Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, 30,000 acres of your state in Miami-Dade County just burned to the ground from wildfires because
• We discussed that very same issue about the the wildfire. A stand in the keys.
• conditions in order for you to have come in with callouts eating to take care of a situation like the wildfires
• So as a means of wildfire prevention putting water on the ground when there are non precipitating liquid
• there's often those clouds in Florida on a suppression case like if you're trying to actively suppress wildfire

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to improve affordability by considering its policies in three areas the first is in the area of wildfire
• costs many wildfire costs both for damages from past fires as well as efforts to mitigate future fires
• area to ensure that it is pursuing the most cost-effective and efficient approaches in the area of wildfires
• Wildfires to continue to be resilient to ensure so if something like that strikes to be able to manage
• inland California and opportunities to lift up those voices after something like the devastating wildfires

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• County and Pasadena Public Health, to prevent and mitigate health impacts of the devastating urban wildfires
• our Chief of the Disaster Medical Services, to provide an overview of our role in the response to wildfires
• In California's disaster response, during the greater Los Angeles wildfires, which included the Palisades
• Other than that, we had several other fires in the latter part of last year, for a total of 16 wildfires
• California's wildfire seasons are growing more intense and unpredictable, and EMSA remains committed

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent a coalition of wildfire survivors who are really struggling to make ends meet.
• We know about the recent wildfires in Los Angeles. I am from Northern California.
• Let's also focus on the fact that Bigfoot's habitat has been largely destroyed by utility-caused wildfires

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, wildfires can be stopped by controlled cedars.
• My firm designed the Lady Bird Johnson Wildfire Center here in Austin and over 500 projects throughout
• region of Texas, it depends on the cedar tree for water in its aquifers, and as a protection against wildfire

Bills: SB 434, SB 844, SB 898, SB 1177, SB 1214, SB 1454, SB 1920, SB 1927, SB 1935, SB 1965, SB 2010, SB 2046, SB 2068, SB 2073, SB 2183, SB 2260, SB 3034, SB 907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we have testimony in opposition or comments from Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization.
• <00:18:32.480> Management uh Hawaii Wildfire Management uh Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization
• reiterate for the people here on Maui where we had the support of the National Guard during the wildfire
• <00:46:26.319> disaster,<00:46:27.440> maintaining<00:46:28.000> our wildfire disaster
• , maintaining our wildfire disaster, maintaining our relationship<00:46:28.720> with<00:46:28.960

Bills: SB3240

Keywords: defense, workforce development, local business, manufacturing, federal funding, economic resilience, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety-related measures and indicated at the outset that, because of short notice, the bills would likely be deferred to the later decision-making agenda. On SB 2645 relating to fire prevention, the bill would restructure the process for selecting the State Fire Marshal and make related changes to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The Governor’s office, the State Fire Marshal’s office, the Hawaii State Fire Council, DLNR, Maui Fire Department, AIA Hawaii State Council, and others testified, with DLNR supporting most of the bill but opposing the provision changing the marshal’s nomination process to a governor appointee. In questions, members reviewed the relationship between the State Fire Council, the commission, and the marshal, and the Governor’s office clarified that it supported the overall intent but wanted the commission to remain the sole appointing entity. The bill was not voted on in the hearing. The committee then heard SB 3083 relating to protective orders, with support from the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, the judiciary, the Hawaii National Guard, the Military and Community Relations Office, DBED, and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Members focused on whether the draft reflected language worked out with the judiciary and whether the bill addressed a previously identified gap in implementation. The Military and Community Relations Office said it had worked with the judiciary on amendments and wanted to ensure the statute created a collaborative process with installation partners and law enforcement. The witness also said the draft appeared to reflect the agreed language, though he noted there were multiple bills moving and that technical amendments might still be needed. No action was taken during the hearing. SB 608 relating to veterans’ rights and benefits drew both support and opposition. Support came from the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services, Veterans Benefits Guide, Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, and individual veterans and service members, who argued the bill would improve access to claims assistance and provide choice and faster help for veterans. Opposition came from the VFW Department of Hawaii and the Veterans Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, which argued the bill should be amended to align with federal law, especially on accreditation and fee caps. Testimony and questioning centered on whether third-party claims assistance should be regulated, whether fee caps are preempted by federal law, and whether there was evidence of fraud tied to non-accredited representatives. Supporters said the bill would help veterans navigate a slow system, while opponents said accredited representatives are accountable and that the bill should be narrowed. The committee also heard SB 2054 relating to public safety, which would prohibit the Hawaii National Guard from deploying to assist federal troops, federal law enforcement, or other states’ National Guard units in Hawaii when the governor objects. The Hawaii National Guard opposed the bill, while the ACLU of Hawaii, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and numerous other organizations and individuals supported it, arguing it would protect civil liberties and prevent federal overreach. The hearing ended without a vote or final action on these measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a local person from Maui, I have had personal experiences with the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, and it ripped
• As a local person from Maui, I have had personal experiences with the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, and it ripped
• As a local person from Maui, I have had personal experiences with the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, and it ripped
• As a local person from Maui, I have had personal experiences with the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, and it ripped
• As a local person from Maui, I have had personal experiences with the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, and it ripped

