Transcript Highlights:

• So the Legislature can suspend making that savings deposit under certain conditions.
• And there are different choices the Legislature can take to address that.
• And there are different choices the legislature can take to address that.
• The Legislature did do that in, I believe, 2019-20.
• We serve the Legislature.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:

• We would be emailing it to the members of the legislature, as insofar as you are their voice.
• But the second thing is, do we need to adopt members of the legislature?
• Members of the legislature.
• of the legislature to do the same.
• We missed that in the legislature. I mean, people go home, they go here, they go there.

Summary: The Joint Select Committee on Civic Health met to revisit its work and discuss next steps before the committee’s resolution expires unless reenacted. The chair updated members on related efforts, including the Project for Civic Health’s three principles—engage with respect, seek common ground, and disagree constructively—and a successful WASLE training program for newly elected city council members. Members also reviewed a draft committee statement condemning political violence and supporting nonviolent, non-abusive, productive dialogue. The group made several edits, including removing the word “crazed,” adding “non-abusive,” and changing the closing language to be more inclusive of nonreligious members by using “hope and pray.” The committee then discussed a proposed Evans School research project to survey legislators about civility, collaboration, and legislative working relationships. Members generally supported the idea, while one member asked how the project would measure progress and achieve its goals. The chair said the survey would help gather broad input and that the committee would encourage participation, with results expected by December. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on how to improve civility and relationship-building in the legislature. Members described the value of informal dinners, breakfasts, and one-on-one conversations across party lines, and several said there are now fewer opportunities for such interaction than in the past. Suggestions included in-person committee meetings, a retreat, mentoring newer legislators, and bringing back outside facilitators such as Tom Little from the National Institute for Civil Discourse. No formal votes were taken, but the committee agreed to proceed with the violence statement and to move forward with the Evans School survey, pending remaining digital signatures from several members.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the legislature and the governor both consider those changes.
• OFM, the legislature, and so it's all, again, consensus-based.
• The legislature doesn’t have the right to default on debt.
• “Those payments are reflected on the budget outlook based on the actions of the legislature.
• But the legislature might say, 296 FTEs?

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:26.480><c> in</c> requires 2/3 vote of the legislature in requires 2/3 vote of the legislature
• </c><00:25:28.360><c> would</c> order to access so the legislature would order to access so the legislature
• So that is something that the legislature has done over the past several years.
• So that is something that the legislature has done over the past several years.
• I feel like the legislature just wants to know where we're at.

Committee: House Public Safety

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:

• </c> times the legislature times the legislature met<00:24:23.400><c> we</c><00:24:23.640><c> offered
• <00:37:35.040><c> to</c><00:37:35.240><c> have</c><00:37:35.400><c> a</c> legislature to have a legislature
• That's what we do in the legislature. This is about Emergency Powers.
• Um, if the legislature is not in session, the governor may convene the legislature and request the declaration
• Um, if the legislature is not in session, the governor may convene the legislature and request the declaration

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• When I joined the Legislature in December of 2022, five months after the Legislature had passed a budget
• Since he came to the Legislature, so thank you, Assembly Member. I want to thank you, Mr.
• They're the priorities of this Legislature. And that's the unfortunate reason behind this ACA.
• So I am proud of the priorities of this Legislature.
• I have a fear for that because I have been in the Legislature for as long as they let you be in the Legislature

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight heard ACA 20, the Safe for California Futures Act, a constitutional amendment to strengthen the state’s Budget Stabilization Account (rainy day fund). The authors, Assembly Members Gabriel and Valencia, said the measure would raise the reserve cap from 10% to 20% of General Fund revenues, change how reserve deposits are treated under the Gann limit so deposits would not count against the spending cap until withdrawn, and update eligible debt repayments to include items such as budget loans, Proposition 98 settle-up obligations, and unemployment insurance debt. They emphasized that the proposal was intended to protect schools and core public services and to help California better withstand revenue volatility and future downturns. Committee discussion focused heavily on the technical effects of the measure, especially its interaction with Proposition 98 and the Gann limit. LAO and Department of Finance staff explained that Prop. 98 funding would not be changed directly, that the reserve deposits would be treated as exclusions from the appropriations limit, and that withdrawals would count when spent. Members asked about current reserve levels, mandatory deposits, and whether the measure would create more room for discretionary spending; supporters argued it would simply allow the state to save more in good years, while one member expressed concern that it could function as a slush fund and expand spending opportunities. Several members cited recent budget volatility, record revenues, and the need for stronger reserves, while others stressed that the measure should be understood as a future-oriented savings reform rather than a response to this year’s budget choices. Public testimony was uniformly supportive. California Forward, Elevate California, and the California Chamber of Commerce all backed the proposal, with the Chamber noting support for the policy and highlighting the importance of addressing unemployment insurance debt for small businesses. The chair concluded by thanking the authors, staff, and witnesses, and said ACA 20 was expected to move to the Assembly floor the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• It says, if it was before the legislature, Manual.
• So that is super broad because it was before the legislature in this immediate past session.
• one... ...about ballot measures before they come to the legislature, but perhaps once the legislature
• You know, and like we said, it hasn't been before the legislature.
• Is that what we're...” “...some update, some direction to the legislature today?

