Transcript Highlights:

• here the more substantial changes that have been made.
• And the courses considered taught have been changed by Act 853.
• Maybe that didn't go so great when we changed that.
• Because, I mean, I would assume, I mean, like everything, things change.
• Because I mean, I would assume, I mean, like everything, things change.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It changes. And it felt very personal.
• It changes.
• It changes.
• We have—it changes quite frequently.
• Operational changes: a lot of safety and security changes on campus, particularly around point of entry

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee held a work session on child welfare dependency, focusing on implementation of HB 1227 (Keeping Families Together) and SB 6109 (the fentanyl response bill), along with related data and system updates. DCYF first reviewed the dependency process, explaining intake, shelter care, fact-finding, disposition, and review hearings, and emphasized that removal standards are separate from service provision and that children may be in-home or out-of-home at different stages. DCYF said 1227 raised the removal threshold to imminent physical harm and strengthened kin placement, with nearly 60% of children now placed with relatives or suitable others. The department also said 6109 directs courts to give great weight to fentanyl’s lethality and added legal liaisons to support staff in court preparation. DCYF presented data showing that entries into out-of-home care declined after 1227 but rose again after 6109, returning close to pre-1227 levels. The agency also reported a sharp increase in reviewable critical incidents in 2022-2025, especially near-fatalities, which it linked to the opioid and fentanyl crisis, parental stress, and system complexity. DCYF said it has responded with statewide Safe Child Councils, staff consultations, hotspot monitoring, and additional training, and noted that some contracted services authorized under 6109 were not implemented because of fiscal constraints. Senators asked about where children are in the process, who participates in court, the timing of data releases, age breakdowns, and geographic hotspots. Advocates and lived-experience witnesses from LCYC and a family intervention clinic argued that 1227 has not prevented courts from removing children when necessary and said the law appropriately requires the state to show a causal link between home conditions and risk. They said 6109 appropriately highlights fentanyl’s danger, but stressed that the larger issue is lack of prevention and treatment resources, inconsistent county-by-county practice, and insufficient supports such as inpatient beds, family treatment, housing, transportation, and third-party safety plan participants. A parent ally described how early support, peer guidance, and kin placement helped her achieve recovery and stability after losing parental rights in an earlier case. The committee also heard an update on SB 6068 from the Administrative Office of the Courts and K Implementation and Evaluation. The report identified 15 dimensions of relational permanency and child well-being, found that some data already exist while other measures need development, and recommended a phased data collection plan, a restored data-sharing agreement between AOC and DCYF, and a standing cross-agency work group. AOC said its dependency data system lapsed when the prior agreement expired in June 2025 and needs to be rebuilt. The meeting also included a brief update on bridge housing for youth exiting inpatient treatment, with presenters saying two programs are now open, one in King County and one in Spokane, and a short introduction to juvenile rehabilitation capacity updates before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• because you're changing the positions. because you're changing the positions.
• Uh change<00:53:32.480> request. change request. change request.
• Maybe changes are made and there's a, you know, $400,000 change order here or something like that.
• Maybe changes are made and there's a, you know, $400,000 change order here or something like that.
• It asked for a committee amendment to change, uh, to 120 days.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And since we have some new members, I want to remind folks that the changes that we made in the 2023
• And since we have some new members, I want to remind folks that the changes that we made in the 2023
• I also want to lift up some exciting changes to the renters' credit that were passed in 2023 and are
• I also want to lift up some exciting changes to the renters' credit that were passed in 2023 and are
• <00:20:14.160> the then, um, the fact that we changed the then, um, the fact that we changed

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2499, authored by Representative Lee, which would expand Minnesota’s renters’ credit to more closely match the homestead credit for homeowners. Lee explained that the bill would raise the income cutoff from about $75,389 to $143,140 and increase the maximum credit to $3,500, with the goal of addressing what she described as an inequity between renters and homeowners who both pay property taxes. She cited revenue estimates showing the change could make about 80,000 additional renters eligible, while acknowledging the bill would be costly to enact this year. Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project testified in support, describing how the renters’ credit works, including the assumption that 17% of rent goes toward property taxes. She highlighted 2022 data showing most recipients had low incomes, many were seniors or people with disabilities, and participation was higher in greater Minnesota in some respects. Michael Dah of Homeline also supported the bill, saying renters face rising housing costs and use the credit for basic needs such as groceries, school supplies, medical care, and car repairs. Members discussed whether expanding the credit would simply benefit landlords or encourage rent increases. Representative Anderson opposed the bill on the grounds that policy should incentivize homeownership, while Representative Huitt argued the credit could help renters build savings and move toward homeownership if they choose. Representative Lee responded that the housing market is broken and that the credit is one tool to help renters in a broader housing continuum. The discussion also covered outreach and administration of the credit, including the recent move to file it with income taxes, electronic certificates of rent paid, and funding for tax-preparation assistance and outreach through VITA sites and community organizations. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nothing changes.
• The Chair's recommendation on this is to pass with amendments. process that this bill does not change
• process that this bill does not change and<00:30:18.120> that<00:30:19.080> the<00:30:
• Recommendation here is to pass with amendments, and the only amendment that we will do is change the
• Recommendation here is to pass with amendments, and the only amendment that we will do is change the

