Transcript Highlights:

• advise and coordinate efforts related to food policy in the state to strengthen local food networks and
• advise and coordinate efforts related to food policy in the state to strengthen local food networks and
• localized efforts, including Tulsa Food Policy Council and the Oklahoma City Food Hub.
• So they educate the public about local foods and how to improve access to foods grown or harvested in
• The idea that more people could eat food or grow their own food is absolutely...

Bills: SB2108 , SB2121 , SB2171 , SB2061 , SB2112 , SB2138

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Wildlife

Summary: The committee laid over several bills at the start of the meeting, including SB 1550, SB 2173, and SB 2114, and announced a new rule prohibiting video recording on phones in the committee room. The committee then took up a series of agriculture-related measures, with most of the discussion focused on feral hog control, lab-grown meat, hunting regulations, local food policy, open-range cleanup, and prescribed burn liability coverage. SB 2108, as amended, was presented as a feral swine control bill. Supporters said it would reduce property damage, disease spread, and regulatory barriers for landowners and hunters, while opponents raised concerns about people who capture hogs for food and the impact on self-provisioning. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 10-2. SB 2121, which would ban the sale of cell-cultured, lab-grown meat, drew debate over free-market choice versus protecting Oklahoma agriculture and food safety; it passed 9-3. SB 2171, which would extend the residency requirement for a lifetime fishing license from six months to one year and create a velvet buck season under controlled hunts, passed 12-1 after debate about trophy hunting, commercialization, and deer management. SB 2061 would create an Oklahoma Food Policy Council within the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to coordinate local food networks and producer-to-consumer access. Testimony from the agency said some related work is already being done through its Market Development Division, but the council would formalize broader representation; the bill passed 12-1. SB 2112, as amended, cleaned up prior open-range language to include leased land and passed unanimously. SB 2138 would establish a prescribed burn indemnity fund to help cover damages from escaped prescribed burns; members discussed coverage levels, funding, and whether it primarily protects the burner or neighboring landowners. It also passed unanimously. The meeting ended with an announcement about a Marshallese group performing in the rotunda and then adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and I don't know how to say it, is whole food or natural food.
• Senator Mayes, do you believe some food is better than no food? Would you agree with me on that?
• For accessibility to healthy foods.
• How will this bill eliminate unhealthy foods without reducing access to food?
• While we want them to buy fresh foods, potentially, I mean, there are other foods of value.

