Transcript Highlights:

• We're preserving the exact same due process rights, but we're just allowing it for both respondent and
• We're preserving the exact same due process rights, but we're just allowing it for both respondent and
• the exact same due process preserving the exact same due process rights<00:13:08.560><c> but</c><00:
• So again, I request that you would vote no to this constitutional amendment and preserve our Constitution
• </c> Constitutional Amendment and preserve Constitutional Amendment and preserve our<00:17:44.000><c>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several election-related and governance measures. On SB 176, relating to recounts, the Office of Elections supported clarifying that recount triggers should be based on the final Election Day report rather than the 6:00 a.m. next-day report, citing a 2022 recount example. The chair noted 3 testimonies in support, 42 in opposition, and 1 comment. On SB 1337, relating to the Stadium Authority, the authority supported changing quorum rules so only voting members count, explaining that the current interpretation makes it difficult to conduct business; written testimony from DBEDT was also received. On SB 289, relating to ethics administrative fines, the Ethics Commission supported uniform procedures to resolve uncontested enforcement matters more quickly while preserving due process; written support was also noted. The committee then heard SB 311, a proposed constitutional amendment on freedom of speech and money in elections. Supporters, including Community Alliance on Prisons, Our Revolution Hawaii, Pride at Work Hawaii, Common Cause Hawaii, and others, argued that money in politics distorts democracy and that the amendment would help prevent wealthy interests from buying influence. Opponents, including the Hawaii Christian Coalition and individual testifiers, argued that changing the constitution was too serious, that the proposal should be handled by ordinary legislation instead, and that the measure could create legal conflict. Deputy Attorney General Candace Park said the bill would only matter if key federal cases such as Buckley and Citizens United were overturned, and the chair thanked her for the legal input. The committee also heard SB 780, relating to election ballot disqualification, which would exclude candidates disqualified by constitutional or statutory provisions and create procedures for challenges. Opposition testimony said the bill would undermine voter choice, burden courts and election officials, and invite misuse; the Hawaii Christian Coalition echoed those concerns. Members raised questions about whether the measure would apply only to state and county offices, and the Attorney General’s office said it would follow up. Finally, on SB 1030, relating to election intimidation, supporters said firearms should not be brought near polling places or ballot drop boxes, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary and could affect lawful possession; the committee received 12 testimonies, with 39 in support. The committee then began SB 1225, a proposed constitutional amendment changing the vote threshold for legislative amendments to a majority of votes tallied, excluding blanks, spoiled ballots, and overvotes; testimony in support was heard from the LGBTQ+ Commission and others, and the discussion was still underway when the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• a variety of housing types in walkable communities would help us address housing affordability, preserve
• a variety of housing types in walkable communities would help us address housing affordability, preserve
• this, let alone the number statewide. ...communities would help us address housing affordability, preserve
• It was and remains: produce, preserve, and protect—produce more housing, preserve our existing housing
• 08:12.000><c> and</c><01:08:12.559><c> protect</c> Cecil Smith continued: "And remains: produce, preserve

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• low-income housing tax credits are the largest source of federal capital for the creation and preservation
• have funds committed that are not yet disbursed, because the vast majority of construction and preservation
• ><c> and</c> the construction uh new construction and the construction uh new construction and preservation
• c> projects</c><01:08:00.039><c> have</c><01:08:00.359><c> built</c><01:08:00.640><c> into</c> preservation
• projects have built into preservation projects have built into them<01:08:01.200><c> just</c><01:08:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• grass if they have been altered in any way by surface applications or injections of paint, stains, preservatives
• ,</c><00:21:28.159><c> oils,</c><00:21:28.640><c> glues</c><00:21:29.039><c> or</c> stains, preservatives
• , oils, glues or stains, preservatives, oils, glues or pesticides.<00:21:30.480><c> Logically</c><00:
• small business infrastructure, co-working and incubator company startups, composting, and historic preservation
• small business infrastructure, co-working and incubator company startups, composting, and historic preservation

