Keywords: HI Senate YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyHQgbx6HQk, 2026-07-02T01:22:43+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Ka ‘Aha Kenekoa THE SENATE Ka ‘Aha ‘Ōlelo Kanakolu THE THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE ‘Aha Kau Kānāwai 2020 REGULAR SESSION OF 2020 Ke Kōmike ‘Enehana COMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY Kenekoa/Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, Luna Ho‘omalu/Chair Kenekoa/Senator J. Kalani English, Hope Luna Ho‘omalu/Vice Chair Ke Kōmike Hana Aupuni COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS Kenekoa/Senator Laura H. Thielen, Luna Ho‘omalu/Chair Kenekoa/Senator Lorraine R. Inouye, Hope Luna Ho‘omalu/Vice Chair ‘Ōlelo Ho‘olaha No Ka ‘Aha Ho‘olohe NOTICE OF HEARING Lā / DATE: Pō‘alua, Pepeluali 11, 2020/ Tuesday, February 11, 2020 Hola / TIME: 1:00 PM Wahi / PLACE: Lumi ‘Aha Kūkā 229 / Conference Room 229 Ke Kapikala Moku‘āina / State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street Papa Kumuhana A G E N D A SB 62, SD1 (SSCR2422) Status & Testimony RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY. Requires the legislature, state departments, and boards and commissions to livestream its public hearings and develop procedures for receiving remote testimony. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1) TEC/GVO, WAM Inā lawa ka manawa, e ho‘oholo mana‘o ma hope pono. Decision Making to follow, if time permits., 912, senate, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the biggest challenges I see is that balance of, you know, keeping good track of taxpayer resources
• A lot of the issue in the backlog was with the drastic amount that came through really quickly.
• A lot of the issue in the backlog was with the drastic amount that came through really quickly.
• We can say multiple hundreds of, I don't know how many backlogs there are, but I break things down mathematically
• Out of alignment.

Bills: HB1170

Keywords: fiduciary responsibility, proxy voting, public finance, Oklahoma statutes, pension plans, pecuniary factors, nonpecuniary factors, financial risk, Attorney General

Summary: The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Affairs met to consider two executive nominations and House Bill 1170. Mark Wood was introduced as nominee to lead OMES; he described his background in public accounting and tax administration, said his focus would be on stabilizing the agency, improving efficiency, and balancing accountability with service. Senators asked about OMES’s core mission and whether some duties should be returned to agencies; Wood said he would keep an open mind and work with legislators on possible changes. The committee advanced his nomination on a 9-0 vote. The committee then heard Dwayne Helmberger’s nomination to the State Fire Marshal Commission. Helmberger, currently Stillwater fire chief and formerly assistant chief in Midwest City, emphasized code administration, education, and coordination with other agencies. Senators questioned him about backlogs in fire marshal inspections for marijuana grow operations and certificates of occupancy; he said the backlog was driven by the volume of applications and could be addressed through better planning, coordination, and logistics. His nomination also advanced unanimously, 9-0. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1170, which would direct pension fiduciaries to focus on pecuniary interests and avoid non-financial ESG considerations. Senator Daniels explained that the bill was intended to clarify state policy and align definitions with related measures, and she requested a title strike while continuing to work on the language. Members raised concerns about due process, immunity provisions, and whether the bill would conflict with recent court rulings or still allow consideration of ESG factors when financially relevant. After debate, the committee passed the bill 6-2.

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and Flag of the United States of America
• </c> of order for consideration of of order for consideration of resolution.
• of 10 million or 20 billion dollars' worth of backlog on fixing our roads, it should be a grave concern
• of 10 million or 20 billion dollars' worth of backlog on fixing our roads, it should be a grave concern
• of 10 million or 20 billion dollars' worth of backlog on fixing our roads, it should be a grave concern

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:28:12.080><c> about</c><00:28:12.360><c> whether</c> of con of of confusion about whether of con
• </c> of network was higher because my out of of network was higher because my out of pocket<00:29:11.640
• On behalf of the 6,300 members of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, representing all sizes of businesses
• </c> billion uh of sales is not even many of billion uh of sales is not even many of our<01:20:05.920
• </c> of this committee and needs a lot of of this committee and needs a lot of work<01:46:40.800><c>

