Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Larry Jefferson, and I'm the Director of Public Defense.
• There's also public defense standards.
• , and the Criminal Defense Bar.
• and the Criminal Defense Bar.
• I've heard talk about fiscal notes, defense attorney time, court time.

Summary: The committee began with a work session from the State Investment Board, where staff described the board’s structure, $230 billion in assets under management, and its mandate to maximize returns at a prudent level of risk for pension and other state funds. They reviewed long-term performance, noting strong historical returns and explaining that the board generally invests public equities passively through low-cost index funds. Members also discussed sustainability practices, including ESG integration, proxy voting, climate and DEI blueprints, and the board’s view that divestment or asset-class restrictions can reduce returns and increase costs. Senators asked about deferred compensation, legislative influence over investment policy, and digital assets; staff said the board is slow-moving and that any major change would be studied carefully. The public hearing then focused on SB 5439, which would prohibit new thermal coal investments beginning in 2026 and require full divestment by 2030, with limited exceptions. Supporters argued coal is a poor long-term investment and a major climate and health risk, and several said the bill still gives the board flexibility to retain holdings in companies transitioning to clean energy. The committee also heard testimony on SB 6109, which would bar investments in private detention facilities and require divestment by 2030; supporters said state money should not profit from immigrant detention, while staff confirmed the board currently holds a small investment in Geo Group. SB 6304 would require responsible investment principles for the State Investment Board, including consideration of human rights, environmental degradation, corruption, and related risks, along with proxy voting guidelines and annual reporting. Testimony in favor emphasized ethical investing, climate risk, and avoiding complicity in human rights abuses, while board staff had earlier said they view such decisions through an investment-risk lens rather than a values-based lens. The committee also heard Substitute SB 5945, which would exclude most offenses committed before age 18 from counting as strikes under the state’s persistent offender law and would allow retroactive resentencing for affected people, with exceptions for first- and second-degree murder and serious sex offenses. Staff said the substitute would likely affect fewer cases than the original bill, with estimates ranging from about 10 to 24 resentencings. Public defense, prosecutors, and sheriffs’ representatives raised concerns about workload, victim impacts, and retroactive application, while supporters and pro bono providers said they were prepared to help with resentencing and reentry support. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• concern had to do with removing it from the Office of the Governor and back to the Department of Defense
• We're going to place the Office of the State Fire Marshal under the State Department of Defense, kind
• :03:36.159><c> State</c><00:03:36.400><c> Department</c><00:03:36.799><c> of</c><00:03:37.000><c> Defense
• </c> under the State Department of Defense under the State Department of Defense kind<00:03:38.000><c
• </c><00:04:08.799><c> for</c> to the State Department of Defense for to the State Department of Defense

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Labor and Technology met on March 14, 2025, to consider House Bill 1064, House Draft 2, relating to fire protection. The bill was described as implementing recommendations from the Phase 3 report by the Fire Safety Research Institute on the August 2023 Maui wildfires, clarifying the role of the State Fire Marshal, and appropriating funds. Members also discussed structural changes to the State Fire Marshal’s office and whether the office should remain under the Department of Defense rather than the Governor’s office. The committee heard from a senior adviser from the Governor’s office, who said the administration would support creating a State Fire Marshal selection commission and did not object to Senate advice-and-consent involvement for some commission members. He also agreed that placing the office under the Department of Defense made sense. In its decision-making, the chair recommended passing the bill with amendments, including accepting proposed amendments from the Attorney General and the Hawaii Insurance Council, with one exception to the Attorney General’s proposal. The adopted amendments would establish a seven-member State Fire Marshal selection commission beginning January 1, 2026, with authority to appoint and remove the State Fire Marshal, receive complaints, and conduct annual performance reviews. The commission would be attached to the Department of Defense for administrative purposes, be subject to the Sunshine Law, and include both voting and non-voting members, with some appointments made by the governor, House speaker, and Senate president. The committee also made technical changes, deleted several pages and lines, and changed the effective date to July 1, 2077. The chair’s recommendation was adopted by both committees, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, the second piece of our strategy is defensible space.
• Defensible space cuts that pathway.
• Who is doing defensible space?
• Over the years, that defensible space model has changed, correct?" "Yeah, correct.
• So that is directly tied to fire code, building code, and to defensible space mitigations.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So in Defense and Veterans Affairs, we had a very robust interim in which we looked for the upcoming
• legislative session and what we need to do to make sure that not only within the defense. the big D of
• Defense Veterans Affairs, C to the defense industry, which is now number one in the state of Texas,
• opportunities for those bases to close and compete for future missions, meaning relevance to the defense
• And that supports that forced modernization in the defense of the nation.