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs heard testimony on several public safety and criminal justice measures. HB 433 HD1 would appropriate funds for Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation re-entry services; DCR Director Tommy Johnson said the department supports the bill’s intent but noted the same $4 million request is in the governor’s executive budget, and the Correctional System Oversight Commission, Public Defender, ACLU, OHA, Chamber of Commerce, and other groups testified in support. Members asked whether the funding was already in the governor’s budget, and Johnson confirmed it was requested there for the next two fiscal years. HB 1045 would make emergency appropriations for law enforcement personnel costs, and the Department of Law Enforcement, DAGS, Budget and Finance, and the Judiciary testified in support, with DLE saying the amounts match what Budget and Finance will present. HB 1296 would require timely notice and reporting to the Legislature when the governor transfers money to the major disaster fund; Budget and Finance and the Governor’s office offered comments, and no opposition was noted. HB 1002 would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify inspection authority; DCR and the commission supported it, with the commission saying a longer term would help the coordinator do the job effectively and allow inspections without notice. HB 596 would clarify what events qualify as disasters and emergencies for emergency management purposes. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency opposed the bill, while maritime and Grassroot Institute representatives supported it. Members asked whether the bill’s 21-day limit should be extended to 30 days, and HEMA said it opposed any change that would limit the governor’s flexibility in the response phase. The committee also heard HB 1128 HD1, which would set factors for warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations and require officers to record the justification. The Office of the Public Defender, ACLU, and some reform advocates supported it as a check on police discretion and a way to encourage citations, while the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department, prosecutors, DLE, county police chiefs, SHOPO, and others opposed it as too restrictive and likely to create litigation and court delays. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, if the rule changed or other circumstances changed, you know, they could resubmit their waiver
• because they're you know they changed because they're you know they changed how<00:25:29.760>
• , if the rule changed or other circumstances<00:26:03.600> changed,<00:26:04.400> you<00
• With that, I agree with Representative L. the um law that changed was work the um law that changed was
• couple of editorial changes. That's all. couple of editorial changes. That's all.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and consent calendar, then took up several rule items. For Department of Safety rule 2611, DMV leadership explained the rule had been under development since January but needed to be updated to reflect a new statutory change and to align the rule with RSA 266. Members discussed narrowing the rule to road-safety items rather than automobile inspection provisions, and the department said it would issue a new public notice and hold another hearing. The committee voted to grant a waiver and postpone the item until the October 15, 2026 meeting. The Board of Active Puncture Licensing item 26-47 was postponed one month at the agency’s request so it could incorporate OS feedback, with no waiver needed. The Insurance Department’s claim settlement rule 25-234 and related item 26-78 drew more extensive discussion over waiver language. Committee members objected that the proposed language gave the commissioner broad discretion to set waiver periods without clear criteria, while agency counsel argued the rule already contained standards and that the language allowed temporary waivers. After discussion about consistency, permanency, and the need for clearer documentation, the committee voted to postpone 25-234 with a waiver and to postpone 26-78. Finally, the committee considered Health and Human Services rule 2690, which sets SNAP certification periods for a pilot demonstration authorized by SB 499. Staff explained that federal changes now require the age threshold for the 36-month certification period to be 65 instead of 60, and that the agency had been directed to make the change by August 12. Agency staff said the rule needed to be updated to match federal direction, and members generally agreed. The committee discussed whether the federal citation was sufficient and whether the rule should reference the law change directly, but no final objection was raised in the portion shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the phased-in does not change.
• The only change is that as of August The only change is that as of August 1st,<01:21:49.120> 2026,
• So the phased in does not change. in. So the phased in does not change.
• <01:41:25.520> with I'm curious, have things changed with I'm curious, have things changed
• . life-changing. life-changing.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, it's hard to keep up with the ever-changing tasks.
• The bill has changed substantially.
• The bill has changed substantially.
• Yet nothing changes.
• It's just a like-for-like change.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why you'll see some changes there.
• So I guess I knew the answer to, if you change the questions a little bit, does it change the answers
• Like, make the changes you need to make because we're not changing our mind on term limits.
• For instance, fuel tax rate changes. Do you, I don't know. For instance, fuel tax rate changes.
• For instance, fuel tax rate changes. Do you I don't know. For instance, fuel tax rate changes.

