Transcript Highlights:

• was in high school when my mother moved into the CRR building back in the 70s, so I understand the age
• was in high school when my mother moved into the CRR building back in the 70s, so I understand the age
• </c><00:04:49.840><c> facilities</c> physical plant and aging facilities physical plant and aging facilities
• </c><00:08:34.640><c> So</c> mechanical and structural systems.
• So mechanical and structural systems.

Summary: The committee heard capital plan presentations from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, the Personnel Cabinet, and the School Facilities Construction Commission. The Justice Cabinet described its large portfolio of more than 900 facilities across the state and said decades of underfunded maintenance have created a backlog of repairs. Requested projects included a high-acuity mental health treatment facility for juvenile justice youth, two female detention centers to support the regional detention model, major corrections repairs and replacements, a new kitchen at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex, a new dormitory at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women, completion of a new Eastern Kentucky prison, DOCJT training facility upgrades in Richmond and Madisonville, State Police radio system replacement and post construction, a combined Frankfort headquarters/Post 12 facility, and expanded crime lab and storage capacity. When asked about the high cost of the EKCC kitchen project, staff said construction inside an operating facility raises costs and that building a new adjacent kitchen would be more economical in the long run. The panel also asked about Fish and Wildlife officers training at DOCJT; staff said they do and that the training is funded through the CLEFT fund. The Justice Cabinet also said the recently enacted Senate Bill 4’s AI inventory and registry requirements would be part of its enterprise application and AI inventory system work. The Personnel Cabinet requested funding to replace CHRIS, the state’s human resources and payroll system, which supports payroll and benefits for about 48,000 employees and the Kentucky Employee Health Plan for roughly 192,000 members. Staff said the current SAP-based system went live in 2011, is approaching end of support in 2030, and has not received functionality enhancements since 2016. They said the replacement is estimated at $151 million, with most of the cost tied to professional services and software, and that the project would begin in July 2026, go live by July 2030, and require a stabilization period through 2032. In response to questions about outsourcing payroll or reusing existing systems, staff said the complexity of state HR, payroll, tax updates, and integrations with other agencies makes outsourcing or partial reuse impractical. The School Facilities Construction Commission introduced its role in helping all 171 school districts address unmet facility needs, focusing on core school facilities such as roofs and elementary buildings rather than athletic projects. No votes or formal actions were taken during the excerpted discussion; the meeting consisted of presentations, explanations of requested projects, and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Two other questions, more mechanical. And Ms. Wright, maybe you can weigh in on these.
• Two other questions, more mechanical. And Ms. Wright, maybe you can weigh in on these.
• So, and then we also have demographics on age and sex.
• And just like Maria said, I mean, just the lack of education around ballot mechanics.
• The predominant industry here in Yakima County is the ag industry. It is a huge employer.

Summary: The committee held a work session on voting rights in the United States and Washington, beginning with testimony from Marissa Wright of Campaign Legal Center and David Montes of the ACLU of Washington. They described the federal Voting Rights Act’s main protections—preclearance, vote suppression, and vote dilution—and argued that Supreme Court decisions such as Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich have weakened those tools. They said Washington should consider stronger state-level protections, including a preclearance program and broader safeguards against discriminatory voting practices. Members asked about Washington’s history of discrimination, voter roll purges, noncitizen registration, and remedies under the Washington Voting Rights Act, including ranked-choice voting and district-based systems. The committee then heard from the Office of Equity and several commissions, which described their roles in advising state government and working with communities. They focused on the immigration sub-cabinet created under Executive Order 2509, saying it is intended to improve coordination across agencies, the legislature, the courts, and community organizations on issues such as data privacy, language access, health care, education, and accountability under the Keep Washington Working Act. Members asked about the use of NGOs, accountability for KWW violations, and the sub-cabinet’s goals, and the panel said the effort is meant to help government respond more quickly and collaboratively while centering immigrant, disability, LGBTQ, and other communities. The final panel was from the University of Washington Elections Database Project, which presented data on vote-by-mail ballot challenges, cures, and rejections from 2020 to 2024. They reported that about 1.5% of ballots are signature-challenged in most elections, roughly 60% of challenged ballots are cured, and overall rejection rates are about 1% in general elections and 1.5% in primaries. The researchers said voters of color, younger voters, and some tribal-area voters experience higher rejection rates, and that differences appear tied to signature mismatch, language access, ballot timing, and familiarity with the system. In the last panel, Maria Fernandez and Vicki Frausto of EIA described voter education and civic engagement work in Yakima County and Sunnyside, including concerns about intimidation, language barriers, signature mismatch, and at-large election systems; they said stronger Washington Voting Rights Act protections would help communities elect candidates of choice. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides schools with ready-to-use, state-endorsed resources tailored by age group.
• I think that we need full and age-appropriate sex education that is an opt-out program.
• Last year, we tried a different mechanism of just putting it on the school's website.
• There’s no mechanism to do... There for 20 years, like a very long time, just sitting there.
• Again, there’s no mechanism.