Bills: HF2228, HF46, HF856, HF2149, HF2215

Keywords: homeowners insurance, property insurance, commercial property insurance, insurance affordability, insurance market stabilization, reinsurance, catastrophic reinsurance fund, self-insured pool, premium costs, coverage notice, liability reform, climate risk, climate change, housing affordability, multifamily housing, rental housing, common interest communities, cooperatives, small business insurance, Minnesota Commerce Department

Transcript Highlights:

• The board's backlog of open, unresolved complaints has also increased substantially since our April 2024
• In the report, on page 18, we provide two tables that give a sense of the growth in that backlog over
• the backlog and reduce the number of complaints that are sitting there that need to be addressed. ..
• I mean, because you don't want to get those kind of mixed up with a huge backlog, so ...endanger people
• I mean, because you don't want to get those kind of mixed up with a huge backlog.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a UC Berkeley child of the '60s, seeds of idealism and hope were planted within me that have guided
• It begins with my peace of mind. It begins with my walking my path of peace.
• Presentations of petitions, there are none. Introduction and reference of bills will be deferred.
• The point of order is a transgression of the rules.
• I just, too, rise in support of both of my colleagues.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, there has been no significant a significant backlog of untested kits at DPS laboratories.
• of- Department of Public Safety.
• of days.
• We know of a protest all of a sudden it grows from $200,000 to $2,000, we can't rely on the City of Austin
• And right now with some of the continuum of building of the wall, this is what is being placed on there

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of committee.
• state of New Mexico.
• Chairman, members of the committee. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, members of the committee.
• What's the impact of that?
• of their housing formula.

Summary: The committee first announced that House Bill 180 would be rolled because of administration concerns, with plans to meet with stakeholders and sponsors later in the week. The committee then took up House Bill 8, which would create and transfer $300 million to a Major Capital Projects Fund for higher education, with stated priorities of $150 million for the UNM School of Medicine, $50 million for a multipurpose building at NMSU, and $100 million for student life and housing projects statewide. The sponsor and staff explained eligibility rules, match requirements, waiver procedures, and how institutions would apply through the Higher Education Department, with the legislature retaining final appropriation authority. Public testimony was strongly supportive. Representatives from the New Mexico Council of University Presidents, NMSU, and the independent community colleges said the bill would address major capital and housing needs, especially for student housing and facilities that are not well served by current funding streams. Committee members asked detailed questions about match waivers, who would set waiver standards, whether housing and family housing projects would qualify, and how the fund would interact with the budget and the State Investment Council. Staff clarified that the fund is a transfer from the general fund rather than an endowment, and that the $150 million for the UNM School of Medicine in the budget depends on passage of HB 8. Members also discussed the bill’s graduation-rate standards for athletics projects, noting current rates at UNM and NMSU are below the 65% threshold and would need to improve over time. After questions concluded, the committee adopted an amendment that removed the general-fund transfer language and struck a section on page 5, then voted “do pass” on House Bill 8 as amended. Representative Pettigrew was noted in opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• “The department currently has a backlog of about 20,000 cases they could be pursuing, but they lack the
• Can you tell me, you know, what does the backlog look like for some of these families?
• Representative, I wouldn’t be able to give you a time frame of how far back the backlog is, but I’m happy
• Can you tell me, you know, what is the backlog look like for some of these families?
• Representative, I wouldn't be able to give you a time frame of how far back the backlog is, but I'm happy

