Transcript Highlights:

• As a former Attorney General, I know that the Attorney General is obligated to defend laws when they're
• The Attorney General is obligated to defend laws when they're attacked for being unconstitutional and
• I defended a lot of cases that I didn't agree with, but I thought it was my duty as Attorney General.
• I'm an attorney. I'm here speaking in my personal capacity, not on behalf of my employer.
• The attorney that testified said things would be left up to a judge. Some things in this bill.

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Education approved the minutes from February 18 and March 4, 2026, then took up several bills. HCR 2003, the “Protect Girls in Sports in Arizona Act,” drew extensive testimony. Supporters, including Superintendent Tom Horne, argued it would protect fairness, safety, and privacy in girls’ sports and locker rooms by requiring teams to be designated male, female, or co-ed and by limiting access to sex-designated private spaces. Opponents, including ACLU and transgender advocates, said the measure was discriminatory, would function as a bathroom ban, and could force schools to police students’ bodies and identities. The committee voted 4-3 to give HCR 2003 a due pass recommendation. The committee then advanced HB 2020, which lowers certain student threats or disruptions at educational institutions from a Class 6 felony to a Class 1 misdemeanor, and HB 2032, which changes the statewide testing window so assessments begin later in the spring and scores are returned later, with supporters saying it would better reflect a full year of instruction. HB 2033, allowing school districts or charter schools to choose paper-and-pencil administration of statewide assessments by governing board vote, also received support from educators who said it would reduce technology barriers for younger students. HB 2318, as amended, would impose term limits on school district governing board members after eight consecutive years; school board groups opposed it as harmful to rural districts, but the committee adopted an amendment and gave the bill a due pass recommendation. The committee also approved HB 2378, which changes eligibility rules for School Facilities Oversight Board members who are architects or engineers so their businesses may not include school construction. HB 2313, which prohibits teacher strikes or organized work stoppages and ties funding penalties to districts or charters that violate the ban, advanced despite testimony that it duplicates existing law and could chill educators’ speech and worsen staffing shortages. Finally, HB 2249, a major expansion of the Parents’ Bill of Rights, passed after heated testimony. Supporters said it would prevent schools from socially transitioning minors without written parental consent and stop staff from encouraging children to hide information from parents; opponents warned it was vague, punitive, and would expose teachers and schools to massive liability and litigation. The committee adopted amendments on HB 2318 and HB 2249 and reported all of the listed bills out with due pass recommendations, with recorded split votes on several measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Enforcement is through the Attorney General's office. Immediately after consent is recorded.
• general, where then I will be compelled to provide. ...action from the attorney general, where then
• The Attorney General will, but he's the one that also has to enforce it.
• General, and so we know and they have to... ...have to report to the Attorney General.
• We've got them caught with the Attorney General's office. I don't know.

Transcript Highlights:

• public defender profession see compensation that incentivizes new attorneys to join their ranks.
• Half of those attorneys were hired at the bottom two steps, meaning we're training them.
• Just as an FYI, 55% of our line attorneys started after January 1st of 2020.
• Chair and Senator Kreun, that was at the request of Legal Aid and our attorneys.
• </c> and our attorneys. and our attorneys.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, the Attorney General in support.
• >> I did not see Attorney General's opinion on this.
• >> I did not see Attorney General's opinion on this.
• </c><00:57:19.960><c> General's</c> coordination with the Attorney General's coordination with the Attorney
• We don't have AG Attorney General here?