Committee: House House Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee began with brief announcements, including an invitation from Chad Heinrich of the University of Phoenix to an upcoming lunch-and-learn on artificial intelligence and education, and then members and staff exchanged end-of-session धन्यवाद and appreciation. The committee then took up several education-related bills, hearing sponsor presentations, public testimony, and member questions before voting on each measure. SB 1497 would require larger school districts that operate self-insurance programs to obtain quotes for coverage and services at least every four years and to receive certain information from providers in advance. Supporters said the bill would increase competition, transparency, and cost savings for school employee health benefits; it passed 10-0. SB 1711 would direct the State Board of Education and ADE to compile and post age-appropriate resources on preventing and recognizing inappropriate contact, and to make those resources available to schools and families. Supporters framed it as a voluntary, parent-facing safety tool, while opponents argued it should include stronger evidence-based and trauma-informed requirements; it passed 7-3. SB 1798 would create a FAFSA awareness program recognizing schools that designate a FAFSA point person and promote financial aid completion. Supporters said it would help students access postsecondary funding, especially given Arizona’s low FAFSA completion rate and unclaimed federal aid; it passed 8-2. SB 1143 would require schools and districts to submit federal civil rights data to ADE and would require ADE to publish an annual school safety report. Supporters said it would improve transparency for parents, while opponents called it duplicative and raised privacy and scope concerns; it passed 7-3. SB 1684, as amended, would create a private cause of action against public schools for serious physical injury caused by bullying after a prior report and school negligence, with an amendment limiting the claim to bullying on school property or at school events and requiring written reports. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill 6-3, after debate over litigation risk, school discipline, and whether the bill should also cover private schools. The committee also passed SB 1754, which would require ADE’s special education division to help complete incomplete complaints, post redacted complaint reports, and adopt related procedures; members emphasized transparency and privacy protections, and the bill passed 9-0 after an amendment extending the posting timeline and clarifying report contents. SB 1423, continuing the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education until 2036, passed 8-1, with one member objecting to the long sunset extension. Finally, SB 1763, dealing with school district “additional monies” funds and financial reporting, was discussed with an amendment to remove unemployment-compensation transfers and require board approval for expenditures, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The AG raised concerns about this in the dormant Commerce Clause.
• ><00:14:49.160><c> production</c><00:14:50.160><c> um</c><00:14:50.320><c> the</c><00:14:50.399><c> AG
• </c> pertaining to local production um the AG pertaining to local production um the AG raised<00:14:51.399
• </c> address the concerns raised by the AG address the concerns raised by the AG last<00:15:22.639><c
• There's a great opportunity here for the ag sector as well, but these fuels do cost more to produce.

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The Committee on Economic Development and Technology heard testimony on HB 976, a measure related to incentives for renewable fuels, including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Supporters said the bill would help close the cost gap between renewable and conventional fuels, strengthen Hawaii’s energy security, support climate goals, and encourage local economic development. Testifiers from Pono Pacific, PAR Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiian Airlines/Alaska Airlines, the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Pacific Biodiesel, Aloha Carbon, and others described ongoing or planned projects, local feedstock development, and potential benefits for agriculture, waste diversion, and emissions reductions. Several testifiers also discussed proposed amendments. The Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition said it wanted to remove the import tax credit, eliminate the aggregate cap increase to avoid additional state funding, and revise local-production language to rely on a carbon-intensity threshold rather than location-based preferences. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised technical concerns about the bill’s administration, including prorating credits if the cap is exceeded and the feasibility of a 30-day filing window. Some supporters urged keeping solid waste, including construction and demolition debris, as eligible feedstock, while Energy Justice Network opposed that approach and also urged removing GMO-related language and waste-based feedstocks because of environmental and toxic emissions concerns. Opposition testimony focused on the bill’s cost and feasibility. Energy Justice Network and Ted Metros argued the measure could become a large subsidy for a refinery and questioned whether Hawaii has enough land and water to produce meaningful quantities of biofuel locally. Metros also criticized the refundable credit structure and said the state should not bear the cost for what he described as a benefit largely tied to tourism and imported fuel. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the chair later noted the committee had received 13 testimonies in support, 18 in opposition, and seven comments, and then invited further discussion on cost allocation and lowering caps to broaden participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• is to prohibit staff members of school districts from using any of the following interventions: mechanical
• restraint, chemical restraint, and physical restraint, or escort that is mechanical restraint, chemical
• Finally, it adds or modifies definitions for the following terms: chemical restraint, mechanical restraint
• It can happen not only to our students at such early ages, all the way through their K-12 experience,
• The restrictions on the chemical and mechanical restraint, I think we've heard from school districts

