Transcript Highlights:

• disclosure affidavit recording; HB 2048, orders of protection process service; HB 252, management plan, water
• facilities abortion prohibited activities; HB 2100, small land subdivision requirements; HB 212, domestic water
• improvement districts hauling; HB 2102, domestic water improvement districts hauling; HB 2103, water
• improvements program water hauling; HB 2117, natural resource conservation board fund; HB 2145, petition

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as increased traffic congestion, posing risk to public safety and emergency response, and strain on water
• We've had two projects where we did the subdivision in its entirety: water, sewer, electric, the whole
• this sort of one-size-fits-all mandate in a state that really has very different housing markets, water
• this sort of one-size-fits-all mandate in a state that really has very different housing markets, water
• this sort of one-size-fits-all mandate in a state that really has very different housing markets, water

Bills: SB211 , SB131 , SB183 , SB222 , SB246 , SB254

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: appropriation, local government, Las Vegas, Rodriguez Park, public facilities, zoning reform, building regulations, residential apartments, commercial use, multigenerational housing, local government authority, healthcare, urgent care, emergency services, feasibility study, medical facilities, physician training, medical residency, New Mexico, massage therapy

Transcript Highlights:

• ways to streamline, eliminate, or modify regulations related to land use and zoning, stewardship of water
• otherwise exempted, a person must register their vessel to use or moor their vessel in Washington waters
• You heard Representative Waters talk about it.
• I think the major drivers of this have to be recognized as what it really is: habitat loss, dams, water
• I'm a resident of Vashon Island, a boat owner, and an open-water swimmer.

Bills: HB2131 , HB2221 , HJM4009 , HB2619

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: sea lion, predation control, salmon preservation, fishing industry, voluntary donations, ungulate, wildlife conservation, ecosystem management, population sustainability, environmental impact, wildfire, federal response, community protection, natural resources, firefighter safety, agriculture, regulations, farming, compliance, economic impact

Transcript Highlights:

• Convening the Committee on Public Safety and Water and Land today is Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 10
• The remaining 18.85% fleet of fire equipment, including brush trucks, water tenders, bulldozers, and
• Equipment uh that's including<00:22:02.159><c> brush</c><00:22:02.480><c> trucks</c><00:22:02.960><c> water
• </c><00:22:03.240><c> tenders</c> including brush trucks water tenders including brush trucks water tenders

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 19, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures before taking up decision-making. Senate Bill 1381, relating to the Hawaii National Guard, received support from the Department of Defense and other testifiers and was recommended to pass as is. Senate Bill 422, relating to education and high school diplomas for veterans, also drew support from the Department of Education, the Military Affairs Council, and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and was recommended to pass as is. Senate Bill 414, relating to restoring access to disaster-affected areas in Lahaina, was discussed with testimony from HHFDC and others; members agreed to amend the bill to refer to the Department of Transportation as the acquiring agency, and the measure was recommended to pass with amendments. The committee then considered Senate Bill 223, relating to fire prevention. The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the bill but recommended changes to make the wildland-urban interface code a matter for the State Fire Council/State Fire Marshal rather than statute, and noted it lacked authority to mandate fuel reduction work on lands outside its control. Members also discussed community fuel reduction funding, with DLNR indicating that $10 million would be an effective amount and describing current funding for equipment, outreach, and positions. The chair proposed amendments to make fuel reduction on non-set-aside lands permissive rather than mandatory, to allow the State Fire Council to amend the state fire code to include easement holders, and to note a defective date and the funding request in the committee report. The bill was recommended to pass with amendments, with one member voting with reservations. In a later decision-making session, the committee considered Senate Bill 1379, relating to emergency preparedness and Community Readiness Centers, and Senate Bill 371, relating to property damage of critical infrastructure facilities. For SB 1379, the chair proposed an HD1 incorporating the Hawaii Advisory Council on Emergency Management and county emergency management in site-selection criteria, adding geographic resilience considerations, changing the defective date, and noting $10.8 million for site design plus $1.2 million for contract support; the bill passed with amendments, with reservations from some members over county input and funding. For SB 371, the chair amended the bill to remove recklessly/negligently causing damage and require intentional conduct throughout, while leaving other issues for Judiciary review; the bill passed with amendments, with at least one member voting with reservations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The advocates from the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition have been working on legislation regarding swim
• lessons in schools and water safety for many years.
• When we look at water safety in our state, drowning is one of the leading causes of death among kids
• I also want to thank the Chair of Education for allowing this to move forward and supporting water safety
• allowing this to move forward<00:42:55.559><c> and</c><00:42:55.760><c> supporting</c><00:42:56.559><c> water

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And also the proximity to the water and the proximity to an area I didn't grow up in, which is trees—lots
• And also the proximity to the water and the proximity to an area I didn't grow up in, which is trees.
• So the proximity to the water and the proximity to an area I didn't grow up in, which is trees, a lot
• It's sort of like the fish swimming in water, and you take the water around you for granted.