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services opened its first hearing of the 2026 session and heard testimony on several bills, with the chair emphasizing one-minute testimony, written submissions, and live streaming. For SB 768, relating to an alternative water source income tax credit, the Department of Taxation said a drafting issue needed clarification on the $500 cap and estimated a revenue loss of $6.8 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2028. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Libertarian Party opposed the bill as an unnecessary subsidy and tax-code complication, while one supporter was noted. A member questioned the size of the projected loss and suggested future analysis of net fiscal impacts and methodology. The committee then heard SB 389, which expands a general excise tax exemption to additional health-related providers and purchases. The Department of Taxation said the change would be a minimal code adjustment but would require public education; the Tax Foundation said the bill should be framed in light of the original physician-shortage rationale for the exemption. The Hawaii National Guard and Aloha Care supported the measure, along with several other organizations and individuals, while the Libertarian Party opposed it as favoritism and tax-code complexity. A member asked about administrative burden and potential tax impact, and the department said it did not yet have a calculation but was working on one. The committee also heard SB 877, which would appropriate funds to increase Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are maximized, and SB 1139, which would direct DHS to expand Medicaid eligibility for children from birth to age five regardless of household income. DHS stood on written testimony for both bills, and Aloha Care, the Hawaii Medical Association, disability advocates, children’s advocates, and CARES testified in support, arguing the measures would improve access and family stability. The Libertarian Party opposed both bills, warning of higher long-term costs, entitlement growth, and reduced private-sector options. Members questioned the fiscal and programmatic differences between crisis and warm-line services during discussion of SB 787, a bill to fund a Department of Health warm line; the department said the warm line would serve noncrisis callers more cheaply than crisis staffing, and that about 34.7% of 2024 Hawaii CARES contacts were mild issues that could have been routed to a warm line. Supporters cited mental health needs after the Lahaina wildfire and the affordability crisis, while opponents argued the service duplicated existing resources and expanded government involvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• District 51 in the past as my office manager but assisted this body in their efforts to help with the wildfire
• body in their efforts to help<00:15:58.880> with<00:15:59.120> the<00:15:59.360> wildfire
• <00:16:00.240> survivors<00:16:00.800> in help with the wildfire survivors in help
• with the wildfire survivors in Lahina.<00:16:02.000> Now<00:16:02.320> she's<00:16:02.560

Bills: HB2198, HB2021, HB1881, HB1964, HB1990, HB2151, HB2599, HB2414

Keywords: gambling, prediction markets, Hawaii gambling laws, financial contracts, ethical concerns, electric bicycles, micro-mobility devices, safety regulations, traffic laws, insurance exemption, high-speed electric devices, land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, building code, permitting process, training, state council