Summary: The House Education Committee met in executive session on several bills, beginning with House Bill 1795 on restraint and isolation in schools. Staff described the proposed substitute as prohibiting mechanical, chemical, and certain physical restraints, limiting planned use of restraint to cases with written medical necessity and parental consent, and revising the definition of serious harm. Members debated amendments clarifying that serious harm can include harm to another person, barring construction of rooms designed primarily for student isolation, and adding a null-and-void clause. The committee adopted the first two amendments but rejected the null-and-void amendment, then advanced the bill as amended. The final roll call on HB 1795 was 10 ayes, 7 nays, and 2 excused, and it was reported do pass as amended. The committee then considered Second Substitute House Bill 1634, which would create a statewide technical assistance and training framework for student behavioral health, coordinated by OSPI and ESDs with behavioral health agencies and community partners. A second proposed substitute removed some implementation requirements, narrowed the bill to coordination and access to services, added family-focused consultation and planning language, and removed certain reporting and needs-assessment provisions. A null-and-void amendment was offered but failed. Supporters said the bill would provide schools with flexible technical assistance rather than mandates, while opponents raised concerns about fiscal impact and unfunded obligations. The committee approved the bill on a 12-5 vote with 2 excused and reported it do pass. The committee also received staff briefings on House Bill 1662, which would require several education-related agencies and entities to transition to separate administrative services and operational independence on a delayed timeline, and House Bill 1683, which would adjust school board director-district election requirements and thresholds. No amendments were noted on HB 1683, and the committee did not reach final action on either of those bills before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Voting-age population that is Black is 27%. District 4, Democratic registration at 31%.
• Voting-age population that is Black is at 30% of that. District 5, Democratic registration at 34%.
• Voting-age population that is Black is at 33%.
• Voting-age population that is Black at that...
• Democratic registration is at 41%, voting-age population that is Black is at 24%.

Bills: SCR12 , HB221 , HB509 , HCR58 , HB75 , HB1222 , SB121 , SB312 , SB348 , SB485 , SCR9 , SCR58 , SB65 , SB215 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , SB514 , HCR54 , HCR79 , HCR87 , HCR94 , HCR104 , HCR32 , HB944 , HB17 , HB41 , HB73 , HB223 , HB244 , HB410 , HB750 , HB759 , HB906 , HB966 , HB1006 , HB1009 , HB1086 , HB1107 , HB1112 , HB1215 , HB1242 , SB208 , SB217 , SB283 , SB387 , SB389 , SB401 , SB408 , SB469 , HB74 , HB119 , HB368 , HB414 , HB552 , HB732 , HB776 , HB848 , HB870 , HB953 , HB956 , HB1236 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB78 , SB149 , SB274 , SB300 , SB341 , SB382 , SB441 , SB449 , HB134 , HB210 , HB258 , HB359 , HB468 , HB784 , HB1117

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not saying that if an ag property is actually ag, it should get the assessment that they should get
• Not saying that if an Ag property is actually Ag, it should get the assessment, and if an ag property
• is actually ag, it should get the assessment that they, you know, should get.
• Child support is not the proper mechanism to address this issue.
• Child support is not the proper mechanism to address this issue. um fetuses child support is not the

