Transcript Highlights:

• The third capital budget request Concerns and Access Database Consolidation Project.
• This project will streamline and optimize. data management by consolidating multiple Microsoft Access
• As you know, 254 counties, we have 4,000 locations that access the registration and title system.
• The condition of the sidewalks and the crosswalks dictate our ability to access anything.
• So TechSouth has the ability to target spending to give. people with disabilities access.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:23.360> to leadership and expanding access to leadership and expanding access to Justice
• Joseph Cardoza for the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, in support.
• What I'm talking about is the publicly accessible computer system.
• about is the publicly accessible about is the publicly accessible computer<01:04:29.720> system
• <01:05:00.960> it in that system and people can access it in that system and people can access

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply allows a wrongfully convicted person to access due process.
• Wrongfully convicted people would still have to access due process.
• There needs to be an audit of who accesses the body-worn camera.
• <01:18:47.320> the be a uh an audit of who accesses the be a uh an audit of who accesses the
• <01:19:30.520> of there's no way to ensure that access of there's no way to ensure that access

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will facilitate the ability of students in our state who want to take CTE to be able to access
• few years with Commissioner Adel, we've been working very hard to make sure that there's increased access
• up-to-date information then accessible up-to-date information then we<00:57:44.559> can<00:57
• I know a lot of schools that don't have access—not all the kids have access to Chromebooks.
• I know a lot of schools that don't have access—not all the kids have access to Chromebooks.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:11:11.600> the The employee has access to records. the The employee has access to records
• be able to access. be able to access. >> Follow. >> Follow. >> Follow.
• <05:28:06.400> to exploring ways to expand access to exploring ways to expand access to benefits
• So from a access meaningful coverages.
• <05:32:52.878> to contractor is going to have access to contractor is going to have access

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with procedural announcements about report turnaround, amendment submission methods during split operations, a possible January 29 session, the governor’s State of the State on February 5, parking, cafeteria opening, and the plan to finish work by February 10. It then moved into executive session on HB 1123, which would require certain companies to post salary ranges on public job listings. Representative Granger moved ITL, arguing the bill would interfere with negotiations, especially for higher-level jobs, and raise compelled-speech concerns. Supporters, including Representatives Schultz, Sullivan, Cahill, Staub, and others, said salary ranges help applicants avoid wasted time and travel, improve transparency, and are already a common workplace disclosure. The committee voted 10-9 to ITL HB 1123. The committee next took up HB 177, concerning a definition of remote work in labor law. Representative Murphy moved ITL, saying the bill could burden employers, create vague obligations, duplicate existing protections, and potentially require intrusive compliance measures. Representative Sullivan described a proposed amendment that would narrow the bill to a definition of remote work and remove broader requirements, but the committee ultimately voted 11-9 to ITL HB 177. Members also noted that the amendment had not been fully circulated in time and that the issue might merit further review. Finally, the committee opened HB 1352, a workers’ compensation bill focused on repricing and payment practices. The sponsor withdrew an initial ITL motion and moved OTP after amendment review. Members discussed concerns raised at the hearing about delayed payments, third-party administrators, and the need for better accountability. Representative McKenzie’s amendment would define good faith, create a voluntary three-year dispute-resolution pilot, restore fines to prior levels, and add reporting/accountability requirements for carriers that miss the 30-day payment deadline. Several members supported the amendment as a way to help small businesses and providers, while others said repricing needed broader study through the workers’ compensation advisory council. The Department of Labor explained that the amendment would require carriers and related payers to report missed determinations to the department and would increase oversight of payment timeliness.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:00.600> to those who simply seek equal access to those who simply seek equal access
• one's health status Mobility or access one's health status Mobility or access to<00:33:46.200>
• It is a fundamental right that must be accessible to all eligible voters.
• disabilities the ability to access disabilities the ability to access absentee<00:57:02.880>
• And we're very concerned about limiting that access.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So making it one folder, easy to access, anyone can access it, and then making that a lot more accessible
• just to people everywhere, giving the public more access and insight into the political process.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Greatly improving the accessibility and transportation options for the residents of southern Minnesota
• Accessing sources of aggregates as close as possible, their use is essential.
• It's in the best interest of every community to have local access in order to avoid that, the cost of
• It's in the best interest of every community to have local access in order to avoid that, the cost of
• It's in the best interest of every community to have local access in order to avoid that, the cost of

Bills: HF4807

Keywords: overweight vehicles, aggregate mining, local ordinance restrictions, legislative audit, transportation, resource inventory

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a major achievement in providing access and one that was made possible by the certainty of the
• This is a major achievement in providing access and one that was made possible by the certainty of the
• Access to the University of California and the world-class education we offer students is important.
• Access to the University of California and the world-class education we offer students is important to
• Our recommendation is based on the idea that to grow access at these campuses for resident students,

