Transcript Highlights:

• 18 doesn't that protect your disability 18 doesn't that protect your disability person<00:55:45.119
• <01:01:19.119> Alzheimer's suffering disability Alzheimer's suffering disability Alzheimer's
• people with disabilities, and we are in large agreement with NAMI New Hampshire that this bill, um,
• <01:03:23.640> and system for people with disabilities and system for people with disabilities
• with a traumatic brain injury, and other disabilities that could impact a person's ability to engage

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Children with disabilities deserve access to that level of care.
• Open beds to adults with developmental disabilities.
• Open beds to adults with developmental disabilities. offer outpages. to adults with developmental disabilities
• I am the mother of a child with severe disabilities.
• continuum of care for individuals with disabilities.

Keywords: 995, all

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:

• First up is House Bill 657, relating to disabled veterans.
• House Bill 657 relates to disabled veterans and exempts disabled veterans from the State's vehicle weight
• How do you quantify somebody that's 100% disabled? It can be unseen trauma.
• <01:27:26.520> it<01:27:26.639> can<01:27:26.800> be disabled it can be disabled
• <01:27:56.840> veterans know the most severely disabled veterans know the most severely disabled

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety heard testimony on several bills. HB 628 HD1, relating to education, would reinstate a prior law allowing veterans whose high school education was interrupted by wartime to receive a diploma. Testimony was generally supportive from the Office of Veterans Services, the Department of Education, the Hawaii Military Affairs Council, and an individual testifier, with one person in opposition. The committee later recommended passage of HB 628 HD1 as is, and the motion was adopted. The committee also heard HB 1158 HD1 and HB 1159 HD1, both relating to commercial harbors. HB 1158 HD1 concerns firefighting at commercial harbors and drew support from the Department of Transportation; the committee recommended passage as is and adopted the recommendation. HB 1159 HD1 would require masters or persons in charge of vessels to comply with a Harbor Master’s order to evacuate a commercial harbor during emergencies. Testimony included support from Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Transportation, and comments from the Hawaii Harbor Users Group. Members raised concerns about small boat operators and safety, and the committee passed the bill with reservations. The committee then discussed HB 1262, relating to the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund, and HB 1296, relating to the major disaster fund. Supporters of HB 1262 included the Climate Advisory Team and AARP Hawaii, while the Department of Budget and Finance cautioned about duplication of benefits with federal disaster aid and the need to preserve the fund’s primary purpose. Members questioned how the bill would interact with federal assistance and whether the fund could be used more broadly; no vote was taken, and the bill was deferred to decision-making. On HB 1296, HEMA and Budget and Finance opposed the measure, citing the need for flexibility in emergencies and concerns that added reporting requirements could hinder response efforts, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii noted the major disaster fund is much smaller than the EBF. The committee likewise deferred HB 1296 to decision-making, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• discrimination and protections for individuals living with a disability.
• law and 504 disability protections in healthcare. new phase and level of care met with new phase and
• I am a special education and disability justice advocate, but I'm here today also as a parent.
• I am a special education and disability<04:54:33.360> justice<04:54:33.840> advocate,<04
• :54:34.320> but<04:54:34.480> I'm disability justice advocate, but I'm disability justice

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 40:10.480> rights director of the disability rights director of the disability rights center.<
• Fritz. attorney and advocate for the disabled attorney and advocate for the disabled and<00:41:03.119
• >> Disability and Communication Access >> Disability and Communication Access Board<
• Disabilities in support. Disabilities in support.
• <00:51:11.280> So, keuna do live with disabilities. So, keuna do live with disabilities.

Keywords: 910, house, all

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:

• I am a high school senior with an intellectual disability. as an ambassador for the Texas Council for
• Developmental Disabilities.
• For individuals with disabilities like me, college is often seen as not an option.
• In high school, a counselor told me I shouldn't go to college because of my disability and encouraged
• Just like my non-disabled peers, I started to... think about college in early high school.