Bills: HB 1079 , HB3651 , HB4980

Committee: House S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Keywords: Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, Leadership Officer Training Corps, public school, career education, military readiness, public school accountability, funding allotments, healthcare, insurance, cost control, patient access, regulation, affordability, public health, JROTC, automobile maintenance, high school education, elective course, student skills, practical knowledge

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> employee training gave us a defensible employee training gave us a defensible foundation.<00:18:
• Intelligence-driven defense.
• Intelligence-driven<00:21:01.360><c> defense.
• </c><00:21:02.480><c> We</c> Intelligence-driven defense. We Intelligence-driven defense.
• ,</c> core of programmatic defenses, core of programmatic defenses, modernization,<00:21:33.280><c> and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As stated earlier, self-defense is an affirmative defense.
• Similar case where a gentleman used self-defense.
• We hold today... ...and admits no self-defense exception.
• If the fellow is defending himself, you should not take away that felon's right to self-defense.
• What this bill is about is denying a felon the inability to use self-defense as their defense.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, pledge, roll call, and a quorum present, then approved a motion to lay over House Bill 1525 for one legislative day. It also voted not to concur with House amendments on Senate Bills 2294, 2297, 2070, 4017, and 2262, appointing conference committees for each. The chamber then took up a series of House bill amendments and final-passage votes. On amendments, the Senate adopted changes to House Bill 1229 on fleeing law enforcement and driving-record transparency after debate over insurance impacts and public safety; House Bill 1510 on teacher retention, on-site child care, and licensure study language; House Bill 1160 to restrict student personal electronic devices during instructional time; House Bill 1429 to address drone harassment and stalking of animals; House Bill 1203 to harmonize medical marijuana provisions; House Bill 1600 to create a UND immigration clinic with reporting requirements; House Bill 1130 to broaden K-12 funding formula changes and reduce state fiscal impact; House Bill 1279 to modify the coal conversion tax exemption; House Bill 1442 to adjust membership and scope of a state task force; and House Bill 1464 to convert a maternal care services proposal into a study and remove the appropriation. The Senate rejected an amendment to House Bill 1022 concerning the Retirement and Investment Office bonus program, then passed the bill. It also passed House Bill 1234 on a $90 million transfer to reduce PERS liability, while rejecting a floor amendment to it. On final passage, the Senate passed House Bills 1008 (Public Service Commission budget), 1218 (temporary moratorium and study on economic analysis for drain projects), 1234 (PERS funding transfer), 1146 (PERS defined contribution cleanup and emergency clause), 1355 (expanded notice for administrative rulemaking), 1470 (Game and Fish fee changes and guide/outfitter updates), 1029 (Capital Grounds Planning Commission duties), 1017 (Game and Fish budget), 1374 (township supervisor open-meeting exemption for on-site inspections), and 1064 (NC-SARA membership and distance education regulation). It defeated House Bill 1583 on false political advertisements with civil-action language and House Bill 1393 on earned wage access provider regulation. The transcript ends as the Senate begins consideration of House Bill 1326 on self-defense and unlawful firearm possession by felons.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the chief administrator for the Board of Public Defense.
• That's the job in Minnesota of the Board of Public Defense.
• </c> needs of Public Defense needs of Public Defense so<00:47:44.119><c> okay</c><00:47:44.520><c> we
• Public Defense um so it is a very lean Public Defense um so it is a very lean organization organization
• I want to start by taking a look at these public defense corporations.

