Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1673, appropriation, Crime Victim Notification Fund. ATT and Public Safety.
• Crime Victim Notification Fund, ATT and Public Safety. Place under second reading of the bills.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, confirmed attendance, approved the journal, and welcomed several guests in the gallery, including a veteran and House candidate, a former legislative district chair, and two district guests attending in support of future highway-naming testimony. The chamber also extended well wishes to Senator Farnsworth’s wife, who was reported hospitalized, and announced a temporary committee replacement appointment for Senator Fernandez on the Education Committee. The bulk of the meeting consisted of reading House messages and introducing numerous bills for first reading and committee referral, covering a wide range of topics including transportation, taxation, education, health care, housing, water, public safety, elections, immigration, behavioral health, and appropriations. The Senate also placed many measures on second reading, including bills on school budgets, civics instruction, campaign finance, voter registration, housing, tax deductions, and public safety-related issues. Committee meeting announcements were made for the following day. The chamber then considered a gubernatorial nomination and, on a voice vote, confirmed James McCain to the Arizona Board of Regents for a term ending January 19, 2032. After a recess and return, additional bills were introduced and referred, including measures on corporal punishment in schools, homeless shelter funding, child care waiting lists, community gardens, solar energy requirements, insurance claims assistance, firearms regulation, and crime victim notification funding. The Senate adjourned at the end of the session until Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the Department of Safety maintains a database of anybody who's been charged with any crime.
• </c><00:18:46.080><c> Well,</c> who's been charged with any crime.
• Well, who's been charged with any crime.
• </c><00:25:25.200><c> Um</c><00:25:25.600><c> but</c> state to commit any crime.
• Um but state to commit any crime.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , trafficking, hate crimes.
• , trafficking, hate crimes.
• </c> values sex crimes values sex crimes trafficking<01:25:39.239><c> hate</c> trafficking hate trafficking
• hate crimes<01:25:41.320><c> thank</c><01:25:41.520><c> you</c><01:25:41.800><c> your</c><01:25:41.960
• ><c> minute</c><01:25:42.239><c> is</c> crimes thank you your minute is crimes thank you your minute

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard Senate Bill 659, which would exempt the Department of Education from the electronic procurement system for purchases of fresh local agricultural products and local value-added processed agricultural or food products up to $100,000, and require geographic preference guidelines for locally sourced products. The Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and State Procurement Office all testified in support or support of the intent. DOE said the bill would give it short-term flexibility to buy local items not currently on the vendor list, such as poi and limu, while procurement staff said they would provide written comments and a corrected version of their testimony. Committee members questioned why the bill was needed, why the threshold would rise from the current $24,999 small-purchase limit to $100,000, and whether the department should instead amend its vendor list or RFP process. Members raised concerns about efficiency, administrative burden, whether the bill was a temporary fix for procurement planning gaps, and whether purchases would remain compliant with federal USDA rules if federal school-lunch funds were used. DOE responded that the measure would help it expand local purchasing, support farmers, and allow purchases of products not currently available through existing distributors, and said it was working with partners on food-safety certification and federal compliance. The committees then voted to pass SB 659 with amendments. The Joint Committee on Education approved it 3-2, and the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Environment later approved the amended measure 4-0. The chair noted an amendment and a deferred effective date, and the motion was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• ; special occasion; 1776, school districts; 1818, wayfinding signs; SB 1829, probation; dangerous crimes
• Dangerous crimes. SCM 1006, PFC Michael Nolene Memorial Highway.
• I do have an issue with the fact that this bill is making it a crime to go camping.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• grateful to those brave enough to speak on behalf of thousands across our globe who seek to end the crime
• grateful to those brave enough to speak on behalf of thousands across our globe who seek to end the crime
• against nature and nature. on behalf of thousands across our globe who seek to end the crime against