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, we preserved health care for seniors.
• It's clearly been a priority for many of our colleagues in the Legislature to preserve funding for that
• Preserving this program is essential to maintaining community engagement, equity, accountability, and
• These proposals reflect difficult choices needed to ensure fiscal stability and preserve the long-term
• to offset general fund spending, the more you can sort of stave off some of those reductions and preserve

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that is proposed, I'm reading that, you know, this wouldn't prohibit medical treatment necessary to preserve
• been interpreted as an absolute legal privilege, courts really have exercised wide discretion in preserving
• /c><00:51:58.960><c> in</c> have exercised wide discretion in have exercised wide discretion in preserving
• this right and have preserving this right and have historically historically historically ignored<00
• This section does not prohibit the provision of medical treatment necessary to save the life or preserve

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• from District 4, I would probably start by going back to Egyptian times and the entombment and preservation
• </c><01:08:04.440><c> Um</c> preservation of the body. Um preservation of the body.
• The bill preserves key safeguards by requiring criminal and motor vehicle background checks and ensuring
• The bill preserves key safeguards by requiring criminal and motor vehicle background checks and ensuring
• The bill preserves key safeguards by requiring criminal and motor vehicle background checks and ensuring

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to make informed choices that benefit their community economically while protecting residents, preserving
• to make informed choices that benefit their community economically while protecting residents, preserving
• to make informed choices that benefit their community economically while protecting residents, preserving
• to make informed choices that benefit their community economically while protecting residents, preserving
• appropriate land use, and preserving appropriate land use, and ensuring<00:56:05.040><c> electrical<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, we'll be moving on to HB 1144 HD1, relating to employment in the State Historic Preservation
• 00:59:10.000><c> historic</c> employment in the state historic employment in the state historic preservation
• I'm Jessica PFF, the administrator of this State Historic Preservation Division, here on behalf of Don
• division here on behalf of preservation division here on behalf of Don<00:59:36.640><c> Chang</c><00
• Next, we will be moving on to HB 1144, relating to employment in the State Historic Preservation Program

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I thank Dennis and his volunteers at Space Coast Water Sweep for their commitment to preserving the Indian
• , private industry, and community stakeholders to test new solutions that could help restore and preserve
• H.R. 8882, the Main Street Competes Act, reinforces the SBA's mission to preserve free and fair competition
• As this nation turns 250, it is our responsibility to preserve that promise for the next generations.
• The fact that we have a unique shared culture, one that is worth acknowledging, defining, preserving,

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're now going to hear an act to preserve and protect public health, H. 1392 and S. 853.
• I'm here to speak in favor of S. 853 and H. 1392, an act to preserve and protect public health, which
• When I look at these bills, what we like and why we support it is it preserves access to the 340B program
• And I think this bill does a lot to preserve kind of that very important status quo that we have now.
• It addresses pain points that plague both providers and patients, while ultimately preserving prior authorization

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a large docket of bills focused on MassHealth benefits and reimbursement, health equity, behavioral health, public health, dental access, 340B drug pricing, tobacco cessation, and coverage for children. The chairs emphasized rising health care costs, provider shortages, administrative burdens, and persistent inequities by income, race, geography, and immigration status. Much of the testimony centered on H.1416/S.901, an act to advance health equity, with legislators and members of the Health Equity Compact arguing for statewide benchmarks, stronger health equity leadership, reimbursement for interpreter services, community health workers and patient navigation, Medicaid graduate medical education support, and a health equity zone trust fund. Witnesses described disparities in life expectancy, maternal mortality, access to primary care, and the impact of federal Medicaid and social service cuts, and urged the committee to report the bill favorably. The committee also heard strong support for H.1368/S.847 on rapid whole genome sequencing for critically ill MassHealth children. Testifiers from industry, academia, hospitals, and families said early sequencing can end long diagnostic odysseys, improve treatment decisions, shorten hospital stays, and save money, while also providing emotional relief and information for families. The hearing then moved to H.1407 on MassHealth rate parity for inpatient behavioral health providers, where Rep. Scanlan and the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems said the bill would codify existing administrative parity so managed care plans cannot pay less than the MassHealth fee-for-service rate. On H.1392/S.853 to preserve and protect public health, witnesses supported higher vaccine administration fees to improve provider participation and immunization rates. The committee also heard testimony on H.770/845 to protect 340B providers in MassHealth, and on S.848 to require reporting and transparency around 340B revenues and outside administrative costs. Additional bills drew testimony on tobacco cessation coverage for MassHealth members, with advocates supporting broader access to counseling and medications through medical, behavioral health, and dental providers. On H.1409, a nursing home operator asked for more flexibility in a MassHealth staffing-related penalty tied to patient days per resident. On H.1401/S.888, supporters of the “Take 10” dental access proposal said adult MassHealth dental coverage is underused because too few dentists accept MassHealth, leading to long travel times and avoidable emergency room visits; they urged incentive payments for dentists serving new adult MassHealth patients. Finally, on H.1403/S.855, “Cover All Kids,” advocates and immigrant community members urged removal of immigration status as a barrier to full MassHealth coverage for children, while also backing a related bill to ensure 12 months of continuous coverage for children. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and asked questions on costs, reimbursement levels, and implementation details.

