Transcript Highlights:

• We have rules that tell you what you can do and rules that will tell you what you can’t do.
• We have rules that tell you what you can do and rules that will tell you what you can’t do.
• We have rules that tell you what you can do and rules that will tell you what you can’t do.
• We have rules that tell you what you can do and rules that will tell you what you can’t do.
• pharmacist to know the laws and rules. pharmacist to know the laws and rules.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• requirements from uh the federal rules requirements from uh the federal rules that<00:17:17.799>
• and State Department of Health rules.
• and State Department of Health rules.
• <00:36:12.960> permanent landfills are permanent permanent landfills are permanent permanent
• <00:50:23.040> and what's in our administrative rules and what's in our administrative rules

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The informational briefing focused on the City and County of Honolulu’s effort to site a replacement landfill for Oahu before the Waimanalo Gulch landfill closes in 2028. Chair Nicole Lowen and other legislators opened the meeting by framing the issue as important statewide and encouraging recycling, composting, and proper use of the curbside bins. The city’s Department of Environmental Services, led by Director Roger Babcock and Deputy Director Mike O’Keefe, then presented the background and siting process. ENV explained the legal and technical constraints that shaped the search, including the 2019 Land Use Commission decision requiring closure of Waimanalo Gulch by March 2, 2028, and the 2020 Act 73 restrictions on landfill siting near residences, schools, hospitals, conservation districts, airports, and tsunami inundation areas. They said a landfill advisory committee reviewed six candidate sites in 2021-2022 and rejected them because they fell within the Board of Water Supply’s no-pass zone. After further evaluation and an extension of the naming deadline, the city selected a site in central Oahu near Wahiawa, on agricultural land currently used as a Dole pineapple field. City officials said the selected site was chosen as the best of the evaluated options and, in their view, could be permitted under state and federal law. They described planned environmental protections, including a modern sanitary landfill design with double liners, leachate collection systems, monitoring wells, and post-closure monitoring, and said the existing Waimanalo Gulch landfill has operated for 35 years without leachate leaks. They also emphasized that the site would still require a special use permit, Department of Health approvals, an environmental impact statement, and other public permitting processes, and that public engagement would continue over the next several years.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 1876, Texas set aside half of its public lands to establish the Permanent School Fund as an endowment
• Today, the Permanent School Fund consists of a diversified portfolio of over 13 million acres of state
• Together, the GLO and the School Land Board generate revenue for the Permanent School Fund through the
• The Permanent University Fund, or PUF, benefits 22 educational and health institutions and 6 agencies
• Now when you submit that you already know what the rules are and so you really don't submit anything.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are they not a legal permanent resident? Representative Wu: Those are not permanent residents.
• You have to apply for permanent residency.
• You have to have a permanent home.
• Okay, so we wanted to have an element of permanence.
• I would be fine with a permanent resident.

Bills: SB17, SB1569, SB2420, HB5138, HJR161, HB1937, HB3334, HB5444, HB5137, HB361, HB321, HB5447, HB464, HB678, HB2294, HB4172, HB3225, HB1769, HB5394, HB1837, HB1787, HB2271, HB2440, HB5134, HB5149, HB2151, HB2073, HB2186, HB2025, HB1936, HB1777, HB1663, HB 1306, HB 1290, HB1527, HB4802, HB3462, HB2963, HB2462, HB2560, HB644, HB2725, HB2621, HB2588, HB1443, HB1403, HB3032, HB1557, HB1664, HB2811, HB2088, HB2598, HB3062, HB3134, HB3940, HB4027, HB4097, HB4862, HB4170, HB4157, HB4205, HB4279, HB4377, HB4838, HB5424, HB5294, HB4870, HB4763, HB5639, HB4112, HB2275, HB1677, HB5014, HB3848, HB3797, HB3727, HB3709, HB3177, HB3057, HB4176, HB4202, HB2180, HB3528, HB3658, HCR76, HCR127

Keywords: foreign ownership, real property, national security, criminal penalties, civil penalties, personal information, higher education, privacy protection, governing board, institutional security, software applications, mobile devices, age verification, parental consent, data protection, app store regulation, HJR 161, Texas constitutional amendment, voting rights, non-citizen voting