Summary: The caucus began with introductions from pages and interns, followed by a procedural reminder on consent calendars and how bills can be pulled for floor debate or amendment. Members were told that third-read consent bills bypass caucus debate, while caucus consent bills may have committee amendments adopted together unless pulled. The meeting then moved into Minority Caucus Calendar No. 2. A large number of bills were briefly presented, with several members pulling measures from consent or voicing opposition. Topics included appropriations and federal monies accounting (HB 2148), a Buffalo Soldiers memorial (HB 2062), school library funding restrictions (HB 2008), prayer at school governing body meetings (HB 2110), school safety center administration (HB 2142), parental rights and social transitioning disclosures (HB 2249), insurer assessments (HB 2091), agricultural property classification and inspection rules (HB 2104 and HB 2105), firefighter workers’ compensation definitions (HB 2138), truth-in-taxation bond notices (HB 2289), late tax filing penalties (HB 2016), engineering and professional licensing reciprocity (HB 2122), felony murder involving an unborn child (HB 2043), body concealment and mutilation penalties (HB 2044), domestic violence order-of-protection service rules (HB 2048), mandatory reporting of partial-birth abortions (HB 2074), unlawful flight sentencing enhancements (HB 2108), weapons trafficking and fentanyl sentencing changes (HB 2131 and HB 2132), drive-by shooting forfeiture rules (HB 2045), probation review notice changes (HB 2046), venue changes for cases involving court employees (HB 2126), and child support for pre-born children (HB 2144). Members repeatedly criticized several abortion-related bills, the library bill, and the tax and agriculture measures as harmful, unnecessary, or unfunded mandates. The latter part of the meeting focused on water and election legislation. Water bills included snowpack augmentation funding (HB 2024), water conservation grant disclosures (HB 2029), removal of education/research as an eligible water grant use (HB 2030), stormwater recharge mapping with an appropriation (HB 253), cesspool remediation assistance (HB 2096), groundwater pumping limits in INAs (HB 2097), Colorado River litigation funding (HB 2116), and natural resource conservation board changes (HB 2117). Election-related items included moving the primary date earlier and changing signature cure timelines and observer rules (HB 2022), a memorial urging designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization (HCM 2001), a memorial urging review of CAIR for terrorist designation (HCM 2002), and a constitutional amendment on citizenship, voter ID, foreign contributions, and early voting limits (HCR 2001). Members raised concerns about voter access, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and the practical effects of the election changes. The caucus concluded with birthday acknowledgments and an announcement for Muslim Day at the Capitol before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a number of compliance mechanisms that we are putting into place within the agency, and that
• We have a number of compliance mechanisms that we are putting into place within the agency, and that
• We have a number of compliance mechanisms that we are putting into place within the agency, and that
• 14 so at age 14 they um save age 14 so at age 14 they um save approximately<01:13:04.800><c> 50%</c><
• Financial support mechanisms for all youth aging out of foster care rather than relying solely on individual

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Executive Office on Aging in support.
• </c><01:28:56.960><c> This</c> not just age [snorts] convenience.
• This not just age [snorts] convenience.
• So it increases the age of individuals for using as an 18.
• And there are helmets for all sizes, all ages that exist in the market.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several transportation-related bills. HB 1688, which would provide a general excise tax exemption for certain aircraft maintenance materials, parts, tools, and facility construction, received comments from the Department of Taxation and support from Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Kohala Coast Resort, the Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaii, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii. Testimony indicated the measure was intended to clarify an existing exemption rather than create a new one. The bulk of the hearing focused on HB 2386, which would authorize the Public Utilities Commission to establish automatic adjustment mechanisms and a water carrier inflationary cost index. The Department of Transportation said it would change its testimony to support the bill, citing a 2020 working group recommendation, while the PUC and DCCA offered comments. Matson, the Maritime Group, Hawaii Harbors Users Group, and Young Brothers supported the measure, arguing it would modernize regulation, improve predictability, and help maintain reliable interisland shipping. Hawaii Farm Bureau offered comments, while Hawaii Food Industry Association, Maui Brewing Company, Lani Kai Brewing Company, and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii opposed it, arguing automatic rate increases were not the solution and that underlying costs and efficiencies should be addressed first. The chair noted the bill was essentially the same as one previously considered, and asked questions about how Hawaii’s water carrier regulation compares with other states. The committee also heard HB 1691, which would allow electronic signatures for certain motor vehicle title transfers after total-loss insurance settlements and remove the notary requirement for that narrow transaction. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services, Hawaii Insurers Council, Copart, American Property Casualty Insurance Association, and one individual supported it, with Copart saying the change would reduce delays and could allow a faster, largely electronic settlement process. Members asked about county impacts, and Copart said counties would only see a different form with no added cost or electronic integration. HB 1680, requiring county finance directors to notify agencies through a centralized system for vehicle transfers, drew opposition from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services and one individual in support. HB 2516, raising helmet requirements for electric foot scooters and bicycles and requiring helmets for high-speed or Class 3 electric bicycles, received support from DOT, DOH, AAA Hawaii, and the Hawaii Bicycling League. HB 193, allowing deaf vehicle owners to register a deafness designation visible to law enforcement, drew support from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services, the Hawaii Disabilities Rights Center, and an individual who suggested amendments to broaden the bill to deaf and hard of hearing individuals and adjust the proof standard. HB 2442, increasing required accessible and van-accessible parking spaces in larger parking lots, was supported by the Disability and Communication Access Board, the Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Disability Rights Center, which said the bill would address shortages of accessible parking and may need technical amendments to align terminology with the ADA.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> additional uh enforcement mechanisms additional uh enforcement mechanisms from<00:45:28.520><c>
• The way that this enforcement mechanism works, and again I'd love to work with you on mechanism if you
• The AG could sue.
• And that's I think what the AG the law.
• I'm just the ages between Uh thank you.