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation on the Division of Medicaid within the Department of Health and Welfare, including an overview of the division’s five programs, staffing, spending trends, and the large share of the budget that goes to trust and benefit payments. Ms. Williamson explained the difference between ongoing and one-time enhancements, the role of population forecast adjustments, and why the fiscal year 2026 and 2027 numbers change significantly. Members asked about the growth in the budget, the FMAP match rate, the impact of provider rate changes, and the shift of some positions into Medicaid from other divisions after last year’s reorganization. A major topic was House Bill 345 and related budget changes, including the hospital assessment fund alignment, the 4% provider rate reduction, and the effect on Medicaid expansion and other populations. The committee discussed the decline in expansion enrollment, rising costs in traditional Medicaid populations, and the governor’s recommendation to offset part of the 2027 increase with additional reductions. Members raised concerns about access to care, especially for dental, behavioral health, developmental disability, and home- and community-based services, while the deputy director said the department is trying to contain costs through prior authorization, fraud and abuse work, and policy changes. The committee also focused on the MMIS replacement project, which is in year four of a five-year procurement and is funded through dedicated and federal dollars tied to milestones. Another significant item was estate recovery, where the department requested funding to replace an outdated case management system and add contractor support to address a backlog of roughly 20,000 cases; members questioned the return on investment and asked for more detail on the software and staffing split. The deputy director also explained the federally qualified health center reconciliation issue, saying the state had not been properly paying change-in-scope amounts and is now using a new process with interim payments and later reconciliation. In addition, lawmakers asked about program integrity staffing, the use of AI, and whether the department could better target fraud, waste, and abuse investigations. The deputy director said the department is reviewing AI use cautiously and sees opportunities for it in claims review and anomaly detection, but emphasized that the current request is for dedicated receipt authority rather than general funds. No formal votes were taken in the excerpt, but the committee received the presentation, asked extensive questions, and was told that some follow-up information would be provided later.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm day one of...
• TSP, because of the place that we've been in for years with our backlog of cases, we might not have an
• TSP, because of the place that we've been in for years with our backlog of cases, we might not have an
• We have had a historical backlog of cases. We have had a historical backlog of cases for some time.
• physical injury, all of those other kinds of things.

Keywords: 907, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's all a matter of the timing of it.
• And this came to more of the thermal aspects of things.
• And this came to more of the thermal aspects of things.
• in a backlog, and that backlog was actually increasing exponentially.
• salary of $51... $185 per hour for private attorneys instead of the average salary of $51 per hour plus

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation from the Department of Fish and Game. Legislative Services outlined the agency’s funding structure, noting it receives no general fund and is supported mainly by dedicated and federal funds, with most spending going to personnel and many requests being one-time items. Director Jim Fredericks described the department’s mission, staffing, hatcheries, wildlife management areas, habitat work, enforcement, and funding sources, including license and tag revenue, federal excise taxes, and mitigation funds. Members asked about rescissions, temporary employee restoration, fisheries inflation items, depredation claims, nonresident tag sales, communications with the public, predator management, chronic wasting disease, habitat projects, and the relationship with the Office of Species Conservation. Fredericks said the department is working to right-size depredation funding, that the new nonresident draw system appears to be maintaining strong revenue, and that many habitat and disease-related costs are rising because of changing conditions and expanded work. He also acknowledged the technology-rule advisory process could have been handled better, especially regarding wolves, and said he would have structured that committee differently in hindsight. The committee then took up the Office of Species Conservation. Janet Jessup explained that the office is small, mostly federally funded, and often passes grant money through to Fish and Game for on-the-ground work. Administrator Mike Edmondson said the office serves as the state’s technical, policy, and legal advisor on endangered and candidate species and works closely with Fish and Game on habitat and consultation issues. He described measurable work on sage grouse, salmon and steelhead, and grizzly bears, and said the office has concrete metrics such as acres treated, river miles restored, and conflict-reduction actions. Members asked about the overlap with Fish and Game, the number of species covered, and a proposed merger with the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. Edmondson said there is strong synergy with OMER because many energy and mining projects come through species consultation first, and he said the office would support a merger if the Legislature pursues it, though he cautioned against cutting too deeply. Questions also touched on grizzly bear delisting, wolf-trapping litigation, and tribal consultation on salmon, steelhead, and other species. Finally, Attorney General Raul Labrador presented his office’s budget and performance. He argued that the office has returned more money to the state than it costs, citing $242 million recovered or settled over three years, and said the proposed reductions would force furloughs or elimination of positions because the office is mostly personnel costs and largely general-fund supported. Labrador highlighted major gains in the Internet Crimes Against Children unit, saying the backlog of cyber tips was eliminated, review times are now within 24 hours, and arrests have risen sharply; he also noted the Legislature expanded the child sexual abuse material law to cover AI-generated content. He described expanded civil defense and appellate work, creation of a solicitor general function through reorganization, more in-house handling of risk cases, and a reworked consumer protection division that now responds to complaints within 24 hours and has increased enforcement and direct consumer recoveries. Members asked about the source of the recovered funds, whether cyber crimes are increasing or just being caught better, and whether the office could help develop a framework for transferring incarcerated noncitizens to federal custody for deportation. The budget analyst later clarified that some of the office’s apparent underspending reflects vacancy savings and the ability to move funds between expenditure classes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The appointment of Armin Meyer, J.D., a senior deputy commissioner of the Division of Consumer Financial
• And so I think I do bring a bit of a bridge of that type of experience as well in terms of thinking about
• He then asked whether there had been a backlog of cases and what the status was looking forward.
• She said there is a lot of attention on making sure a backlog does not accumulate again and that interventions
• I am looking into this because we do have what I would say a backlog of what they’re called board items