Summary: The subcommittee began with an informal “college day” exercise in which members described what careers and colleges they would choose if starting over, often citing factors such as program reputation, location, cost, graduation rates, employment outcomes, and family or personal interests. Members mentioned a range of possible paths including law, aviation, education, construction management, psychology, social work, criminal justice, nursing, intelligence studies, and the arts. Several also highlighted the value of historically Black colleges and universities, dual enrollment, and career/technical education. The chair used the exercise to frame the meeting’s broader focus on Florida’s higher education pathways and student outcomes. Dr. Kathleen Plinsky of Valencia College then gave an overview of the Florida College System and Valencia’s role in it, emphasizing Florida’s statewide articulation and transfer framework, open-access mission, affordability, and workforce alignment. She described Valencia’s record enrollment, high retention, large share of first-generation and working students, and partnerships such as Direct Connect to UCF, Osceola Prosper, and Open Door grants for short-term training. Members asked about guaranteed transfer, apprenticeships, enrollment trends, student demographics, out-of-state residency, county scholarship costs, dual enrollment outcomes, and barriers to expanding career dual enrollment. Dr. Plinsky said the system supports transfer and acceleration well, but funding constraints limit growth in some areas; she also noted that dual enrollment participation is high and that Valencia’s affordability and student support efforts have driven recent enrollment gains. Dr. Jim Clark of Florida State University followed with an overview of the State University System, describing its governance, performance-based funding, low tuition, and strong graduation and research outcomes. He highlighted FSU’s enrollment, research profile, transfer student success, FSU Health, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, partnerships with K-12 schools and Tallahassee State College, and efforts to expand nursing and medical education to address workforce shortages. After the presentations, the committee heard from a panel on student acceleration and mobility: Shannon Mercer of the Department of Education explained the Office of Articulation, the statewide course numbering system, FASTER records, the 2+2 transfer model, specialized AA transfer degrees, and credit for industry certifications, military, medical, and law-enforcement training. Panelists from Kaiser University, Florida State University, and Pinellas County Schools described their institutions’ roles in transfer, advising, career pathways, apprenticeships, and dual enrollment. No formal votes or bills were taken up in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They spawn; the fry drift down with high water in the springtime.
• They spawn; the fry drift down with high water in the springtime.
• They spawn; the fry drift down with high water in the springtime.
• They spawn; the fry drift down with high water in the springtime.
• They spawn; the fry drift down with high water in the springtime.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Print 10181, Harckham, an act establishing the High View Water District.
• They obviously know that water doesn't cause cancer, so I ask again, when it comes to pure talc, what
• They obviously know that water doesn't cause cancer, so I ask again, when it comes to pure talc, what
• They obviously know that water doesn't cause cancer, so I ask again, when it comes to pure talc, what
• They obviously know that water doesn't cause cancer, so I ask again, when it comes to pure talc, what