Bills: HF3878 , HF4131 , HF3796 , HF4097

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We should get the Trap and Neuter funding mechanism. Jane Arnold, in support.
• </c><00:08:23.159><c> thank</c> Trap and neuter funding mechanism thank Trap and neuter funding mechanism
• You can't blame old age either. I don't know. The gray's coming in.
• We know that there are ag lands that are owned by foreign entities.
• </c> departments would have to follow the AG departments would have to follow the AG when<00:57:43.160

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The joint hearing covered SB 1023, which would create a spay-neuter special fund to reduce pet overpopulation and free-roaming cats, with funding sources including an income tax checkoff. The Department of Taxation had no substantive comment, while the Hawaii Invasive Species Council supported the measure but opposed any trap-neuter-release or re-release approach, saying spay-neuter is important but release does not reduce cats on the landscape. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised concerns about creating another special fund and tax checkoff, saying the fund may not meet statutory criteria and could create administrative burdens. The Hawaiian Humane Society strongly supported the bill, arguing the state currently provides little funding for animal overpopulation control and that the measure would help nonprofits and align conservation and animal welfare goals. Several other supporters testified, including a cat sanctuary representative who described the need for a dedicated funding mechanism and a possible Oahu sanctuary to remove cats from sensitive areas. After questions about the effectiveness of trap-neuter-release and the need for alternative management tools, the committees voted to recommend passage with amendments, including blanking appropriation amounts, moving them into the committee report, setting the effective date to July 1, 2050, and noting Budget and Finance concerns; the recommendations were adopted in both committees, with some members voting with reservations. The hearing then moved to SB 1120, relating to transportation and a clean fuel standard. The Department of Transportation said it supported the intent but wanted more information on economic impacts. Electrify America and Neste supported the bill, saying a clean fuel standard would help finance EV charging, encourage investment, and expand lower-carbon fuel options such as renewable diesel. In response to questions from senators about rural and agricultural transportation needs, witnesses said the standard could support both electrification where feasible and cleaner liquid fuels in the interim for equipment that cannot yet be electrified. DOT also described county transit efforts and said it was working with Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island on assessments for zero-emission bus replacement and charging infrastructure. The committees also heard testimony on SB 586, relating to climate change and zero-emission buses by 2045, with the State Procurement Office supporting the intent but suggesting the language be moved to a different statute; DOT said it was providing pass-through funding to counties and had some zero-emission bus purchases and charging stations on order. The discussion emphasized infrastructure costs and implementation challenges, but no final vote on SB 1120 or SB 586 was described in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• person was under the age of 18.
• person was under the age of 18.
• Number three, the defendant was 18 years of age or younger.
• The transferee was 17 years of age or younger, and then the date.
• You don't have to prove that you knew they were under the age of 18.