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, there has been no significant, uh, significant backlog of untested kits at DPS laboratories
• , of Texas.
• couple of days, and the, the aircraft is one of them.
• Uh, another one of, uh, 300 pounds of, of meth in Grimes County, Austin County.
• Of, of what we're, of what DPS is going to be doing in that transition. How, what's the plan there?

Transcript Highlights:

• honor the service of one of our own who works in the background.
• Honor the service of one of our own, who works in the background.
• And we're hoping that that will take a big bite out of the backlog. So something to consider.
• that, because of the huge backlog, we have people who are not having a court case for very extended
• It was a lot of questions. That was a lot of questions.

Summary: JLARC met on April 8, 2026, with Senator Keith Wagner chairing in person and Rep. Pallett joining remotely. The committee approved the January 7 minutes and honored Marilyn Richter, who is retiring in June after more than 12 years of service to JLARC and the Citizens Commission. Staff then gave a legislative recap and work plan update, noting that the legislature adopted six bills or provisos implementing recommendations from recent JLARC reports, and that JLARC received seven new study assignments, including reviews of state oversight mechanisms for fraud, waste, and abuse and State Patrol toxicology lab delays. The committee approved the updated 2025-27 work plan, including the new assignments and the required 2027 lodging tax review. The committee also heard about a new anonymous post-meeting member survey tied to JLARC performance measures, then considered the final report on ignition interlock device compliance and monitoring. Staff reported that 59% of drivers with ignition interlock requirements had not installed a device as of June 2025, with installation rates rising by income, and found problems in the Department of Licensing’s financial assistance program and in coordination between DOL and the State Patrol. The report recommended clearer goals and responsibilities for DOL, a formal interagency agreement, and a coordinated plan to raise installation rates; both agencies concurred. Members discussed whether noncompliance reflected continued driving or people stopping driving, and agency representatives said some drivers do stop driving while others take the risk. The committee approved the final report. JLARC then reviewed the drug take-back fee setting and expenditures report. Staff said the Department of Health’s oversight costs had outpaced fee revenue because the statutory fee cap is tied to program operator spending, and recommended public reporting of oversight costs and a legislative change to allow full cost recovery. Members debated transparency, the risk of overpricing the program, and whether Ecology might be a better home for the program; the committee adopted a comment urging transparency and a future review of best practices before fee-structure changes, then approved the final report with that comment. Finally, staff presented the scope and objectives for the Clean Buildings Performance Standard study, focused on large state-owned and K-12 buildings due to comply by June 2026. Members asked about fines, funding, workforce constraints, and how costs and energy savings would be measured; staff said the study would examine compliance costs, savings, funding sources, and variation by building characteristics. The meeting adjourned after administrative announcements about upcoming JLARC meetings and the survey reminder.

Transcript Highlights:

• The role of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs is critical.
• It is a time in which there is a sense of loss of belonging, of camaraderie, of mission, of purpose.
• Listen, I've been concerned because there's such a backlog in terms of people applying for VA disability
• I mean, why is it that we're back up at 250,000 backlog of benefits when we've had a hundred and thirty
• of the day our veterans are taken care of.

Transcript Highlights:

• a variety of options and sort of trying to give a high-level sense of what some of those trade-offs
• of governor as of the effective date of this budget act.
• of governor as of the effective date of this budget act.
• of all of them.
• refunds of hundreds of millions of dollars to each of the world's largest companies.