Transcript Highlights:

• Las Vegas has faced more than just its share of challenges in recent years, from wildfire recovery to
• have the burn scar from the most recent Hermit's Peak South Canyon fire, but we have additional wildfires
• The reforestation of the areas affected by the increased amount of wildfire in our area.
• I'm sorry that we have become the country's wildlife of wildfire expertise, but I do know that in our

Transcript Highlights:

• this bill, but we are making a lot of commitments for fire mitigation and addressing the threat of wildfires
• addressing<00:03:47.040> the<00:03:47.280> threat<00:03:47.519> of<00:03:47.760> wildfires
• <00:03:48.239> in addressing the threat of wildfires in addressing the threat of wildfires

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The conference committees met several times on April 25, 2025, to resolve a number of bills, often delaying items until later in the day because of missing FIN/WAM releases or lack of quorum. Early in the day, SB 382 was discussed briefly but not advanced because finance would not release it. HB 1064, relating to the state fire marshal, was taken up and approved after conferees confirmed a $2,212,000 appropriation for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund eight positions in the Department of Law Enforcement. Members thanked the many agencies, staff, and advocates involved, and the bill passed by unanimous votes of those present. Several other measures were rolled over to later conference-room meetings, including HB 423 on workers’ compensation, HB 214 on government, HB 1036, HB 1037, and HB 1039 on public employment cost items, SB 828 on workers’ compensation medical benefits, SB 717 on collective bargaining, and HB 286 on the individual housing account program, all pending FIN/WAM release or further agreement. A larger housing agenda was also postponed to 4:30 p.m. in Room 225, including bills on housing, transportation, transient accommodations development, rental housing revolving funds, dwelling unit revolving funds, and low-income housing credit. At the later transportation and housing sessions, HB 1231 was adopted as a conference draft establishing a $5 county motor vehicle registration surcharge for the Safe Routes to School special fund and clarifying rules for automated enforcement citations and liability. HB 4209 on transit-oriented development also passed; it defined transit-oriented development, created a mixed-income subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund, and authorized HCDA to use the definition in planning. HB 1298 on housing passed with amendments to support a government employee housing program tied to a transit-oriented development site, including funding for planning and an HHFC position. HB 830 on historic preservation reviews also passed with amendments limiting third-party review to residential or mixed-use development and setting staggered effective dates. Later, SB 662 on transportation passed with amendments authorizing county police officers to enforce the statewide traffic code on public streets, roadways, and highways. Several other bills remained pending and were recessed for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• are struggling with passing this real estate exam in times of challenges such as COVID, the Maui wildfires
• uh<00:27:48.840> covid<00:27:49.640> the<00:27:49.799> Maui<00:27:50.200> wildfires
• <00:27:51.120> hurricane uh covid the Maui wildfires hurricane uh covid the Maui wildfires

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on April 1 at the State Capitol and heard four measures. HCR 45/HR 38 urged the Public Utilities Commission to support transferring regulatory authority over motor carriers, water carriers, and other transportation means to the Department of Transportation; both the PUC and DOT testified in support, and members discussed that the resolution was largely symbolic because statutory changes would still be needed. HCR 58/HR 54 requested a geothermal energy working group; the Consumer Advocate, PUC, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and Life of the Land supported it, while Students for Justice in Palestine at UH opposed it, citing an active injunction, environmental risks, and the need to prioritize Native and local community voices. Members asked about the injunction and community representation, and the PUC said it would support including Hawaiian community members in the working group. HCR 91/HR 87 sought insurance coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices; a 14-year-old amputee testified in support, describing the need for sports prosthetics and arguing that coverage should allow people with limb loss to participate fully in school and athletics. HCR 102/HR 98 urged the Real Estate Commission to allow the salesperson exam to be administered in Japanese for timeshare sales; the Real Estate Commission opposed, while ARDA supported it, arguing there is a shortage of bilingual real estate professionals and that Japanese-language testing would help the timeshare industry and Japanese visitors. Members questioned the limited-license concept and public protection concerns, and the committee later amended the measure to a limited real estate salesperson’s license for timeshare sales, changing the target from Japanese-speaking visitors to Japanese nationals, before passing all four measures out of committee, with HCR 102 passing with amendments and the others passing as is.