Bills: HB99 , HB38 , HB165 , HB127 , HB72 , HB151 , SB40 , SB104 , SB136 , SB164

Committee: House House Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 38, which would require insurance coverage for specialized wheelchairs, activity chairs, and related mobility devices for people with limb loss or other disabilities, with guardrails limiting the number of covered devices over time. The sponsor and supporters, including the Office of Superintendent of Insurance, Disability Rights New Mexico, the Disability Coalition, physical therapists, and disability advocates, said the bill would improve access, inclusion, and physical activity without significant premium impact. Questions focused on the substitute language, the device limits, and how Medicaid would handle coverage separately. The committee ultimately passed the House Health and Human Services Committee substitute for HB 38 on a 10-0 vote. The committee then approved House Bill 165, which expands the C-PACE financing program to businesses using industrial revenue bonds and clarifies that counties and municipalities are not liable for payments. Support came from economic development and business groups, who said the bill would remove a barrier to energy- and water-efficiency upgrades and encourage investment. The bill passed on a 10-0 vote. House Bill 127 also passed unanimously after discussion of its three parts: a provisional licensure pathway for internationally trained physicians, a telehealth registry for out-of-state providers, and changes to expedited licensure. Supporters said it would help address provider shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas, while the sponsor explained that the amended version includes safeguards such as exam requirements, supervised practice, and a provisional-to-restricted-to-full licensure path. The committee voted 11-0 to advance the bill. House Bill 72, which would increase penalties for distributing certain controlled substances, including methamphetamine, to minors, drew strong support from law enforcement and the chamber of commerce but significant concern from the Public Defender and several members over strict liability, mandatory sentencing, and the breadth of the penalty. After debate over whether the bill could reach low-level or peer-to-peer conduct and whether the penalty was proportionate, the committee voted to table the bill by a 6-4 vote. The committee then took up House Bill 151, a revised childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations bill. The sponsor presented a committee substitute that changed commission appointments, added reporting and solvency-related provisions, and adjusted procedures for compensation and appeals. Members raised concerns about parity, definitions, administrative costs, and how awards would be determined, but the committee approved the committee substitute on a 7-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The mechanism of NDAs.
• It is about removing a mechanism that has been used.
• In 2004, at the age of 15, I was introduced to a man who was a predator.
• At the age of 23, I was still being molested by this man.
• Runs out at the age of 26 to sue an institution and age 31 for a direct perpetrator.

Bills: HB34 , HB 128 , HB621 , HB748 , HB2259 , HB2960 , HB3113 , HB4749 , SB835 , HB128

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing I'll say is that my daughter's currently aging out of Pappas.
• She's 22, so she's aging out.
• Because, as you describe, the infrastructure continues to age.
• Two of our respite patients have already aged out.
• I teach the oldest students, ages 19 to 21.

Summary: The special legislative commission on the future of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children held a hybrid public hearing focused on the hospital’s future, admissions, staffing, infrastructure, and whether the facility should be preserved, expanded, or reimagined. Opening remarks from legislators, commissioners, parents, and union representatives emphasized that Pappas provides a unique combination of medical, rehabilitative, educational, and residential services for children with complex needs, and several speakers argued that the hospital is effectively being depopulated through reduced admissions and ongoing discharges despite public assurances that it remains open. Multiple speakers urged the commission to extend its authorization and continue its work before any closure or major change can occur. Testimony from labor leaders, including AFSCME, SEIU Local 509, and the Massachusetts Nurses Association, described a “silent closure” in practice, with staff reporting confusion about the hospital’s status, declining census numbers, blocked admissions, and uncertainty about the workforce’s future. They called for immediate action to stop admission denials and unnecessary discharges, and some proposed short-term solutions such as temporary modular structures to address infrastructure barriers and allow admissions to resume. Parents and former patients testified that Pappas provided life-changing independence, specialized therapy, and campus-based supports that they said could not be replicated elsewhere, and they criticized alternative placements as inadequate. Commissioner Robert Goldstein of the Department of Public Health said the administration supports keeping Pappas open and funded while the commission works, but he argued that admissions must comply with hospital-level-of-care rules and that the campus’s deteriorating infrastructure limits the kinds of children who can safely be served there. He said the department is continuing admissions for appropriate patients, working to expand outreach and services, and exploring long-term options, including broader statewide models of care. Commissioners pressed him on whether discharge status or lack of a clear discharge plan had been used as a barrier to admission, and requested de-identified data on patients recommended for admission but denied. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no mechanism otherwise to compensate for it.
• And the AG, of course, you're right. There's an opinion division.
• I think the AG opinion...
• There ought to be some mechanism for a city not to...
• The mechanism is not through a full rate case.

Bills: HB45 , HB755 , HB 1232 , HB1555 , HB2460 , HB2702 , HB2973 , HB3120 , HB3225 , HB3314 , HB3356 , HB3371 , HB3634 , HB3638 , HB4247 , HB4283 , HB4290 , HB4302 , HB4503 , HB4511 , HB4565 , HB4581 , HB4627 , HB4632 , HB4660 , HB4668 , HB4960 , HB5042 , HB45

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• are in plain English and clearly understandable and may not be the same as our current reporting mechanism
• My good friend just offered an explanation of the mechanics of the bill, and I think it's important.
• Two of them was referred to the Senate order relative to granting the Committee on Aging and Independence
• March 10th, 2026, within which time to make its final report on current Senate documents relative to aging
• Within which time to make its final report on current Senate documents relative to aging and independence