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received the invocation and pledges, and heard several announcements and recognitions before moving into floor action. Members honored the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team for winning a share of the 2025 President’s Cup, recognized educator Jessica Lopez, and paid memorial tribute to Jennifer Maddenly, along with recognitions for Jeanette Valdez Duran’s food pantry work, TAMACC’s 50th anniversary, and Bernardine Steptoe’s retirement from WFAA. The House also granted permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, set a local consent calendar, and suspended posting rules for a Public Health Committee hearing on SB 2721. The chamber then considered a long series of Senate and House bills, with many passing on record votes. Measures addressed local law enforcement authority (SB 906), veterans highway designation (SB 1229), foster care medical billing (SB 855), massage therapy trafficking safeguards (SB 703), tax ballot language (SB 1025), occupational licensing for people with convictions (SB 1080), lien deadlines (SB 929), liquor sales complaints (SB 1355), higher education application fee waivers (SB 2231), utility data access (SB 1877), pediatric preceptorships (SB 1998), and several House bills on bond forfeiture notice, health workforce coordination, indigent civil commitment representation, consumer transaction cancellations, bird dispersal rules, theft venue for digital property, military grant applications, AI cancer-detection grants, cybersecurity contract language, in-state tuition for military-related programs, utility capital recovery, energy waste advisory oversight, gas utility rate recovery, psychedelic therapy study, teacher retirement funding transparency, pension changes, tax payment plans, and voter registration security. Some measures drew notable debate or amendments, including HB 5247, where a ratepayer-credit amendment failed, and HB 2298, HB 4014, HB 510, HB 561, HB 1128, HB 1904, HB 30, HB 200, HB 3045, and HB 5111, which all passed after recorded votes with varying margins. A major point of contention was SB 2420, the app store age-verification bill, which prompted extended debate over whether the bill should also require app developers to verify users’ ages. Representative Bryant offered an amendment to preserve developer verification obligations, arguing the bill would otherwise shift responsibility away from app makers; the author opposed it, saying the bill’s approach was more workable and raised concerns about First Amendment issues. Multiple points of order were raised and withdrawn during the debate, and the amendment discussion remained unresolved in the excerpt. The House also postponed further consideration of SB 17, SB 552, and SB 2420 at different points, and recessed for lunch after completing a large block of third-reading votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under House rules, matters that were filed in the House that we're hearing today are required to be reported
• home rule passed by the General Court in 2024, balancing the tax burden between residential taxpayers
• What do you want this permanent now? What's different now?
• The issue needs to be permanent. If you want to come back, you don't have to come to us.
• I mean, we actually need a permanent adjustment to do this.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 17 late-file and miscellaneous bills, with testimony focused on several local tax and fee proposals. The first major item was H. 4687 for Watertown, which would permanently continue a special property tax classification allowing the city to maintain a 50% residential minimum factor and a 175% commercial shift. Watertown officials and local legislators said the measure is needed to prevent an estimated 18% residential tax increase when the current temporary authority expires, arguing that the city’s commercial growth and 1988 tax rules have created an unintended burden on homeowners, especially seniors. Committee members asked about the regional business impact, whether major taxpayers might leave, and why a permanent change was sought instead of another short extension; Watertown officials said the policy had not deterred commercial growth and that the city’s fiscal planning and stabilization funds were being used for schools, infrastructure, and bond rating support. The committee also heard H. 4435 from Charlemont, which would authorize a local tax on commercial recreation services. Town officials described Charlemont as a small rural community with a large visitor burden from skiing, rafting, and other recreation, saying police, fire, and EMS costs rise sharply during peak seasons and that the tax would help shift some of those costs to visitors rather than local residents. A committee member questioned the legal structure of taxing recreation services versus goods, but the town said the proposal was modeled on the meals and rooms tax and had local business support. Finally, testimony was taken on H. 4722, promoting fair tax treatment for zero-emission vehicles, especially electric school buses and Class 3-8 trucks. Supporters, including EV advocates, a school transportation company, and Rep. Gentile, said the bill would cap sales and excise taxes on EV vehicles at the level of comparable diesel vehicles to remove an unintended tax penalty, keep revenue neutral, and support the state’s climate goals while helping school districts and private bus operators manage higher upfront costs. Rep. Gentile also spoke in support of H. 4755, which would amend Sudbury’s means-tested senior property tax exemption so the town would not need new special legislation if the program is renewed again in the future. No votes were taken, and the hearing concluded after public testimony and committee questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• be a brand-new rule effort since the MPCA's last attempt at this rule was disapproved by an administrative
• <00:08:14.080> making bill references a previous rule making bill references a previous rule
• Uh and directs us to complete the rule.
• <00:08:24.560> by attempt at this rule was disapproved by attempt at this rule was disapproved
• But we need some time to figure out the KTAC ruling.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Page, you can see the three-year returns of the Land Grant Permanent Fund, the Severance Tax Permanent
• The Land Grant Permanent Fund outperforms the Severance Tax Permanent Fund.
• The reason the Severance Tax Permanent Fund has historically lagged the Land Grant Permanent Fund are
• fund portion of the Land Grant Permanent Fund, whereas the Severance Tax Permanent Fund distributes
• As you've seen, our targets for the Land Grant Permanent Fund and the Severance Tax Permanent Fund are

Transcript Highlights:

• A lawful permanent resident is allowed to purchase and own a gun.
• Scratch out the statute in that or rule.
• Scratch out the statute again, or rule are severable.
• To this end, the provisions of the act or rule are severable. The act or rule are severable.
• Legal permanent residents, depending on if they were married to a...