Transcript Highlights:

• This lack of insurance and its limitation on Texas' ability to reduce our wildfire risk has come to a
• Something must be done to address this issue so that Texas can do all it can to prevent future wildfire
• It's my belief this bill puts Texas on the correct path of reducing our risk of wildfires across all
• That is a huge leap forward in the protection against catastrophic wildfires in Texas and a huge benefit

Bills: HB139

Keywords: ad valorem tax, tax rates, voter-approval, taxing unit, property tax, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• Coast Guard Station Maui for its courageous response to the Lahaina wildfire.
• members of the Coast Guard station, Maui, for their courage and exemplary service during and after the wildfires
• In the first 72 hours of the wildfire, Petty Officer George Chihara coordinated with U.S.
• After the Maui wildfires, many of us here met with the Coast Guard in Lahaina Harbor, right next to a

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pursuing post-secondary education and $110,000 in disaster relief to those affected by the Maui wildfires
• disaster relief to those affected by the disaster relief to those affected by the Maui<00:19:50.799> wildfires
• 52.440> please<00:19:52.720> join<00:19:52.960> me<00:19:53.120> in Maui wildfires
• members please join me in Maui wildfires members please join me in recognizing<00:19:53.840> Mr

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:08:39.199> fighting from supporting wildfire fighting from supporting wildfire fighting
• Those in favor say aye. wildfire risk especially near wildfire risk especially near communities<05:37
• <05:37:24.798> in In fact, the largest single wildfire in In fact, the largest single wildfire
• <05:37:41.120> In forest and reduce wildfire risk. In forest and reduce wildfire risk.
• reducing the urgent threat that wildfire reducing the urgent threat that wildfire poses<05:42:51.520

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wildfire mitigation and grid hardening are now 16% of total utility costs, 16%.
• Ratepayers in California have borne more than $27 billion in wildfire-related costs just between 2019
• They're wildfire-driven.
• They're wildfired driven. the picture. They're wildfired driven.
• We can strengthen resilience against wildfires and extreme weather so ratepayers are not trapped in a

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now that I've set the stage just a little, let's turn to the recent legislative trends. wildfires in
• and around Los Angeles, New wildfires in and around Los Angeles, New Jersey,<00:24:05.120> and
• These are all efforts wildfire damage.
• The bill requires insurance companies using catastrophe models or wildfire risk models to file those
• using catastrophe models or wildfire using catastrophe models or wildfire risk<00:30:21.120>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the intention of this bill is to just strengthen and stand up seed banking programs to help with wildfire
• We're doing decision-making on House Bill 982 relating to wildfires.
• This establishes the Wildfire Recovery Fund and allows securitization for...
• ' and we will accept Ki's suggested amendment to change to add to the definition of catastrophic wildfire
• <02:59:38.200> just definition of catastrophic Wildfire just definition of catastrophic Wildfire