Bills: SJR37 , SJR57 , SB7 , SB8 , SB16 , SB108 , SB125 , SB207 , SB318 , SB371 , SB379 , SB396 , SB406 , SB503 , SB533 , SB565 , SB578 , SB599 , SB686 , SB689 , SB707 , SB763 , SB854 , SB857 , SB875 , SB878 , SB920 , SB924 , SB961 , SB965 , SB985 , SB988 , SB1021 , SB1024 , SB1026 , SB1038 , SB1059 , SB1185 , SB1202 , SB1207 , SB1252 , SB1330 , SB1396 , SB1484 , SB1527 , SB1535 , SB1596 , SB1619 , SB1697 , SB1737 , SB1741 , SB1841 , SJR36 , SJR12 , SJR57 , SJR37 , SCR22 , SCR12 , SB565 , SB765 , SB62 , SB666 , SB707 , SB888 , SB687 , SB847 , SB1248 , SB504 , SB857 , SB305 , SB296 , SB284 , SB1497 , SB1498 , SB241 , SB304 , SB621 , SB1023 , SB1024 , SB686 , SB371 , SB204 , SB609 , SB670 , SB850 , SB854 , SB413 , SB1346 , SB1033 , SB1220 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB1539 , SB447 , SB875 , SB406 , SB985 , SB965 , SB1119 , SB1505 , SB1215 , SB1302 , SB856 , SB583 , SB673 , SB681 , SB1172 , SB1252 , SB608 , SB955 , SB957 , SB988 , SB1021 , SB1120 , SB251 , SB541 , SB379 , SB1737 , SB266 , SB1415 , SB1527 , SB125 , SB599 , SB1330 , SB53 , SB1352 , SB785 , SB472 , SB1450 , SB1502 , SB1566 , SB414 , SB1062 , SB961 , SB1038 , SB578 , SB711 , SB746 , SB942 , SB1404 , SB1448 , SB1738 , SB108 , SB8 , SB318 , SB507 , SB533 , SB689 , SB1026 , SB1349 , SB1355 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1596 , SB1403 , SB763 , SB667 , SB1059 , SB617 , SB1567 , SB503 , SB16 , SB310 , SB311 , SB396 , SB505 , SB1209 , SB1210 , SB1470 , SB264 , SB924 , SB1029 , SB1185 , SB1202 , SB1358 , SB1364 , SB1569 , SB1697 , SB1376 , SB1228 , SB519 , SB878 , SB1350 , SB462 , SB1535 , SB827 , SB1585 , SB207 , SB1207 , SB1619 , SB1396 , SB920 , SB1484 , SB1273 , SB1741 , SB7 , SB927 , SB1227 , SB1229 , SB1353 , SB1366 , SB1464 , SB1709 , SB1729 , SB1733 , SB1744 , SB1772 , SB1816 , SB1841 , SB2188 , SB1147 , SB879 , SB1008 , SJR81 , SJR50 , SCR39 , SB1536 , SB2016 , SB1453 , SB1173 , SB1163 , SB996 , SB27 , SB568 , SB1370 , SB1321 , SB1101 , SB906 , SB860 , SB1563 , SB993 , SB693 , SB1610 , SB1537 , SB836 , SB1332 , SB1307 , SB963 , SB493 , SB922 , SB984 , SB1084 , SB619 , SB1098 , SB1122 , SB455 , SB522 , SB1057 , SB1239 , SB1254 , SB1255 , SB1259 , SB1341 , SB1664 , SB1877 , SB464 , SB1277 , SB32 , SB732 , SB660 , SB731 , SB921 , SB268 , SB1822 , SB1188 , SB1939 , SB1589 , SB397 , SB1388 , SB2230 , SB1058 , SB1036 , SB1267 , SB2112 , SB1930 , SB532 , SB1035 , SB2155 , SB508 , SB29 , SB292 , SB291 , SB901 , SB1333 , SB1436 , SB1494 , SB964 , SB779 , SB1378 , SB2312 , SB1719

Transcript Highlights:

• Food banks are a critical lifeline. California families experience food insecurity.
• The California Association of Food Banks represents 43 food banks that partner with over 6,000 organizations
• 15% tax credit for donating California-grown food to food banks.
• SB 881 supports farmers, reduces food waste, fights climate change, and helps Californians get food in
• food for the good of those communities.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> limits ultrarocessed foods in schools. limits ultrarocessed foods in schools.
• </c> grown food in there. grown food in there. &gt;&gt; Very<00:15:58.639><c> good.
• locally sourced food.
• our</c><00:53:18.480><c> food</c><00:53:18.720><c> distribution</c> about food, but our food distribution
• USDA Foods and Schools.