Summary: The Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee met with a quorum and first took up HCR 32, a resolution on Idaho’s energy future. Representative Leavitt said the measure emphasizes baseload generation, transmission, energy sovereignty, and private property rights, citing Idaho’s reliance on imported energy and concerns about projects such as Lava Ridge and the Southwest Intertie Project North. Public testimony included support from Renewable Northwest, whose representative praised the resolution’s recognition of regional market participation, ratepayer protection, and the need for more generation and transmission, while noting that regional market access can reduce the amount of baseload generation needed. The committee then voted to send HCR 32 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee next considered H.J.M. 18, a memorial urging opposition to solar geoengineering. Representative Hostetler explained that the memorial had been revised to focus specifically on solar geoengineering rather than weather modification generally. A long line of public testimony supported the memorial, with witnesses arguing that solar geoengineering poses risks to health, agriculture, water, soil, wildlife, and property rights, and calling for Idaho to assert state sovereignty and urge federal action. Several witnesses cited federal reports, research plans, and alleged environmental and health impacts, while others described personal observations and sampling results they believed showed harmful particulates in rain or air. One witness, a federal trial practitioner, argued that airplane trails are not merely water vapor and urged independent scientific study, while other speakers claimed links between geoengineering and infertility, neurological illness, bee decline, drought, and crop impacts. A sponsor clarified the memorial’s language in response to a question about the term “generally,” explaining it was intended to distinguish solar geoengineering from broader weather modification. After testimony ended, the committee voted to send H.J.M. 18 to the floor with a due pass recommendation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• but something that put under their feet to let them realize that you can't go out here and commit crimes
• thrive and to show individuals that they were not the person that they were when they committed such a crime
• Because what we want to do is just stop these young people from committing these little heinous crimes

Summary: The Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions heard testimony on House Bill 2912, House Bill 2753, and a joint hearing on House Bills 2171 and 3292. HB 2912 would expand the state’s use of master agreements for small projects, raising contract thresholds and adding architects, engineers, and surveyors to standing agreements for work under $100,000. Supporters from the Office of Administration and private engineering/architecture firms said the bill would reduce delays, lower costs, and avoid repeated RFQ/RFP processes for small projects. There were no witnesses in opposition, and the hearing closed after favorable testimony. HB 2753 would create a hospital zone designation, similar to school or work zones, allowing municipalities or counties to establish reduced-speed areas around hospitals when local conditions warrant it. The bill was presented in response to traffic and safety concerns around a rural hospital expansion and a state highway running through the campus area. Hospital representatives, the Missouri Hospital Association, and another hospital system supported the measure, emphasizing pedestrian, staff, ambulance, and visitor safety; committee members questioned the proposed penalties and whether the bill could create a statewide mandate, but supporters stressed it was permissive and locally initiated. No opposition testimony was offered. HB 2171 and HB 3292, identical bills, would direct the Department of Corrections to create a motivational boot camp program for offenders ages 17 to 21 convicted of nonviolent offenses, with the goal of rehabilitation and possible expungement after completion. Sponsors said the program would emphasize discipline, physical activity, and therapy, and could be a cost-saving alternative to prison; they noted a federal issue requiring changes for DWI/CDL cases and discussed a six-year sunset. Committee members raised questions about eligibility, screening, expungement language, program design, and how the proposal would interact with other sentencing bills. No witnesses testified in favor or opposition, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Employment and stability reduce crime.
• Employment and stability reduce crime.
• Employment and stability reduce crime.

Bills: HB1952, HB1951, HB1929, HB2497, HB2208, HB2572, HB1953, HB2551, HB2549, HB1737, HB1628, HB1769, HB2493, HB2264, HB1997, HB2168, HB2427, HB1805, HB2180, HB2184, HB2219, HB2469, HB2233, HB2519, HB2141, HB1904, HB2201, HB2410, HB2007, HB2385, HB2444, HB2349, HB2235, HB1872, HB2416, HB2291, HB2292, HB2263, HB2359, HB2455, HB1509, HB1514, HB1515, HB1648, HB2164, HB2323, HB1825, HB2172, HB1888, HB2005, HB2387, HB2358, HB2119, HB2276, HB2472, HB1714, HB2325, HB1541, HB1960, HB2140, HB2315, HB2367, HB2388, HB1696, HB2333, HB2138, HB2332, HB2283, HB2059, HB2057, HB2589, HB2417, HB2337, HB1588, HB2217, HB2020, HB1915, HB1742, HB2026, HB1965, HB1546, HB2360, HB1563, HB1749, HB2614, HB1511, HB1753, HB1849, HB1641, HB2161, HB2194, HB1721, HB2284, HB2188, HB1897, HB1880, HB1573, HB1876, HB20, HB2137

