Bills: HB9 , SB2069 , SB2342 , SB2861 , SB3123 , SB2623 , SB585 , SB2211 , SB2446 , SB2919 , SB2125 , SB2116 , SB2999 , SB2656 , SB2001 , SB3169

Keywords: HB9, Hawaii Purple Heart state, Purple Heart, Purple Heart recipients, veterans, military, armed forces, service members, combat wounded, war veterans, military honors, state designation, symbolic legislation, honorary designation, Chapter 5 HRS, Hawaii Revised Statutes, military appreciation, veteran recognition, SB2069, Hawaii housing

Transcript Highlights:

• funding from potential loss of federal funding from the<00:09:55.000><c> National</c><00:09:55.240><c> Endowment
• for</c><00:09:55.720><c> the</c><00:09:55.839><c> Arts</c><00:09:56.640><c> we</c> the National Endowment
• for the Arts we the National Endowment for the Arts we are<00:09:57.000><c> getting</c><00:09:57.320

Committee: House Culture & Arts

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Culture and Arts met on February 7 and heard testimony on two measures. HB 1025, relating to the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West, received support from the East-West Center, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and Friends of Civil Rights, with the Department of the Attorney General submitting comments. No opposition was noted, and the committee later voted to pass HB 1025 with amendments. The chair said the amendments would incorporate the Attorney General’s comments, add a preamble clarifying legislative intent, and change the effective date to July 1, 3000; the vote was unanimous among members present, with two members excused. The committee also heard HB 1378, which would establish a Performing Arts grant program under the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The SFCA supported the bill but asked that section 5 be deleted, saying the Works of Art Special Fund is not the right vehicle for performing arts and that the agency’s positions are currently federally funded and should be shifted to general funds. The Attorney General likewise recommended deleting section 5, warning that expanding the Works of Art Special Fund could jeopardize the state’s tax-exempt GO bond status, and suggested creating a separate special fund in chapter 9 instead. DBEDT stood on its written testimony, and several arts organizations and individuals testified in support, with the chair noting about 23 supporters overall. During questioning on HB 1378, members asked about possible federal funding losses. The SFCA director said the agency is in discussions with other state arts agencies about potential reductions from the National Endowment for the Arts and related White House requests, and that the immediate goal is to protect federally funded positions by moving them into the general fund. The committee did not take final action on HB 1378 and deferred decision-making until Wednesday, February 12.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lord, we thank you for the gift of this day and for the opportunity to serve the people of our community
• Higher Education Research Security Council and provides for council responsibilities, requirements for gifts
• , contracts, partnerships, penalties, international cultural agreements, travel gift prohibitions, and
• Endowed amendments, passed their reading.

Bills: HR153 , HR154 , HR155 , HR156 , HR157 , HR158 , HCR57 , HCR58 , HCR59 , HR133 , HR134 , HR135 , HR136 , HR137 , HR138 , HR139 , HR140 , HR141 , HR142 , HR144 , HR145 , HR146 , HR147 , HR148 , HR149 , HR150 , HR151 , HR152 , SCR28 , SB141 , SB169 , SB206 , SB233 , SB417 , SB421 , SB429 , SB437 , SB477 , SB510 , SB521 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HB55 , HB385 , HB394 , HB396 , HB406 , HB608 , HB622 , HB676 , HB772 , HB897 , HB902 , HB943 , HB1030 , HB1035 , HB1038 , HB1045 , HB1049 , HB1056 , HB1058 , HB1059 , HB1092 , HB1100 , HB1117 , HB1160 , HB1161 , HB1162 , HB1177 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB1216 , HB1239 , HB1240 , SB127 , HB284 , HB1 , HB2 , HB3 , HB312 , HB313 , HB383 , HB314 , HCR3 , HB983 , HB1126 , HB21 , HB24 , HB29 , HB31 , HB39 , HB45 , HB77 , HB136 , HB150 , HB263 , HB273 , HB299 , HB315 , HB376 , HB377 , HB431 , HB444 , HB450 , HB519 , HB533 , HB538 , HB559 , HB562 , HB663 , HB664 , HB715 , HB717 , HB805 , HB822 , HB823 , HB834 , HB864 , HB867 , HB1017 , HB1018 , HB1068 , HB1134 , HB1137 , HB1234 , HB1235 , HB1236 , HB211 , HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB241 , HB244 , HB306 , HB345 , HB366 , HB446 , HB511 , HB514 , HB655 , HB730 , HB743 , HB1027 , HB1037 , HB1043 , HB1082 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1230 , HB1237 , HB1238 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , HB401 , HB51 , HB58 , HB140 , HB982 , HB1010 , HB132 , HB193 , HB635 , HB690 , HB1003 , HB750 , HB911 , HB151 , HB180 , HB192 , HB310 , HB961 , HB1146 , HB977 , HB181 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB9 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB615 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1113