Bills: HB1573 , HB1645 , HB1875 , HB1898 , HB2121

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1573, which would create state enforcement authority over unauthorized e-cigarette products and related tobacco enforcement. Supporters including SHPDA, the Department of Health, the Attorney General’s office, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others said the bill would help protect youth from unauthorized vaping products, give the state tools to enforce an FDA-authorized product list, and add penalties and inspection authority. A committee member asked whether enforcement staff were available and what penalties would apply; the response was that existing tobacco investigators would take on the work, and the bill includes civil penalties, seizure authority, and possible license revocation referrals. The measure drew both support and opposition testimony, but no vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up HB 1645, relating to liability for child welfare service providers. The Insurance Division said it was aware of the insurance-cost problem, had raised the issue with the NAIC, and was exploring a captive insurance option, while suggesting the legislature consider additional appropriations to DHS to cover higher contract costs. Supporters, including Parents and Children Together and Hawaii Insurance Council, argued the bill would help child welfare providers obtain insurance and continue critical services. Opponents, including the Hawaii Association for Justice, warned that removing joint and several liability could leave victims undercompensated and might not actually lower premiums. The insurance commissioner said other states have done tort reform in this area, but the committee was told it is not clear the bill would reduce insurance costs. Finally, the committee heard extensive testimony on HB 1875, which would protect access to gender-affirming care in Hawaii and shield patients and providers from out-of-state legal actions. Support came from the Hawaii State Youth Commission, LGBTQ+ and public health groups, medical professionals, ACLU Hawaii, Planned Parenthood, and others, who said gender-affirming care is evidence-based, medically necessary, and important for patient privacy, provider stability, and continuity of care. Several witnesses asked for amendments to the bill’s definition language. Opposition testimony came from individuals and groups including Hawaii Christian Coalition, Leeward Republican Women’s Club, and others, who argued the bill could expose children to irreversible decisions and that more research is needed. The chair noted roughly 176 supporters and about 40 opponents testified. No final action or vote was reported in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Deputy Attorney General Sarah Anne Mau, on behalf of the Department of the Attorney General, we submitted
• That HD1 version incorporates amendments that the Attorney General had proposed to that bill as well,
• The HD1 version incorporates amendments that the Attorney General had proposed to that bill as well,
• Okay, we'll also be adding Attorney General's suggested amendments, which includes a preamble to assure
• Okay, we'll also be adding Attorney General's suggested amendments, which includes a preamble to assure

Summary: The joint committees on Labor and Technology, Transportation, and Culture and the Arts heard testimony on Senate Bill 396 and Senate Bill 47, then later the Labor and Technology committee took up Senate Bill 136 and Senate Bill 1523. SB 396 drew support from the Metropolitan Planning Organization and others, with a question raised about implementation costs; the director said costs would depend on the scope of the benefit package and the transportation mode involved. The committees recommended passing SB 396 with technical amendments and added appropriation language with a blank amount, and the motion was adopted by recorded votes in both committees. SB 47, which would designate the Lunar New Year as a state holiday, received support from the Office of Collective Bargaining and several individuals, including Charlene Chun, who spoke about family traditions and cultural recognition. Members asked about the cost and whether the day would be a paid day off for state employees; the response was that observance would be subject to collective bargaining. The committees moved SB 47 forward with amendments, noting the collective bargaining and cost issues, and adopted the recommendation by vote. In the Labor and Technology committee, SB 136 on the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund drew strong support from iron workers and related supporters, who argued the bill was about safety, training, and keeping dismantling work within the ironworkers’ trade. Several other unions, including operating engineers, carpenters, laborers, and plumbers and fitters, opposed the bill as too broad and potentially infringing on their jurisdiction. The measure was not decided in the portion provided, but members discussed possible amendments and jurisdictional concerns. SB 1523, which would expand private-sector collective bargaining rights under the Hawaii Employment Relations Act to include independent contractors and others under NLRB jurisdiction, received broad labor support, including from IATSE, AFL-CIO, Hawaii Nurses Association, Unite Here Local 5, and many individual testifiers. Supporters framed it as protecting workers’ rights and strengthening labor protections, while the Hawaii Labor Relations Board warned it could significantly increase workload and require more staffing, space, and operating resources; the board estimated the bill could expand its caseload substantially and suggested an appropriation would likely be needed. The committee then moved on to the next measure, SB 1440, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• General's restoration in the Attorney General's office<00:07:26.639><c> was</c><00:07:26.880><c> a</
• that JAC had resource policy attorney that JAC had denied.<00:07:47.680><c> Moving</c><00:07:48.000>
• In District Attorney Number One, Agency 151, it was a restoration of $54,000 general fund.
• In Agency 157, District Attorney Number Seven, it was a restoration of $17,000 general fund. could be
• ><c> one,</c><00:22:57.840><c> agency</c> In district attorney number one, agency In district attorney