Summary: The task force met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the August 20 meeting, and then heard testimony from Representative Steven Doan on House Bill 439, a school nutrition bill aimed at restricting certain ultra-processed foods in schools. Doan said the bill was inspired by his own health journey and his work in agriculture, and he described the measure as targeting specific chemical additives in foods served during the school day, not concession sales or after-hours activities. He said the bill would phase in later to give schools time to adjust and noted that the list of restricted additives was drawn from efforts in other states and advocacy groups. Members asked about the chemical abstract numbers, fiscal impact, summer meal programs, fundraisers, and whether the bill would affect parent-provided items; Doan said he had not done a fiscal note and explained that the bill was intended to apply only during instructional time on school property. Committee members generally reacted favorably, with some raising practical concerns about cost and implementation. One member asked about high fructose corn syrup, which Doan said was not included because it is too pervasive in the food system. Another member noted that schools already limit some homemade items and asked about the line between school-provided and parent-provided food. Doan also said the list was based in part on Turning Point USA materials and similar laws in other states, and he referenced federal efforts to define ultra-processed foods. The committee then heard from Kentucky Department of Education officials Matt Ross, Lauren Moore, and Katie Embry on school meals and nutrition programs. They outlined Kentucky’s school lunch, breakfast, summer meals, and other USDA child nutrition programs, including participation and reimbursement figures, and explained how community eligibility provision schools, meal patterns, offer-versus-serve, smart snacks, and local wellness policies work. They said USDA and FDA are currently seeking public input on a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods, that there are no current USDA requirements specifically on ultra-processed foods, and that schools already operate under federal and state rules governing competitive foods, including a state time restriction on smart snacks. They also discussed local purchasing, noting its benefits but also the procurement and staffing challenges schools face. No votes or final actions on the bill were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• that's if this goes through if food that's approved or not that means that sometimes through, if food
• will only increase food prices.
• more in food banks, investing more in farmers markets, and making sure that they can be local in food
• There'll be food trucks. They're awesome food trucks. I like food, y'all know.
• There'll be food trucks. They're awesome food trucks. I like food, y'all know.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Fred Kogan. Members also introduced numerous guests and groups, including Lunar New Year celebrants, Freedom Academy students, local officials from Nogales and Santa Cruz County, and representatives of Phoenix Ballet, which was honored in a proclamation recognizing National Ballet Day and the company’s contributions to Arizona’s arts community. The chamber also announced committee assignments, upcoming committee meetings, and several birthday and event notices, including African American Legislative Day and a statehood celebration for Arizona. On third reading, House Bill 2190, relating to the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants and the Physician Assistant Compact, failed on a 20-38 vote after debate over licensing compacts and rural health workforce needs. House Bill 2206, relating to SNAP rulemaking, passed 33-25 after a dispute over whether it created new rulemaking authority; supporters said it clarified existing authority and would help administer the program, while opponents argued it improperly delegated legislative power. House Bill 2396, also relating to SNAP and food restrictions, passed 34-25 after extensive debate about whether the state should limit purchases by low-income families; supporters framed it as promoting healthier choices and responsible use of public funds, while opponents argued it was paternalistic and harmful in food deserts. During the SNAP debate, members on both sides cited food access, nutrition, personal freedom, and the cost of living. Supporters referenced WIC restrictions, school lunch standards, and concerns about taxpayer-funded benefits, while opponents emphasized food deserts, rising prices, and the need for families to make their own choices. After the votes, the House recessed briefly, then returned for additional announcements and procedural business, including committee substitutions, bill referrals, and first reading of HB 4097. The House then adjourned until Monday, February 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• benefits, known as basic food.
• Limiting junk food does nothing to make healthy food more accessible or affordable.
• affordability, and access to healthy food.
• It simply shifts how those foods are paid for.
• Limited access to healthier food is.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee heard testimony on three bills. SB 6212, sponsored by Sen. Nobles, would create a Department of Commerce pilot program providing monthly cash benefits to families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, with a control group and a final report to the Legislature on whether to expand the program statewide. Supporters said the pilot could reduce child poverty, improve family stability, and provide evidence on the effects of direct cash assistance; the sponsor acknowledged the bill would be expensive and said funding would need to be worked out. No vote was taken. SB 6186, sponsored by Sen. Warnick, would direct DSHS to seek a federal waiver to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used to buy candy and sweetened beverages, with annual reapplication if needed. The bill’s preliminary fiscal note was described as significant, and the sponsor said she was open to amendments, including possibly limiting the proposal to Sun Bucks. Testimony was overwhelmingly opposed from anti-hunger advocates, public health experts, economists, SNAP educators, and individuals with lived experience, who argued the restrictions would be costly, hard to administer, stigmatizing, and unlikely to improve nutrition; one supporter said the measure would promote healthier choices and reduce long-term health costs. No action was taken. SB 6707, also by Sen. Warnick, would have WSIPP study DCYF’s screening tools and risk assessment processes for child welfare referrals and their effects on outcomes such as services, removals, re-referrals, and fatalities. DCYF said it supports evaluating its risk assessment tool but is already working with Chapin Hall on a similar redesign and pilot of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale, and asked how the bill would avoid duplicating that work. Sen. Warnick said the bill was intended to examine child welfare outcomes more broadly. The committee heard testimony but took no vote, and the chair announced amendments for Wednesday’s executive session are due by noon the next day before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• our food bank.
• With one in five households in Minnesota struggling to afford food, the need for food banks and food
• The Minnesota food banks work together to source food.
• ><c> food.
• </c> in the food bank world and with food in the food bank world and with food shelf<00:26:40.159><c>