Summary: The Legislative Arrangements and Procedure Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then took up several follow-up items related to legislative security, public records, and the impacts of term limits. The Secretary of State’s office presented draft language to make legislators’ and candidates’ residential addresses confidential in public records, with discussion of who would be covered, how the protection would work, and whether it should expire when a candidate’s term ends. Members raised concerns about unintended consequences, transparency, and whether the public should still be able to see enough information to evaluate residency requirements. Rather than act immediately, the committee set the draft aside for a future meeting and asked for an amendment reflecting the Secretary of State’s suggested changes. The committee also reviewed a security best-practices memo and NCSL materials on capitol security. The memo encouraged legislators to be aware of their surroundings, avoid real-time vacation posting, vary routines, report threats, and follow security alerts. Members discussed a recent incident and the need to improve alert distribution and update contact information so legislators and staff receive notices consistently. The Secretary of State and committee members noted that the alert system may need refinement, including a separate legislative notification channel. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to Garrity Consulting’s final report on how to mitigate the effects of legislative term limits. The consultants summarized interviews, surveys, and focus groups with legislators, the public, and stakeholders, identifying major themes such as loss of institutional knowledge, leadership turnover, staffing pressures, and the need for stronger onboarding and training. Recommendations included considering annual sessions or shifting biennial sessions to even-numbered years, restructuring organizational session, making interim committees more consistent with regular committees, adding office hours, formalizing mentorship and leadership succession planning, expanding staff and professional development resources, creating public-facing educational tools, and improving communication and virtual testimony options. Members generally appreciated the report and its phased implementation roadmap, while also debating the practicality of some recommendations and the tension between making service more demanding and keeping the legislature accessible to new candidates.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a change in leadership, and that change has not been completed.
• <00:22:41.600> of<00:22:41.919> this change change the the trajectory of this change
• Chair, there are changes in the Um Mr.
• those changes will be made and there those changes will be made and there will<00:44:18.400> be
• meet, but that can always change. Yeah. meet, but that can always change. Yeah.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on June 20, 2025 and first approved the May 16 minutes and the non-removed items on the consent calendar. It then took up a Health and Human Services item for $5 million in additional nursing facility payments (FIS 25158). HHS explained the transfer was for private and county nursing facilities and was the third and final transfer in FY25, funded through federal matching dollars, county cap funds, and general funds. Members asked about the size of the transfer, whether it signaled future shortfalls, and how projections were developed; HHS said the request reflected updated estimates and that they did not expect similarly large transfers going forward. The committee adopted the item. The committee also considered an ARPA-related item to remove a line from a funding request because the issue had been resolved and the positions/funds were no longer needed. Members approved the item with that line removed. Commissioner Caswell then answered questions about ARPA spending authority, saying remaining projects must be expended by December 31, 2026 and that the item was intended to preserve authority for ongoing capital projects; any unspent funds would revert to the federal government. Members noted the recurring nature of these ARPA adjustments and the need to keep tracking deadlines. The Department of Corrections presented several items, including a $10 million request tied to staffing shortages and overtime costs, plus additional corrections-related funding items. Interim commissioner John Skipa said 18 employees had received preliminary layoff notices pending final budget approval. He and staff said the overtime need was driven by staffing shortages, later collective bargaining pay increases, and double-time compensation for uniform officers forced into overtime; they also said one housing unit section had been closed to reduce staffing pressure. In response to questions about morale and operational risk, Skipa said the department was under strain, that leadership was in transition, and that staffing or budget reductions could create litigation risk. The committee also heard about the Site Evaluation Committee’s budget shortfall, which was attributed to fewer new facility applications but continued casework and public engagement, and approved that item. Finally, members discussed a YDC claims administration item, questioning the role and cost of the Verald Dana consultant; staff said the firm handles intake and processing of claims for the Attorney General’s office and had been involved since the claims process was created. Several items were adopted after brief discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Climate change is increasing that as we do have longer, hotter, drier summers because of changing climate
• I'm happy to see that the conversation is starting to change.
• And we're losing three whole communities because there's been just enough change with climate change
• That's just changed in the last five years.
• Climate change is here. We're not gonna change that. We can change how we respond to it.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please help to change this by voting in favor of SB 1224. Thank you. Very good. Go ahead.
• , but those changes would still be necessary.
• So I think it's great all the changes you've outlined.
• Your committee substitute changed it.
• And I said against; I think I want to change.

