Transcript Highlights:

• This is an update on the district office working group discussion on creating district legislative aid
• Just as background, when the district office and district legislative aid program was rolled out a little
• The council policy on this issue directed that any person hired for the district legislative aid position
• anything more than $75,000, which is the maximum of classification E, where the district legislative aides
• Of course, any changes to the classification and compensation of district legislative aides will require

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not part of financial aid; it is completely separate.
• It is not part of financial aid; it is completely separate.
• It is not part of financial aid; it is completely separate.
• It is not part of financial aid; it is completely separate.
• <02:02:20.719> allocation against their financial aid allocation against their financial aid

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Bachman Hall and heard testimony on several UH-related bills. HB 542 would expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to provide unmet-need scholarships at four-year UH campuses. UH system officials, the UH Student Caucus, and a Honolulu Community College student testified in support, emphasizing college affordability, student retention, and workforce needs. Committee members asked about current program data, eligibility, transfer patterns, and cost; UH said it had data available, noted about 10% of current Hawaiʻi Promise students transfer to four-year campuses, and estimated the full expansion would cost about $12 million. UH also suggested a possible alternative of focusing on transfer opportunities from two-year to four-year campuses. The committee then heard HB 840, which concerns athletics appropriations for UH. UH Mānoa and UH Hilo supported the bill. UH officials said the funding would help cover recurring athletics operating costs, women’s sports travel and recruiting, Austin Awards, and a new nutrition fueling station, while Hilo said the money would help with travel, per diem, and conference-related costs. Members asked about the history of the athletics funding, the difference between Austin Awards and special talent waivers, NIL planning, and whether the appropriation should be restored to the base budget. UH explained that a $4 million athletics appropriation was originally made in 2018 or 2019, later removed from the base, and has been reappropriated annually since then. Finally, the committee heard HB 842, which would fund three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions at UH Mānoa’s Counseling and Student Development Center. UH supported the bill, and Academic Labor United and a high school student testified in favor, citing student stress, overwork, and the need for more counseling access. In questions, members discussed the current counselor-to-student ratio, recruitment challenges in a tight labor market, and strategies for hiring, including looking at candidates on soft-money grants who may be seeking stable employment. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is the access to justice room in which legal aid is there and they can pass it to an attorney,
• experience previously as a legal aid experience previously as a legal aid attorney<00:16:22.560>
• to an attorney and any legal aid to an attorney and any legal aid attorney<00:16:37.120> will
• <00:21:39.600> all send you to go talk to legal aid. all send you to go talk to legal aid.
• > access<00:21:41.440> to legal aid attorneys have access to legal aid attorneys have access

Bills: HB2227, HB1775, HB1560, HB1642, HB1647, HB2003, HB1640, HB2198

Keywords: eviction, housing stability, tenant screening, court records, writ of possession, foreclosures, public sale, eligible bidders, housing, downpayment, judicial foreclosure, digital financial assets, consumer protection, financial kiosks, refunds, transaction security, HB1642, Hawaii, cryptocurrency ATM, crypto ATM

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on February 5, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills, beginning with HB 227 relating to eviction records. Supporters, including the Public First Law Center and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, argued the bill would help people who prevail in eviction cases avoid long-term housing harm from online court records, while the Public First Law Center said keeping records off eCourt Kokua would not violate the First Amendment because the records would still be available in person. Members discussed access-to-justice concerns, and a witness said legal aid attorneys could still access the records through the attorney-only Jeff’s system and the court’s access-to-justice room. The chair also asked about precedent, and a witness cited a Hawaii Supreme Court case as supporting removal from the online database rather than sealing records entirely. The committee then took up HP 1775 relating to foreclosures, but the transcript only shows in-person opposition comments from the Hawaii State Bar Association Collection Law Section, the Hawaii Credit Union League, and the Hawaii Bankers Association. The credit union and banking groups said they had concerns about broader negative impacts on mortgage lending and other requirements, but no detailed discussion or action was captured before the committee moved on. The next measure, HB 1560 relating to consumer protection, drew support from the Office of Consumer Protection and cryptocurrency companies including Coinflip and America Digital, which said they already use wallet-pinning and other safeguards to prevent fraud. AARP Hawaii did not take a formal position but said the bill addressed a real problem, noting that Hawaii residents, especially in Kona, had lost more than $920,000 in 2024 to cryptocurrency ATM scams and arguing that stronger oversight was needed. The committee also heard HB 1642, which would ban cryptocurrency kiosks. The Office of Consumer Protection supported the ban as the best way to protect consumers from fraud, while Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, and America Digital opposed it, arguing kiosks provide cash-based access to crypto, especially for unbanked or underbanked consumers, and that targeted regulation would be better than an outright ban. AARP Hawaii took no formal position but strongly emphasized the harm caused by scams, saying victims are often frightened into acting quickly and that kiosk transactions currently lack enough friction or intervention. Finally, HB 1647, also on consumer protection, would impose liability on host businesses that provide space for crypto kiosks. The Office of Consumer Protection warned small businesses might not understand the liability, while Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, and America Digital opposed the bill, saying it would unfairly shift enforcement duties to host stores and could discourage businesses from hosting kiosks, effectively creating a de facto ban. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• :04:33.520> the<00:04:33.759> student<00:04:34.080> financial<00:04:34.400> aid
• also includes the student financial aid also includes the student financial aid office<00:04:34.880
• Next is 3060, which is student financial aid.
• aid. um that included<00:08:20.879> an<00:08:21.199> increase<00:08:21.759> of<
• Total state aid road construction.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 18 February, 2026; 11:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee began with process instructions about using committee substitutes, identifying bills with reverse repealers, and taking up noncontroversial items in blocks. It then approved Senate Bill 3051, the DFA budget, which included LBR-level funding with a reverse repealer and agency-by-agency allocations for the status of women, DFA, tort claims, state property insurance, BEAM, and Mississippi Home Corporation. Senate Bill 3052, the governor’s support budget, was also approved as a final-action bill without a reverse repealer, with members noting the reduction from the prior year was tied to lower federal funding. The committee then handled the IHL budget bills. Senate Bill 3053, the general support bill, included a 3% across-the-board raise for IHL professors and $20 million for repair and renovation at universities, plus $5 million for UMMC; it passed as a committee substitute with a reverse repealer. Senate Bill 3054, the original IHL-related bill, passed without a committee substitute. Bills 3055 through 3059 were taken up in block and approved, providing 3% increases for A units at Alcorn State and Mississippi State. Senate Bill 3060, student financial aid, added about $7.7 million for scholarship costs, including MESG, MTAG, and Winters-Reed loan repayment, and passed as a committee substitute. The committee also approved the larger IHL budget bill with a reverse repealer and discussed, but did not fund, a UMMC cancer center request at that stage. Subcommittee 3 presented education-related bills. Senate Bill 3062 was approved at LBR with a reverse repealer and included a large transfer from the education enhancement fund. Senate Bill 3063 added $15 million for repair and renovation and $8.11 million for faculty pay raises, and passed as a committee substitute with a reverse repealer. On Senate Bill 3064, the Employment Security Commission budget, members discussed whether the committee substitute included a reverse repealer and noted they might revisit that on the floor if needed; the bill was advanced. Subcommittee 4 then took up Senate Bills 3065, 3066, 3068, and 3069 in block and approved them: Ethics Commission funding increased for salary realignment and a database; Judicial Performance Commission language was tightened to freeze the director’s salary and ensure youth court oversight funds were used solely for that purpose; Tax Appeals Board funding was increased to restore cuts and vacancy funding; and Workers’ Compensation Commission funding rose to cover commissioner salary increases and related language changes. Later, the committee approved Senate Bill 3067 for the Department of Public Safety, which included a reverse repealer, LBR-level funding, additional money for furniture for the new headquarters, and reappropriation language. Senate Bill 3071, the GCRF bill, was approved with a reverse repealer and reappropriation language for prior-year projects. Senate Bill 3072, the Department of Mental Health budget, was approved with a reverse repealer and included $12 million for the Canopy project, prior-year invoice funding, and language tied to mental health-related legislation. Finally, Senate Bills 3073 through 3075 were taken up in block for licensing boards, with increases for the Chiropractic Examiners, Dental Examiners, and Pharmacy boards, including funding for licensing system updates, vacancy funding, and expansion of the pharmacy recovery program.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:13.280> The<00:08:13.440> Pell are title 4 financial aid.
• The Pell are title 4 financial aid.
• implement the required financial aid implement the required financial aid changes<01:41:03.520><
• last year, the federal student aid last year, the federal student aid landscape<02:02:19.360>
• It's not just financial aid.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The provision authorizes someone to use force to aid another person and opposes no duty to retreat in
• The provision authorizes someone to use force to aid another person and opposes no duty to retreat in
• The provision authorizes someone to use force to aid another person and opposes no duty to retreat in
• that specifically applies to that on Aid that specifically applies to that on Aid and<01:33:11.440
• circumstance under which current aiding circumstance under which current aiding abetting<01:37:03.960

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For the last 20 years, there has been a local sales tax to aid in constructing Target Field.
• aid in constructing uh Target Field. aid in constructing uh Target Field.
• We directed historic amounts in local government aid and county program aid to communities to help reduce
• We provided homeless aid, which we're getting rid of the sunset in this bill, which helps ensure that
• We directed historic amounts in local government aid and county program aid to communities to help reduce

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Senate Tax Committee members presented a tax omnibus bill they said was a bipartisan effort aimed at making life more affordable and responding to federal policy changes they argued are increasing costs and harming Minnesota families, communities, farmers, and businesses. Chair Rest and other senators described the bill as a response to federal cuts to health care and food support, and said it also complements other Senate action on health and human services. Key provisions highlighted included a 12% increase in property tax refunds for homeowners, described as more than $100 million in direct relief; a $2 million provision related to Operation Metro Transit; a new health care sales tax in Hennepin County to replace an expiring local sales tax and help stabilize hospitals such as HCMC and North Memorial, with funds for uncompensated care and facility upkeep; and a social media tax on the largest platforms, which supporters said would raise revenue without affecting Minnesota residents. Senators also emphasized a sustainable aviation fuel credit, framed as a climate and economic development measure that could support in-state production and agricultural feedstocks. Members also discussed agricultural provisions, including lifting the cap on the beginning farmer tax credit extension and updating homestead-related rules, saying these changes would help farm transitions and reflect current conditions. Another property tax change would increase the market value exclusion for disabled veterans. No formal vote was taken in the transcript, but senators said the bill had been passed to the floor and they were waiting for leadership to schedule it, while noting the House had not yet taken similar action.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the other two that we use, University of North Dakota, they have our financial aid director.
• We had a change in our financial aid director position here.
• Nobody could find someone that really loved the financial aid world and was really good at it.
• We had a change in our financial aid director position here.
• Nobody could find someone that really loved the financial aid world and was really good at it.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, if you have a student on campus that has AIDS, the only individual that’s allowed to know
• I don’t want anyone to be able to ask for a list of students on campus that have AIDS.
• After a few weeks, one of the classroom aides broke down and told my husband that during the morning
• They provide incident prevention and aid more effective investigation.
• That bus aide and the bus driver were eventually arrested.

Bills: S0824, S1170, S1620, S1738, S7036

Keywords: school district, real property, inventory, land use, education, video monitoring, safety, special education, parental rights, public education, school board rights, transparency, employment conditions, nondisclosure agreements, educational facilities, student safety, teacher accountability, physical plant, school design, construction standards

Summary: The Education Pre-K-12 Committee considered several K-12 bills and resolutions. SJR 1104, by Senator Massullo, would place on the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment protecting voluntary religious expression in public schools; supporters said it simply codifies existing law and protects student and employee rights, while opponents warned it could entrench religious pressure and exclusion. The resolution was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1738, by Senator Yarborough, on educational facilities; an amendment removed crime-prevention-through-environmental-design language and adjusted transparency/safe-space provisions, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. SB 824, by Senator Truenow, was amended into a transparency measure requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to DOE, and it was reported favorably. Appointments in tabs 7 and 8 were recommended for confirmation. The committee then took up SPB 7036, a comprehensive education package by Chair Simon. The bill would expand educational emergency triggers, adjust Title I withholding uses, align charter school rules with school improvement processes, update safety and early learning provisions, expand literacy and math interventions, and revise educator pipeline policies. Members raised concerns about a provision that could allow the state to develop instructional materials; Simon said that section was still being considered and would need guardrails. The committee adopted a motion to submit the bill as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 1620, by Senator Leak, proposed a “school board members’ bill of rights” giving board members direct access to district documents and staff, limiting district attorneys’ dual representation, strengthening nepotism rules, and prohibiting nondisclosure agreements. Volusia County school board members and others testified both for and against the bill, with supporters citing transparency and accountability and opponents warning about confidentiality, staff pressure, and undermining the superintendent’s authority. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1170, by Senator Calatayud, as amended, would allow parents of students in self-contained ESE classrooms to request cameras, with district policies governing review, notice, timelines, and appeals. Parents, advocates, and educators testified strongly in support, while one witness opposed it as an unfunded mandate. The committee reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3434 proposes reforms to university tuition and financial aid practices, specifically the
• Families who earn too much to qualify for aid, yet not enough to comfortably absorb the additional costs
• The need-based population for financial aid at different institutions that we could follow up with UT
• We've got our Assistant commissioner for Financial aid, um, here with us today too.
• They make too much to qualify for state and federal aid under their FAFSA, but they don't make enough

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3434 proposes reforms to university tuition and financial aid practices, specifically the
• Families who earn too much to qualify for aid, yet not enough to come. for the transparency to tuition
• shouldn't be paying for another group group, shouldn't we then eliminate taxpayer-funded financial aid
• I will have to ask her we've got our assistant commissioner for financial aid here with us today.
• They make $2,000 a year. much to qualify for state and federal aid under their FAFSA, but they don't

Bills: HB3032, HB3434, HB3574, HB5339, HB5646

Keywords: nursing education, clinical sites, health facilities, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, legislative study, healthcare training, tuition, financial assistance, higher education, public institutions, student support, nonresident students, Texas Education Code, resident tuition, scholarships, regenerative agriculture, grants, sustainable farming, soil health, bioremediation

Transcript Highlights:

• Financial aid makes up about 5% of our overall budget.
• Financial aid makes up about 5% of our overall budget, and that's really for aid that we distribute directly
• Now, one of the things I'll say that's interesting, you might see the financial aid number there, and
• Now, one of the things I'll say that's interesting, you might see the financial aid number there, and
• At FSU, this also includes university charter schools and restricted financial aid that we receive.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to examine how Florida’s state universities are funded and to begin discussing a possible university funding model. The panel included the State University System chancellor and CFOs from FSU, UF, FAMU, FAU, UNF, and UCF. Members first reviewed major cost drivers, which the universities said are broadly similar across institutions: wages and benefits, equipment and supplies, financial aid, professional services, utilities, IT, and maintenance. Several institutions noted unique pressures from geography, growth, research intensity, and mission, such as UCF’s size and engineering focus, UF’s land-grant and research enterprise, FAMU’s need to recruit top talent while serving a high-Pell student population, and FSU’s large facilities and research obligations. The chancellor also summarized systemwide cost growth since 2012-13, including higher health insurance, retirement, and salary costs, while noting tuition had been held flat. The committee then discussed other revenue sources, including auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. University leaders explained that many of these funds are restricted to specific purposes, and some, like UF Health, account for a large share of operating expenses. Members also discussed the current performance-based funding process. University representatives generally praised it for transparency, accountability, and its focus on student success, but said the heavy use of one-time funds, nonrecurring appropriations, and unfunded mandates makes long-term planning difficult. FSU and others argued that rising employee costs, waivers, and facilities expenses are not fully covered, while FAMU said performance funding has improved outcomes but can disadvantage institutions serving more low-income students. In response to questions about improvements, the universities suggested more recurring and predictable funding, better coverage of mandated costs, more flexibility in fees, and continued investment in research and strategic priorities. The chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a version 3.0 of performance funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications. The committee also explored whether universities should have more flexibility to set out-of-state tuition and professional school tuition. Most university leaders favored giving boards of trustees more authority, while the chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or tuition too much could affect legislative support. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair thanking the panel and adjourning the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• floriculture issues, the conservation easement of Senator Dibbles, the homestead resorts, the school aid
• <00:19:12.559> up<00:19:12.799> north<00:19:13.200> for resorts, the um school aid
• up north for resorts, the um school aid up north for the<00:19:13.600> most<00:19:13.760>
• > section<00:22:34.400> 12,<00:22:34.960> Senate<00:22:35.280> section aids
• , Senate section 12, Senate section aids, Senate section 12, Senate section 15,<00:22:36.880> House

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But putting a band-aid on a broken limb doesn't heal it.
• Yet we are still cutting school aid to 167 districts.
• Yet, we are still cutting school aid to 167 districts.
• They were entitled to state aid that was withheld from them.
• They're supposed to lose state aid. How much state aid do they stand to lose next year?

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:07.160> is, standard first aid is, standard first aid is, when<00:22:08.840> they
• Um, I notice that many aides are definitely responsive, but teachers are more trained in the first aid
• <00:28:41.040> are Um I notice that many aides are Um I notice that many aides are definitely
• more trained in the um the first aid more trained in the um the first aid area<00:28:48.120>
• They've always known right my aides.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the fifth year of the so-called SOA, investing a record-breaking $7.36 billion in Chapter 70 state aid
• In addition to that, we also increase the minimum Chapter 70 per-pupil aid to $150 per pupil.
• Chapter 70 per-pupil aid to $150 per pupil.
• President, another factor that I think needs to be considered, and it's expressed by this visual aid.
• And it indicates that, notwithstanding the... ...expressed by this visual aid.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first took up and passed several House bills establishing sick leave banks, including House 4182 for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee and House 1590 for Eric J. Awaniak. It also advanced and then enacted House 4237, a fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill providing interim funding before final action on the general appropriations act. During the session, Senator Collins also recognized Chaplain Clementina Cherry of the Lewis D. Brown Peace Institute as a distinguished guest, with remarks entered into the record. The main business was the conference committee report on the fiscal year 2026 state budget, House 4001/House 4240. Senate Ways and Means leadership described the budget as balanced, on time, and fiscally responsible, with $61.01 billion in spending, no new taxes or fees, and a $33 million deposit to the stabilization fund. They highlighted major investments in Chapter 70 school aid, special education circuit breaker reimbursements, unrestricted local aid, MassEducate, universal free school meals, MBTA and regional transit funding, MassHealth, food security, and mental health services. The report also included policy items such as broker fee responsibility, fare-free regional transit, housing studies, a gold star family annuity provision, and a crumbling concrete commission. Minority leader Senator Tarr and others questioned the spending reductions, use of one-time funds, and the treatment of excess capital gains, arguing for greater fiscal caution and concern about future federal actions and long-term spending growth. Supporters responded that the reductions reflected revenue uncertainty, federal policy risks, and the need to preserve budget stability, while using some one-time sources to balance the plan. The conference report was adopted by a roll call vote of 38-2, the emergency preamble for House 4240 was approved by standing vote, and the FY26 general appropriations bill was then enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate also adopted an order to dispense with printing a calendar for the next session and adjourned until Thursday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• state would actually get far less aid. state would actually get far less aid.
• Building aid, adequacy aid, free and reduced aid, special education aid, all ignored.
• Building aid,<03:44:27.199> adequacy<03:44:27.760> aid,<03:44:28.080> free<03:44
• :28.239> and<03:44:28.479> reduced<03:44:28.800> aid, aid, adequacy aid, free and
• reduced aid, aid, adequacy aid, free and reduced aid, special<03:44:29.359> education<03:44:29.840

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• options rather than waiting for an aid options rather than waiting for an acceptance<00:36:45.119>
• , how to interpret a financial aid letter, and some of the resources that we're putting together with
• , how to interpret a financial aid letter, and some of the resources that we're putting together with
• , how to interpret a financial aid letter, and some of the resources that we're putting together with
• How to use Access Financial Aid, how to interpret a financial aid letter, and some of the resources that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we state aid, how we provide the state support, we look at it as like a glass, a normal glass
• We take those taxes that they can levy and they fill that glass before we put in any state aid.
• We take in a district's state aid fall enrollment, so it's fall enrollment.
• The state aid fall enrollment that we use is how much of the class period, or how many classes, they
• So that's how we kind of fund that with state aid fall enrollment.

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:

• You want anybody here about hearing aids now? Yeah. Yeah.
• The hearing aid one, I promise you, is much easier.
• You want anybody here about hearing aids now? Yeah. Yeah.
• The hearing aid one, I promise you, is much easier.
• Yeah, I need hearing aid, so I'm going to move favorable also.

Summary: The committee took up several House measures. HCR 66, as amended, asked Louisiana Economic Development and the Governor’s Office of Rural Development to study rural parish assets, infrastructure, workforce, and development opportunities, and it was moved forward without objection. HB 387, a clarification to allow the fire marshal’s office to review architectural and engineering plans equally, also passed favorably without objection. HB 1223, which would have LED promote Louisiana’s clinical trial capacity and adjust internal review board processes, was amended and moved favorably. HB 950, aimed at helping older adults recognize and avoid fraud through materials and resources from the Office of Elderly Affairs, was reported favorably. HB 975, a routine measure to recreate the Public Service Commission, was also reported favorably. HB 1186, which would create a more uniform statewide building code and licensing system for inspectors, was amended and moved favorably. HB 1222, described as a Grocery Initiative Act to let LED identify ways to address food deserts and food insecurity, was introduced near the end of the meeting. The most extensive debate centered on HB 617, a consumer transparency bill requiring mandatory fees to be included in upfront pricing. The author said the bill was intended to curb hidden fees and help consumers compare prices, with examples such as hotel resort fees and automatic restaurant service charges. Supporters argued it would improve transparency, while opponents from grocery, restaurant, hotel, housing, retail, and business groups said the bill was too broad, vague about terms like “total price,” unclear on enforcement and penalties, and could create compliance burdens and litigation risk, especially for small businesses. Housing advocates opposed the bill’s housing carve-out, arguing it could weaken renters’ ability to bring unfair-practice claims. Senator Morris moved to defer HB 617, and the committee agreed without objection. The committee also heard lengthy testimony on HB 797, which would create a Bayou Gold certification for certain transactional gold vendors that meet state-defined standards such as segregation, insurance, and nearby storage. The sponsor said the goal was to give consumers confidence and encourage vendors to keep gold closer to Louisiana, while critics argued the program would amount to a state endorsement of private companies, create misleading consumer impressions, and expose the state to confusion or liability. The bill drew opposition from the Sound Money Defense League and others, but the committee ultimately reported HB 797 favorably, with the understanding it still had to go to Finance. HB 1228, a hearing-aid cleanup bill updating definitions, contracts, testing periods, and licensing rules, was also moved favorably without objection.