Summary: The meeting focused on ethics guidance for legislators’ official newsletters and social media posts about a major tax bill that has since become a ballot measure. Members and staff debated whether existing board guidance, which allowed comments on legislation previously before the legislature, should also apply to social media and to the current biennium rather than only the immediately preceding session. Several members argued that legislators should be able to state how they voted on the bill and discuss it as part of their legislative record, while others stressed that using state resources to advocate for or against a ballot measure is prohibited and that posts could become an indirect appeal to voters. The discussion also covered whether there should be a bright-line cutoff tied to the primary election date, after which official communications should stop discussing the bill if it is now a ballot measure. Staff and members raised concerns about tone, tenor, and proximity to the election, and whether official social media, caucus communications, and newsletters should be treated differently. One motion to extend the prior rule to the full biennium and apply it to social media failed. A second motion then passed establishing the primary date as a date certain for monitoring these discussions, with the understanding that official communications should be more limited after that point. Members noted that personal social media and campaign resources remain separate from official legislative resources. The meeting then moved toward adjournment of the public portion, with no public testimony offered, before a brief break and executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was part of an agreement between the Governor and the Legislature.
• We recommend that the legislature reject this proposal.
• That we think are important for the legislature to consider.
• So we think the legislature faces some really key decisions very soon.
• For the legislature to consider.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature set four objectives for these preferences.
• The legislature directed us to look at four pollutants and set targets for each of them.
• The legislature directed JLARC to consider developers' performance on three metrics.
• The legislature directed JLARC to consider developers performance on three metrics.
• First, the legislature should determine whether to continue the preference.

Bills: SB5754

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: public bank, state bank, finance, banking regulations, economic development, state investment

Transcript Highlights:

• here are showing themselves here in the State Legislature.
• Diego is shadowing me today in exploring the complexities of our state legislature.
• will be the next state legislature in this House.
• But this legislature doesn't learn because they don't care.
• But this legislature doesn't learn because they don't care.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then handled a series of procedural motions, including suspending rules to withdraw SB 104 and SB 138 from Budget and Fiscal Review and to allow several committees to notice bills. Members also introduced guests and honorees, including Equality California Comcast Fellows, tribal youth from the Yohavitham Nation, a legislative fellow, a Chinese language school delegation, local elected officials, staff, and an intern shadowing an Assembly member. On the floor file, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to AB 1216 (education omnibus technical changes), AB 377 (high-speed rail), and AB 951 (health care coverage), all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body also adopted ACR 103 designating California Western Monarch Protection Week and ACR 71 designating a portion of Highway 101 as the Little Saigon Freeway, both after supportive remarks about environmental conservation and Vietnamese American history. AJR 18, an apology and acknowledgment of historic harms against California Native Americans, drew extensive bipartisan and caucus support and was adopted with 68-0 after 66 coauthors were added. The most contentious debate came on SCR 66, proclaiming Law Day, where members argued over the rule of law, executive power, and recent court fights involving both the Trump administration and Governor Newsom; the resolution was ultimately adopted after 51 coauthors were added. The Assembly also adopted SJR 3 urging Congress to oppose SNAP cuts, with debate focused on food insecurity, fraud, and work requirements; it passed 69-0 after 70 coauthors were added. SB 757, authorizing local governments to use nuisance abatement liens and special assessments to collect cleanup costs, passed 68-0, and the second-day consent calendar, including ACR 94 on antimicrobial resistance, was adopted. The session concluded with multiple adjournments in memory, including tributes to Jane Day, agricultural leader John C. Harris, and Willie Earl Arno. The Assembly then announced committee meetings and upcoming check-in and floor session dates before adjourning until Thursday, July 17, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature last year put $100 million recurring.
• The legislature last year put $100 million recurring.
• The legislature from 2001, when that program came to be... 20 years, the legislature from 2001, when
• And the legislature...
• And the legislature.