Bills: SF0032 , SF0010 , SF0001 , HB0001

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• You hire an attorney.
• Injury compensation program, there are very few attorneys nationwide who are trained.
• no no we we pick we've got we've got an in-house attorney.
• No no no I'm the attorney. Well we have an in-house attorney.
• No I'm the attorney and that in-house attorney hasn't even talked with this person. we're going to a

Bills: HB3772 , HB1656 , HB4504 , HB1896 , HB4420 , HB4421 , HB4076 , HB3708 , HB2806 , HB3540 , HB1586 , HB5459 , HB4553 , HB4535 , HB3811 , HB3749 , HB4255 , HB4051 , HB5098 , HB3554 , HB4539 , HB5274

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: e-cigarettes, health and safety, regulations, directory, penalties, regulation, certification, compliance, manufacturers, FDA, nicotine, mental health, emergency detention, paramedic authority, mental illness, healthcare facility, public health, covenants not to compete, health care practitioners, physicians

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, representing New Hampshire state law enforcement, the Attorney General John Formella and Colonel
• He saw potential in me at a young age and provided me the opportunity to serve as attorney general.
• attorney attorney general<00:54:14.079><c> but</c><00:54:14.280><c> unfortunately</c><00:54:15.040><
• I've spent my life in public service, first as a murder prosecutor, later as attorney general, U.S. attorney
• </c> taxpayers as a former Attorney taxpayers as a former Attorney General<01:20:12.080><c> it's</c><

Transcript Highlights:

• Aren't you an attorney? No, I used to be an attorney.
• </c><04:19:44.159><c> you</c> attorney no I used to be an attorney you attorney no I used to be an attorney
• </c> the Secretary of State or attorney the Secretary of State or attorney general<04:35:47.879><c> so
• </c><04:52:22.440><c> General's</c> Dick Tracy from the Attorney General's Dick Tracy from the Attorney
• </c><04:53:06.920><c> General</c> to go the election the Attorney General to go the election the Attorney

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• volume of litigation and compliance demands, and the professional expectations placed on government attorneys
• Litigation and compliance demands and the professional expectations placed on government attorneys today
• Attorneys serving sheriffs and law enforcement agents across Missouri are often compensated at higher
• We have consulted attorneys that have let us... Government and many states on this issue.
• We have consulted attorneys that have litigated tech cases nationwide, and the bottom line is simple.

Committee: House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first and held public hearings on two Senate bills. Senate Bill 944, sponsored by Sen. Carla May, would update the statutory salary range for the City of St. Louis sheriff’s attorney, which she said has been unchanged since 1990 and no longer reflects inflation, modern legal complexity, or comparable compensation in other jurisdictions. There was brief supportive comment from Rep. Fuchs, and no witnesses appeared in opposition or for information. The hearing on SB 944 then concluded without further action. The committee next heard Senate Bill 1012, sponsored by Sen. Nicola, which would clarify that existing law applies to artificial intelligence and that humans remain responsible for AI use. The bill also addressed AI in licensed professions, companion chatbots, and political ads using generative AI. Rep. Fuchs raised a question about liability for sharing an AI-generated image, and the sponsor said the bill excludes end users from liability and is intended to create basic guardrails while preserving innovation. Testimony in opposition came from Americans for Prosperity and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Both argued the bill was overly broad and contained drafting problems, including unused definitions, cross-reference errors, and unclear metadata and liability provisions. The Chamber also said the bill would create regulatory uncertainty for industry and should be perfected before advancing. After public testimony, the committee moved into executive session on SB 1012 and voted the bill do pass, but the vote was 0 ayes and 11 noes after a member changed to the prevailing side, so the bill failed. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, regarding the provision that permits the Secretary of State or Attorney General to object to such
• It would also allow the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the relevant county registrar to
• The provisions about the Secretary of State and the Attorney General being able to object to a local
• arrangement to provide security for ...and the Attorney General being able to object to a local arrangement
• You know, it is the county district attorneys that take the lead on investigating election crimes.