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• He's been a defense lawyer. His temperament suits him perfectly for the bench.
• But I also did federal criminal defense for eight years.
• I started my career working without in nonprofit and doing defense work.
• General practice for five years doing criminal defense and civil work.
• General Practice for five years doing criminal defense and civil work.

Committee: House Courts of Justice

Keywords: House Committee Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Defense Support Commission funding, to unpack this, I see the chair of the Defense Support Commission
• The Defense Support Commission funding represents a $2 million base recurring amount.
• into two, mostly into one, mostly the Defense Support Commission.
• But again, an incredible job that the Defense Support Commission has done with that.
• But again, an incredible job that the Defense Board Commission has done with that.

Bills: S0048

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Keywords: housing, accessory dwelling units, affordable housing, local government, zoning regulations, military families, density bonus, homeownership, property taxes, 999, senate, all

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard the Governor’s proposed FY 2026-27 budget for the TED silo and presentations from Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Military Affairs, the State Guard, State, Transportation, and Emergency Management. The Governor’s office outlined a $117.4 billion overall budget, including $18.3 billion for TED agencies, with major allocations for FDOT, Commerce, emergency management, tourism, military affairs, and state operations. Agency heads emphasized priorities such as housing and disaster recovery, workforce and rural infrastructure, law enforcement recruitment, defense support, tourism marketing, aerospace and spaceport investment, election audits, historic preservation, road and bridge maintenance, aviation safety, and emergency preparedness systems. Members asked several questions about the use and effectiveness of funding. Visit Florida officials said the public-private match is essential and that they exceeded the required match last year. Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles discussed trooper pay, vehicle replacement, aviation support, and transparency tools such as vehicle camera systems, with senators praising the department’s recruitment efforts. Military Affairs and the State Guard described readiness, recruiting, facility construction, and support for domestic missions, including hurricane response and perimeter security at the Everglades detention site; questions focused on deployment tempo, staffing, and costs. The Department of State explained funding for automated election audits, a conservation lab, and historic preservation, and said its arts grant changes were intended to standardize scoring rather than cut programs. Transportation highlighted a $15.4 billion total budget, major work program funding, safety initiatives, seaport and aviation investments, and the elimination of Florida Rail Enterprise funding due to reduced documentary stamp revenues. The committee also heard and passed CS/SB 48 by Senator Gates, which requires local governments to allow accessory dwelling units on a voluntary basis, while preserving local authority over setbacks, construction, and permitting. An amendment removed reusable tenant screening reports and clarified that conforming ADUs are allowed by right without separate hearings. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and several industry and business groups supported the bill, citing the need for long-term rental housing for workers. After debate, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably by roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we look forward to an update on the defense compatibility account programs, and then certainly any
• My name is Mike. today on the defense community compatibility account, also known as the DCCA.
• So now, a brief note on the DoD's Defense Community Infrastructure Program.
• DCIP resides within the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, also known as OLDCC.
• DCIP resides within the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, also known as OLDCC.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs met to hear updates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Washington Military Department, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Commerce on federal and state impacts affecting veterans, military families, and military installations. JBLM’s garrison commander said the base remains focused on housing, child care, and spouse employment, but is facing workforce reductions tied to federal personnel actions, especially in air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and firefighting. He also said JBLM is preparing for increased mutual-aid needs during fire season, and that the Army Transformation Initiative could change unit composition at JBLM over time without a major overall population shift. He confirmed that the Lewis Army Museum is on a closure list, but said the building will remain in use for training and that the base is exploring partnerships to keep museum functions operating, possibly with volunteers or local partners. The Washington Military Department reported about 400 Guard members deployed on federal missions and described ongoing state missions in cybersecurity and firefighting. The department said the Army National Guard’s 81st Stryker Brigade will transition to a mobile combat team, with associated changes in equipment, manning, and end strength. It also warned that continuing resolutions are delaying funding, limiting new military construction starts, and increasing costs. The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs outlined a $3.2 million reduction from the governor’s budget and related cuts affecting internships, vacant positions, outreach travel, claims support contracts, counseling and wellness, veterans’ innovation assistance, and the military transition and readiness council staff position. WDVA said it is ending or scaling back several programs, including in-house nursing assistant training, the veteran farm at Ordean, Vet Corps due to AmeriCorps funding changes, and the tobacco cessation program, while noting that the legislature funded about $23.7 million in capital projects for veteran homes, cemeteries, and transitional housing. The Department of Commerce presented on the Defense Community Compatibility Account, which funds projects that reduce conflicts between military installations and nearby communities. The program currently has 10 projects across five legislative districts, including school and child care improvements, water wells, land acquisition, and a joint firefighting training center in Everett. The presenter said the main challenge is that DCCA projects often need non-state funding secured before they can compete, which can make it hard to leverage federal Defense Community Infrastructure Program dollars; he recommended more flexible state timing to help projects qualify for federal funding. In closing discussion, members raised possible future agenda items including child care near bases, veteran homelessness, suicide prevention, Navy Day, military family housing, and a possible Department of Licensing issue involving guard and reserve designations on driver’s licenses. No formal votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after members were invited to suggest topics for the October and December committee meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would be in a situation where we would have to wait for the defense attorney to ask a question that
• And if you've got a good defense attorney, you know that's not going to happen, right? Um.
• No, ma'am, your defense attorney has the ability to cross-examine the witness in the hearing and then
• They have the only thing that the defense attorney does not have is what is considered my work product
• Totally Upends my defense.