Summary: The committee received an overview from Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including staffing, licensing, forestry, law enforcement, and consumer services. He emphasized agriculture as a major economic driver and a national security issue, arguing that Florida should protect farmland, aquifer recharge areas, and the wildlife corridor through the Rural and Family Lands program. He said the program is cost-effective because the state buys development rights rather than land outright, keeps land on local tax rolls, and helps preserve farmland in perpetuity. He also highlighted the Fresh From Florida marketing program, increased social media reach, and the department’s efforts to reduce vacancies and improve pay and efficiency. Members asked about nutrient management, citrus disease, housing, disaster recovery, wildfire prevention, interdiction stations, and concealed carry permitting. Simpson said SB 1000 and updated best management practice manuals, informed by University of Florida research, are helping agriculture use less water and fertilizer, and he described citrus greening as having devastated the industry while noting research, replanting programs, and CUPS as possible paths to recovery. On housing, he argued that allowing H-2A farmworker housing on farms would ease pressure on the broader housing market, and on disasters he described a zero-interest loan program for farmers affected by hurricanes and other events. He also detailed wildfire preparedness improvements, including upgraded helicopters, dozers, drones, and prescribed burns. The commissioner said ag interdiction stations are catching stolen semis, drugs, human trafficking, and other illegal activity, and that the department wants more technology, including X-ray scanning, to inspect more trucks. He also discussed concealed carry administration, saying the department cleared a large backlog and that constitutional carry reduced but did not eliminate permit demand because permits still provide reciprocity and other benefits. Members generally praised the department’s work, expressed support for rural land protection, Fresh From Florida, water-quality improvements, and foreign-interference concerns, and the meeting ended with no formal votes or other committee action beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• There may be a role for the Legislature to play.
• That's worrisome as a Legislature.
• That's worrisome as a Legislature.
• That report to the Legislature, I believe, happened just last week.
• Finally allow CalNAGPRA to function as the Legislature intended.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, you know, we come together as a legislature.
• In fact, this legislature previously passed legislation requiring a detailed study of legislature previously
• And today the legislature will be doing that.
• The Florida Legislature does. There with property taxes.
• The Florida Legislature does not have that.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is an article that I wrote a year ago called "Idaho's Legislature."
• The reason we have a two-chamber legislature is because the The reason we have a two-chamber legislature
• In the entire history of Idaho, there has never been a judge impeached, yet the legislature has a power
• In my opinion, it's because no one would ever take on such a huge task as a part-time legislature.
• The legislature has the power to impeach, who has no administrative. legislature, the legislature has

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• I think you have that ability as a Legislature.
• It's a very difficult thing to come to the Legislature for.
• That previous legislatures have made on how to address this issue.
• And so previous legislatures have determined that it is appropriate for the legislature to make that
• The legislature has continued to do that over the years.

Summary: The subcommittee first heard HB 6507, a claims bill for Marcus Button, who suffered severe permanent injuries in a 2006 school bus crash. Representative Andrade explained that a jury awarded Button more than $2 million in 2009, but only a small amount was paid under sovereign immunity limits. He said Pasco County later reached a settlement with Button, but believed it lacked legal authority to pay without legislative approval. The bill would give the county that authority. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed unanimously, 18-0. The committee then took up HB 301, which would substantially revise Florida’s sovereign immunity framework. Representative McFarland said the bill would raise liability caps for state and local governments from $200,000/$300,000 to $1 million/$3 million, with a later increase in 2030, align statutes of limitations with private suits, allow governments to settle above the caps without a claims bill, and prevent insurance policies from conditioning payment on legislative approval. She framed the bill as a way to reduce the need for the claims bill process and provide faster redress to injured people. Testimony on HB 301 was sharply divided. Local governments, school districts, counties, cities, hospital groups, and insurance representatives opposed the bill, arguing the higher caps would sharply increase insurance and taxpayer costs, especially for small or fiscally constrained entities, and that the claims bill process and special masters provide useful review and leverage. Supporters, including the Florida Justice Association and several members, argued the current system is too slow and political, leaves seriously injured people waiting years for compensation, and should be modernized to better hold government accountable. No vote was taken on HB 301 in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• middle line of the U.S., and then the legislature took action in 2008 to establish Idaho's program.
• The governor also, I mean, the legislature also acted on reverting that unallocated CEC.
• So that was the budget that was set by the legislature last spring when you adjourned sine die.
• The legislature is now projecting a $156 million ending balance.
• The legislature is now projecting $156 million ending balance.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• The things that are up for policy consideration by the legislature.
• The legislature passed one of the very last bills that was enacted was a medical... ...legislature passed
• And when does the legislature get to review or approve?
• And when does the legislature get to review or approve? Is that happen during the law...
• When does the legislature get to review or approve?