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a water attorney, and I work regularly with recharge topics.
• I'm a water attorney, and I work regularly with recharge topics, and I was asked by Marbella Homes, my
• applied for years to area-of-impact-of-storage definitions. ...so that's great, except for when I'm an attorney
• I'm a water attorney and I work regularly with recharge topics and I was asked by Marbella homes my client
• applied for years to area of impact of storage definitions so that's great except for when I'm an attorney

Bills: SB1202 , SB1287 , SB1418 , SB1785 , SCM1007

Committees: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water , House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Keywords: groundwater, water conservation, Arizona water resources, drought management, water quality, irrigation, active management area, domestic use, stock watering, water rights, small modular reactors, energy regulation, environmental compatibility, utility construction, agricultural use, industrial users, water storage, recovery well, Arizona Revised Statutes, water management

Transcript Highlights:

• Tim Fleming with the Rules Attorney Office.
• Chairman, I'm wondering if the rules attorney has reviewed an Arizona Supreme Court case.
• Carter mr. chairman I'm wondering if the rules attorney has reviewed a Arizona Supreme Court case I think
• As we clearly heard from the Rules Attorney, House Bill 2589 would fail strict scrutiny in the courts
• We heard from the Rules Attorney that the sponsors are working on an amendment. It sounds like...

Summary: The Rules Committee considered several bills for constitutional and proper-form review. House Bill 2171, which would bar certain hostile governments and related persons from owning or possessing Arizona real property and create enforcement penalties, was flagged for possible conflict with federal foreign-relations law but was recommended 5-2. House Bill 2446, requiring commercial truckers to demonstrate English proficiency and allowing out-of-service orders, was also recommended 5-2, with staff noting a needed amendment to carve out the federal border commercial zone. House Bill 2331, as amended, would require electric utilities to obtain 85% of generation from “reliable” sources by 2030; staff raised concerns about the Arizona Corporation Commission’s exclusive constitutional authority over utility regulation, but the committee still recommended it 5-2 after discussion of Johnson Utilities and related case law. House Bill 2589, making it a felony to allow minors to see or be present at a drag show or to perform a drag show in a minor’s view, drew the strongest constitutional concerns. Staff said it implicated the First Amendment and parental rights and would likely face strict scrutiny, but noted the sponsor was working on an amendment; the committee nevertheless recommended it 5-2. House Bill 2592, dealing with artificial intelligence use by state agencies and legislative ratification of temporary rules, was said to be generally acceptable except for provisions that would require the legislature to act within 30 days and by simple majority, which staff described as an impermissible attempt to bind future legislatures; it was recommended 5-2. The committee then approved a large mass motion covering many additional bills, memorials, and resolutions, all deemed constitutional and in proper form. Staff highlighted House Bill 2976 as one measure that may need amendment because of possible tension with the Arizona Supreme Court’s authority over justice court administration, though it was still included in the mass motion. The mass motion passed 7-0 with one absent, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Common other reporters include insurance adjusters, attorneys, other states, and the custodial or non-custodial
• Common other reporters include insurance justers, attorneys, other states, and the custodial or non-custodial
• It contains material tailored for insurance companies and adjusters, for attorneys, and for DCS customers
• That really depends on whether there were any attorney fees that needed to be covered.
• Well, let's just assume that this is above any costs, attorney fees, any of those things that are excluded

Committee: Joint JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Summary: At the June 4, 2025 JLARC I-900 Subcommittee hearing, the State Auditor’s Office presented a performance audit on Washington’s child support insurance intercept law. The audit reviewed the mandatory reporting system for insurance claims tied to past-due child support, noting that collections increased after the law took effect in 2022, but that some eligible claims still are not being reported. Auditors said DCS learns about roughly 1 in 10 claims through other channels, and that insurers may miss reporting because they are unaware of the law, make administrative errors, or misunderstand the $500 threshold and timing requirements. The audit recommended that the Office of the Insurance Commissioner help educate insurers by adding information to its website and sharing insurer contact contacts with DCS, and also recommended that the Legislature amend the law to create monitoring and enforcement authority. The auditor said neither DCS nor OIC currently has authority to monitor compliance or take action against noncompliant insurers, though other states use insurance regulators or market conduct exams for this purpose. Committee members asked about possible coordinated enforcement between DSHS and OIC, which the auditor said was beyond the scope of the audit but could be considered by the Legislature. An OIC representative said the commissioner is willing to help educate insurers, post information on the OIC website, and share contact information with DSHS, and that the agency is open to further discussion. No public testimony was offered, and no votes or formal committee actions were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Attorney General's appropriation is on 3.13. The Secretary of State is on line 3.24.
• Union, and I appreciate the opportunity to share some brief thoughts on the appropriation for the Attorney
• Share some brief thoughts on the appropriation for the Attorney General's Office in this budget.
• Because of the investment the legislature has made in recent years, the Attorney General's Office has
• committee has a letter from a coalition of organizations, including ours, voicing support for the Attorney

Bills: HF2783

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you know, I there's a shop owner in Little Falls, and we talked about attorney fees, and I think
• So, thank you. talked about attorney fees and I think talked about attorney fees and I think that's<00
• I would let them know that they should report it to the attorney general.
• And that's something that I'm sure my attorneys on the committee would love to debate and spend more
• >> Senator Klein. >> Well, the more important part of the bill, the meat of the bill, is the attorney

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> committee M Chief Deputy attorney committee M Chief Deputy attorney general<00:37:07.480><c> um<
• The Deputy Attorney General, Chelsea Oto, on behalf of the Department of the Attorney General Enforcement
• </c><02:02:33.400><c> general</c> members seeing none um attorney general members seeing none um attorney
• </c> the uh suggestion from the attorney the uh suggestion from the attorney general<02:04:58.040><c>
• </c> deputy attorney deputy attorney general<02:21:26.760><c> um</c><02:21:27.160><c> in</c><02:21:27.399

Summary: The joint hearing covered HB 553 on biomarker testing coverage, HB 556 on colorectal cancer screening access, and later HB 712 on 340B drug pricing. For HB 553, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, patient advocates Natalie Heyman and Susan Hirano, a surgical oncologist, and the American Lung Association strongly supported the bill, arguing that biomarker testing should be covered when ordered by a doctor and guided by current evidence. DHS and several insurers offered comments and requested amendments, with DHS saying it appreciated the intent but wanted changes. The committees then voted to pass HB 553 with amendments, including a House draft and a defective date of July 1, 3000; both the House Health and Human Services and Homelessness committees adopted the recommendation unanimously. For HB 556, testimony focused on closing gaps in colorectal cancer screening, especially for uninsured and underinsured patients who can get stool-based screening but then cannot access follow-up colonoscopies. Community Clinic of Maui, ACS CAN, and the American Cancer Society supported the bill, with ACS CAN urging a program similar to the breast and cervical cancer control program and offering amendments. DHS requested that the program and appropriation not conflict with executive budget priorities, and the committees noted technical amendments, a defective date, a blank appropriation amount, and corrections changing Medicare references to Medicaid. HB 556 was also passed with amendments by both committees. The hearing then moved to HB 712 on 340B drug pricing and contract pharmacies. The Department of Health and the Attorney General’s office expressed concern that the bill would require the state to regulate private commercial activity and said the department lacked the expertise and resources to implement it as written, suggesting it might belong in a different statutory section. In contrast, PhRMA opposed the bill, while Hawaii Pacific Health and Hawaii Island Community Health Center supported it, saying 340B savings are important for hospital services and patient access to low-cost medications, especially where manufacturers have restricted shipments to contract pharmacies. No vote on HB 712 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• for retainers just money to my attorney for retainers just trying<00:20:59.040><c> to</c><00:20:59.160
• As an attorney, I feel attacked personally, professionally, in every way imaginable.
• As an attorney, I feel attacked personally, professionally, in every way imaginable.
• As an attorney, I feel attacked personally, professionally, in every way imaginable.
• As an attorney, I feel attacked personally, professionally, in every way imaginable.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> deliberations or attorney-client deliberations or attorney-client privileged<00:10:02.040><c> communications
• working on a case, that's why they have attorney-client privilege, right?
• </c><00:26:25.600><c> uh,</c> for instance, if you're an attorney uh, for instance, if you're an attorney
• </c><00:26:28.520><c> So,</c> attorney-client privilege, right?
• So, attorney-client privilege, right?

