Video & Transcript Research : 'notification'

Page 21 of 159
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Committee on Housing (01/28/2025)

Housing

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so I just think the way it's worked, there's not enough notification, so I want a better balance
  • that helps the landlords but also gives better notification to the tenants, and so I don't think this
  • So that's why I keep coming back to the notification.
  • <01:29:31.480> it keep coming back to the notification it keep coming back to the notification
  • <01:30:00.760> to them why not give more notification to them why not give more notification
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • mandated foreign consulate notifications mandated foreign consulate notifications checking<00:13
  • and assisting with future notifications and assisting with future followup<00:13:50.920> or<00
  • Absent this timely notification, ICE is frequently unable to take custody of individuals at the time
  • Mandatory notification to ICE will circumvent Minnesota's criminal justice process by facilitating the
  • Mandatory notification to ICE will circumvent Minnesota's criminal justice process by facilitating the
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on House File 16, and the chair moved the bill with a recommendation that it be re-referred to Elections Finance and Government Operations. Representative Rymer said the bill would require reporting to ICE when an illegal immigrant is arrested on suspicion of a violent crime, even if the county attorney does not prosecute, and would bar state and local entities from blocking federal immigration enforcement. He described the bill as narrowly focused on serious offenses such as murder, assault, robbery, kidnapping, and criminal sexual conduct, and said it was intended to improve communication with federal authorities about dangerous offenders. Supporters argued the bill would improve public safety and cooperation with federal law enforcement. David Zimmer, a former local law enforcement official, said cooperation with ICE is consistent with law enforcement practice and helps with information-sharing, warrants, consulate notifications, and locating individuals. Several other supporters, including a crime victim family member and a security officer, said the bill would help identify dangerous criminals and protect communities. Opponents said the bill would reduce trust in local law enforcement and discourage victims and witnesses from reporting crimes. Testifiers from the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, The Advocates for Human Rights, Violence Free Minnesota, the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs, the Northstar Alliance, the City of Minneapolis, and others said mandatory ICE notification could deter domestic violence and trafficking victims from seeking help, harm due process, and undermine community safety. Some also warned it would interfere with local separation policies, burden local agencies, and have negative economic and civil rights impacts. The committee also heard emotional testimony from individuals describing domestic abuse and immigration-related fears, and from family members of a murder victim who supported the bill.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • What we quickly noticed was we did not have mass notification systems to warn our students, faculty,
  • So emergency notification systems were extremely important, but what do you do to get the word out?
  • We would deploy other items such as our emergency notification system, giving people instructions as
  • We would deploy other items such as our emergency notification system of giving people instructions as
  • We also have teacher notification, discrimination, and harassment policies, safe ingress and egress,
Summary: The committee held a hearing on active and mass shootings in California, focusing on prevention, response, training, communications, and gaps in preparedness across law enforcement, schools, campuses, fire, EMS, and state agencies. Opening remarks emphasized the frequency and impact of gun violence, the need for faster coordinated response, and the importance of learning from recent tragedies such as the Stockton-area mass shooting described by Sheriff Patrick Withrow. The first panel included representatives from police, sheriff, and campus public safety agencies, who discussed incident command, interoperable communications, next-generation 911, threat assessment, emergency notification systems, and the value of joint drills and cross-agency planning. Witnesses also highlighted differences in training and authority across jurisdictions, especially for private university public safety departments versus public campus police. Campus representatives said they rely heavily on municipal law enforcement for armed response, while also using run-hide-fight protocols, text alerts, surveillance, and threat assessment teams. Members raised concerns about standardized training, after-action reviews, mental health resources, school resource officers, and whether campus safety plans and drills are sufficiently consistent or workable. Sheriff Withrow argued that early intervention and accountability are being weakened by well-intentioned laws, while other witnesses stressed prevention through relationships, diversion, and coordinated support services. The second panel from Cal OES, the Department of Education, POST, and EMSA described statewide systems and standards. Cal OES outlined its Reduce the Risk initiative, gun violence restraining orders, mutual aid, unified command, after-action reporting, and nonprofit security grants. The Department of Education explained California’s statutory school safety framework, annual safety plans, regulated armed assailant drills, and local flexibility, while acknowledging compliance gaps and the need for more mental health support. POST described the new requirement for 16 hours of standardized active shooter training for recruits and ongoing local training options. EMSA explained its role in medical response and terrorism training standards. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Education Committee Mar 12th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Well, this kind of notification requirement would allow parents to know if it's maybe more of a nonprofit
  • I'm more concerned if we don't have access, which as a parent, you know, I get the notifications when
  • I'm more concerned if we don't have access, which as a parent, you know, I get the notifications when
  • In this notification, are parents and guardians informed...”
  • In this notification, our school districts required to provide information on any outside consultants
Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met for its first hearing of the session, adopted its committee rules on a 6-0 vote, and then heard several bills. AB 347, which would require written notice to students about the right to opt out of animal dissection and receive a comparable assignment, drew strong support from the author, a student, and multiple advocacy and education groups, while opponents argued it would burden teachers and duplicate existing law. The committee approved AB 347 on a 7-0 vote and sent it to Appropriations. AB 281, which would expand parent access to sex education materials and require disclosure of outside consultants’ credentials, drew mixed testimony. Supporters framed it as a transparency and parent-rights measure, while school administrators and county education officials said current law already allows inspection and that the bill would create an unfunded administrative burden. After extended member discussion, the bill failed on a 4-3 vote with one abstention, though reconsideration was granted. AB 65, which would provide paid pregnancy leave for educators without requiring them to exhaust sick leave first, was supported by teachers, CTA, and the State Treasurer, but opposed by school administrators and business officials over cost concerns; it passed 6-0 to Higher Education. The committee also approved AB 361, which would extend and expand LAUSD’s best-value procurement authority for school construction to all school districts for five years, on a 5-0 vote with one abstention. AB 86, which would require the State Board of Education to adopt standardized K-8 health education instructional materials, passed 5-0. Finally, AB 228, the Zaki Fast Act, was introduced to clarify that schools may stock any federally approved epinephrine delivery system, including newer devices beyond auto-injectors, and was presented with testimony from the bill’s young namesake and his family; the transcript cuts off before the committee vote on that measure.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 1021, Madam Chair, members, Senate Bill 1021, health care profession regulatory boards notification
  • Madam Chair, member, SB 1620, utility relocation notification, passed out of committee unanimously and
  • Madam Chair, members, SB 1620, utility relocation notification, passed out of committee unanimously and
  • SB 1213, probation immigration enforcement court notification, passed out of Judiciary on a party-line
  • Madam Chair, members, SB 1137, underground facilities excavations notification, passed unanimously out
Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The meeting was a caucus review of a large calendar of Senate bills, with members mainly hearing short titles, committee vote counts, and whether bills were on consent or pulled for further discussion. Many measures were reported out on party-line or split votes and several were flagged to be removed from consent, especially bills involving artificial intelligence content verification, public benefits eligibility, gender transition procedures liability, health insurance reimbursement for vaccines, light rail feasibility review, public employees merit hiring, public records fees, virtual currency payments, tax conformity, undocumented immigrants and financial services, central bank digital currency, and public monies investment in trust currency. The caucus also discussed a number of education, public safety, child welfare, health, and regulatory bills. These included measures on school communications, bullying liability, AED training, classroom management, school safety reporting, DCS procedures, fingerprinting at behavioral health facilities, probation conditions, missing children reporting, sex offender monitoring, crimes against children probation monitoring, and domestic violence release conditions. Several members raised objections or concerns about specific bills, including mandatory sentencing, religious sectarian law language, concealed weapons notice repeal, and a bill on death sentence by firing squad, with some members asking to pull those bills from consent. A final topic was a blue-sheet Senate amendment to HB 2874 on campaign committee termination statements and penalties. Rhonda explained the Senate changes would void penalties for committees with no contributions or expenditures, retroactive to December 2021, but noted the Senate did not secure enough votes for the emergency clause. Members asked about the rationale, the Secretary of State’s position, and the amount of outstanding penalties. The chair later announced that the Senate amendment was being refused, so the bill would not receive final passage that day and would instead be sent back for further action or conference.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/05/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • calendar, please: Senate Bill 1673, an act appropriating money to the Law Enforcement Crime Victim Notification
  • Technology, having under consideration Senate Bill 1673 relating to appropriation to the Crime Victim Notification
  • Safety, having under consideration Senate Bill 1673 relating to appropriation to the Crime Victim Notification
  • Senate Bill 1673, an act appropriating money to the Law Enforcement Crime Victim Notification Fund.
  • Senate Bill 1673, an act appropriating money to the Law Enforcement Crime Victim Notification Fund.
Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and guest introductions for Pastor Caden Metcalf and later Doctor of the Day Jane Peterson. Members then approved the journal and took up a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 1827, which passed by division vote 13-12, bringing the bill back for further action. The chamber then resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider several bills on the calendar. In Committee of the Whole, members adopted committee amendments and recommended do pass on SB 1041 (Arizona Trail Fund appropriation), SB 1131 (education-related appropriation and cardiac emergency response plan funding, with a floor amendment adding a placeholder amount), SB 1140 (misdemeanor record expungement/civil rights restoration), SB 1249 (Alzheimer’s disease/state brain appropriation and DHS reporting), SB 1275 (sentencing and imprisonment, with a floor amendment that drew criticism from Sen. Ortiz for limiting judicial discretion and expanding prosecutor control), SB 1517 (Barbering and Cosmetology Board appropriation), and SB 1673 (Crime Victim Notification Fund appropriation). Most committee and floor amendments were adopted on voice vote; SB 1275’s floor amendment was adopted by division, 15-13. The Senate then adopted the Committee of the Whole report and moved to third-reading votes on a series of bills. SB 1161, SB 1209, SB 1598, SB 1118, SB 1399, SB 1563, SB 1564, SB 1629, SB 1754, SB 1041, SB 1131, SB 1140, SB 1249, SB 1517, and SB 1673 all passed, with recorded votes ranging from unanimous to divided; several members explained votes, especially on SB 1598 (community gardens in schools) and SB 1754 (special education parent support and FERPA concerns). The Senate then recessed, accepted a large batch of House bills for first reading and committee reference, heard committee meeting announcements, and adjourned until Monday, March 9, 2026.
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama House Health Committee Feb 25th, 2026

Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • Dear Representative Shirey, this letter serves as notification of your appointment to the following Health
  • This letter serves as notification of your appointment to the following Health Chairman.
  • serves<00:16:57.920> as Shyrie, this letter serves as Shyrie, this letter serves as notification
  • your<00:16:59.199> appointment<00:16:59.600> to<00:16:59.839> the notification
  • of your appointment to the notification of your appointment to the following<00:17:00.720> health
Bills: SB197, SB84, SB197, SB84
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Municipal and County Government (01/30/2026)

Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • provisions made for public notification provisions made for public notification when<02:03:12.960
  • A prior notification several months.
  • <02:28:49.280> of allocation for is the notification of allocation for is the notification
  • I think it's a notification bill.
  • with that notification. with that notification.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:
  • S. 30 also prohibits push notifications between midnight and 6 a.m.
  • These notifications are an important design feature encouraging compulsive use by incessantly reminding
  • In Massachusetts' ongoing lawsuit, for example, against TikTok, the company admitted that push notifications
  • are key to drawing users' attention back to the app, and they have sometimes sent thousands of notifications
  • The consequence here is that they won't get an algorithmic feed and they won't receive notifications
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee held its second hearing on a large docket of technology, internet, cybersecurity, broadband, and media bills. Early testimony focused on community media funding legislation, with lawmakers and local access advocates arguing that as cable subscriptions decline and streaming grows, revenue tied to cable franchises no longer supports community television and PEG programming. Supporters said community media remains a key source of local news, government meeting coverage, and civic transparency as newspapers disappear or consolidate. A related bill on cable contract oversight also drew support, with testimony that the Department of Telecommunications and Cable is backlogged and should more actively review municipal-provider agreements and report its workload to the committee. Another major topic was a proposal to create a Massachusetts Innovation Fund for state IT modernization. The Alliance for Digital Innovation backed the bill, saying agencies need flexible upfront capital to replace outdated systems and improve cybersecurity, and pointing to the federal Technology Modernization Fund as a model. The witness noted that funding for the state program still needs to be identified. The committee also heard strong support for a bill requiring free broadband in public housing, with Rep. Emmela Goodwin and MAPC describing internet access as essential for jobs, school, telehealth, and civic participation. They said the digital divide in Massachusetts is driven largely by affordability rather than infrastructure, though questions were raised about costs, wiring, and whether all housing sites already have broadband access available at the curb. A substantial portion of the hearing centered on bills to limit addictive social media feeds for minors. Supporters, including lawmakers, parents, teens, and advocacy groups, argued that algorithmic feeds contribute to addiction, anxiety, body image problems, and other harms, and said the bills would restrict surveillance-based curation and overnight notifications while leaving search and followed accounts available. Opponents, including FIRE, CCIA, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, argued the bills would require invasive age verification, threaten privacy and cybersecurity, burden adults’ anonymity, and likely face First Amendment challenges. They also warned the measures could disadvantage smaller businesses and may be unconstitutional based on recent court rulings in other states. The committee also heard support for blockchain-related bills creating a commission, a pilot program, and consumer education efforts, with testimony that Massachusetts has the talent but needs a coordinated state strategy. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Mar 10th, 2026 at 09:00 am