Bills: SB750, SB2995, SB1716, SB2430, SB203, SB1679, SB2683, SB1414

Keywords: tuition exemption, paramedics, higher education, public institutions, laboratory fees, education code, financial aid, education, student support, scholarships, nontraditional education, student enrollment, financial assistance, Texas students, foreign adversaries, trade secrets, research integrity, security measures, international agreements, student privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• uh in person Developmental Disabilities uh in person in<00:15:06.480> support.
• I am an intern at the Hawaii Council on Developmental Disabilities.
• Hawaii Disability Rights Center is in support, and one individual is providing comments.
• , when you're disabled, Unfortunately, when you're disabled, you're<00:23:18.000> you're<00:23
• our disabled but our aging population. our disabled but our aging population.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard STR 73 SD1, which requests the Office of Wellness and Resilience to develop a report on the developmental needs of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office of Wellness and Resilience testified in support, saying it was eager to work with local researchers on evidence-based, community-informed recommendations. Support also came from a Zoom testifier, the Department of Education, and the Hawaii Community Foundation. The testifier emphasized the need for trauma-informed supports for children who were ages zero to five during COVID, especially in communities also affected by the Kilauea eruption and the Maui wildfires. Members discussed the long-term impacts of the pandemic and natural disasters on children, and one member said they would support the measure but vote with reservations because they wanted the phrase “climate crisis” changed to “natural disasters.” The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the resolution as is, with some members noting reservations. The committee then took up SCR 239 SD1, which asks DAGS, DLNR, and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation to provide universal changing accommodations in state and county facilities and parks. DAGS submitted comments, DLNR State Parks testified that it supported the intent but raised concerns about the cost and feasibility of retrofitting existing facilities, noting it has 73 comfort stations statewide, ongoing vandalism and maintenance issues, and possible ADA space conflicts. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center supported the measure, with testimony stressing that accessible changing facilities are important for independence and equity for people with disabilities. In response to questions, DLNR said it had not received complaints about the lack of such infrastructure and that any future installations should be considered in new designs rather than existing facilities. After discussion, the chair moved to defer the resolution, citing budget and implementation concerns and suggesting the issue be revisited in the future with a revised approach and possible needs assessment. The committee agreed to defer SCR 239 SD1 and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Disabled veterans, if you have a rating of 10%, you're a disabled veteran, that or more, correct?
• The guidelines for disability under Chapter 115 are different than what is federal.
• category set aside for the most severely disabled special monthly compensation.
• Now is the time to review and address the language in Massachusetts to define a disabled veteran.
• I look The time to review and address the language in Massachusetts to define a disabled veteran.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on 36 bills covering aviation, commercial vehicles, school buses, veterans license plates, and related transportation issues. Chair Jim Arciero and Senate Chair Brendan Crighton outlined the hearing procedures, then the committee heard testimony on a range of measures, including a bill to modernize alternative student transportation for vulnerable students such as those covered by McKinney-Vento, foster children, and students with disabilities; a bill on unmanned aerial systems that would define drones and restrict weaponization, interference with aircraft, and certain surveillance; and a bill addressing airplane noise and reporting at Beverly Regional Airport. Supporters of the student transportation bill argued it would update outdated school bus requirements while preserving safety standards, while drone-related testimony was split between sponsors and public safety advocates who supported stronger restrictions and industry representatives who warned the bills could conflict with federal law and harm legitimate commercial uses. The committee also heard testimony on workforce and school transportation bills. Representatives and industry witnesses supported a proposal to create a grant program and career outreach for the trucking industry, citing a persistent driver shortage and the importance of trucking to the state’s economy. Teamsters Local 170 supported a bill to ease unemployment job-search requirements for school bus drivers and monitors who are expected to return to work within a short period, saying the current rules create unnecessary burdens during summer layoffs. Another school transportation bill would create an under-the-hood exception for CDL licensing of school bus drivers; several chiropractors testified in support, saying they already perform DOT-style exams and should be explicitly authorized to do school bus driver medical certifications. Veterans-related testimony focused on license plate and disability-definition bills. Advocates supported a Medal of Fidelity license plate for Gold Star families and a separate bill to create an air medal plate. The Office of the Veteran Advocate testified in favor of revising the state’s definition of disabled veteran for RMV purposes, arguing the current language is tied to special monthly compensation categories and does not adequately reflect modern service-connected disabilities, including invisible wounds. The American Legion also urged clarification of the definition, while opposing a separate women veterans plate on the grounds that it could divide veterans unnecessarily. The committee took no votes during the hearing and ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• I chair the Disability Justice Committee.
• I'm a union steward, and I'm also a disabled employee.
• We've done things like consult with disability.
• workers with disabilities if they are affected by an emergency in their workplace.
• My wife is an attorney for disability rights.