Transcript Highlights:

• provide academic and structural accommodations for pregnant or pregnancy-impacted students in order to preserve
• Importantly, the bill preserves the Legislature's ability to review and extend reporting requirements
• The bill preserves transparency, improves efficiency, and helps ensure that educators can focus on student
• The bill preserves transparency, improves efficiency, and helps ensure that educators can focus on student
• The bill preserves transparency, improves efficiency, and helps ensure that educators can focus on student

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several education-related bills, beginning with AB 65 on paid pregnancy leave for public school employees. The bill drew strong support from teachers, school employees, unions, and education groups, who argued it would provide up to 14 weeks of paid leave, reduce financial penalties tied to sick leave use, and help recruit and retain educators. Some witnesses and members raised concerns about funding, district eligibility, and implementation, but the bill was advanced on a do-pass recommendation to the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee, with one member not voting and the bill placed on call for absent members. Members then heard AB 673 on an unaccompanied youth support grant program for homeless 16- and 17-year-olds, AB 1552 on reporting recommendations to strengthen civic engagement in higher education, AB 1572 on annual CIF review and qualification standards for sports officials, and AB 1586 on opioid overdose response training and naloxone access for school resource officers. AB 673 and AB 1552 received support from education, youth, and advocacy organizations; AB 673 also drew questions about overlap with existing homeless and foster-care-related programs, while supporters said the bill targets a vulnerable subpopulation that is often missed. AB 1552 and AB 1572 were broadly supported and advanced, and AB 1586 was backed by treatment providers, school nurses, and education groups as a practical student-safety measure; all were moved forward with do-pass recommendations and placed on call. The committee also considered AB 1721, which would create a work group to review and streamline school safety plans, and AB 2060, which would establish a mentor teacher grant program and stipend to strengthen the teacher pipeline. Both bills were supported by administrators, educators, and school-related organizations, and both advanced to the Senate Appropriations Committee. AB 2440, aimed at clarifying Proposition 28 arts and music education funding rules and allowing small districts to pool resources, also received broad support and moved to Appropriations. AB 1784, which would extend pregnancy-related protections to undergraduate students and prohibit discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions, passed to the Senate Judiciary Committee after support from higher education and women’s advocacy groups. Finally, AB 2660, which would codify the CalBridge STEM pathway program and related efforts to diversify the STEM workforce, was supported by higher education and workforce advocates and advanced to Appropriations after questions about the related EnLACE program and its funding sources.

Transcript Highlights:

• At a minimum, preserve the $87 million that's been included by Governor Landry in his budget proposal
• We are grateful for that investment and we respectfully ask the Senate to preserve it in the budget.
• We are grateful for that investment and we respectfully ask the Senate to preserve it in the budget.
• This young woman, this young girl, her life should have been preserved and protected.
• This young woman, this young girl, her life should have been preserved and protected.