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the journal, and then moved through a large number of motions to discharge bills from committees and substitute identical Senate bills for third reading. The chamber also received and accepted a Finance Committee report on nominations for Kathleen Mosier as Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Terrence O’Leary as Commissioner of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and John Kagia as Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management. All three nominees were confirmed, with Mosier and O’Leary confirmed unanimously and Kagia confirmed 57-1, with Senator Walczyk voting no. The Senate adopted previously approved resolutions recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month and mourning the death of Susan Irene Wright of Harlem. Senators Brisport and Bottcher spoke at length in support of Pride Month, emphasizing LGBTQ+ history, resilience, and ongoing threats to the trans community. On the Susan Wright resolution, Senators Cleare, Bailey, and Bottcher praised her community leadership, philanthropy, and family legacy, and Assembly Member Jordan Wright was recognized in the chamber. The body then considered and passed many bills on the calendar, including measures on insurance, environmental conservation, public health, education, business law, labor, social services, highway law, and local tax exemptions. Several bills drew brief explanations of vote, including a measure to end higher insurance premiums for widows, a bill to prohibit correctional facilities from denying visitation because of menstrual products or IUDs, and a Medicaid-related bill to expand access to blood pressure monitors for pregnant people. Most bills passed with broad support, though some had notable opposition from a small group of senators. Late in the session, the Senate took up a proposed constitutional amendment on redistricting. Senator Stewart-Cousins sponsored the measure, and Senator Walczyk questioned it extensively, arguing voters had previously approved an independent redistricting process and objecting to changes that would remove the Legislature’s two-thirds map-approval requirement and alter the commission’s role. The sponsor said the changes were needed in response to aggressive partisan redistricting in other states and would still require voter ratification in future sessions. The transcript ends during that debate, with no final vote on the amendment shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been a pleasure working with you on the water parks and wildlife, for my casual dress.
• It's been a pleasure working with you on the water parks and wildlife, Thank you for her work in this
• They don't cause water intrusion.
• They don't cause water intrusion.
• They don't cause water intrusion.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with most of the discussion focused on public safety, consumer protection, and youth harms. AB 1557 by Assemblymember Papin would clarify e-bike motor power limits and set lower speed-related standards for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes. Supporters, including the California Police Chiefs Association, cities, the California Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, argued the bill would reduce severe injuries and deaths among young riders. Opponents from People for Bikes warned it could conflict with federal law, create legal uncertainty, and disrupt the bicycle market. The author and committee members acknowledged industry concerns and urged continued work on the bill. AB 1770 by Assemblymember Garcia would place large health care service plan arbitration under California Department of Justice oversight and require compliance with the California Arbitration Act. Supporters described cases where patients were forced into private arbitration with little transparency or accountability, arguing the bill would make the process fairer and more neutral. Kaiser Permanente and the Civil Justice Association of California said they were still reviewing amendments and had not settled on a final position. Committee members expressed sympathy for the personal stories shared and encouraged continued negotiations. The committee also heard AB 2075, which would require fire suppression equipment to be kept closer at hand during brush work, and AB 1864, which would require screening of gene synthesis orders to prevent misuse for bioterrorism. AB 2075 was presented as a response to a Ventura County wildfire, with support from the Ventura County District Attorney’s office and no opposition heard. AB 1864 was backed by the author, Stanford biosecurity expert Dr. Milana Trout, and Encode AI, while Biocom opposed unless amended and California Life Sciences remained neutral. Members discussed implementation details and the role of the Department of Public Health. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to AB 1709, which would set a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts on platforms with harmful features and create an e-safety advisory commission. Supporters, including youth advocates, parents, medical groups, and Common Sense Media, said addictive design features are harming children’s mental health and safety. Opponents, including EFF, the ACLU, TechNet, and other civil liberties and industry groups, argued the bill is overbroad, raises First Amendment and privacy concerns, and could limit access to important online communities. Despite those objections, the bill was moved forward after committee discussion, with members emphasizing the need to protect children while continuing to work on carveouts and implementation details.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do know in the other body, they're kind of treading water, dead in the water, I'm not sure.
• I do know in the other body, they're kind of treading water, dead in the water, I'm not sure.
• I do know in the other body, they're kind of treading water, dead in the water, I'm not sure.
• I do know in the other body, they're kind of treading water, dead in the water, I'm not sure.
• I do know in the other body, they're kind of treading water, dead in the water, I'm not sure.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cable, electricity, gas, sewer, solid waste, telephone, and water would be included within the county
• safe, affordable, and reliable drinking water and sanitary sewer services.
• We need more funding for transportation, more funding for water and sewer, and more funding for other
• Alia, please give us a briefing. more funding for water and sewer, more funding for other projects at
• For many residents, the disaster did not end when the water receded.

Bills: SB6294 , SB6211 , SB5650 , SB6033 , SB6297 , SB6343 , SB6067 , SB6082 , SB6323 , SB6324 , SB5862 , SB5923 , SB6151

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: local government finance, Washington state, RCW, real estate excise tax, REET, sales and use tax, property tax levy, county tax, city tax, affordable housing, housing services, behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, children and families services, youth services, utility tax, low-income utility assistance, veterans assistance, homelessness

Transcript Highlights:

• Um and water exposure and products.
• Um and water exposure and sweat<00:32:59.440><c> will</c><00:32:59.679><c> also</c><00:33:00.000><c>
• Next, the committee opened the hearing on SB 531, sponsored by Senator Waters.
• </c> Senator David Waters, District 4, introduced Senate Bill 531, which establishes a task force to
• </c> likely be um and I think Senator Waters likely be um and I think Senator Waters referenced<00:47