Bills: HF2446

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Food service managers and food service staff across the state welcomed us into their school kitchens
• sourcing, and reducing food waste.
• On the topic of local sourcing of school food, of New Mexico grown, New Mexico raised, or processed food
• in school meals, local food may be fresher than food that's sourced from further away.
• Turning to the issue of food waste, PED is requiring schools to track food waste starting this year.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:40:29.199><c> secure,</c><01:40:29.840><c> food</c> residents remain food secure, food residents
• , all probably funded and worked with the different food banks, Hawaii Island Food Bank, Maui Food Bank
• </c> different food banks, Hawaii Island Food different food banks, Hawaii Island Food Bank,<01:46:56.719
• Food is a basic need some food industry.
• Chair, your recommendation is adopted. relating to food security. relating to food security.

Bills: HB2488 , HB2456

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HP 1972, which would create a nonrefundable family caregiver tax credit, and on a related tax measure to increase the existing dependent care tax credit. Supporters of HP 1972, including AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and others, said unpaid caregivers are essential to keeping kūpuna and other loved ones at home and described significant out-of-pocket costs. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation raised technical concerns, including the need to avoid overlap with existing credits and to prevent double-dipping. The department said taxpayers can claim credits to the extent allowed, but recommended explicit language barring the same costs from being claimed under more than one credit. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair moved the bill along after questions. The committee then heard HP 1975, which would repeal the sunset on the state rent supplement program for kūpuna. AARP, Catholic Charities Hawaii, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the program permanent, saying it helps low-income older adults avoid eviction and homelessness and allows them to remain in affordable housing. Catholic Charities described clients who were paying unsustainable shares of income for rent before receiving the supplement. Members also shared a constituent example of an elderly retiree who needed the subsidy to stay housed. Written support was noted from additional organizations and individuals. Next, the committee took up HB 1706, which would expand Medicaid prospective payment reimbursement to include mental health services furnished in federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics by mental health professionals under supervision. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, and DHS said it appreciated the intent to address workforce shortages and expand training, but cautioned that unlicensed professionals cannot currently bill Medicaid and that a state plan amendment would be needed, with limited precedent for approval. Members asked about the likelihood and timing of federal approval and whether the bill could help rural areas; DHS said approval is uncertain and the process can take time, though it saw possible alignment with the state’s rural health transformation efforts. The committee also discussed HB 546, a three-year health coverage continuity pilot program for people losing Medicaid coverage. DHS, the Attorney General’s office, DCCA, Catholic Charities, the University of Hawaii, and others testified, with DHS warning that federal changes could increase uninsured rates and that the state may need to act quickly. Catholic Charities and others emphasized the risk to Medicaid recipients, including homeless and near-elderly residents, while DHS explained the state’s existing premium assistance program for certain immigrants and compared it to the proposed pilot. The excerpt ends during discussion of that comparison, with no vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• hubs to go through food safety programs.
• program—food banks and food pantries in New Mexico from our own farmers and ranchers.
• systems and how we're using local food to feed everybody across the food spectrum.
• into food banks.
• supply, specifically in animal food supply.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with Good Food Fighter.
• Actually, the back page gives you your list: food allergies, food dyes, fragrances, mold, there's...
• Protecting the integrity of the food supply is the number one priority of food and beverage manufacturers
• Quality of foods indicates that all the currently used dyes should be removed from the food supply and
• There are so many of our health food markets and health food stores... who have initiatives and programs

Bills: SB 25 , SB25 , SB314

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• But part of that is food security. and food security.
• Food programs.
• for food.
• To get the food out, particularly in other rural areas, to maintain the food and all.
• and for our food banks.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:41.160><c> food</c> to have food um have Food Services food to have food um have Food Services
• hazardous foods and selling hazardous foods.
• hazardous foods and selling hazardous foods.
• hazardous foods and selling hazardous foods.
• hazardous foods and selling hazardous foods.