Transcript Highlights:

• The permanent, what are now permanent, hundred percent depreciation or immediate expensing for certain
• The tax pricing rules and international sourcing rules are complicated.
• Sourcing rules for certain kinds of income called subpart F income.
• Madam Chair, Representative, the rule the representative is talking about is the heat exhaustion rule
• Regardless of whether that occurs as a state rule, there may be a federal level rule that we would have

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:09.240> absentee<00:20:10.120> list the permanent absentee list the permanent
• I found the rule that Ms. Freeman was referencing for additional proofs of residence allowed.
• listed in um rule in state Rule<00:36:01.280> and<00:36:01.480> so<00:36:02.560> um
• and so um can look up there it in Rule and so um can look up there it in in<00:36:05.240> rule
• ballots following the exact same rules ballots following the exact same rules so<01:34:10.480>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker and members, I move to suspend all necessary rules to take up House Resolution 476.
• I move to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider House Resolution 480.
• The rules are suspended. resolution the clerk will read the resolution.
• I'm going to suspend all necessary rules take up and consider HR 498 you've heard the motion is there
• Chair hears none the rules are suspended. The following resolution, the clerk will.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Permanent supportive housing. Okay.
• And then to make these permanent supportive housing projects successful, you need the permanent rental
• We asked about rule simplification: were there rules that seemed repetitive or could be combined or streamlined
• We asked about rule simplification.
• The state can waive its own rules, but of course, as you know, we cannot waive federal rules.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Rules reports recommending that the following resolutions ought to be adopted.
• Rules are suspended. Question comes on adoption of the resolutions.
• Rules are suspended. Question comes in adoption of the resolutions.
• Rules are suspended.
• Rules are suspended. Second reading of the bill.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several ceremonial resolutions. On the Committee on Rules report, members adopted resolutions commemorating the Armenian Genocide and the 50th anniversary of Black April after suspending the rules. Representative Howard also recognized April 17 as the 50th anniversary of the Cambodian genocide, noting the Legislature’s prior designation of Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day and observing a moment of silence for victims and survivors. The House also welcomed visiting student athletes from Weston High School, including the boys’ indoor track and field team and the boys’ fencing team, both state champions. Later, the Committee on Ways and Means reported House 1, the fiscal year 2026 state budget bill, with a total appropriation of about $61.4 billion. The bill was read a second time and, on motion of Representative Mikelowitz, further consideration was postponed until April 28, with the matter laid on the table. Finally, the House adopted an order to adjourn today to meet again Tuesday at 11 a.m. The chamber then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we begin, I just want to remind participants and viewers of a couple ground rules.
• I believe those are all my ground rules. And with that, we will kick off the hearing.
• Our home rule petition is Grafton's request, voted on at town meeting.
• And so there are currently 19 home rule petitions filed for this restriction.
• And so there are currently 19 home rule petitions filed for this restriction.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a hearing on several late-file bills and home rule petitions, with testimony focused mainly on coastal access and wildlife management, rodenticide restrictions, and a local land-use request. Rep. Scarsdale testified for H.5113, which would name an accessible trail in Groton’s J. Harry Rich State Forest the Marion Stoddard River Walk in honor of the activist who helped restore the Nashua River. Groton Trails Committee chair Paul Fung also supported the bill, describing the trail, educational signs, and DCR’s involvement. Rep. Sweezey presented a package of Duxbury Beach bills—H.5141, H.5140, and H.5139—intended to align state shorebird protections more closely with federal standards, create parity in beach management tools, and require periodic review of outdated recreational-use guidelines; he said the bills were developed with local and agency input and aimed to balance conservation with beach access. A large portion of the hearing concerned local petitions to restrict second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides and other pesticides. Supporters from Mass Audubon, Sierra Club, Animal Defenders International, wildlife rehabilitation groups, and residents from towns including Grafton, Billerica, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Eastham, and Truro argued that these poisons harm raptors and other non-target wildlife through secondary poisoning, persist in the environment, and are increasingly ineffective. Several speakers said local town meetings had approved the restrictions and urged favorable reports on the petitions. Opponents, including a representative of the New England Pest Management Association, argued that regulation should remain at the state level under MDAR to avoid a patchwork of local rules and noted that the agency was already reviewing rodenticide regulations. Committee members asked questions about agency consultation, the relationship between state and federal bird listings, and how local beach rules would work in practice. The committee also heard testimony on H.4700 and related local pesticide-reduction petitions for Eastham and Truro, with witnesses describing groundwater concerns, pesticide drift, and wildlife impacts. Finally, the committee took testimony on S.2961, a Dighton bill authorizing the use of a small portion of conservation land for public way purposes to replace the Pleasant Street Bridge and add pedestrian and bicycle accommodations; the witness said the affected area was limited and necessary for safety improvements. The hearing ended after testimony concluded, with the chair turning the gavel over and the committee adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The minority has exercised their right under the committee rules. to hold over the nominations of Todd
• It first makes permanent the class scheduling of fentanyl-related subsists.
• We need fentanyl-related substances permanently scheduled. Thank you, Senator.
• First, it makes permanent the class scheduling of fentanyl-related subjects.
• This is making it permanent. permanent, but it's the same protection that was offered during that same