Keywords: commendation, robotics, high school, competition, education, Tomato Festival, community celebration, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, fundraising, local heritage, Holocaust, remembrance, Yom HaShoah, Jewish history, condolences, community service, law enforcement, legacy, Shreveport, D.A.R.E. Program

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened in prayer, and led the pledge. The bulk of the early portion of the meeting consisted of personal privileges and recognitions, including ARC Appreciation Day, Teach for America, Film Louisiana, the Child Care Association of Louisiana, Textron Systems, Iberville Parish Day, AARP Louisiana Family Caregiver Day, and several visiting groups and honorees. The chamber also received Senate messages, enrolled and introduced resolutions, and referred a number of Senate bills to committee. The House then took up a long series of bills, many of them local or technical measures, with most passing by wide margins. Among the bills adopted were measures on municipal and teachers’ retirement systems, retired clerk insurance funds, fire and police civil service, a local Cameron Parish insurance program, specialty courts, jury bond filing by paper check, non-compete limits for interns and apprentices, a memorial bridge naming for Lance Cpl. Justin D. McLeese, veteran points in civil service exams, provisional fire/police appointments, special masters in complex litigation, judicial and court-cost funding measures, aerial applicator safety rules, cell-cultured food labeling, wine and spirits container standards, nonprofit eligibility to appoint economic development commissioners, a homeless diversion pilot program in Orleans, animal shelter standards, a Fort Oge police chief appointment change, retirement benefit calculations for divorced firefighters, an alcohol-permit moratorium in Shreveport, waste-collection contract renewal authority, and a backdrop retirement option for certain judges. There was one notable defeat: House Bill 444, which would have added legislative seats to the East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission, failed on a 37-49 vote after debate over whether legislators should appoint themselves to the board and whether the proposal had adequate stakeholder support. House Bill 284 on expropriation also failed earlier by a 48-47 vote and was returned to the calendar. Several other measures were temporarily returned to the calendar or held over, and some bills were referred or received amendments before final passage. Most final votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, and the House repeatedly adopted titles and motions to table after passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• My question is on these, and I'm not sure I've got the proper terms here, but dedicated funds or endowment
• I've got the proper terms here, but dedicated funds or endowment funds, the money I'm thinking about
• My question is on these, and I'm not sure I've got the proper terms here, but dedicated funds or endowment
• My question is on these, and I'm not sure I've got the proper terms here, but dedicated funds or endowment
• I've got the proper terms here, but dedicated funds or endowment funds—the money I'm thinking about is

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state has also since created new endowments and funding methodologies for our emerging research universities
• this quote about 25 years ago, that in the next 25 to 30 years there'd be two kinds of universities: endowed
• there, and as we get into this public phase, we'll easily be able to raise the scholarships, the endowed
• We've already endowed her position. So we're really excited about the opportunity.
• So establishing the scholarship endowment that we've already established and to build upon that, but

Bills: HB42 , HB125

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: special prosecutor, state law, criminal justice, accountability, law enforcement, stormwater management, counties, regulation, environment, water quality

