over causation while remaining balanced. One supporter asked the sponsor to consider changing the 20-year requirement tied to PTSD coverage so officers in smaller departments could access benefits earlier. Committee discussion focused on the amendment’s physical training and medical screening condition for the heart/stroke presumption, with questions about whether all departments have such programs and whether the language could limit coverage. Workers’ compensation staff testified that, from 2016 through 2025, there were 75 statewide claims potentially covered by the bill’s provisions before amendment, including about 20 hearing-loss claims, 11 heart-related claims, and about 44 mental-injury claims. A medical witness said research supports a correlation between law enforcement work and these conditions, though no New Mexico-specific study was available yet. After discussion, the committee voted to give House Bill 132, as amended, a do-pass recommendation, with no opposition recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• 33, is the new language clarifying that responsible authorities have the ability to suspend ongoing data
• Data requests if the data requester does not show up to collect or inspect the requested data that has
• of students cannot be designated as publicly available directory information under the Government Data
• Section 6, on page 39, allows the Office of EMS to share data regarding drug overdoses with the Washington-Baltimore
• Sections 7, 8, 9, and 10 allow the Office of EMS to share data regarding drug overdoses and include more

Bills: HF2300

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law