Summary: The Senate considered a campaign finance and ballot question transparency bill, taking up a series of amendments. Several amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on safety-based redactions, standardized valuation/liability reporting, higher contribution limits, municipal ballot question reporting, tax-exempt entities in ballot campaigns, and post-election audits for all statewide elections. Amendments by Senators Rausch and DiDomenico were adopted, including late contribution reporting and retroactive reporting with an emergency preamble. Senator Feingold’s amendment to prohibit pay-per-signature arrangements for petition gathering was also adopted after a roll call vote. The bill, Senate No. 2898, An Act improving campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees, was then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The Senate next took up Senate No. 2903, An Act honoring Blue Star families, which would provide specialty license plates at no charge to the parent, child, or spouse of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Senators spoke in support, emphasizing the sacrifice of officers and their families, including the recent funeral of Officer Stephen LaPorteur. The bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The chamber also approved several committee extension orders. These extended deadlines for the Committees on Aging and Independence, Education, Public Service, and Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, with members noting the limited number of bills and the need for additional time to complete review, cost analysis, or respond to commission reports. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., dispensed with printing a calendar, and adjourned in memory of Stuart H. Altman.

Transcript Highlights:

• are in plain English and clearly understandable and may not be the same as our current reporting mechanism
• My good friend just offered an explanation of the mechanics of the bill, and I think it's important.
• Two of them was referred to the Senate order relative to granting the Committee on Aging and Independence
• March 10, 2026, within which time to make its final report on current Senate documents relative to aging
• Within which time to make its final report on current Senate documents relative to aging and independence

Summary: The Senate took up Senate Bill 2898, a campaign finance transparency bill for state ballot question committees, and considered a series of amendments. Several amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on safety-based redactions, standardized reporting definitions, contribution limits, municipal ballot question reporting, post-election audits for all statewide elections, and tax-exempt entities in ballot campaigns. Amendments by Senators Rausch, DiDomenico, and Finegold were adopted, including late contribution reporting, retroactive reporting with an emergency preamble, regulations for preliminary costs, and a ban on pay-per-signature arrangements for signature gathering. One amendment by Senator Edwards on stronger penalties for violations was withdrawn. The Ways and Means amendment, as amended, was then adopted, the bill was ordered to third reading, and it ultimately passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 roll call vote. The Senate then considered Senate Bill 2903, an act honoring Blue Star families, which would provide specialty license plates at no charge to the parent, child, or spouse of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Senators spoke in strong support, citing the recent funeral of Officer Stephen LaPorteur of Uxbridge and the continuing grief of families of fallen officers. The bill was ordered to third reading and passed to be engrossed unanimously by a 38-0 roll call. Later, the Senate adopted several committee extension orders. These extended deadlines for the Committees on Aging and Independence, Education, Public Service, and Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, with members and committee chairs explaining the need for additional time to complete work on pending bills, review commission recommendations, and finish cost analyses. The Senate also adopted an order to adjourn to the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., and the chamber adjourned in memory of Stuart H. Altman.

Transcript Highlights:

• are in plain English and clearly understandable and may not be the same as our current reporting mechanism
• My good friend just offered an explanation of the mechanics of the bill, and I think it's important.
• Two of them was referred to the Senate order relative to granting the Committee on Aging and Independence
• March 10th, 2026, within which time to make its final report on current Senate documents relative to aging
• Within which time to make its final report on current Senate documents relative to aging and independence

Transcript Highlights:

• So my understanding is it started with ag. It started with agriculture. Thank you.
• So my understanding is it started with ag. It started with agriculture.
• I would really like the bill to just close the loophole, create a mechanism where we can begin to track
• Pool, create a mechanism where we can begin to track the complaints, the concerns, put it through the
• They're long-lived, slow to mature, with many of them exceeding 60 years in age.