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met to hear several bills and first corrected the minutes from its April 1, 2025 meeting to reflect that a committee substitute for HB 271 had been adopted before the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 3326, which would help Texas higher education employees, especially adjunct faculty, qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness by counting classroom hours toward full-time status, requiring institutions to verify employment within 60 days, and requiring annual notice to eligible employees. No witnesses testified against the bill, and it was left pending. Members then heard HB 2853, authorizing UTEP to phase in a student union fee increase to fund demolition and reconstruction of its aging student union. Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income students. UTEP representatives said most students receive aid, the fee would be phased in over time, and the project was student-approved; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4066, a one-line bill to abolish the Texas Research Incentive Program after the state cleared its backlog of matching obligations, with the author saying the program was no longer needed in light of newer research funding approaches. The bill was left pending. The committee spent substantial time on HB 125, which would create the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Supporters, including Tarleton leadership, the founding dean, a rural hospital CEO, and a feasibility consultant, argued the school would address severe rural physician shortages by recruiting Texas and rural students, training them in rural settings, and developing new residency slots rather than competing for existing ones. Members asked about affordability, residency placement, and whether the school would draw students from rural Texas; Tarleton said it would seek to keep tuition and debt low, had already raised private donations, and would request $25 million in state support over the biennium. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 42, which would increase the annual Higher Education Fund appropriation and adjust its allocation methodology. The chair and university witnesses described rising deferred maintenance, inflation, cybersecurity needs, and enrollment growth at HEAF-eligible institutions, with witnesses from Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and UNT saying the additional funding would help address aging facilities and technology needs. After testimony, the committee left HB 42 pending and recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• These things were startling, and I think that's why the governor and others got on board with an endowment
• </c><01:15:52.400><c> for</c> got on board with an endowment for got on board with an endowment for long-term
• In Connecticut, what we did was we have an early childhood endowment that is made up of dollars from
• </c><01:22:11.040><c> that</c><01:22:11.280><c> is</c> an early childhood endowment that is an early
• childhood endowment that is made<01:22:11.840><c> up</c><01:22:12.000><c> of</c><01:22:12.159><c> dollars

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• might have been directed to send the cash in the mail, or they might have been directed to purchase gift
• people on earth and they're being scammed out of money by people on the phone that are extremely gifted
• What I would say is that we do have data that supports this, specifically the National Endowment for

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several financial services bills, with the main focus on cryptocurrency kiosk regulation, financial literacy, and earned wage access. Legislators and witnesses described widespread crypto-related scams targeting older adults, often involving impersonation, urgency, spoofed phone numbers, and rapid transfers through kiosks that are difficult to trace or recover. Supporters of the kiosk bills said Massachusetts needs licensing, registration, transaction limits, warning notices, receipts, refund protections, and other safeguards; some also urged a “pause” or hold on transactions to give victims time to reconsider and allow law enforcement to intervene. The Attorney General’s office, AARP, local law enforcement, and several prosecutors and sheriffs backed the consumer-protection approach, while Bitcoin Depot supported a narrower regulatory framework but opposed low fee caps and strict daily limits, arguing they would function like a ban and reduce legitimate use. Witnesses from Waltham police, Middlesex and Essex County law enforcement, and the AG’s office said crypto scams are growing quickly, losses are often unrecoverable once funds move, and current tools are limited. They described cases involving elderly victims losing thousands of dollars, and said warnings alone are not enough because scammers keep victims on the phone and guide them through the process. Some witnesses said a temporary hold or refund mechanism has worked in at least one case, while others emphasized that transaction limits and visible disclosures could reduce harm even if they do not stop fraud entirely. The AG’s office also said it would submit written opposition to separate earned wage advance legislation, while DailyPay testified in support of that bill, saying earned wage access helps workers bridge short-term gaps without debt or credit reporting. The committee also heard support for mandatory financial literacy education from Representative Jim Hawkins, who said high school students need instruction on credit, debt, and inflation before they enter adulthood. In addition, the committee took testimony on litigation financing bills from insurance industry representatives, who argued for disclosure and regulation of predatory litigation lending and warned about foreign interference and reduced plaintiff recoveries. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; members asked questions throughout, and the chair noted the need to move testimony along because of time constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next item is for replacement items: $939,000 from the State Juvenile Correction Center Endowment
• That's $1,035,800 from the State Juvenile Correction Center Endowment Income Fund.
• This is $939,000 from the state juvenile correction center endowment income fund.
• That's $1,035,800 from the State Juvenile Correction Center Endowment Income Fund.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and first took up the Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Medicaid. Members approved a 2026 supplemental for the Medicaid forecast adjustment, increasing general fund and dedicated fund spending while reducing federal funds, and also approved a separate budget-neutral 2026 supplemental to move hospital assessment funding into a dedicated fund and create a new hospital assessment budgeted program, as required by House Bill 345. Both motions passed with do-pass recommendations after roll-call votes. The committee then considered the 2027 Medicaid budget. Testimony covered MMIS procurement, estate recovery staffing, program integrity contract support, Medicaid purchasing staff tied to the Department of Administration, hospital assessment fund alignment, population forecast adjustments, and an additional governor’s initiative reduction. Three competing motions were offered: one from Representative Bruce, one from Senator Cook, and one from Senator Wintrow. After debate over provider-rate cuts, RESHAB funding, forecast assumptions, and whether to reduce the governor’s requested $22 million adjustment, the Bruce motion failed and the Cook substitute failed, while the Wintrow motion passed and received a do-pass recommendation. The committee next approved Idaho State Police budgets. It passed a Brand Inspection Division request for $288,100 in dedicated funds for replacement vehicles and equipment, a Division of Idaho State Police motion adding funds for the commercial vehicle safety grant, a mobile live scan pilot, and replacement items, and a POST Academy motion for $324,100 in dedicated funds for replacement items. The Department of Juvenile Corrections budget was also approved, including a clinician services transfer from Health and Welfare, replacement items, IT hardware, and restoration of direct care and mentoring funding with six FTPs. Finally, the committee considered the Department of Administration and Military Division budgets; after debate over Medicaid procurement staffing and a training position transfer, the committee approved a Department of Administration motion with reduced general fund and increased dedicated funding, then approved the Military Division’s request for emergency management overhead recovery and state education assistance funding. The meeting ended with announcements of the next Monday agenda and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I I was looking up and it looks like uh the endowment for Macalester is 692 built into the
• Our endowment is primarily funding financial aid for students at the college.
• That is the primary earmark for our endowment. Mr.
• ,</c><00:50:47.480><c> but</c><00:50:47.600><c> I</c> and do it with your endowment, but I and do it
• with your endowment, but I don't<00:50:47.800><c> know</c><00:50:47.880><c> why</c><00:50:48.120><c>