Keywords: HB1952, Hawaii agriculture, University of Hawaii, CTAHR, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Kauai, agricultural research station, extension station, capital improvements, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, appropriation, ADA compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act, certified kitchen, greenhouse, laboratory, field research, cesspool decommissioning, invasive species

Transcript Highlights:

• If there's a city crime, that's not a state crime, if it's a city ordinance or something, because there's
• It helps us find evidence of a very heinous crime.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 556, which would raise the state reimbursement rate paid to counties for housing state inmates in county jails from the current $55/$75 tiered system to a flat $80 per day. Representative Skaug, county officials, sheriffs, and the Idaho Association of Counties all argued the current rates do not cover actual jail costs and shift a substantial subsidy onto county taxpayers. Testimony cited average county costs of roughly $106 to $120 per inmate per day, with Ada and Canyon counties describing large daily populations of state prisoners and limited programming for long-term inmates. Members asked about programming, out-of-state housing costs, and where the additional $3.1 million fiscal impact would come from. A substitute motion to hold the bill until February 25 failed 5-8, and the committee then voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 602, which states that Idaho courts should apply American law and not foreign law when doing so would conflict with Idaho public policy or fundamental rights. Sponsor testimony described the bill as a clarification that foreign law, foreign forum selection, and related decisions are unenforceable when they would limit rights such as privacy, marriage, due process, speech, or religion, while noting exceptions for certain entities, preexisting contracts, and religious exercise. Members asked whether the bill could affect treaties or prior international custody-related issues; sponsors said treaties were exempted and the bill would apply prospectively. Caleb Pierce of the Idaho Family Policy Center testified in support, and the committee unanimously sent the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 654, which adds electronic storage detection dogs to Idaho’s police dog protection statute. Representative Vili and Idaho Attorney General’s Office witnesses explained that these dogs are trained to detect a chemical associated with electronic storage devices, helping investigators locate hidden devices in child exploitation cases and other investigations. Testimony emphasized the dogs’ usefulness in search warrants and their role in comforting children present during enforcement actions. The committee then voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and adjourned after concluding its business.

Transcript Highlights:

• databases like MULES, which is the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System, or NCIC, which is the Crime
• Information Center. ...which is Crime Information Center.
• access that data and information and try to access somebody's license plate information without a valid crime

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:18:13.919><c> to</c> House Bill 422, an act relating to House Bill 422, an act relating to crimes
• </c><00:18:15.520><c> Representative</c> crimes and punishments.
• Representative crimes and punishments.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Calendar/Second Readings 06:39 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 07:36 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 17:37 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 19:15 ConC and Rules Report 22:17 Adjournment 24:18, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It raises the offense for these serious crimes to reflect what they are.
• The Attorney General's authority to prosecute election crimes has been a vexing issue for the state ever
• recommended to us by the Attorney General's Office, who would, of course, be charged with prosecuting these crimes