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Agriculture and Food Systems and Tourism hearing focused on HB 189 and HB 966, both dealing with agricultural tourism. HB 189 would require counties to adopt ordinances governing review and permitting of agricultural tourism as secondary uses on working farms, require the principal agricultural use to pre-exist any tourism-related permit, and limit ag tourism to land where productive agriculture is occurring. HB 966 would create statewide uniform standards for agricultural tourism, require county registration of activities, require ag tourism to coexist with agricultural activity on a farming operation, and end the tourism use when agricultural activity ceases. Testimony on HB 189 was mixed. The Department of Agriculture and Kualoa Ranch opposed the bill, arguing that the proposed restrictions and income-based limits could burden bona fide farms and ranches, reduce flexibility for counties, and harm food production, jobs, and diversification efforts. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism supports its food sales and community market and warned the bill could cost more than 350 jobs. The Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council also opposed the measure for similar reasons. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported the bill with suggested amendments, including clearer language around agricultural dedication. The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau supported the intent of the bill but urged caution, saying ag tourism should remain tied to actual agricultural production and that counties need flexibility to address abuses without imposing overly rigid standards. Members discussed how to define a bona fide agricultural operation and whether property tax agricultural dedication could serve as a clearer qualifier. They also raised concerns about how counties would enforce revenue thresholds or separate accounting for tourism and farm income, and whether state law should better target clearly non-agricultural uses such as gondolas or other abusive developments. The Department of Agriculture and Farm Bureau said counties already have authority to regulate ag tourism through ordinances, but that any new standards should avoid unintended burdens on true farmers and ranchers. HB 966 was then introduced, and initial testimony again reflected support for the bill’s intent from some agricultural groups and opposition or caution from others. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism can help educate visitors and support agriculture, the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported county flexibility, and the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau reiterated concerns about the bill’s income comparison provisions and the need to distinguish legitimate agricultural tourism from misuse. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would insert wildfire resiliency in that list.
• This would insert wildfire resiliency in that list.
• And I would urge a yes vote. an addition of two words, wildfire an addition of two words, wildfire resiliency
• So, wildfire resiliency in that list.
• , who've never dealt with our wildfires, who've never dealt with our wildfires, our<02:47:53.920>

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, and approved the journal from February 4, 2026. Members then took up resolutions out of order, including Senate Joint Resolution 9 recognizing Missing Persons Day. Supporters described the scale of missing-person cases in Colorado and nationally, emphasized the role of families, law enforcement, and the public, and noted the importance of prompt investigations and technology. The resolution was adopted on a 58-0 vote, with seven excused. The chamber then moved to special orders and considered House Bill 1041, concerning electronic vehicle records and electronic certificates of title. The committee report was adopted after an amendment clarifying that any party to a vehicle transaction may request a paper or electronic title. Supporters said the bill would reduce delays, costs, and administrative burdens while preserving ownership and lienholder protections and keeping paper titles available as the default. The bill passed the House unanimously. Finally, the House began consideration of House Bill 1038 on county commissioner redistricting. The sponsor outlined seven committee amendments addressing county commissioner authority, outdated hearing references, competitiveness language, legislative declaration wording, elector standing to challenge maps, a correction to the competitiveness formula, and a bill-number fix. Debate then focused on amendment L10, which would remove the word “integrity” from the short title; supporters said the term could imply wrongdoing, while opponents wanted to keep it. L10 failed on a voice vote. Members then moved to amendment L8, which would carve out smaller counties from the bill’s redistricting requirements; discussion began, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on that amendment or the bill itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, it experienced one of the largest wildfires in Texas history. Over 32,000 acres of land went...
• Since then, allowed the county to slowly recover from the catastrophic wildfire and regenerate lost biodiversity

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock met with a quorum present and heard testimony on House Bill 5085, which would create a report on the impacts of seed banks and seed preservation, especially as they relate to food access, biodiversity, disaster recovery, and education. Representative Gervin Hawkins presented the bill, citing examples such as the Bastrop wildfire and the role of seed banking in restoring ecosystems and supporting food security. No one testified against the bill, and the author closed after questions. The committee then voted to report HB 5085 favorably to the full House without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion passed on a 6-3 vote. The committee also considered Senate Bill 1035, with a committee substitute adopted that made a minor wording change from "or" to "and." SB 1035, which creates a legal pathway for agricultural operators to challenge unlawful local regulations and recover court costs and attorneys' fees, was reported favorably on a 9-0 vote. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 2155, which implements TDLR recommendations to modernize the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners by improving licensing, complaint resolution, and enforcement processes. The bill was reported favorably to the full House without amendment on a 9-0 vote. After disposing of these items, the committee adjourned subject to the call of the chair.