Bills: HB207 , HB235

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: HB 207, Texas Government Code, Section 411.201, license to carry, LTC, handgun license, concealed carry, federal judge, immigration judge, immigration court, U.S. immigration court, judicial security, firearm carry permit, Texas handgun license, federal judiciary, HB235, Texas, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption, disabled veteran

Transcript Highlights:

• I can tell you, as a plaintiff attorney, I became a defense attorney overnight.
• I became a defense attorney overnight.
• As a matter of practice for me, I provide medical authorizations to my, to the defense attorneys and
• It was two defense attorneys that deal with workers' comp.
• We recently got a $450 million defense contract to build tanks for Marines from Textron in Slidell.

Committee: Senate Labor & Industrial Relations

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your title programs, the, um, and your domestic and your defense budget, uh, those are the discretionary
• Exceed what we spend on defense. Almost equal what we spend on domestic discretionary.
• Even more so, the do shrink even more when you get into the non-defense portion of this education and
• and for the defense.
• Shipbuilding Missile defense are big ones.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Office of Small Business Programs underneath the Secretary of Defense.
• Now it's more about helping businesses with a secure defense industrial base and rebuilding that defense
• Department needs or maybe a Defense Department has a technology they want to commercialize.
• That the Defense Department needs, or maybe the Defense Department has a technology they want to commercialize
• So we have an individual that sits within the walls of Defense Works, and she tries to connect those

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism convened with several members present and Senators DiCeglie and McClain excused. The committee first heard a presentation from Greg Britton, State Director of the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, who described the network’s statewide small-business assistance, including startup support, export and contracting help, disaster recovery, and rural outreach. He highlighted reported 2023 impacts such as $3.9 billion in sales generated, $575.9 million in government contracts, $346.2 million in capital, and support for 2,009 new businesses, including 130 manufacturing firms over the past two years. Members asked about comparisons with SCORE and about measuring rural success, with the chair suggesting jobs and wages in rural areas would be useful metrics; Britton said he could provide job data but was unsure about wage information. The committee then took up SB 320 by Senator Gates, which creates a five-year demonstration project for an alternative licensure pathway for surveyors and mappers. The bill would allow a “first-step” probationary license based on industry certification, apprenticeship, recommendation from a licensed Florida surveyor, and passage of the Department of Agriculture exam within the five-year period, without requiring a four-year degree. Senators asked about the labor shortage, education requirements, foreign workers, and moral character standards. Gates said the shortage is chronic and worsening, the bill has no degree requirement, and anyone meeting the qualifications could proceed regardless of visa status. The committee voted to report SB 320 favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 316 by Senator Berman, which authorizes series limited liability companies in Florida and sets rules for how Florida and foreign series LLCs may operate and transact business in the state. Berman explained that the bill is intended to let businesses isolate liabilities across separate series while providing clearer rules for Florida citizens and businesses dealing with such entities. There were no substantive questions, one appearance form in support, and the committee voted to report SB 316 favorably before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, so in Defense and Veterans Affairs, we had a very robust interim, um, in which we looked for the
• 89th legislative session of what we need to do to make sure that not only within the defense, uh, the
• big D of Defense Veterans Affairs, C to the defense industry, which is now number 2 in the state of
• And when you look at Uh, those bases and the understanding of not only what they do in the defense of
• And that supports that forced modernization in the defense of the nation, but here's the bottom line.