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This has to do with a notification to crime victims about matters related to pardons and paroles.
  • So this would include notifications about clemency-related hearings, pardons, paroles, and commutations
  • The only thing that changes is the notification process; it just adds the email as a way. that the victims
  • in a local paper once a week for two consecutive weeks and allowing for electronic and website notification
  • Looking on page six, and I'm looking at the online... it's stricken related to, I think, printed notification
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • This section prohibits access to notification technology, provides an exemption for website applications
  • <00:08:59.800> This<00:09:00.080> section This section prohibits access to notification
  • and it gives the employer and the insurance company the option to decide who's going to do the notification
  • and it gives the employer and the insurance company the option to decide who's going to do the notification
  • And the governor did sign a notification bill that the work on. What is... How do I put this?
Keywords: 918, senate, all
Summary: The committee met to walk through nonpartisan side-by-side comparisons of House File 4188, focusing on differences between House and Senate language across consumer protection, insurance, financial services, health, and technical provisions. Staff highlighted numerous Senate-only items, including rules for financial providers communicating through trusted contacts, virtual currency requirements for banks and credit unions, a prohibition on virtual currency kiosks beginning in 2026, mortgage servicing and student loan servicing changes, the Rental Home Marketplace Guarantees Act, insurance and travel-related provisions, scrap metal licensing changes, protections related to minors accessing chatbots and AI companions, and several technical or conforming repealers. Staff also noted that some provisions were identical or substantially similar between the chambers, including mortgage originator standards, student loan borrower protections, securities-related changes, unclaimed property provisions, and technical updates in the bill’s miscellaneous articles. The Senate-only health-related articles were also summarized, including repeal of the prescription drug affordability advisory council, technical changes to the reinsurance program, and a series of health insurance provisions on enrollment-growth notices, limits on officer and director salary increases under certain capital conditions, guaranteed issue rights for certain Medicare supplement enrollees, data-sharing between Commerce and Health, restrictions on using artificial intelligence alone to deny claims, reimbursement for clinical trainees, home care nursing coverage, and PBM transparency. The Senate’s telecommunications article was described as largely technical and conforming, with repeals of obsolete statutes. Staff also noted that some standalone bills had already passed and would be removed from the comparison report. Public testimony followed. Thomas Elness of AARP Minnesota supported inclusion of the cryptocurrency kiosk bill, expressed support for guaranteed issue protections for a narrow group of consumers affected by discontinued plans, and urged adoption of changes to the consumer protection restitution account, including raising the cap to $10 million per fiscal year. Representative Lee testified that the restitution account proposal should be treated as policy rather than finance because it has a zero fiscal note, and said the House would accept the Senate’s $10 million cap. Robin Rowan, representing the Minnesota Insurance and Financial Services Council and the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, urged adoption of Senate travel insurance language, requested a House-style change to lead-generation recordkeeping language, and supported a Senate provision allowing employers and insurers to coordinate notice to employees when group policies are cancelled. The Department of Commerce then responded to questions, explaining that the prescription drug affordability council would be sunset because the board already has other avenues for public input, that the reinsurance changes were technical and did not alter the prior agreement, and that the abandoned cryptocurrency provisions rely on statutory definitions of inactivity and known examples such as keys stored in safes or deposit boxes.
NV
Transcript Highlights:
  • , and it requires them to be reasonable, or alternatively refrain from sending notifications to minor
  • There isn't a notification requirement under the bill.
  • ...or are they notifying the platform, you know, that they want to receive the notifications?
  • The algorithmic restrictions, arbitrary time restrictions, and notification prohibition.
  • We also default teens into 60-minute daily limits and mute notifications at night.
Bills: AB52, AB76, AB163, AB388, AB483
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 9:00 A.M.