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We must preserve access to Medi-Cal behavioral health services, particularly for individuals with serious
• A lot of the laws that we need to really address what you were talking about, which is preserving rights
• illness, and to do so Jails and not treat their mental illness, and to do so saying, well, we're preserving
• the legislature to reject any proposal... ...that makes mobile crisis optional by county and to preserve
• I do want to say that we're grateful that the Commission was able to preserve the Mental Health Wellness

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I passed them out through the sergeant to preserve the phrase 'factually accurate' as it exists elsewhere
• It calls on the California Department of Education to preserve the SARC data and create a clear crosswalk
• In closing, AB 2496 strikes the right balance, preserves transparency, improves accessibility, and reduces
• By providing the safety net, we not only improve retention, reduce turnover, and preserve institutional
• was that the current system does need reforming, but that restructuring must be done in a way that preserves

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills, with the most extensive discussion focused on AB 2189, AB 2615, AB 2496, AB 1750, and AB 1644. AB 2189 would create an $800,000 grant program through the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to support a statewide parent network for special education advocacy and training. Supporters said families need stronger coordination and information to navigate special education, while an opponent argued the bill could duplicate existing family-led organizations. The bill passed 6-0 and was sent to Appropriations, held on call for add-on votes. AB 2615, a cleanup bill to AB 715 on antisemitism and instructional materials, drew the most controversy. The authors said it was intended to clarify prior commitments by removing references to professional responsibility standards, refining the “factually accurate” language, and clarifying how discriminatory materials are handled. Supporters said it would help protect students from discrimination, while many educators, civil rights groups, and other organizations opposed it unless amended, warning that the factual-accuracy language could chill teaching and be applied too broadly. The committee chair and members raised concerns about implementation but ultimately supported moving the bill forward; it passed 5-0 and was held on call. AB 2496 would streamline school accountability reporting by making the California School Dashboard the primary transparency tool, phasing out the School Accountability Report Card over time, and making mid-year LCAP reporting optional. Supporters said this would reduce duplication and administrative burden while preserving access to key data; opponents worried families could lose the simplicity and accessibility of the current SARC and that the mid-year update still serves an important purpose. The bill was approved 3-0 and held on call. AB 1750, which would extend full salary for an additional five months for school employees who exhaust sick leave due to illness or injury, was supported as a dignity and retention measure but opposed by administrators over staffing and cost concerns; it passed 4-0 and was held on call. AB 1644 would require a bell-to-bell smartphone ban in TK-8 and recommend it for high school, with exceptions for instructional and safety needs; supporters said phones are harming attention and learning, while opponents argued districts had just adopted local policies and needed more flexibility. The transcript ends during discussion of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• my office, the California Medical Association has emphasized that California law must continue to preserve
• And finally, on local control, the bill fully preserves it.
• We’ve also heard concerns about preserving the integrity of the physicians from Mexico program.
• We've also heard concerns about preserving the integrity of the physicians from Mexico program.
• This career opportunity expands access to care, preserves RDH licensure standards, and also provides

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• interested in the many one-time funding that we did provide that produced good outcomes that is worth preserving
• On behalf of the California Literacy Coalition, she urged preserving the $40 million investment in educator
• Nicole Cade, Reading, California: I urge you as well to preserve the $40 million investment to support
• We urge you to preserve the $40 million investment in educator training for reading difficulties, screening
• We urge you to preserve the $40 million investment in educator training for reading difficulties, screening