Bills: SB331

Keywords: fentanyl, controlled substances, drug trafficking, public health, research regulations, law enforcement, S-331, Halt All Lethal Trafficking and Fentanyl Act, fentanyl crisis, public testimony, drug legislation, bipartisan support

Summary: In this committee meeting, the focus was primarily on S-331, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking and Fentanyl Act, aimed at addressing the fentanyl crisis. The bill's key components include making permanent the class scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, confirming existing sentencing penalties, and easing registration requirements for scientific research on Schedule I substances. Numerous parents shared heartbreaking testimonies about their losses due to fentanyl, which fueled an urgent call to pass the legislation without alterations. The committee members engaged in passionate discussions highlighting the urgency of the situation as overdoses continue to claim American lives.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not include the board rules.
• crime of child torture to the permanent crime of child torture to the permanent disqualifications
• correct that oversight for the two rules correct that oversight for the two rules enacted<01:01:
• committed to creating permanent committed to creating permanent affordable<01:40:42.960> homes
• to make a permanent end to homelessness. to make a permanent end to homelessness.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• targeting what we need for more homeowners and what we need to help renters and what we need for permanent
• We know permanent supportive housing, once you stabilize someone in housing and once you provide them
• We know permanent supportive housing, once you stabilize someone in housing and once you provide them
• We know permanent supportive housing, once you stabilize someone in housing and once you provide them
• We're anticipating both rulings in appeals, and that will shape the path forward.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• why this concept of permanent why this concept of permanent resident<00:20:11.320> became
• all of your rules?
• I'm not sure that we would be creating rules.
• are are you folks going to create rules are are you folks going to create rules of<00:42:05.640>
• > I<00:42:51.280> i' that we would be creating rules I i' that we would be creating rules

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Judiciary-related measures. SB 94 would increase the mandatory minimum jail term for a first knowing or intentional violation of a temporary restraining order from 48 to 72 hours. The Office of the Public Defender and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence opposed the bill, arguing the current penalty is effective, the measure treats very different conduct the same, and the mental health assessment language is unclear and could be harmful or misapplied. Some other testifiers were listed in support or opposition, but no vote was taken. SB 15 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution. The Hawaiʻi Financial Services Association offered comments rather than opposition, suggesting the bill should be clarified as applying to creditor claims rather than property taxes and possibly limited to a primary residence, with restrictions on frequency of use. Committee discussion focused on how the exemption would affect unsecured creditors, the role of recorded mortgages and judgment liens, and whether the bill should instead establish a clearer homestead-style exemption. The bill drew both support and comments, with no action taken during the hearing. The committee also took testimony on SB 117, which would protect people making sexual misconduct claims from defamation suits unless made with malice; SB 121, a constitutional amendment to give the Senate more time to confirm judicial appointments; SB 14, a reapportionment amendment tied to the decennial census and resident population; SB 175, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges and justices from 70 to 75; SB 173, creating a three-year pilot program for free child care for minor children of parties and witnesses attending First Circuit court hearings; and SB 261, increasing juror pay from $30 to $50 per day. Testimony on these measures was generally supportive in the case of SB 175, SB 173, and SB 261, with some opposition on SB 14 and SB 117. On SB 173 and SB 261, committee members asked questions about practical implementation, and on SB 261 the State Bar Association said the increase was overdue and intended to encourage jury participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• or any clerk violating this rule or any clerk violating<01:26:14.400> this<01:26:14.639> rule
• the permanent journal. Please. the permanent journal. Please.
• printed in the permanent journal. printed in the permanent journal.
• invitation might get permanently invitation might get permanently revoked. revoked. revoked.
• permanent journal. permanent journal. >> Without<05:15:08.320> objection.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the House, uh, Permanent Standing Subcommittee on County Regional Government will come to order.
• It was we convened the permanent standing Subcommittee on County and Regional Government.
• Uh, as a reminder to the committee and our visitors and witnesses today under House Rule 4, Section 13
• , House committees are subject to the same rules of decorum that govern, that govern House proceedings
• The boundaries of that lake have not been determined to have been permanent.