Bills: SB604, SB843, SB1636, SB2395, SB571, SB1224, SB1832, SB2392, SB747, SB2623, SB2624, SB2185

Keywords: bonds, education funding, Texas Permanent School Fund, financial transparency, speculative rating, school funding, deferred maintenance, tax revenue, education budget, school districts, education, finance, Texas Education Code, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• We changed the do some modifications.
• So I wondered if you could change.
• <00:19:52.160> that bill as it was with those changes that bill as it was with those changes
• This also does not change that clear.
• be clear, this amendment doesn't change be clear, this amendment doesn't change the<01:07:12.319

Bills: HF3432, HF3411

Keywords: resident tuition, employment, higher education, Minnesota, tuition rates, state universities, immigration status, immigration, postsecondary education, privacy, data access, federal officers, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, changing it here doesn't change the fact that the State Board of Education still has to be the one
• So, changing it here doesn't change the fact that the State Board of Education still has to be the one
• So, changing it here doesn't change the fact that the State Board of Education still has to be the one
• <00:55:14.000> for<00:55:14.359> the change for the change for the for<00:55:15.600>
• make um personnel changes? make um personnel changes?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:19.680> to file um 3101 makes two small changes to file um 3101 makes two small changes
• These changes make it easier penalty.
• <00:41:26.000> a projects that substantially change a projects that substantially change a
• > required proposal would change the required proposal would change the required Metropolitan<
• that shows how this bill would change that shows how this bill would change current<01:37:08.080

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So basically, the amendment is just changing the term of punishment from two years to five years.
• Representative Olson's motion to vote, change your vote, close the cue, clear the vote.
• It makes two simple changes to the Oklahoma statute.
• So, what is current law as we sit here today, and then what is your change to it?
• So, I assume that means tire changes, oil changes.

Bills: HB3765, HB4324, HB3678, HB4170, HB3495, HB3040, HB3062, HB4140, HB4106, HB4109, HB4104, HB3581

Keywords: property rights, forfeiture, noncitizen, land ownership, felony, public safety, criminal procedure, sentence modification, resentencing, judicial review, postconviction relief, district attorney, prosecutor, victim rights, victim notification, Department of Corrections, inmate rehabilitation, sentencing reform, life without parole, nonviolent offense

Transcript Highlights:

• It would have made some really good changes in the bill and also so we want to help hospitals.
• Nothing would change. So we made the bill better. We made it last year's version.
• <00:08:03.599> nothing<00:08:04.000> would<00:08:04.240> change.
• <00:08:05.599> So, teeth on it. nothing would change.
• So, teeth on it. nothing would change.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill changes that.
• So it doesn't change the cost; it doesn't drive up the cost.
• A lot has changed, and even more has the potential to change.
• The bill before you makes a couple of changes, and again, Mr.
• changes.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to cover individuals at risk of losing coverage due to changes.
• Then she alluded to the changes in federal law.
• But if we can focus on what's changing, not what's already in current law.
• I don't really understand the changes unless I know the history of the bill.
• And the changes that were made during the COVID era. See, I don't understand that.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have technologies changing. We have technologies changing.
• It’s designed to accommodate change in policy, change in dynamics, and change in needs.
• 24:00.400> change in policy, change and dynamics, change in policy, change and dynamics, change
• Um a lot's changed since then. So you. Um a lot's changed since then.
• it it would change every rate case. it it would change every rate case.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational briefing on the Public Utilities Commission’s performance-based regulation (PBR) framework and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ whistleblower complaint process. Chair Jared Kohole opened the meeting, noted it was informational only with no public testimony, and explained that members would hear presentations and then have an opportunity for questions. The committee heard first from Ulupono Initiative, which provided background on why utilities are regulated, how Hawaii’s cost-of-service model and rate cases work, and why PBR was adopted to shift utility incentives away from a capital-investment bias and toward performance, efficiency, cost control, and policy goals such as renewable energy and reliability. Ulupono described Hawaii’s PBR structure as a five-year multi-year rate plan with annual revenue adjustments, a customer dividend, a Z factor for extraordinary exogenous events, and an exceptional project recovery mechanism for large projects. It also outlined performance incentive mechanisms tied to renewable portfolio standard progress, interconnection speed, reliability, and shared savings. The presentation said the current docket is evaluating a possible hybrid approach that would combine forward-looking forecasting with historical results, and Ulupono advocated for stronger incentives, arguing the current rewards are too small relative to utility revenues and should be more meaningful to better align utility behavior with legislative intent. The PUC then presented its own overview, emphasizing that the PBR docket is open and active and that the briefing was limited to the record to avoid ex parte concerns. The commission described the development of PBR in Hawaii through multiple phases beginning in 2018: an initial collaborative phase to set goals, a formal contested-case phase that produced the initial framework, later phases adding scorecards, reported metrics, and additional performance incentive mechanisms, and subsequent refinements including sunset of some mechanisms and adjustments after the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The PUC said the framework is intended to be customer-centric, administratively efficient, and protective of utility financial integrity, and that current work includes evaluating how to balance forward-looking and historical test-year approaches within the rebasing process. No votes or formal actions were taken at the briefing.