Transcript Highlights:

• or who have a disability to be evicted due to their disability.
• or who have a disability to be evicted due to their disability.
• or who have a disability to be evicted due to their disability.
• or who have a disability to be evicted due to their disability.
• I'm disabled. My husband's disabled. I got my granddaughter with me; she's 13.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• learning disability, developmental delays.
• A level two is more severe: cognitive disability, emotional behavior disability.
• Level five, multiple disabilities... ...multiple disabilities.
• The per-student amounts for each disability are derived from previous year's expenditures for each disability
• Autism is the primary disability.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you report it to the developmental disability?
• My name is Katie Ellis, and I am a disability justice activist and someone who has lived with a disability
• I'm a disability advocate.
• I am disabled and a disability advocate.
• And I'm also a disabled employee.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Memorial 54, which would create a stakeholder working group to study utility-service problems in manufactured and mobile home parks and recommend solutions. The sponsor described repeated water and utility outages in large parks, said current law places maintenance responsibility on park owners, and argued that the state needs clearer standards and alternatives to costly attorney general lawsuits. Supporters from PNM and the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty backed the memorial as a step toward better oversight and protections for residents. The committee asked about existing landlord obligations and whether rent withholding is available; the sponsor said current law does not clearly provide that remedy. HM 54 was reported out with a due pass. The committee then considered House Bill 166, which would create a statewide permitting framework for battery-charged electric fences used by commercial businesses while preserving local zoning authority. The sponsor and an industry witness said businesses face inconsistent local permitting, delays, and added costs, and that the bill would provide uniform standards and security options. Several members raised concerns that the bill appeared to favor a specific product type, could override local code differences, and might not address mixed-use areas, historic districts, or homeowners associations. After debate, the bill passed on a 4-3 vote, with one member explaining support but urging further work with local government experts before floor consideration. House Bill 20, a bipartisan measure, would allow Native American applicants to request a voluntary Native American designation on state driver’s licenses and ID cards, without naming a specific tribe, and with documentation requirements tied to tribal cards, certificates of Indian blood, or affidavits of birth. Supporters said it would recognize tribal political status, help with law enforcement and Turquoise Alert verification, and assist with education, health, and child welfare matters; tribal representatives and State Police testified in favor. Several members expressed concern about racial profiling, privacy, and possible unintended consequences of marking IDs, while others noted the designation is optional and tied to political status rather than race. Members also flagged drafting language that appeared to require multiple documents, and the sponsor agreed to clarify it. The bill ultimately passed, with some members explaining their votes and asking for continued discussion with tribes. The committee also approved Senate Joint Resolution 1, which would amend the state constitution to allow school bond and mill levy questions to appear on the general election ballot rather than being limited to separate school elections. Sponsors said the change would reduce special-election costs, increase turnout, and remove outdated language dating to 1910; school board and education groups supported it. Members asked about ballot crowding and local election timing, and sponsors emphasized that the measure gives school districts a choice rather than a mandate. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 295, which would create an Office of Accessibility to centralize reporting, provide technical assistance, and produce annual reports on accessibility of state buildings and websites. Disability advocates largely supported the bill as a way to improve compliance and consistency, while one webcast commenter opposed it, arguing that without enforcement authority it would not produce meaningful change. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 295, before final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• care system. disability and paid family leave programs.
• . disability rating of 100% in a greater share of cases.
• , which is found to be 30% disabled, we combine those.
• In our guide to disabilities, there's a combined values chart.
• That accounts for those overlapping disabilities, you know, the ability to lift a box.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal VA has a disability chart for the level of rating.
• I'm a disabled veteran from the Iraq War. Veteran from the Iraq War.
• One with the Disabled American Veterans, and last but not least, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
• I served six years in the world's finest Navy, and I am a disabled veteran.
• What's your disability rating? You know, I can help you get more."