Bills: HB223

Keywords: municipal budget, county budget, local government finance, spending cap, expenditure limit, inflation plus population growth, taxpayer impact statement, budget transparency, property tax, fees, Legislative Budget Board, voter approval, disaster spending, fiscal restraint, Texas Local Government Code, city budget, county expenditures, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, that person who could be arrested under a felony, that's all good, but to be convicted of the crime
• Constitution does not have to increase. ...of the crime. That person, under the U.S.
• Under existing law, and even under the changes to 379, soliciting a minor is a crime.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on May 7, 2025, considering a large number of bills, with several measures heard in detail before the committee moved through consent and suspense items. Early in the hearing, AB 876 by Assemblymember Flora was heard on CRNA scope of practice and anesthesia access. Supporters said it would clarify that certified registered nurse anesthetists may provide anesthesia services independently, while opponents from physician and medical groups argued that anesthesiologists and CRNAs are not interchangeable and that physician-led care is needed for patient safety. The bill was ultimately voted out, with a later vote change recorded for Mr. Tangipa from not voting to aye. The committee also heard AB 379, a major human trafficking and child exploitation bill, which would expand penalties for solicitation of a minor, create a misdemeanor for loitering with intent to purchase commercial sex, increase fines on businesses that fail to post trafficking notices or knowingly allow trafficking, create a survivor support grant program, and establish a vertical prosecution grant program. The bill drew strong support from the author and some members who emphasized tougher enforcement and victim services, but also significant opposition from sex worker and civil liberties advocates who argued the bill would worsen criminalization, disproportionately harm Black and Brown communities, and fail to address housing and other root causes. After extensive discussion, the committee voted the bill out, with one member later changing from not voting to aye. Other bills heard included AB 435 on child passenger safety, which would adopt a five-step test and update booster-seat and front-seat rules; AB 1415, which would give the Office of Health Care Affordability more access to information from health systems and private equity-related entities; AB 539, the Timely Care Act, which would extend the duration of approved prior authorizations for treatment; AB 1466, relating to groundwater adjudication and sustainability disputes; AB 127, which would tie the cap-and-trade price ceiling to the social cost of carbon; and AB 672, which would require public employers to notify PERB of certain court actions and allow intervention to protect labor rights. The committee also approved a large consent calendar and then deemed the suspense calendar approved, sending many bills onward. The hearing concluded with several bills reported out, some on call, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And members, the Wilder Foundation, my computer just decided it didn't want to work, has, um, 60-some
• c><01:16:44.880><c> my</c> members, the Wilder Foundation, my members, the Wilder Foundation, my computer
• :46.800><c> it</c><01:16:47.040><c> didn't</c><01:16:47.120><c> want</c><01:16:47.280><c> to</c> computer
• just decided it didn't want to computer just decided it didn't want to work,<01:16:47.920><c> has</c
• <02:14:36.880><c> Like</c><02:14:37.119><c> pause</c><02:14:37.440><c> your</c><02:14:37.679><c> computer

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• "Hackin Phillips, yeah, it's like a computer hack in Phillips.
• Yeah, it’s like a computer hack, or like you’re hacking a tree down with an axe. And I vote yes.
• Yeah, it’s like a computer hack, or like you’re hacking a tree down with an axe. And I vote yes.
• Yeah, it’s like a computer hack, or like you’re hacking a tree down with an axe. And I vote yes.
• hack or like you're like a computer hack or like you're hacking<00:55:52.480><c> a</c><00:55:52.599>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education. The Department of Education testified that the bill’s definition would conflict with federal definitions and be very restrictive, potentially affecting a wide range of instructional methods, curriculum materials, teacher training, civics requirements, suicide prevention training, and other programs. The department said the bill could force a broad overhaul of school practices, create local implementation burdens, and require at least one new state position, with a fiscal note estimating roughly $118,000 in FY 2026 rising in later years. Members also raised concerns about possible impacts on federal pass-through funding and whether the bill was workable. Representative Papovich moved to retain HB 129, and the motion passed 7-0. The committee then heard HB 133, a Department of Safety/DMV bill involving follow-up when a person votes using an out-of-state license or non-driver ID and then does not obtain a New Hampshire credential within the statutory timeframe. DMV officials said the bill would require a $40,000 technology upgrade plus a new full-time position, and that the fiscal note did not include postage or fully account for the manual work needed to match records, send notices, and review responses. They said the proposal also raised broader tracking issues because it would apply not only to voters but to anyone who had not obtained a New Hampshire license within 60 days, and they questioned whether DMV was the proper agency to make those inquiries. Committee members pressed the department on how the 60-day clock would be determined, whether the bill could amount to a kind of poll tax or raise privacy concerns, and whether voter ID cards or other exceptions would avoid that problem. The department explained that New Hampshire offers a free voter identification card through town clerks for people without a license or state ID, but said the bill did not exempt those cards and that the DMV would still be asked to investigate status after voting. Officials also said the bill would be difficult to enforce, that some cases would be ambiguous, and that any response from the DMV would likely amount to a request for information rather than an enforceable consequence. No vote on HB 133 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• , we put one at LCC, and we put one in electrical engineering at Manoa, which became the Ambient Computing
• In addition, you folks helped out to help equip that building with additional computers, and I think
• we put about $750,000 in computers into that building for West Oahu.
• Occasionally, they might get $70,000 if they need new computers or something. designed for the neighbor
• The academy for students includes tuition, books, fees, travel, the purchase of computer hardware and