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :18.560><c> that</c><00:03:18.959><c> does</c><00:03:19.200><c> the</c><00:03:19.519><c> very</c> watered
• down version that does the very watered down version that does the very least<00:03:20.480><c> that<
• That applies to streets, roads, sewers, utility, gas, water, parks, parking, recreation, playgrounds,
• ,</c><00:28:01.120><c> parks,</c> sewers, utility, gas, water, parks, sewers, utility, gas, water, parks
• We actually led on some things like city water, city sewer, all improvements, and paid for it.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /font> <font color="aaaaaa">utility owners to pay off </font> <font color="aaaaaa">over navigable waters
• I mean, I'm </font> <font color="aaaaaa">assuming electricity water, </font> <font color="aaaaaa">but
• if you could just tell me, </font> <font color="aaaaaa">assuming electricity water, </font> <font color
• So obviously I </font> <font color="aaaaaa">carry water bills on average </font> <font color="aaaaaa"
• So obviously I </font> <font color="aaaaaa">carry water bills on average </font> <font color="aaaaaa"

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is the Committee on Water and Land. My name is Mark Hashem. I'm the chair.
• Going back to our Water and Land hearing, our 9:00 a.m. hearing, first up—oh, wait, I always forget this
• I worked 22 years for the Board of Water Supply handling all of their burial issues across this island
• They will erode, and you'll have red water off this shoreline for a long, long time.
• We are gaveling back in on our 9:00 a.m. agenda on the Committee on Water and Land.

Committee: House Water & Land

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 13, 2025, and first announced that SB 1456 would be deferred to the end of the agenda and ultimately worked on later, with the chair indicating the bill would be deferred and revisited in a future measure. The committee then heard SB 841 on marine life conservation districts. DLNR supported the bill, saying it would fund carrying capacity studies to inform rules and policies. Testimony noted a pilot study already underway at the Puka Marine Life Conservation District and another nearing completion at the old Kona Airport MLCD. Members discussed costs, with DLNR estimating about $300,000 per year for one user-experience study, potentially more for ecological analysis, and also discussed possible funding from the Mālama Kai special fund. DLNR said it had no objection to consulting current operators and other users, and explained the program would be a new, ongoing adaptive-management tool. The committee next heard SB 411 on capital improvement projects at small boat harbors. DLNR supported the intent, saying the bill would help expedite use of special funds for CIP work, while the Department of Budget and Finance opposed it, arguing the draft could conflict with constitutional limits on appropriations. Public testimony from an industry representative supported the bill and urged more collaboration with commercial operators, while committee discussion focused on whether DLNR could already use special funds for repairs, how much engineering and bidding work is required before projects go out to bid, and whether the current process creates bottlenecks when bids exceed initial estimates. DLNR said it can do some repairs and maintenance within existing authority and funding ceilings, but that the bill as drafted could be too broad. The committee also heard SB 5 on historic preservation, where DLNR supported the measure and NAOP Hawaii opposed it, saying the bill’s broader definition could expand the scope beyond the stated goal of narrowing reviews and reducing backlog. The committee then took up SB 1462 on the state historic preservation income tax credit. The Department of Taxation said the revenue estimate assumes the cap would be reached each year the credit is available, and DLNR supported the bill. SHPD said the prior credit had sunset, outreach had previously been done in targeted communities such as Chinatown, and owners of eligible historic properties are notified during review. Finally, the committee heard SB 268 on island burial councils. DLNR supported the bill, and OHA strongly supported it, saying the councils have struggled with quorum and expertise and that the measure would restore the original intent of having lineal descendants and cultural practitioners as decision makers, while still allowing landowners and developers to testify and participate. OHA also said it would help provide technical support and urged continued involvement from SHPD and the Attorney General’s office.

Transcript Highlights:

• :33.440><c> online</c><00:04:34.440><c> uh</c><00:04:34.759><c> after</c><00:04:35.039><c> the</c> water
• that will come online uh after the water that will come online uh after the report<00:04:35.600><c>
• > report issues this fall so shaki and report issues this fall so shaki and still<00:04:37.400><c> water
• will</c><00:04:38.240><c> have</c><00:04:38.400><c> social</c><00:04:38.720><c> districts</c> still water
• will have social districts still water will have social districts but<00:04:39.199><c> they'll</c><00

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• shipments of water to put it<01:00:05.760><c> out</c><01:00:06.559><c> one</c><01:00:06.839><c> year
• The gallon of water was the Minnesota state budget, and the tablespoon was what we spent on housing.
• uh and a tablespoon and the gallon water uh and a tablespoon and the gallon of<01:37:09.280><c> water
• > the</c><01:37:10.400><c> Minnesota</c><01:37:10.960><c> state</c><01:37:11.320><c> budget</c> of water
• was the Minnesota state budget of water was the Minnesota state budget and<01:37:12.159><c> the</c><