Committee: Senate Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the Attorney General's office online offering comments or in the room. Good morning.
• Deputy Attorney General Chris Han with comments on the bill.
• </c><00:04:23.400><c> General's</c><00:04:23.960><c> office</c> we have the Attorney General's office
• My name is Emma Olen, and I'm an enforcement attorney with OCP. OCP offers comment on this bill.
• </c><00:37:36.440><c> General's</c> testimony from the Attorney General's testimony from the Attorney

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee held its first hearing of the 2025 session and reviewed several measures. SB 102 would restrict third-party restaurant reservation services from listing or selling reservations without a written agreement from the restaurant; the Attorney General recommended amendments to strengthen the bill against First Amendment and Contracts Clause challenges, and the Hawaii Restaurant Association strongly supported it, saying restaurants should control who represents them. The committee also heard SB 137 on electric utility mergers and acquisitions, with support from Ulupono Initiative and IBW Local 1260. Supporters said the bill would preserve state policy protections, including renewable energy and rate-making goals, and protect workers; IBW also suggested amendments, including a severability clause. The committee discussed a possible alternative approach from the PUC involving solicitation of bids from non-investor-owned utilities, and Ulupono said it would consider that idea but was concerned about preserving time for co-op formation. Members then heard SB 142, which would require insurers paying claims by check to send them by certified mail with restricted delivery and return receipt. The Insurance Division stood on its written testimony, while the Hawaiian Insurers Council, State Farm, NAMIC, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association opposed the bill. A senator questioned whether the measure was too prescriptive and could create problems for claimants displaced by disasters; the response was that insurers and claimants usually remain in contact and that other payment methods may already be available depending on the carrier. SB 157 would ban algorithmic price setting in Hawaii’s rental market and require a public education program; the committee noted written testimony in support and comment, but no oral testimony was taken before moving on. SB 158 would create a state-owned bank implementation board within DCCA; DCCA’s financial institutions division, the Budget and Finance Department, and the Legislative Reference Bureau submitted comments, while the Hawaii Bankers Association opposed and the Hawaii Credit Union League commented. The committee also heard SB 318, which would require DCCA to adopt privacy rules for direct-to-consumer genetic testing and specify whether genetic information may be used for investigative genetic genealogy. The Office of Consumer Protection and Andrew Crossland opposed the bill, saying federal law and existing state protections already cover much of the area and that rulemaking would be a better way to address it; members raised concerns about federal changes and the need for state protections, but OCP said the bill was not the best approach. SB 332 would prohibit bundling foreclosed homes at public sale and delay finality of sales; L. Strong and written testimony supported it, citing Lahaina’s post-fire foreclosure risks and warning of investors profiting from the disaster. The final measure, SB 525, would require written notice and consent before mortuaries, cemeteries, or pre-need funeral authorities sell or recycle precious metals recovered after cremation. DCCA’s consumer protection and licensing divisions offered comments, while the Hawaii Funeral and Cemetery Association opposed the bill, saying it was surprised by the measure and was unaware of current consumer problems in the industry.