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, chaired by Assemblymember Alvarez, held a hearing focused on University of California budget issues. The committee reviewed UC core operations funding, enrollment trends, federal funding threats, Title IX implementation, and basic needs support. Major themes included the end of the Governor’s multi-year UC compact, the state’s fiscal outlook, UC’s enrollment growth, and the potential impacts of federal policy changes on research, health care, and student aid. On core funding, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to continue compact-related support, defer some payments, and authorize a cash-flow loan. The LAO recommended a smaller or no base increase, earmarking some funds for capital renewal, retiring deferrals when possible, avoiding new compact commitments, and funding UC annually rather than through compacts. UC argued that the compact has supported enrollment growth, student services, and operating costs, but said campuses face rising expenses, structural deficits, and limited reserves. Members questioned the effects of deferrals on students and discussed the need to prioritize less harmful reductions if cuts become necessary. The enrollment panel focused on UC’s growth in California resident enrollment and the nonresident replacement plan at Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego. The LAO recommended maintaining the current enrollment target, funding enrollment separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident replacement plan, and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. UC said it has already met compact enrollment goals, grown California undergraduate enrollment by about 18,800 students, and that further growth depends on ongoing state support. The committee also discussed the cost of enrollment growth, possible differential nonresident tuition, and a reporting request for UC to analyze the nonresident replacement approach; the motion to adopt supplemental reporting language passed. The hearing also covered federal funding risks, with the LAO and UC warning that federal changes could affect research grants, medical center reimbursement, and student financial aid. UC said research cancellations and suspensions are disrupting labs and graduate student support, while federal health policy changes could increase uncompensated care at UC hospitals. In the Title IX update, UC described its systemwide civil rights structure, annual student training, and campus support offices, and members praised the work while asking about ongoing concerns and intersegmental collaboration. The final basic-needs item began with Finance stating the Governor’s budget does not change ongoing support, but the transcript cuts off before further discussion or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a necessary component to stabilize the access to care by allowing.
• Punitive damages were not meant for that and in health care result in decimating access.
• Chair, that access to care doesn't increase with tort reform.
• So, if access to care, if places where this applies, has been tried There's not an increase in access
• At the end goal, we want access to healthcare, and our patients do.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Smolvin pointed out, really the goal here is to keep that authorization for the districts to access monies
• the year it's collected and then the year it expires, you actually don't have the opportunity to access
• Federal agencies now recognize copper as a critical mineral, yet access to known and proven reserves
• Do I think we'll ever access those? I don't. But they're there.
• People actually accessing the aquifer and not putting the water back.

Bills: HB2026, HB2027, HB2028, HB2031, HB2078, HB2094, HB2095, HB2101, HB2102, HB2103, HB2260, HB2278, HB2827, HB2932, HB2933, HB2934, HB2986, HCM2009, HCR2038

Keywords: assured water supply, groundwater, commingling, commingled water, water supply, Arizona Department of Water Resources, ADWR, active management area, AMA, subdivision plat, development approval, water rights, municipal provider, private water company, certificate of assured water supply, written commitment of water service, groundwater savings credits, gray water reuse, replenishment district, Central Arizona Project

Transcript Highlights:

• If those assets are not accessible, the outcome is simple.
• And no programming or incentives can substitute that physical access.
• , the outcome is simple. accessible, the outcome is simple.
• <00:04:19.680> Infrastructure<00:04:20.880> is that physical access.
• Infrastructure is that physical access.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:08 Infrastructure Grant Program 00:00:45 SB 76 Discussion 00:25:50 SB 76 Vote 00:31:55, 958, all