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee opened by noting member absences and then reviewed the governor’s HB 2 trailer bill language creating a solid waste site evaluation committee. The chair explained that Finance would want the committee’s input on the proposal and also announced a temporary change to the committee’s schedule, with additional Wednesday meetings planned around school vacation. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. On HB 150, Representative Ktoa offered a simple amendment changing food-processing language from “washed and rinsed” to “cleaned and sanitized” in the processing area. Members agreed the change better matched food safety practice, and the committee indicated support for advancing the bill. On HB 307, dealing with homestead food production areas, members discussed proposed amendment language that would add clearer sanitary requirements, including handwashing access, sanitary storage, sanitizable food-contact surfaces, and pest exclusion. The committee also discussed whether to replace “potentially hazardous food” with “time temperature control safe food,” but several members favored keeping the existing term because it is already well defined in food safety law. The bill was held for further amendment work rather than being executed immediately. The committee spent substantial time on solid waste legislation. For HB 479, members recalled a prior plan for a letter to the solid waste working group and agreed to proceed with the bill in executive session, with an offer of drafting help from Representative Bixby. For HB 77, which would require DES to establish site-specific setback distances for proposed new landfills, Representative Penza said his amendment was not ready yet but was close, and the bill was left for further discussion. The most detailed discussion was on HB 2115, which would require landfill permit applicants to submit a report on the project’s harms and benefits. Representative Germana explained an amendment that would replace section one, expand the list of benefits to include economic potential and infrastructure improvements, and set up a third-party review process in which the applicant submits a list of reviewers, DES screens the list, and the commissioner selects a reviewer if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked about who could serve as contractors, whether they had to be local, and how DES would judge qualifications; the response was that environmental engineering and similar firms could be used, local or outside the community, and that the process would remain somewhat flexible. Representative H. Haskins asked whether the legislature or subcommittee would be formally notified of preliminary review problems, and the chair said no additional notification process would be built in beyond existing practice. The committee planned to continue work on the bills in upcoming executive sessions, including after school break.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1025 does not create another food program.
• SB 1025 does not create another food program.
• It is the only food they can afford.
• food banks cannot make up the difference.
• Over 5 million Californians rely on the food benefits they receive from CalFresh every month, and food

Committee: House Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Food is not just fuel.
• We know healthy foods are a lot more expensive than cheap foods.
• In a food desert.
• those food deserts.
• One-year-old doesn't know what good foods, bad foods, and all that stuff.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:16:37.120><c> to</c><00:16:37.360><c> underserved</c> food food at no cost to underserved food food
• People who are helping process the food. People who serve the food. People who eat the food.
• We invest in people by investing in food and quality food in preparation of that food.
• </c> the food. People who serve the food. the food. People who serve the food.
• </c> People who eat the food. People who eat the food.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE SESSION THAT DEAL WITH FOOD ADDITIVES, DYES, FOODS THAT MIGHT NOT BE HEALTHY.
• THE DEFINITION OF FOOD IN MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY STATES FOOD IS A MATERIAL CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY
• I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOOD IS FOOD IS SOMETHING THAT NOURISHES SUSTAINS
• I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOOD IS FOOD SHOULD HAVE A PURPOSE.
• ALREADY HEIGHTENED FOOD COSTS AND UNDERMINING CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF OUR NATIONS FOOD

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:27.920><c> Uh</c><00:02:28.160><c> food</c> for food rescue or donations.
• Uh food for food rescue or donations.
• and food banks and food shelves across the state are operating beyond capacity.
• </c> cannot afford the food that they need. cannot afford the food that they need.
• </c> reducing food waste across our state. reducing food waste across our state.

Bills: HF3579 , HF3549 , HF3548 , HF4388 , HF3566

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The House bill strikes language in the adulterated food section of the bill, addressing food additives
• The food additive portion of the bill does not apply to food manufactured prior to, I have to say, I'm
• be really clear that if you have food prior to the effective date, it's not subject to the food dye
• And so the term food includes food, drink, confectionery, or a condiment.
• I want everybody to understand we are fighting right now to keep non-food items in our food.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:18.919><c> industry</c> you next we have Hawaii food industry you next we have Hawaii food
• She said food banks actually do pay the G.E.T. on food, which she found astounding.
• Food and beverage hubs and cooperatives; 3. Food and beverage processors and manufacturers; 4.
• Food banks and organizations that provide food assistance.
• ><c> food</c> organizations that provide food organizations that provide food assistance<01:20:48.880

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems