Video & Transcript Research : 'settlement'
Page 25 of 119
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- It had previously last year been funded from the opioid settlement fund.
- We are again this year funding it in the opioid settlement fund, and that's $875,000.
- Um and from the opioid settlement fund.
- fund and that's opioid settlement fund and that's $875,000. $875,000. $875,000.
- If that was approved, that would come through the opioid abatement settlement fund.
Summary:
The House took up S. 190, a health care cost-containment bill relating to the Green Mountain Care Board, reference-based pricing, and a study of a public employee health benefit authority. The House first suspended rules to take the bill from the notice calendar, then heard committee reports from Health Care, Ways and Means, and Appropriations. The Health Care committee chair described the bill as a strike-all amendment intended to carry out Act 68’s hospital reference-based pricing timeline, saying it would let the Green Mountain Care Board begin implementation for fiscal year 2027, expand reference-based pricing to qualified health plans and the Vermont Education Health Insurance program, and address hospital pricing transparency, outsourcing, and critical access hospital Medicare outpatient cost-sharing issues.
Supporters argued the bill would lower insurance costs, help reduce property taxes, and improve hospital sustainability by reducing the need for hospitals to limit access as they approach revenue caps. The Ways and Means committee said the bill could reduce education spending by lowering health care costs for school employees and reported the bill favorably on a 7-4 vote. The Appropriations committee said it reviewed the bill and an amendment, and noted that much of the detailed language would be changed by the appropriations amendment; it also discussed a possible state innovation waiver under the Affordable Care Act. The Health Care committee reported its strike-all amendment favorably on a 10-0 vote.
The bill’s provisions were described in detail, including requiring hospitals and insurers to express rates as a percentage of Medicare, setting a path toward national median hospital prices by 2030, limiting certain reimbursements for QHP and VHI plans, requiring a report on hospital outsourcing and provider tax impacts, and creating a public health system performance tool if funding is available. The speaker also noted that the bill would not affect critical access hospitals or Vermont’s Medicare-dependent hospital in the reimbursement cap provisions, and that critical access hospitals were already working with the Green Mountain Care Board on solutions to Medicare outpatient cost-sharing concerns.
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- I can speak a little bit to something that I've been researching with the opioid settlement funding.
- Uh because Wyoming has not used 90% of our opioid settlement funding, there is room there. little bit
- researching with the opioid settlement researching with the opioid settlement funding.<01:15:03.440
- <01:15:39.840>
Uh settlement funding as a whole. Uh settlement funding as a whole. - funding, there is room opioid settlement funding, there is room there. department<01:15:49.040>
want
Keywords:
homeland security, search and rescue, grants, emergency response, Wyoming, sex offender, child care facility, residency restrictions, public safety, criminal law, sex offenders, child care facilities, legislation, kratom, regulation, healthcare, age restrictions, manufacturing standards, 916, all
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Children and Family Law (04/01/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- some version of settlement conferences. some version of settlement conferences. um<01:06:18.640>
- So it could be that mediation contributed to that settlement.
- <01:26:04.880>
It <01:26:05.040>could contributed to that settlement. - It could contributed to that settlement.
- and then there's 4% other so settlement and then there's 4% other so um<01:27:17.600>
not <01:
Summary:
The subcommittee met to continue its review of recommendations for New Hampshire’s family court, with the chair emphasizing a collaborative approach and noting that the group would focus on the origins of the family division, recurring problems identified in earlier reports, and comparisons with other states. Members discussed organizing testimony into three broad topics: the court hearing process and pro se litigant preparation, mediation/arbitration/counseling, and the interaction of domestic violence issues with family court and related criminal proceedings. The chair also noted that the subcommittee would not meet again for two weeks and encouraged members to review materials from Judge Michael Mace and NCSL research on other states’ family court systems.
Attorney Heather Culp, senior administrator for the judicial branch’s circuit court, testified about New Hampshire’s ADR programs. She explained that the Office of Mediation and Arbitration, created by statute in 2007, oversees more than 12 statewide ADR programs across the Supreme, Superior, and Circuit Courts, including family division programs such as divorce-parenting mediation, neutral case evaluation, guardianship, termination of parental rights, and voluntary adoption mediation. She said the divorce-parenting mediation program is the largest family division ADR program, with about 3,400 mediation sessions in 2023 out of roughly 6,700 cases, and that most cases involving minor children are referred to mediation soon after the first appearance session.
Culp described the family division process as beginning with a first appearance session led by a case manager, who provides information, helps with paperwork, and schedules mediation, usually within 30 to 45 days. She said mediation is strongly encouraged in parenting and divorce cases, but there is no requirement to reach agreement, and parties may settle some issues while leaving others for court. She also explained that mediation is prohibited or limited in certain domestic violence cases: cases with active civil protection orders may proceed only with both parties’ consent and possible safeguards, while cases involving criminal protective orders are not sent to mediation. Mediators in court-referred family cases are contracted with the court and must be certified by the executive branch’s mediator certification board; mediators do not communicate with judges, except through a brief ADR report noting whether the case settled or what the next procedural step is. Members asked about referrals, timing, and the meaning of “neutrals,” and Culp said the court uses in-house contracted neutrals for family division ADR and does not refer divorce-parenting cases to outside providers.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EEP Public Hearing - Tue Mar 11, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Energy & Environmental Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- as we must prioritize raising an additional $1.5 billion of our $2 billion share of the global settlement
- c> over<00:11:23.360>
the <00:11:23.480>next <00:11:23.680>four global settlement - over the next four global settlement over the next four years<00:11:24.959>
uh <00:11:25.079>< - so did answer your question settlement so did answer your question representative<00:29:26.960>
yeah - Yeah, so prior to raising the equity for the settlement, it was 20% of our shareholders.
Summary:
The committee on Energy and Environmental Protection heard testimony on Senate Bill 897, which would create a Wildlife Liability Trust Fund within DCCA for administrative purposes. The chair opened by noting the hearing had to end by noon because of floor session, and that written testimony would be considered if not all witnesses could speak. Testimony included support from DCCA, the Attorney General’s office, the Public Utilities Commission, Charter Communications, Ulupono Initiative, AES Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Clearway Energy Group, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Hawaiian Telcom, and IBW Local 1260, with opposition or concerns from the Hawaii Association for Justice and some others. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill and asked for amendments, saying the fund would help address wildfire liability, protect customers and the economy, and support restoration of investment-grade credit; it also proposed a larger shareholder contribution and said the bill was part of a broader effort to raise settlement funds and improve grid safety and resiliency.
Committee members focused heavily on whether the bill would actually lower costs for ratepayers and improve credit ratings. DCCA said there was a nexus between limiting liability, creating a sufficiently large wildfire fund, and transparent mitigation requirements, but acknowledged there was no guarantee of a credit-rating improvement or precise estimate of rate impacts. Members questioned Hawaiian Electric about the assumptions in its cost comparisons, the 30-year securitization structure, and whether funding could be shifted later to shareholders after credit was restored. Hawaiian Electric responded that the bill assumes the fund is paid through securitization, that removing that presumption could undermine the credit-rating benefit, and that its models suggest credit-spread savings could offset the customer charge over time; it also said it would follow up with additional analysis. The company and Ulupono both described the measure as a difficult but potentially necessary way to socialize wildfire risk and avoid a larger crisis later.
The Hawaii Association for Justice opposed the bill’s liability caps and raised concerns about consumer rights, oversight discretion, statute-of-limitations changes, and evidence rules. Hawaiian Telcom suggested amendments to clarify compliance with FCC pole-attachment agreements. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided, and members indicated they wanted more analysis before being comfortable with the bill’s long-term ratepayer impacts.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources Feb 5th, 2026 at 09:02 am
House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- And again, those settlement agreements, those proposed settlements, are in front of the United States
- The United States rejected those settlements because they shared that we had not considered their interest
- So again, while that's something potentially of interest, that is not part of the settlement that is
- States Supreme Court today, because I think it's important to say and say often that what that settlement
Keywords:
Taos County, Questa, produced water, treated produced water, water reuse, water quality control commission, freshwater conservation, rural communities, acequias, Indian nations, tribes, pueblos, water rights, industrial water use, data centers, artificial intelligence, AI, quantum computing, economic development, renewable energy
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Ways and Means (05/27/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, it's been a long time coming, but we feel we've reached a fair and reasonable settlement that is
- would not be permitted to raise that and generate additional federal match on that. and reasonable settlement
- that is good and reasonable settlement that is good for<00:20:27.039>
New <00:20:27.280>Hampshire's
Summary:
The committee first went into executive session on SB 83, which concerns an elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf property tax exemption reimbursement fund, lottery-related changes, and a voluntary statewide self-exclusion database. Representative Ulery moved to retain the bill, saying more work was needed to make the bill clear. The motion passed 17-0 with three members absent, and SB 83 was retained in committee.
The committee then took up SB 249FN, a bill relative to the uncompensated care and Medicaid fund. Representative Ulery offered House Amendment 2025-2465H, which was described as incorporating a recent agreement between the state and hospital parties into state law and setting the stage for future action. Medicaid Director Henry Litman explained that the agreement keeps the Medicaid enhancement tax at 5.4%, uses directed payments rather than traditional DSH payments, and is intended to be budget-neutral for the state while increasing hospital payments through a higher federal match. He also said critical access hospitals would continue under the existing directed-payment approach, and that the agreement includes a mechanism to revisit the arrangement if federal law changes substantially. New Hampshire Hospital Association President Steve Hearn said the association supports the amendment and the bill as amended, calling the settlement fair and beneficial to hospitals and the Medicaid program. The amendment and the subsequent ought-to-pass-as-amended motion both passed 18-0.
At the end of the meeting, the chair said the committee had now gone through all of its bills and had retained nine in total, with a future meeting planned in September or October to review retained bills. Members briefly discussed possible future committee of conference work and noted there would be no House session that Thursday. The meeting then adjourned.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, June 29, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records relating to monetary settlements
- And adjacent to each such name, the total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments
- The aggregate total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards
- The aggregate total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards
- For purposes of this resolution, any such settlement, payment, reimbursement, award, or other financial
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Those are the appropriations on line four for the Medicaid tobacco settlement program and on line eight
- The tobacco settlement funds came to the division in the 25 session.
- It was a follow-up about the tobacco settlement, the questions that you got from the representative.
- And then last question, does the department maintain a litigation budget or a settlement fund budget?
- Do the department maintain a litigation budget or a settlement fund budget? No, ma'am. Okay.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
- Thirty-five were withdrawn pursuant to some sort of settlement.
- There was one confidential settlement, but none of those 211 actually resulted in a hearing.
- There was one some sort of settlement.
- There was one confidential<00:32:26.080>
settlement, <00:32:26.880>but <00:32:27.120> - none<00:32:27.360>
of confidential settlement, but none of confidential settlement, but none
Summary:
The House Judiciary Committee met for its sixth regular-session meeting and first took up House Bill 5, as substituted by committee amendment, which would authorize KCTCS to partner with the Department of Corrections to create a vocational training campus at North Point Training Center. The sponsor and witnesses described the bill as a prison education and re-entry initiative aimed at reducing recidivism, saving taxpayer money, and meeting workforce needs, citing Michigan’s vocational village model as evidence that prison-based training can lower reoffending. Testimony emphasized that the program would include high-demand vocational fields, credentials, eligibility and security safeguards, data collection, annual reporting, and re-entry documentation such as certificates of employability and employment protections.
Several members voiced support, including comments that the bill builds on existing second-chance and employability efforts. One member asked whether post-release employment outcomes could also be tracked, and the sponsor said that would be encouraged and discussed as a possible friendly amendment. After discussion, the committee voted 19-1 to adopt the committee substitute and pass House Bill 5.
The committee then began consideration of House Bill 468, which would update the Kentucky Civil Rights Act to conform the state definition of disability to the 2008 federal ADA amendments and clarify the meaning of “qualified individual with a disability.” The bill sponsor said it would remove the Kentucky Human Rights Commission’s adjudicative authority over employment and public accommodations cases, while leaving investigative powers intact and preserving housing-related adjudication, with the goal of placing those disputes in court and preserving jury-trial rights. In response to questions, the sponsor said a local mandate analysis found the court impact would be minimal to moderate, and cited commission data showing relatively few hearings. The transcript cuts off during continued discussion of HB 468.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, Personnel and Public Retirement (8-20-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- in consultation with the commission's executive director, we recommended the investment of all settlement
- By safely investing and maximizing<00:46:40.319>
settlement <00:46:40.800>funds <00:46:41.359 - >
for maximizing settlement funds for maximizing settlement funds for prevention,<00:46:42.560 - investment director, we recommended the investment of<00:46:53.200>
all <00:46:53.680>settlement - funds through secure of all settlement funds through secure interestbearing<00:46:57.040>
accounts
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:30
Personnel Cabinet 00:03:25
Department of Veterans Affairs 00:12:40
Auditor of Public Accounts 00:22:39
State Treasurer 00:42:24, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first heard from Personnel Cabinet officials on House Bill 6, which required the Kentucky Employees Health Plan to offer a qualified high-deductible health plan by the 2026 plan year. Officials said the plan was already added for 2025, described it as the lowest-premium option with higher deductibles, and explained that federal rules prevent first-dollar coverage except for limited preventive services. They said 264 members had selected the plan out of about 142,000, and noted it also allows health savings accounts. Members asked about the plan’s benefits, what “catastrophic” meant, the deductible amounts, and whether employees were aware of the option; the cabinet said it would continue to highlight the plan in communications and that the deductible is above $8,000 for individuals and above $16,000 for families.
The committee then received an update from the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs on the Bowling Green veterans center. Officials said the current target is to move into the building on October 28, with first admissions about two months later, pending final fixes and certification steps for Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA. They explained that about $7 million in FY25 appropriations lapsed because of construction delays, staffing ramp-up was postponed to avoid unnecessary spending, and the unspent funds should be considered in the next budget request. Members praised the project and asked about annual operating costs; officials said the current operating budget is about $15 million, though they do not expect to spend all of it this year. The commissioner also announced the fifth annual state commanders conference in Lexington, focused on veterans issues and featuring state, federal, and advocacy leaders.
State Auditor Allison Ball then outlined her office’s budget priorities. She said the office is primarily a billing agency that charges audited entities for its work, and warned that some agencies are now signaling they may refuse to pay for audits related to kinship care and the medical cannabis application process. She said the office plans to continue requesting outlier credits for unusually burdensome county audit fees, funding for the ombudsman office’s transition and expanded in-office operations, and revenue replacement for local government audits and possibly state audits and special examinations. Ball also said the office conducts about 500 audits, reviews, and examinations a year and wants to restore performance audits with seed funding, as well as add investigators to the ombudsman office to focus more on child abuse and neglect cases. Members discussed the value of performance audits, the possibility of raising certain board thresholds to account for inflation, and the need for additional capacity to handle more audits.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- And there'll be another piece coming in, another amendment dealing with the settlement fund.
- amendment dealing with the settlement amendment dealing with the settlement fund.<00:36:30.560><
- Um uh quite frankly no because the<00:37:14.960>
settlement <00:37:15.440>funding <00:37 - :16.400>
is <00:37:16.800>very <00:37:17.119>clear the settlement funding is very - clear the settlement funding is very clear that<00:37:17.760>
it <00:37:17.920>cannot <
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPC Public Hearing - Wed Feb 19, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Consumer Protection & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- units while owners are forced to pay $115,000 in fees and litigation from a construction defect settlement
- that resulted in a $15 million settlement, and yet repairs are still denied by the board.
- 14.039>
resulted <00:20:14.720>in <00:20:14.880>a <00:20:14.960>$15 settlement - that resulted in a $15 settlement that resulted in a $15 million million million settlement<00:20:18.320
- and you're still denied settlement and you're still denied Repairs<00:20:21.039>
by <00:20:21.240
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 117 on condominiums. Testifiers were split: reserve-study professionals and the Community Associations Institute opposed tying reserve requirements to assessed value, arguing reserve studies should be based on actual components and costs and that the bill could lead to over- or under-collection. Condominium owners and advocates supported the bill, saying some associations are not completing reserve studies or are failing to provide audits and adequate funding, and urging stronger fiduciary accountability. A member later asked about compliance rates, and a witness said he was not aware of any association that had failed to do a reserve study, estimating compliance at well over 95 percent, likely close to 100 percent.
The committee then took testimony on HB 544 on pet insurance, which drew support from the Attorney General’s office and the Insurance Division with comments about contract-impairment issues, as well as support from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association and the Hawaiian Humane Society. Testifiers said the bill would help consumers understand and use pet insurance as veterinary costs rise. HB 983 on certified public accountants also drew mostly support, with the Hawaii Society of CPAs and the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants offering conditional support and proposed amendments. Public accountants said the bill could help address a shortage of CPAs and expand pathways into the profession, while some speakers cautioned that the language needed clarification and that public accounting experience should be tied to CPA-firm work. An instructor from UH West Oahu said students cannot afford the extra credits currently required and would benefit from a more accessible pathway.
The committee also heard HB 1050 on Title 24, with DCCA supporting the measure and no opposition or questions. The discussion then moved to HB 256 HD1 on environmental protection and incinerator emissions. The Department of Health offered comments, while Energy Justice Network and Climate Protectors Hawaii supported strengthening the bill, warning that it could weaken existing standards at H-Power unless amended to preserve stricter state rules and require modern pollution controls. A member questioned the Department of Health about H-Power’s permits and whether additional controls would be required if federal rules change; the department said permits are reviewed every five years and that the facility currently meets state and federal requirements, while EPA rules remain in a public comment process.
Finally, the committee heard HB 1051 HD1 on energy efficiency portfolio standards, with support from the Consumer Advocate, State Energy Office, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaii Energy. The committee then heard HB 350 HD1 on energy, where the State Energy Office supported the bill, Solar Ray Corporation offered conditional comments urging any new mandated water-heating technology to meet the same efficiency level as existing solar thermal systems, and the Kauai Climate Action Coalition testified in support. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/12/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- We're part of the 3M settlement fund and grant, which will be funding a $50 million treatment plant for
- <00:13:08.399>
uh <00:13:08.560>fund We're part of the 3M settlement uh fund We're - part of the 3M settlement uh fund and<00:13:09.279>
grant <00:13:10.240>which <00:13:10.480 - ><00:13:51.279>
state, <00:13:51.519>the <00:13:51.760>3M <00:13:52.160>settlement - one arm of the state, the 3M settlement one arm of the state, the 3M settlement fund,<00:13:52.880
Keywords:
crossbow, crossbow hunting, archery season, deer hunting, bear hunting, turkey hunting, fishing, common carp, rough fish, game and fish, wildlife management, hunting license, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, sunset clause, expiration removal, archery equipment, outdoor recreation, infectious waste, pathological waste
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee Jun 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Every single negotiated settlement from last year is included in SB 811, and we've taken a whole series
- apply to certain explosive chemicals under specific conditions; and lastly, exempting any future settlements
- apply to certain explosive chemicals under specific conditions; and lastly, exempting any future settlements
- apply to certain explosive chemicals under specific conditions. ...and lastly, exempting any future settlements
Summary:
The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard several bills focused on wildfire preparedness, industrial safety, and recycling oversight. SB 1153 by Senator Caballero would require urban retail water suppliers to add wildfire-specific procedures to emergency plans and coordinate with fire agencies; supporters said it would improve planning while recognizing water system limits, and the bill was framed as protecting ratepayers and infrastructure. SB 811, also by Senator Caballero, would create a comprehensive DTSC permitting and regulatory framework for metal shredding facilities; supporters argued it would set clear statewide standards and protect communities, while opponents said it would weaken hazardous waste protections and carve the industry out of existing law. SB 883 by Senator Umberg would impose new safeguards for facilities storing reactive chemicals such as methyl methacrylate after the Garden Grove evacuation, including backup cooling, public review, emergency planning, and state tracking; industry groups opposed the breadth of the bill and sought further clarification, while environmental and community groups supported it. SB 1010 by Senator Ashby would strengthen oversight of appliance recyclers by improving reporting, inspections, certification, and funding for enforcement; supporters said it would reduce emissions and improve compliance, while recyclers raised concerns about fees and certification requirements.
Each bill drew extensive testimony from industry, environmental, labor, local government, and community representatives. Supporters generally emphasized public safety, transparency, and the need for clearer statewide standards, while opponents warned about overregulation, reduced flexibility, or unintended impacts on existing hazardous waste and recycling systems. Committee members also raised questions about transparency, liability, size-based treatment of facilities, and whether the bills were narrowly tailored enough to address the problems identified.
The committee voted to advance all four measures to the Committee on Appropriations, with votes taken on call and some members voting no or not voting on certain bills. The final add-on votes showed SB 811, SB 883, SB 1010, and SB 1153 all passing out of committee, with the roll left open for absent members before the meeting adjourned.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget 2nd Revision: HB1782 (Moore) laid over. Added to 3/4 A and B Full agenda Mar 3rd, 2026 at 04:30 pm
Appropriations and Budget
Transcript Highlights:
- comes to the floor, it would only be brought to the floor if there was some level of negotiated settlement
- none of them which would be in the final piece of legislation unless it was part of a negotiated settlement
- According to my definition, the current settlement, if you look at Senate Bill 680, which is Currently
- I want to be very clear that I'm not under any settlement constraints or anything like that.
Bills:
HB1242, HB1250, HB1590, HB1752, HB1979, HB1983, HB2952, HB2961, HB2967, HB2973, HB2988, HB3031, HB3047, HB3052, HB3066, HB3086, HB3175, HB3177, HB3178, HB3240, HB3404, HB3429, HB3548, HB3638, HB3671, HB3704, HB3759, HB3831, HB3904, HB3920, HB3944, HB3969, HB3973, HB3975, HB3976, HB3978, HB3983, HB3984, HB4092, HB4118
Keywords:
HB1242, cervidae, deer, elk, sales tax exemption, agricultural exemption, livestock, ranching, farm tax, agricultural sales tax, Oklahoma Tax Commission, agriculture, producer sales, private treaty, special livestock sale, tax relief, farm products, rural economy, local law enforcement, Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
Restrictive Housing Legislative Working Group 08-21-2025
Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- There has also been litigation and settlement around this issue.