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Republicans had the chance to rein in a commander-in-chief who threatens war crimes, attacks our allies
• , attacks our allies, and is crimes, attacks our allies, and is wrecking<00:17:14.799><c> our</c><00:
• We the people decide what the high crime and misdemeanor is.
• </c><02:51:28.399><c> and</c> decide what the high crime and decide what the high crime and misdemeanor
• </c> crimes and misdemeanors." crimes and misdemeanors."

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, April 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• call grandma and grandpa if they were still alive today and one of them had been convicted for the crime
• President, the way you got out of being convicted of this crime was to get married in some cases.
• </c> crime. They have nothing else to do. crime. They have nothing else to do.
• enforcement officer who could lose their job over that decision because they’ll be convicted of a crime
• ,</c> because they'll be convicted of a crime, because they'll be convicted of a crime, a<01:53:55.440

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A couple of highlights that I want to include: $50 million to the Victims of Crime Act, or VOCA.
• want to thank the Senate budget for including $50 million to backfill the loss in federal Victims of Crime
• Victims of Crime Funding Act.
• also wanted to thank you so much for funding indigent defense programs for survivors and victims of crime
• also wanted to thank you so much for funding indigent defense programs for survivors and victims of crime

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , I stood beside people who were indigent and couldn't afford their own attorneys, um, accused of crimes
• <c> they</c><00:09:38.680><c> may</c><00:09:38.960><c> or</c><00:09:39.160><c> may</c> accused of crimes
• that they may or may accused of crimes that they may or may not<00:09:39.560><c> have</c><00:09:39.720
• I represented people who sometimes were falsely accused of crimes.
• I do look at their criminal history, and I look at what the crime is and how it affected the community

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard Governor’s Messages 796 and 797, both judicial confirmation nominations, but announced at the outset that no votes would be taken that day. The committee said it would hold the vote the next day in Room 225. For GM 796, Annalisa M. Bernard Lee was nominated to serve as circuit court judge for the Second Circuit (Maui) for a 10-year term. Supporters included former Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, former judges, attorneys, and the Hawaii State Bar Association, all describing her as fair, hardworking, experienced on both criminal and civil matters, and active in the legal community. Judge Lee testified about her background as a Maui native, former public defender and prosecutor, and current district court judge, and said her experience on all sides of the courtroom shaped her commitment to fairness and access to justice. Senators asked about diversion, sentencing repeat offenders, and the role of a circuit court judge; Lee said she would consider cases individually, support diversion and pretrial collaboration where appropriate, and use judicial power to address underlying problems when possible. For GM 797, Michael K. Soong was nominated to the Fifth Circuit Court for Kauai and Niihau. Former Chief Justice Recktenwald and other supporters praised his long legal career, including service as a prosecutor, district court judge, and acting chief judge during a period when Kauai lacked a full-time circuit judge. They emphasized his courtroom control, common sense, community ties, and willingness to take on extra judicial committee work. Soong testified that he had served as a district court judge since 2017 and had recently been handling circuit court duties, including civil, criminal, and jury trial matters. He described the differences between district and circuit court, his experience presiding over complex trials, and his support for specialty courts such as drug court, veterans court, and mental health calendars. The Hawaii State Bar Association said it found him qualified after its review. No votes were taken on either nomination during this hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> House Enrolled Act number 30 being original House Bill 43, an act relating to crimes and offenses
• </c> House Enrolled Act number 32 being original House Bill 102, an act relating to crimes and offenses
• House Enrolled Act number 38 being original House Bill 39, an act relating to crimes and offenses.
• original House Bill 39, an act relating original House Bill 39, an act relating to<00:07:46.000><c> crimes
• </c> to crimes and offenses. to crimes and offenses.

Keywords: 916, all