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• said the goal is a minimum of two years, which he believed is consistent with the public records preservation
• He then noted that there is a three-year preservation requirement and said he had thought it was two
• clarified that he had thought there was a two-year access requirement, but that the recordings must be preserved
• They have to preserve it for three years, Rep.
• The law currently requires three years of preservation.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public access, transparency, and campaign finance. HB 648, as amended, would allow early childhood providers and parents of children under five to participate virtually in certain boards and commissions when in-person attendance is not feasible; supporters said it would help short-staffed providers and busy parents, while an opponent argued participation is different from observation. The bill was reported favorably as amended. HB 615 would require certain public bodies with taxing, rulemaking, or fee-setting authority to broadcast meetings live and keep an online archive; supporters emphasized low-cost technology and broader access, while local government representatives warned of unfunded mandates, confusion over which bodies are covered, and concerns about archiving and platform dependence. The committee adopted amendments clarifying the recording/broadcast language and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 627, a similar live-streaming bill by Rep. Knox, was voluntarily deferred in favor of HB 615. The committee also considered HB 996, which would allow campaign funds to be used for clothing required for holding office and related cleaning/maintenance. The author said the bill was meant to offset required professional attire costs for legislators with modest salaries, but members raised concerns about public perception, possible abuse, and whether a cap should be added. The bill was voluntarily deferred so the author could work with members on a cap and narrower language. HB 540, dealing with disclosures for certain digital political communications and influencer-style campaign advertising, was discussed as a way to require disclosure when third parties are paid from campaign funds to promote or attack candidates online; members sought clarification that it would apply to paid campaign content rather than ordinary self-posted material. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee took up HB 270, which would allow qualified incarcerated voters who have not been convicted of a felony to vote absentee by mail if they are first-time mail registrants and cannot vote in person. The author said the bill was intended to resolve a conflict between existing voting statutes and preserve already-existing voting rights for pretrial detainees and others not convicted of felonies. Supporters said incarcerated voters are highly verifiable and the bill would reduce confusion, while opponents raised concerns about administration. After debate, the committee adopted a motion to involuntarily defer the bill by a recorded vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• We like the idea of preserving the landscape that we have, where we could still have small providers
• investment made to our department so that we can focus on the four corners of home: prevention, preservation
• Grounding our work in prevention, preservation, protection, and permanency ensures that every decision
• Prevention, preservation, protection, and permanency. And permanency. Okay.
• that we're doing everything that we can on our side, particularly as it relates to prevention and preservation

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation on LSU Health Care Services Division and Lallie Kemp Medical Center. Staff reviewed HCSD’s roughly $74.7 million budget, much of it tied to legacy obligations for former LSU hospital systems and support for Lallie Kemp. Committee members asked about prisoner care, risk management costs, declining admissions and emergency visits, and the hospital’s 340B drug program. Lallie Kemp officials explained that prisoner care serves multiple state and local facilities, that lower admissions largely reflect more patients being placed in observation status, and that the in-house 340B program provides major savings to patients and the prison system. Members also asked about care for unhoused patients and the hospital’s discharge practices, and the hospital said social services works to find placement when possible. The committee then moved to the Louisiana Department of Health budget, which was presented as just under $23.5 billion, with Medicaid making up more than 90 percent of the total. The presentation covered the Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Health, Office of Behavioral Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, and Medicaid. Major items included the new Rural Health Transformation Program, the transfer of several functions from DCFS to LDH under the One Door initiative, changes to SNAP administration, and large Medicaid adjustments driven by enrollment, utilization, and federal policy changes. Testimony also highlighted the statewide crisis hub and 988, the commodity food program for seniors, women’s health and maternal outcomes, and the department’s efforts to modernize technology and reorganize services. Members questioned LDH officials on a wide range of budget and policy issues, including the rural health grant, crisis services, Medicaid redeterminations, provider taxes, physician and hospital supplemental payments, nursing home rates, HCBS funding, and the impact of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. LDH said the rural health grant would support workforce, technology, and care-delivery improvements; that the crisis hub and mobile crisis units are being expanded to improve access and reduce emergency room use; and that the department is working to keep the SNAP error rate below 6 percent to avoid a projected state cost increase. Officials also said they expect to return next year with additional funding requests for HCBS and other programs, while emphasizing that current budget changes are largely meant to realign funding with actual expenditures and new federal requirements. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• needs program is effective and sustainable when Medi-Cal is maximized and the flexible funding is preserved
• So our system must preserve enough provider capacity to ensure every child has access to a safe, licensed
• Addressing the impacts of TRS and insurance challenges is not about preserving our programs.
• Addressing the impacts of TRS and insurance challenges is not about preserving our programs.
• Addressing the impacts of TRS and insurance challenges is not about preserving our programs.

Keywords: 988, house, all