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals from the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Government Operations Agency, the Department of Technology, and the Franchise Tax Board, with public comment to come later and all items held open. CDFA presented funding for the animal care program implementing Proposition 12, including a one-time $5.2 million General Fund transfer to the Ag Fund and $2.8 million ongoing, and the LAO recommended approval while noting the Legislature should revisit the funding once litigation and federal preemption questions are resolved. CDFA also proposed ending state oversight of industrial hemp and moving to the federal USDA program by January 1, 2028, with an $8.3 million General Fund transfer to cover startup and transition costs; the LAO supported the transition. Additional CDFA items included $204,000 ongoing and one position to preserve agricultural statistics reporting after USDA reorganization, and trailer bill changes to clarify the department’s 5% indirect cost cap; both drew no objections from Finance or LAO. The Government Operations Agency and Cradle to Career items focused on implementing the new federal Workforce Pell program. Finance described trailer bill language establishing state eligibility processes, with the California Student Aid Commission as the authorizing entity in consultation with the Workforce Development Board, and proposed $1.3 million one-time General Fund for Cradle to Career to build data linkages. The LAO urged caution because federal rules were just finalized and said more information was needed on workload, costs, and whether existing data systems could support the work. Senators raised policy concerns about limiting the program to public institutions and about aligning the proposal with broader workforce and labor goals. The committee also briefly discussed SB 53/Cal Compute, with GovOps saying no appropriation had been provided for its consortium work, and Finance saying the administration was not proposing funding at this time. The Department of Technology presented a $30 million operational backstop for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, intended to cover any shortfall if expected revenues from the Golden State Net third-party administrator do not materialize in time. The LAO initially recommended rejection over broad spending authority, then suggested amendments with stronger reporting and legislative review; committee members questioned the revenue assumptions, oversight, and whether the request could recur. CDT also sought $1 million for Poppy, the state’s GenAI digital assistant, to expand secure statewide use; the LAO had no concerns, and members asked about data security, model bias, training restrictions, and possible local-government use. Finally, FTB proposed realigning CalFile resources after the federal Direct File program was discontinued, retaining three ongoing positions and returning the rest of the funding and positions to the General Fund; the LAO said the reduced scope was reasonable, and members discussed keeping the free filing system user-friendly and ready for future federal changes. The committee also heard the administration’s digital pre-written software tax proposal, which would extend sales tax to electronically delivered software and SaaS beginning January 1, 2027, generating an estimated $450 million General Fund in 2026-27 and $900 million ongoing, plus local revenue. The LAO supported modernizing the tax base but recommended broadening the proposal to include more digital products while considering a business-use exemption or reduced rate, and flagged a newly added video game exemption as a revenue downside. Senators generally supported the goal of raising revenue and aligning California with other states, but questioned the local revenue distribution and equity effects, and one senator said they would not support expanding the tax to books, music streaming, and similar consumer products. All items were left open without votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'll be joining the chorus of Sandy's comments, but I think instead of repeating anything, one of
• I kind of have a nuanced view of it myself.
• the president of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary of State
• Those are lands for the benefit of all of us.
• This time of year is the busiest time of the year.

Bills: HB2014, HB2055, HB2145, HB2150, HB2696, HB2755, HB2763, HB2781, HB2782, HB2787, HB2795, HB2889, HB2975, HB2985, HB2986, HCM2009, HCR2020, HCR2038

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, Arizona Revised Statutes, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, state land department, mineral lease, renewals

Transcript Highlights:

• of $459,000.
• We don't want to create more of a backlog.
• of.
• We have more of a problem of that.
• And the rough part of this is that, I'm sure you can hear the frustration of many of the members of my

Bills: HB2289

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• But the vast, vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of invalid licenses come from poverty, folks
• of HB 1414.
• of Texas.
• of Texas.
• repair.

Bills: HB316

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, affordable care act, medical assistance, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• But the vast, vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of invalid licenses... come from poverty.
• of HB1414.
• one of the only limited number of investigations that can be filed in the state of Texas.
• of a child.
• repair.

Bills: HB316, HB353, HB 1160, HB1414, HB1422, HB1443, HB1713, HB1789, HB1902, HB2073, HB2666, HB2695, HB316

Keywords: motor fuel, criminal offense, metering device, organized crime, Texas Penal Code, trespassing, school safety, day-care centers, education, trespass, public safety, utility employees, criminal penalties, assault, harassment, public duties, safety, law enforcement, driving offenses, license regulations