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Barley Commission has, in the past, funded and endowed a barley research agronomist at the University
• I'm not going to go into a lot of detail, but if you're looking for specific impacts from our endowed
• If you're looking for specific impacts from our endowed barley research agronomist, there's just a couple

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The House Ag Affairs Committee approved the minutes from its March 16, 2026 meeting and then took up House Bill 879, which Representative John Scheris described as a pared-down version of an earlier industrial hemp bill. He said the measure would bring retail hemp product establishments under the Idaho Department of Agriculture’s oversight to address loopholes involving the sale of THC products such as Delta-8 and Delta-9, while avoiding overregulation of hemp seed, powder, and other legitimate products. Braden Jensen of the Idaho Farm Bureau supported the bill, saying it reflected stakeholder work and would help ensure retail products comply with state law. Representative McCann moved to send HB 879 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation and to place it on second reading, and the committee agreed. The committee then received an update from Laura Wilder of the Idaho Barley Commission. She reviewed the commission’s funding, goals, and programs, and reported that Idaho remained the nation’s leading barley producer, growing 39% of the U.S. crop in 2025 on about 490,000 harvested acres. She highlighted research, market development, and education efforts, including work that has improved yields over time, reduced unnecessary input costs, and supported domestic and foreign market development. Wilder also noted current market softness, including expected declines in malt barley acres and flat prices, but said long-term demand remains promising because of brewing, feed, and food applications. Maya Landa of the Idaho Grain Producers Association followed with a broader overview of the grain economy. She said growers are facing low commodity prices, rising input costs, weather and water risks, trade uncertainty, and policy changes, while noting that wheat and barley remain major Idaho crops and that exports are critical to profitability. She discussed the importance of federal programs, the Farm Bill, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, water infrastructure, workforce issues, and commodity commissions. Committee members asked about dam breaching concerns affecting the Columbia-Snake river system and about the stalled Farm Workforce Modernization Act; Landa emphasized the need for continued engagement on those issues. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Barley Commission has, in the past, funded and endowed a barley research agronomist at the University
• I'm not going to go into a lot of detail, but if you're looking for specific impacts from our endowed
• barley research agronomist, If you're looking for specific impacts from our endowed barley research

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been growing the endowment some, Mr.
• We've been growing the endowment some, Mr.
• We've been growing the endowment some, Mr.
• </c> growing the endowment some, Mr. growing the endowment some, Mr.
• </c><01:38:40.400><c> of</c> with what's happened to the endowment of with what's happened to the endowment

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How much money do you have in the endowment at all for Mesa Lands? Mr.
• Most of that is endowed money, geared towards scholarships.
• One is for Title IV, one is for, STEM, and one is for, I think it's a faculty salary endowment.
• They also have a lot of funds that are given or donated in endowments for specific scholarships.
• So all told there's around $5 million probably in endowments and things like that.