Judiciary, Division B

Transcript Highlights:
  • It also allows us, if the people will provide it, notification by duly issued mobile identification so
  • It also allows us, if the people will provide it, notification by duly issued mobile identification so
  • It also allows us, if the people will provide it, notification by duly issued mobile identification so
  • So, how would that work on the notification? I mean, do you pull it up?
  • Because it says by notification made to a person's duly issued mobile identification. Yes, sir.
Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 21104, a Gaming Commission criminal penalties bill presented by Commissioner Jay McDaniel. He said the measure is essentially the same as a bill passed by the Senate last year and would keep penalties low for people merely playing gaming, but make it a felony for operators of illegal online gaming platforms, with a $100,000 fine per conviction and forfeiture authority for funds tied to the crime. The committee substitute was described as clarifying that the penalties target the operator rather than the platform being used. After no questions, the committee moved and adopted the bill. The committee then heard three Department of Public Safety bills from Commissioner Tindle. Senate Bill 2232 would raise seat belt fines from $25 to $100 and direct the additional revenue into existing driver education-related funds, with the stated goal of supporting driver education programs and improving teen road safety. Members asked about the revenue impact and whether the money would be appropriated back to the department and schools; Tindle said the funds would still be subject to legislative appropriation. The bill was moved and adopted, though some members raised concerns about redirecting local fine revenue. Senate Bill 2314 was described as a cleanup bill for driver’s license statutes, updating outdated references, removing obsolete paperwork requirements, allowing first-class mail and optional digital notice through mobile ID, and reflecting the department’s move from Jackson to Pearl. Members questioned whether first-class mail could shorten response time for suspension notices and how mobile ID notices would work; Tindle said the change was intended to save money and allow electronic notice if users opt in. The committee also adopted this bill. Senate Bill 2817 would reorganize DPS by consolidating several divisions into a new Mississippi State Bureau of Investigations, combine equipment and software purchases, raise autopsy fees from $1,000 to $1,200, increase salvage title inspection fees from $75 to $125, and open a broader discussion about the Highway Patrol’s future role. It was also moved and adopted. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2230 from Senator Hill, which would extend electronic warrants to misdemeanors; members discussed efficiency, warrant databases, and Fourth Amendment concerns, but no final action on that bill was shown in the excerpt.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAM-CPN, WAM Public Hearings 04-07-2026

Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • ceiling and insert an expenditure ceiling of $1 million for the automated victim information and notification
  • automated vic- victim<00:10:15.760> information<00:10:16.320> and<00:10:16.440> notification
  • victim information and notification victim information and notification system<00:10:17.920>
Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Consumer Protection meeting was a decision-making session on a series of House bills, with no oral testimony taken. The committees first acted on HB 2583, recommending passage on amended, and HB 1591, recommending passage with amendments related to health care. They also recommended passage on amended for HB 1749 on cesspools and HB 2423 on biodiesel, with each recommendation adopted by the members present. The committees then considered a second agenda block that included HB 2080, HB 1520, HB 1576, HB 1711, HB 1785, HB 1802, HB 1838, HB 1842, HB 1853, HB 1976, HB 2104, HB 2218, HB 2246, HB 2270, HB 2289, HB 2361, HB 2551, and HB 2606. Most were recommended for passage unamended and adopted without objection. HB 1520 was deferred because the Senate bill had already crossed over. HB 1711 was amended to replace the option period established by the corporation with a period of up to 10 years. HB 2289 was amended to remove repeal of a ceiling and set a $1 million expenditure ceiling for the automated victim information and notification system special fund. Several members noted reservations on HB 1842, which involved transfer of the Westridge parcel near a rail station; concerns were raised about the property’s value, the long-term lease status, and whether the city would actually accept or pursue the transfer. HB 1853 was passed unamended, with the committee noting the Lions Association had suggestions that could be addressed later in conference. HB 2218 was passed unamended while adopting DLNR testimony to clarify collaboration with community groups in stewarding public lands and recreational areas. In each case, the stated recommendations were adopted, often with members voting no with reservation rather than in opposition.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 13th, 2026 at 01:31 pm