Committee: House S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Transcript Highlights:

• In my day job, I'm a criminal defense lawyer.
• My other job is I'm a defense lawyer sometimes. Yes, ma'am.
• Why then create a presumption then that the defense has to... ...saying we think the defense is going
• Why then create a presumption then that the defense has to...
• I've done defense work for 38 years, but I'm not a prosecutor.

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2777 by Representative Rose, which would bar the death penalty for defendants who can prove by clear and convincing evidence that they had schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and active psychotic symptoms at the time of the offense. Rose said the bill would still hold defendants accountable through life without parole, would save money by avoiding lengthy capital litigation, and would address cases where severe mental illness was not adequately considered. Supporters from NAMI Texas, the Catholic bishops, and a forensic psychologist said the bill is narrowly tailored, consistent with neuroscience and moral principles, and would prevent executions of people whose psychosis substantially impaired reality testing. Committee members questioned how the bill interacts with existing competency and insanity law, whether the diagnosis is sufficiently defined, and whether the statute requires active psychosis at the time of the offense. An opponent argued the death penalty should remain available for juries to decide in all cases. The bill was left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 1221 by Representative Lozano, which would raise the cap on pretrial intervention program fees from $500 to $1,200. Lozano and a district attorney witness said the increase is needed because program costs have risen and the fees help make diversion programs self-sustaining, allowing first-time or low-level offenders to complete rehabilitation and potentially obtain expunction. Opponents from the Texas Fair Defense Project argued the higher fee could make diversion unaffordable for indigent defendants and undermine an important alternative to incarceration, especially where related supervision and monitoring costs already add up. Members discussed whether the fee applies only to PTI participants, how payment plans and waivers work, and whether ability to pay should be addressed more explicitly. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1738 by Representative Jones, which would repeal Penal Code Section 21.06 and related Health and Safety Code references concerning homosexual conduct. Jones said the law is unconstitutional under Lawrence v. Texas, remains harmful on the books, and has led to confusion and unnecessary costs even though it is unenforceable. Supporters said the bill simply removes outdated language and protects civil liberties, while opponents from Texas Values argued the statute still serves as a statement that homosexual conduct is unacceptable and should remain as a warning, even if unenforceable. Members debated whether the law’s remaining language is merely symbolic or still harmful, and whether other criminal statutes already cover conduct such as prostitution, incest, and offenses involving minors. The bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• to have some of the best opportunities to continue to have a huge presence in our national defense.
• assets in the state of of defense assets in the state of Kentucky.
• </c> He was able to secure out of the defense He was able to secure out of the defense budget<00:28:51.200
• </c><00:29:29.279><c> assets,</c> the state where we have defense assets, the state where we have defense
• </c> our national defense. our national defense.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Senate convened with an opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, then completed roll call, excused absent senators, and approved the journal from February 3, 2026. The chamber received second readings for Senate Bill 5 on Kentucky-grown agricultural product procurement and Senate Bill 73 on tallow-based cosmetic products, and heard committee reports advancing Senate Bill 18 with a committee substitute, along with Senate Bills 33, 85, and 132. The House also communicated passage of House Bill 1694 and requested concurrence. Senate Bill 162, relating to children, was introduced, and Senate Bill 34 was passed over while retaining its place on the calendar. The Senate adopted Senate Citation 4 recognizing National School Counseling Week, with remarks emphasizing the role of school counselors in student academic and mental health support. The body also adopted Senate Resolution 71 honoring Dr. Samantha Shaver for her service as president of the Kentucky Dental Association; the sponsor and other members praised her leadership and oral health advocacy. Later, the Senate received a committee report posting Senate Bills 5, 12, and 73 to the regular orders and referring several bills to committees, including Senate Bills 129, 136, and 183 to Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor, Senate Bill 71 to Education, and Senate Bill 9 to State and Local Government. Members made several co-sponsorship requests for bills including Senate Bills 9, 12, 33, 132, 143, 153, 154, 159, and 183. A lengthy floor statement from the Senator from Clay praised Senator McConnell’s long service and recent federal funding achievements for Kentucky, including education, transportation, defense, and economic development projects. The Senate also received a floor amendment to Senate Bill 33, introduced Senate Bill 163 on unemployment insurance and Senate Resolution 78 honoring the CSX Santa Train, and then adjourned until 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Larry Jefferson, and I'm the Director of Public Defense for the state of Washington.
• Mississippi, Nebraska, and Arizona contribute less to public defense than Washington state does.
• Cities face many of the same struggles that counties do when it comes to funding public defense.
• Cities face many of the same struggles that counties do when it comes to funding public defense.
• ... ...Eviction Defense Program Director at the Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid.