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, so it began with an informational presentation from Dr. Kristen Goodell, executive director of LifeKY, about innovation infrastructure and a proposed grant program to support life sciences and other startup facilities. She argued that Kentucky’s research investments only translate into jobs and companies if startups have access to physical lab and equipment space, and said shared facilities can serve many companies over time. Goodell described LifeKY’s Northern Kentucky facility as a proof of concept, noting it has attracted companies from other states and Japan, secured a Thermo Fisher Scientific partnership, and could be replicated elsewhere in the Commonwealth. Members asked about university pipelines, local talent development, sustainability, and how the grant program would measure return on investment; Goodell emphasized public-private partnerships, earned revenue, philanthropy, internships, and STEM programming as part of the model. The committee then took up Senate Bill 76, sponsored by Senator Bledsoe, which would limit school board occupational license tax increases by raising the population threshold for such increases from 300,000 to 500,000. Bledsoe said the bill was intended to respond to Fayette County’s recent tax controversy, restore public trust, and provide stability for employees, employers, and the school system. He argued that occupational taxes affect many commuters who work in Fayette County but live elsewhere, and said the measure would give time for community buy-in before any future increase. Supportive comments came from Senator Nunn and others, while Senator Boswell asked about the tax rate and cautioned against local tax increases offsetting state income tax reductions. After discussion, the committee called the roll on SB 76. The bill advanced on a roll-call vote, with Senator Armstrong explaining a no vote because he did not want to take tools away from local government and preferred local control. The transcript indicates the measure moved forward from committee after the vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 7 does exactly that by restoring local access, local accountability, and local service.
• Senate Bill 7 does exactly that by restoring local access, local accountability, and local service.
• that by Senate Bill 7 does exactly that by restoring<00:09:42.000> local<00:09:42.399> access
• ,<00:09:43.440> local restoring local access, local restoring local access, local accountability
• state so that everybody can have access state so that everybody can have access to<00:31:58.480>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened, opened with invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, called the roll, excused absent members, and approved the prior day’s journal. The clerk then reported second-reading bills, including measures on a residential safe room rebate program, planning commission membership, dual credit scholarship programs, missing persons, school transportation, and behavioral health conditional dismissal, which were referred to the Rules Committee. New bills and resolutions were also introduced, including Senate Bill 103 on prescription drugs and Senate Resolution 44 recognizing Kentucky Arts Day. The main floor debate centered on Senate Bill 7, which would allow county officials in counties without permanent regional licensing offices to handle driver’s license renewals and duplicates, including Real ID renewals, with a $25 fee on top of the existing license cost. Supporters argued the bill would reduce long drives, long lines, missed work and school, and restore local access and accountability; several members described it as a necessary but imperfect starting point and noted rural residents were especially burdened by the current system. Opponents or skeptics said the bill was only a band-aid, raised concerns about implementation and whether the executive branch should fix the issue administratively, and some noted they would prefer a stronger statewide solution. After extended debate and several questions about fees, online renewals, and the bill’s limited scope, the Senate voted on SB 7. The bill passed 34-1. Following passage, the Senate recessed briefly for Rules Committee and Committee on Committees meetings, then received committee reports referring additional bills and posting several measures for future consideration. The chamber also adopted Senate Resolution 43, honoring Graville Reed Jr., and announced it would not meet on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with the next session scheduled for Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Typically, it’s UHP that does the patrolling and the enforcing for our controlled access highways and
• We're proving access to education and employment.
• I think it's also a great program we can maybe even look into in the future just to give them access
• From one accessible point to another.
• From one accessible point to another.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the access points, right? I mean, you see it here, Santa Teresa.
• And that access is... Pito Manichae and our craft, right?
• It can create faster, cheaper, more affordable health care access. Help synthesize data.
• We need road transportation and access.
• to STEM, access to technology.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why not ensure access to reliable energy for all Californians, not only the people who attend sporting
• Keeping the ballot label simple and accessible, AB 699 enhances transparency by ensuring voters receive
• For families in these areas, access to education can mean traveling more than 100 miles one way.
• Stripping these resources would not just hinder access, it would erase it.
• This bill removes barriers, expands access to services, and brings consistency to a broken system.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The meeting agenda and committee information is available on NELIS, which can be accessed through the
• There's also language supporting increased access to school counselors, and that's in Section 15, and
• But if they just don't have access to the information...
• And so I know that there was language that gave access for funds to be used for for-profit pre-Ks.
• And so I know that there was language that gave access for funds to be used for for-profit pre-k's.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section two on page 46 is an additional requirement related to the language access plan and includes
• It also includes a process to appeal the accommodations from that access plan.
• uh or related to the language access uh or related to the language access plan<00:21:35.400>
• <00:22:02.640> Then<00:22:02.960> section from that uh access plan.
• Then section from that uh access plan.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If they have it, it's all free access. I think there's a lot of debate about the future.
• Limited access to gainful employment is a significant barrier for people that have a criminal record.
• Britain does not allow energy storage facilities to access the fund.
• Accept an improved language, which allows geothermal energy storage to access the fund.
• Some employees and contractors have access to critical information related to various matters.

Bills: HB1951, HB2715, HB3092, HB3237, HB3278, HB3511, HB3592, HB3675, HB3778, HB3782, HB3826, HB3970, HB4016, HB4049, HB4341, HB4344, HB4406, HB4427

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• A one-time increase for digital accessibility, that was $1.124 million.
• And on line 10, $4 million for a justice partner access request.
• A one-time increase for digital accessibility,<00:03:36.000> that<00:03:36.159> was<00:
• accessibility, that was $1.124 million. accessibility, that was $1.124 million.
• Moving down to partner access request.

Bills: HF2300

Keywords: 1183, house