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the product of an ongoing data collection effort as directed by the legislature.
• However, the legislature should update OPDP statute to align with its capacity.
• However, the legislature should update OPDP statute to align with its capacity and focus.
• The 2022 Legislature mandated this review.
• This body includes members appointed by the legislature and the governor.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee met on September 17, 2025, in hybrid format. After roll call, the committee initially lacked a quorum and deferred approval of the July 15 minutes until Representative Berg arrived; the minutes were then adopted. Members also discussed the proposed 2026 JLARC meeting schedule, including possible changes to address crowded July meetings and the annual tax exemption review workload. Staff presented the annual lodging tax expenditures report, noting that 213 municipalities received distributions in 2024, with 91% reporting compliance, $114 million awarded for more than 1,700 activities, and no independent verification of the self-reported data. Several members questioned the value and usefulness of the report, and the executive committee indicated it may recommend removing the statutory reporting requirement. The committee then heard the preliminary performance audit of the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, which found the office meets its statutory responsibilities and has high user satisfaction, but recommended updating the statute to better match the office’s current capacity and focus and improving performance measures to reflect long-term privacy outcomes rather than outputs. Members asked about FERPA and other federal privacy laws, and OPDP staff said they provide general privacy training and consultation but not law-specific training unless requested. The committee adopted the final report on Washington State recreational boating programs without recommendation, after staff reported that boating revenues support both general government and boating activities and that no participating agencies submitted formal comments. Members asked about boater safety education and possible overlap among the six agencies involved; Parks staff said education has reached more than 500,000 boaters and that fatalities and incidents have declined. The committee also reviewed planned study questions for a JLARC review of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker laws, with members raising scope questions about the term “farm worker” versus “agricultural worker,” and for DNR’s Eastern Washington sustainable harvest calculation, which JLARC will review as DNR completes its recalculation. Finally, staff outlined the 2026 tax preference performance reviews covering seven preferences, and members asked about racial equity, environmental impacts, disclosure of beneficiary savings, and how the reviews will measure effectiveness; the meeting adjourned before noon.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> with several members of the legislature with several members of the legislature when<01:03:33.279
• wants to do this that's for legislature wants to do this that's for the<01:19:09.360><c> legislature
• </c><01:31:11.520><c> calls</c> the legislature calls the legislature calls it<01:31:13.440><c> but</
• </c> telling me that if the legislature telling me that if the legislature writes<01:31:29.159><c> a<
• </c><02:51:40.600><c> thereof</c> each state by the legislature thereof each state by the legislature

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• junior that amends AB 109, the Budget Act of 2026, to represent a budget agreement between the Legislature
• We'll also hear ...between the Legislature and the administration.
• So for this legislature to take the responsibility and say that we realize our economy is volatile.
• Under 1D, it requires annual reporting to the Legislature.
• J requires DMV to notify the Legislature at least 30 days in advance.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review heard the 2026-27 budget package, including AB 111 and AB 112 plus 16 trailer bills and two policy bills. Chair Laird described the budget as balanced over two fiscal years, with about $351.7 billion in total spending, $251.5 billion General Fund, and record reserves, while emphasizing investments in child care, homelessness, housing, Medi-Cal, education, courts, and other core programs. The Department of Finance presented each bill, outlining major items such as Medi-Cal adjustments tied to federal H.R. 1, child care and early learning funding, education and higher education investments, human services, developmental services, health, skilled nursing, resources, energy, transportation, housing, labor, state government, courts, taxation, and two policy bills on education governance and ballot measure placement. The LAO said it had no additional comments but was available for questions. The committee later achieved quorum and moved to member questions and comments, with no votes taken in the portion provided. Members largely focused on the budget’s fiscal structure and policy implications. Several senators praised staff and noted the compressed timeline, while Vice Chair Niello criticized the process as overly complex and burdensome. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas supported the budget but raised concerns about Medi-Cal changes for people with unsatisfactory immigration status, asking about access to care, the number affected, and county eligibility support; Finance said about two million people would transition to fee-for-service and that $39 million was included for care coordination, along with additional county eligibility funding. Senator Durazo said the agreement delayed, but did not resolve, cuts to immigrant health coverage, dental, and clinic payments, and argued that the budget did not create a true restoration mechanism. Senator Richardson highlighted hospital funding, public hospital definitions, DMV data protections, and court construction and maintenance needs, while Senator Grove questioned the sustainability of spending, the Medi-Cal savings assumptions, distressed hospital funding, Planned Parenthood transparency, developmental services changes, high-speed rail costs, and the property tax postponement program. Other members emphasized different priorities. Senator Blake Spear praised climate and parks investments, support for HAP homelessness funding with accountability, transit stabilization, and Care Court referral funding, while expressing concern about the lack of wildlife coexistence funding and long-term transit operating support. Senator Weber Pearson raised a technical concern in the health trailer bill regarding menopause language, arguing that the bill should refer to perimenopausal symptoms and should not narrow provider participation through contracting language. Throughout the hearing, Finance repeatedly explained that many of the budget’s savings came from reduced caseloads or delayed implementation of prior proposals, while some new spending was added to mitigate impacts and support administration of the changes. No final committee action or vote was shown in the excerpt.