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The committee first heard SB 200, which would implement recommendations from DEP’s 2020 Recycling Goal Final Report by creating a technical assistance group to develop a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan by 2026. The bill focuses on recycling education and outreach, evaluating the former recycling grant program, and developing markets for recyclable materials. Supporters from the waste and recycling industry and counties said the bill would finally create a real plan to help Florida move toward its recycling goals. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience, which would promote green, gray, and hybrid infrastructure, direct USF’s Flood Hub to develop guidelines, require DEP rulemaking on erosion and mangrove protection, and study whether nature-based flood reduction could help lower insurance costs. Supporters appeared in favor, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 7000 as a committee bill to continue a public records exemption protecting site-specific location information for threatened and endangered species. Members next took up SB 56 on weather modification activities. The bill would prohibit the release of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere to affect weather or sunlight, define geoengineering, increase penalties through an amendment, and create a DEP reporting hotline with possible referral to DOH or emergency management. The sponsor and several supporters argued the bill was needed to address public concerns and lack of oversight, while several senators questioned the evidence, the role of state agencies, and whether the bill was ready for passage. Despite opposition from some members, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also approved CS for SB 62 creating a resilient building tax credit program, after amending it to shift agency references from DEP to DBPR and add university advisory members, and CS for SB 80 to clarify state park management as conservation-based, require public notice and advisory input for plan changes, and improve reporting on park repairs; both bills were reported favorably after testimony from supporters and conservation groups who sought tighter language to prevent incompatible uses. Finally, the committee received presentations from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on gopher tortoise relocation, wildlife disease surveillance, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. FWC described tortoise relocation and recipient-site programs, ongoing monitoring of wildlife diseases such as chronic wasting disease and feline leukomyelopathy, and efforts to address fish die-offs and update sanctuary agreements amid state-federal jurisdiction issues. No votes were taken on the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also establishes enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance and accountability.
• There is a mechanism, imperfect but real, by which California could respond.
• Hi, David Bullock of the SFV Alliance, also in industrial mechanics.
• I was incarcerated from the age of 15 until I was 32, and policy saved my life.
• We're in an age of technology.

Summary: The committee heard several immigration-, health-, food access-, and tribal-rights-related bills. AB 1725 would require disclosure of oil wells near homes and sensitive sites and stronger methane monitoring; supporters described health and safety harms in communities near wells, while apartment, realtor, building, and chamber representatives opposed or sought amendments, arguing the bill should better target the responsible industry and fit existing disclosure processes. AB 1650 would require privately rented or leased vehicles used by government agencies for enforcement to be clearly identifiable and equipped with safety lighting; supporters, including immigrant-rights advocates and local officials, said unmarked vehicles create fear and confusion during ICE operations, while the chamber sought clarification and noted exemptions for ordinary undercover law enforcement. AB 1857 would prohibit grocery restrictive covenants that keep new supermarkets from opening after a store closes, with supporters framing it as a food-access and anti-hunger measure; grocers and retailers raised concerns but said amendments addressed many issues, and the committee moved the bill forward as amended to Appropriations on a recorded vote, with all members present voting aye except one absent member and the bill placed on call. The committee also heard AB 1876, which would codify federal health-care nondiscrimination protections in state law. Supporters from Equality California, Disability Rights California, Planned Parenthood, and other health groups said it would preserve coverage protections for LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and other protected classes amid federal rollbacks; opponents argued it would entrench gender-affirming-care standards and criticized the underlying medical framework. The bill passed to Appropriations on a recorded vote, with most members voting aye and one no vote, and was placed on call. AB 1908 would allow public entities to use judgment obligation bonds to finance self-funded victim compensation funds; Los Angeles County said the bill would fill a financing gap for faster compensation, and the committee advanced it on a recorded vote and placed it on call. AB 1881, the California Indian Freedom Act of 2026, would protect California tribes’ access to sacred sites and traditional practices on state public lands and require meaningful consultation; it drew extensive support from tribal leaders and Native organizations, while cities, counties, utilities, builders, and business groups were opposed unless amended, largely seeking clarification and narrowing. The bill was amended to focus on state public lands and passed to Appropriations on a recorded vote, then placed on call. Later, AB 2465 would bar businesses that profit from private detention facilities or contract with immigration-enforcement agencies from receiving state grants, loans, or tax credits and create an immigrant resilience fund. Supporters said the state should not subsidize businesses tied to immigration raids and detention; opponents, including the chamber, bankers, and contractors, raised vagueness and scope concerns, especially over what contracts would be covered. Members said they supported the concept but wanted the bill tightened, and it passed to Revenue and Taxation on a recorded vote with one no vote and was placed on call. The committee then heard AB 2662, which would create a formal state process to monitor and report on federal immigration enforcement actions and their impacts; supporters from legal aid and health centers said raids have chilled access to work, schools, clinics, and naturalization, and the bill was presented as a modest accountability measure. The transcript cuts off before any vote on AB 2662. The committee also approved a consent calendar of several bills and resolutions, sending some to Appropriations and others to the floor.