- <00:10:56.720>
and There has also been litigation and There has also been litigation and settlement - <00:10:58.959>
So <00:10:59.200>we <00:10:59.440>need settlement around this - So we need settlement around this issue.
Summary:
The Restrictive Housing Legislative Working Group held its first meeting on August 21, 2025, to organize under Act 292, which directs the group to review and recommend laws, policies, and procedures on restrictive housing for vulnerable populations, including older adults, people with disabilities, people with serious mental illness, those with sensory impairments, and people perceived to be LGBTQIA+. Co-chairs Sen. Brandon Elefante and Rep. Della Au Belatti outlined the group’s purpose, membership, and timeline, noting the final recommendations are due to the Legislature by January 8, 2027. Members and invited participants introduced themselves, including legislative members, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation staff, the Department of Health, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, ACLU of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, UPW, and an OHA representative in the audience.
The working group discussed its initial focus and agreed that a first priority should be understanding current restrictive housing practices at DCR, including policies on solitary confinement, training, reporting, and how the department currently handles vulnerable populations. Co-chair Belatti said the group should also hear from people with lived experience, including incarcerated individuals and family members affected by solitary confinement, and review litigation, settlements, and outside expert work on best practices. DCR Director Tommy Johnson, appearing by Zoom, said the bill contains specific implementation timelines and that the group should use future meetings to surface topics tied to the act’s requirements. Rep. Shimizu asked how the working group’s recommendations would fit with SB 104 and whether they would supersede existing provisions; Belatti responded that the act allows time for review and for both departmental policy changes and legislative recommendations, with section two’s implementation date set for July 1, 2026.
Public comment was limited, with no online testimony. An OHA representative thanked the chairs and said the office looked forward to participating once formally designated. House legislative attorney Sean Aronson suggested the group should hear about any outside or court-mandated oversight of DCR in a future presentation. A member of the working group also asked about scheduling an in-person visit to a correctional facility, and the chairs said that could be arranged with DCR. The group tentatively scheduled its next meeting for October 16, 2025 at 9:30 a.m., noted that September would be skipped, and discussed holding future meetings on third Thursdays. The meeting ended with thanks to staff and adjournment.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 3/11/25
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Transcript Highlights:
- And I think, too, part of the concern is a lot of time there's a lump sum, like severance or a settlement
- that's made with taxpayer dollars, and then the taxpayers can't really find out what the final settlement
- that's made with taxpayer settlement that's made with taxpayer dollars<00:09:16.440>
and <00:09 - was representative finy thank settlement was representative finy thank you<00:09:21.760>
madam - There's often taxpayer money involved in settlement agreements or, you know, buyouts or something like
Keywords:
data practices, public official, transparency, government accountability, employment data, domestic abuse, domestic violence, battered women, victim advocate, advocacy, confidentiality, privilege, evidence law, witness privilege, court-ordered disclosure, shelter, crisis intervention, sexual assault counselor, victim services, protective services
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/26
Commerce Finance and Policy
Bills:
HF3794, HF4472, HF4410, HF4347, HF4412, HF4398, HF4397, HF4201, HF4199, HF4203, HF3706, HF4071, HF4120, HF4175, HF4188
Keywords:
surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, automated decision systems, consumer protections, data privacy, biometrics, school district health insurance, charter school health benefits, employee benefits, public sector health insurance, health insurance survey, Legislative Budget Office, LBO report, premium costs, retiree coverage, broker commissions, third-party administrator, health plan transparency, health reimbursement arrangement
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Mar 2nd, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Bills:
SB2065, SB1641, SB1642, SB1589, SB1597, SB1216, SB2173, SB2028, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB2014, SB1805, SB2044, SB1836, SB1380, SB2179, SB1436, SB1558, SB933, SB1651, SB1328, SB1572, SB1966, SB175, SB1475, SB1950, SB2049, SB2052
Keywords:
pollinator, state symbols, agriculture, insects, environment, business entities, limited liability company, LLC, foreign LLC, domestic LLC, limited partnership, foreign limited partnership, registered agent, Secretary of State, annual certificate, good standing, certificate of authority, designated office, email address, electronic mail
AL