Bills: SB5998

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Defense, and gladly accept the committee's amendments.
• With me today, I have in support Kelly Douglas on behalf of the Department of Defense. Thank you.
• This doesn't change the scope of their liability or any of the defenses that they can assert.
• Doesn't automatically defeat the defense of sovereign immunity.
• So the issue here is not the defenses. That's not the issue.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• would be a that in Department defense would be a lot<00:05:38.759><c> better</c><00:05:39.120><c> for
• </c><00:08:36.399><c> space</c> the context of minimum defensible space the context of minimum defensible
• </c><00:09:45.120><c> space</c><00:09:45.839><c> for</c> uh defensible space for uh defensible space
• </c> eras uh defensible eras uh defensible spaces<00:10:17.560><c> may</c><00:10:18.240><c> include</
• He, I would assume, feels that it would be better served under the Department of Defense.

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on House Bill 1064, which would implement recommendations from the Fire Safety Research Institute’s Maui wildfire report, clarify the role of the State Fire Marshal, and appropriate funds. Testimony was generally supportive from DLNR, the Climate Advisory Team, the State Fire Council, Hawaiʻi Electric, the Attorney General’s office, the Honu Fire Department, AARP, the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council, and others. Governor Green’s office said it supported the bill but wanted the office of the State Fire Marshal placed under the Department of Defense rather than the governor’s office, citing constitutional and administrative concerns. Members also questioned the State Fire Council about the selection process for the fire marshal and about defensible space and wildfire resilience in different communities. After discussion, the committees deferred decision-making on HB 1064 to Friday, March 14, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 225 for the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, with the same recommendation from the other committee. The hearing then moved to House Bill 697, which would expand who may review automated speed enforcement images. HDOT supported the bill but said it would prefer funding from the Highway Special Fund or the automated speed enforcement special fund rather than general revenues. Opposition testimony from the ACLU raised privacy concerns, argued the bill blurs the line between law enforcement and infrastructure management, and said DOT staff lack the mandate and expertise for the task. Judiciary said it would need additional capacity to process citations and hearings, and noted the program’s likely workload and costs were still uncertain. The committees then took up House Bill 277 on vehicular pursuit policy. The Attorney General and the Law Enforcement Standards Board urged the committees to defer the bill and let the board develop policy first, while Hawaii County Police opposed the measure as unnecessary, confusing, and too restrictive of officer discretion. Honolulu Police Department and the Policing Project supported the bill, arguing that clearer statewide standards and transparency are needed because pursuits can cause serious injuries or deaths and existing policies are inconsistent or not public. The Policing Project said the bill could be improved with amendments on serious crimes, but supported legislative action to set statewide standards while still involving the board. No final vote or action on HB 277 was taken in the portion provided.