Transcript Highlights:

• a disability.
• Of course, individuals with disabilities are exempt entirely.
• And I had people that were at my agency that were disabled, that were qualified as disabled, that will
• So if I have a disability and I apply and have given Medicaid or Social Security disability, I submit
• So there are some exemptions for the disabled.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• APD SINCE THE AGES FEES FOR PRETZELS DISABILITY TO THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS.
• WE WORK LARGELY WITH AGENCIES OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY NOTED.
• AND LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES NEED THE SERVICES AND CAN'T GET THROUGH THAT GATEWAY.
• SOMEBODY THAT COULD SERVE A PERSON WITH INTELLECTUAL AND OF ELEMENTAL DISABILITY.
• NO MATTER WHAT TYPE INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOP MENTAL DISABILITY THEY HAVE.

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment would prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability
• amendment would prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability
• <00:02:11.560> in and developmental disabilities in and developmental disabilities in 1946
• greatly benefit the disability community.
• discrimination against disabled discrimination against disabled individuals<00:03:30.000> is<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• disproportionately impact disab disabled disproportionately impact disab disabled individuals<00
• should have to disclose their disability should have to disclose their disability in<00:35:09.040
• illness those with disabilities illness those with disabilities caregivers<00:44:49.079> of
• voting for disability allows absentee voting for disability related<00:56:55.760> reasons<00:
• retired veteran um he was not disabled retired veteran um he was not disabled but<01:18:32.239><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• cognitive disability. cognitive disability.
• Vermont Developmental Disabilities Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council,<01:20:49.120>
• only used for those with disabilities. only used for those with disabilities.
• <01:51:37.360> because of people without a disability because of people without a disability
• differences among types of disabilities differences among types of disabilities and<01:57:09.000

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House first returned to Senate Bill 71, a consumer data privacy and online surveillance bill. Members debated a proposed amendment that would have removed language allowing companies to rely on consumer consent to sell certain sensitive data. Supporters argued consent pop-ups and terms-of-service notices are not meaningful consent and that sensitive data should be categorically protected, citing Maryland and other states. Opponents, including the committee presenter, said the bill was a carefully negotiated compromise needed to establish Vermont’s first data privacy framework and warned that adopting the amendment could jeopardize passage in the Senate or with the governor. The committee reported the amendment unfavorable on a 9-0 straw poll, the House rejected the amendment, and then approved the committee’s recommended proposal of amendment by roll call vote, 129-3. During questioning on S. 71, members discussed the bill’s applicability thresholds, with the presenter explaining that the 35,000-consumer threshold was modeled on Connecticut, while lower 3,000 thresholds for sensitive data and data sales were based on business testimony and intended to capture smaller entities such as accountants, lawyers, nonprofits, and trade associations that share or sell lists. Members also asked about the bill’s many exemptions, which were described as covering entities already regulated by state or federal law, including health care entities under HIPAA and banking and insurance sectors. The presenter and supporters emphasized that the bill still requires clear privacy notices, limits data collection to what is reasonable and disclosed, and gives consumers rights to opt out, correct, and delete data. After the roll call vote, the House ordered third reading, suspended rules to place S. 71 in all remaining stages, passed it in concurrence with proposal of amendment, and suspended rules to message the action to the Senate forthwith. The House then moved to Senate Bill 193, relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons. The committee presenter from South Burlington previewed that the bill would create a permanent forensic facility, with a separate amendment expected to address interim arrangements while the facility is being developed. The transcript ends as the House begins second reading of S. 193 and the committee reports are introduced, with further debate not shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• When it comes to the disability waivers, we're seeing that the disability waiver inflationary adjustments
• stakeholders people with disabilities stakeholders people with disabilities and<00:32:10.039>
• We hear directly from families navigating Minnesota's complex disability services system.
• We hear directly from families navigating Minnesota's complex disability services system.
• <00:50:10.040> and for persons with disabilities and for persons with disabilities and medical

Keywords: 1187, senate, all