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Current staff members, which include myself, have responsibilities that include victim notification,
  • We're lucky in the fact that although we're not responsible for doing the full notification, we.
  • Department of Corrections coordinators for them to go out and do the full victim notifications.
  • So it's not impacting those notifications whatsoever. Thank you for that.
  • For their next hearing or, you know, getting any victim notification calls that they have for.
Keywords: 996, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • And when I got a notification, first of all, the only notification I got was an email, which I, um, I
  • The only next notification notification I got was a registered return to the sea and this is the first
  • So when I got the next um notification, I thought that by 2024 was um fulfilled, but I didn't realize
  • got to keep up with this and no one can give me a phone call or send me a letter, um, with one notification
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Health and Human Services (03/04/2026)

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • The amendment that is before you actually increases the notification timeline to give folks more time
  • the fact that sometimes the notification the fact that sometimes the notification of<00:13:10.160
  • timeline to give folks the notification timeline to give folks more<00:13:50.880> time<00:13:
  • It's just notification that they're coming. >> Sorry. >> Yeah, go ahead.
  • It's just notification that they're coming. >> Sorry. >> Yeah, go ahead.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Nov 5th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • The other is we do acute care notifications. We can send a daily report of who was in the hospital.
  • It helps allow and have patient notification.
  • So, this is an example of the criteria that can trigger a notification directly to the emergency room
  • That's an example of what that summarized notification is going to look like.
  • So, we've added additional criteria to that notification.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • on their phone and went to my whiteboard to mark when each time they got a notification.
  • By the end of that period, those 32 students had gotten over 4,000 notifications from devices during
  • Instagram and look at the notification Instagram and look at the notification lesson<02:05:36.880
  • I think students are potentially busier than me or get more notifications than me.
  • <02:11:35.079> than than me or get more notifications than than me or get more notifications
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 707 on the College Savings Program. Members discussed a suggested amendment from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities to include the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program. The chair said the Department of the Attorney General advised there was no title problem, so the bill could be broadened to cover both the College Savings Program and the ABLE program. The committee also noted technical, non-substantive changes and a defective date of July 1, 3000 for further discussion. HB 707 HD1 was then voted on and the recommendation to pass with amendments was adopted unanimously by the members present, with two members excused. The committee then heard House Bill 424, which would provide free breakfast and lunch beginning the next school year to students who currently qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The Department of Education supported the measure, and testimony in favor came from teachers, public health and food security advocates, and several organizations. Supporters described students being denied meals because of unpaid balances, said school meals should not depend on family debt, and argued that the bill would reduce stigma and help hungry students learn. Committee questions focused on meal pricing, the impact of raising prices on families who pay full price, and whether portion sizes could be increased; DOE said breakfast costs less than lunch, full-price students would bear any increase, and portion sizes must follow USDA rules. Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute and Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network said many families above the free/reduced thresholds still cannot afford meals, citing estimates that the DOE collects about $20 million a year in meal payments and that federal reimbursement totals are much larger. The committee then heard House Bill 757, the universal free school breakfast and lunch bill. DOE and the Department of Health supported it, and testimony was overwhelmingly in favor from county officials, teachers, students, food banks, advocacy groups, and community organizations. Witnesses argued that universal meals would eliminate stigma, reduce paperwork and debt collection, and ensure students do not fall through the cracks because of income cutoffs, language barriers, or administrative hurdles. Several students from Castle High School described classmates asking for food and families struggling to keep meal accounts funded, while teachers said they regularly see negative meal balance notices and hungry students. Advocates also said the bill is the better equity vehicle because it avoids means testing and reaches students who are not currently receiving meals despite needing them. The hearing on HB 757 was still ongoing at the end of the transcript, and no final vote on that bill was shown.