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they look like a regular fuel truck or a regular water truck.
• There's water and the fire hydrants, suppression methods.
• away, having pipes that had no water in them.
• Is there anything that you have seen on... ...having pipes that had no water in them.
• and the guys, you have the water to be able to fight the fire.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard the Legislative Budget Board’s overview of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2026-27 budget, followed by extensive testimony from DPS leadership. The LBB presentation covered funding and staffing changes across driver license services, facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, and border security. The recommendations included added support for customer service staffing and trooper hiring, but did not include several DPS exceptional items such as major driver license staffing and technology requests, new regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio, and other capital projects. Members also discussed proposed rider changes, including a new rider to lapse unused trooper funding and require reporting after recruit schools. Much of the committee’s questioning focused on driver license operations, where senators criticized long call wait times, low call-answer rates, appointment delays, and what they viewed as an overreliance on adding staff rather than improving processes. DPS and LBB witnesses said the agency is pursuing some technology upgrades, including automation, online pre-population of applications, and appointment-system improvements, but acknowledged that the driver license division remains a major problem area. Senators also raised concerns about whether the 2019 efficiency study led to meaningful changes and whether the agency should consider broader process redesign or even a different administrative structure. Colonel Freeman and other DPS officials then defended the agency’s broader law enforcement and border-security work, emphasizing the need for the Williamson County training academy, the 500 additional troopers funded in prior sessions, and continued support for Operation Lone Star. They described DPS’s role in border interdiction, threat-to-life investigations, oilfield theft cases, Capitol and Alamo security, and highway safety, and said the agency is stretched thin by deployments and overtime. Members asked about border reimbursement possibilities, regional staffing differences, pursuit safety, fleet and aircraft replacement needs, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame museum. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• interest groups throw cold water on interest groups throw cold water on immediately,<00:14:58.720><c>
• We have somebody from Game and water.
• So we're seeing fire and forest and water issues all the way down into our communities.
• Um, when was the so-called high water mark in the timber industry in Wyoming, and what caused that?
• I mean, when was the high water mark really in timber sales, volume, output?

Committee: Joint Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the eligibility use of the local revenue fund to help alleviate local costs incurred from damage to water
• And Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan, $66.7 million. Senator Andrews. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: Senate Finance met on May 21, 2026, with nine members present. The committee first recognized Mother Pearl Porter during a personal privilege presentation by Senator Boudreaux. It then took up the major budget measures for fiscal year 2026-27, beginning with HB 1, the general appropriation bill. The committee heard that the state budget was about $46.6 billion and that recent Revenue Estimating Conference revisions required reductions in recurring spending. Amendments removed new funding for GATOR and increased MFP amounts, while also directing Revenue Stabilization Fund dollars toward infrastructure, economic development, and local government needs. The committee adopted amendment set 4238 and reported HB 1 as amended, with authority for technical changes. The committee next considered HB 312, the supplemental appropriations bill for the current fiscal year. Members were told the amendments balanced the budget to the May REC forecast through a net reduction in state general fund spending, including savings in Medicaid and other agencies, while covering updated costs such as medical vendor administration, DCFS operations, DOC offender medical expenses, and disaster-related costs. Amendment set 4239 was adopted, and HB 312 was reported favorably as amended. HB 2, the capital outlay/infrastructure bill, was then amended with set 4230 and reported as amended. HB 3, the omnibus bond act authorizing bond usage for HB 2, had no amendments and was reported favorably. The committee also advanced HB 313, the funds bill, which includes the constitutionally required deposit of $144.3 million of FY 2025 surplus into the Budget Stabilization Fund and various transfers and fund adjustments. Amendments expanded or created several funds and mechanisms, including infrastructure and economic development-related funds, and HB 313 was reported favorably as amended. HB 314, the revenue sharing bill distributing the constitutionally mandated $90 million to local governments, was reported favorably without amendment. HB 383, the ancillary appropriations bill for fee-supported agencies, received amendment 3138 and was reported favorably as amended. HB 983, funding the judiciary, was amended to remove judicial pay adjustments and instead fund a possible transfer of the integrated criminal justice information system to the Supreme Court if SB 141 becomes law; it was reported favorably as amended. HB 1126, the legislative branch appropriations bill, was amended and reported favorably as amended. Finally, HCR 3, the hospital stabilization resolution used to support Medicaid hospital reimbursements, was amended to give LDH more flexibility on the timing of directed payments and preprint submissions, then reported as amended. The committee adjourned after a motion to do so.