Transcript Highlights:

• than $50 billion endowment that Harvard controls.
• than $50 billion endowment that Harvard controls.
• Trump is traveling to the Middle East to accept a gift worth $400 million from a foreign government.
• Trump is traveling to the Middle East to accept a gift worth $400 million from a foreign government.
• Trump is traveling to the Middle East to accept a gift worth $400 million from a foreign government.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I have a chemical engineering scholarship endowment there.
• a chemical engineering<00:10:58.560><c> scholarship</c><00:10:59.519><c> uh</c><00:10:59.760><c> endowment
• </c> engineering scholarship uh endowment engineering scholarship uh endowment there.<00:11:00.880><c

Committee: Senate Confirmations

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additional funding is provided by the Idaho Public Television Endowment. Thank you. Thank you.
• Additional funding is provided by the Idaho Public Television Endowment.
• Idaho Public Television Endowment. Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to be able to be.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then handled routine business including journal approval, communications about substitute senators, and committee reports. Several bills were printed and referred to committees, enrolled measures were signed or filed, and House bills and memorials received from the House were assigned to the appropriate committees or reading calendars. The chamber also agreed to move Senate Bill 1294 to the 14th order for possible amendment and to hold Senate Bill 1264 on the calendar until March 4. The main floor action was on House Concurrent Resolution 28, which urged Idahoans to observe a day of fasting and prayer on March 1, 2006, in response to drought concerns, water supply needs, and political violence. Senator Den Hartog explained the resolution as a call for unity and prayer for moisture and common ground; the Senate adopted it by voice vote and returned it to the House. The Senate also advanced Senate Bill 1257, a child protection bill that would limit in-person visitation in cases of substantiated sexual or serious physical abuse unless a court finds visitation is in the child’s best interest and sets written conditions, and would clarify termination provisions when a parent is likely to remain incarcerated for a substantial part of the child’s minority. Senator Wintrow presented the bill as a way to strengthen child safety, permanency, and judicial discretion, citing a case example involving severe abuse and arguing that the measure puts decisions in the hands of the court rather than a bureaucrat. Senator Shippee initially raised due process concerns and the lack of a clear timeline for court review, but later said his concerns had been addressed and he would support the bill. Senators Nichols and Foreman spoke in favor, emphasizing clearer standards and the need to protect vulnerable children. The Senate passed Senate Bill 1257 by roll call vote, 24-6, with paired votes noted, and transmitted it to the House. In miscellaneous business, senators announced a page’s birthday, a state dance championship for Declo, and an invitation for senators and families to attend Topgolf. Leadership also warned that additional afternoon floor sessions would likely be scheduled the following week to move Senate bills. The Senate then adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additional funding is provided by the Idaho Public Television Endowment. Thank you. Thank you.
• Additional funding is provided by the Idaho Public Television Endowment. Television Endowment.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and maybe a little history for the committee on the endowment.
• The endowment sits and it's administered by a separate nonprofit, the Honolulu Symphony Foundation.
• <01:31:24.239><c> and</c> endowment and endowment and um<01:31:27.040><c> uh</c><01:31:27.120><c> what
• </c> endowment. Yes, it's it's still growing. endowment. Yes, it's it's still growing.
• > it's</c><01:31:36.000><c> administered</c> The endowment sits and it's administered The endowment sits

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, how much do they have in their endowment fund?
• So, how much do they have in their endowment fund?
• So, how much do they have in their endowment fund?
• <00:47:45.240><c> fund,</c> endowment fund, endowment fund, is<00:47:47.040><c> pretty</c><00:47:47.240
• Representative Engan, the U of M endowment may be managed as a nonprofit.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The Army lacrosse endowment stands as a testament to the enduring commitment of Carol and Kevin McGibbon
• The benefits veterans receive after service to our country are not gifts or handouts.
• We have to be endowed with trust, and it has to be reciprocal with our voters, and I would argue there
• WE HAVE TO BE ENDOWED WITH TRUST AND HAS TO BE RECIPROCAL WITH OUR VOTERS AND I WOULD ARGUE THERE IS

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, November 17, 2025, 1012, house, all