Transcript Highlights:

• are... ...well-intended bills that we want to protect our consumers, but they're the ones that are paying
• California residents, as the senator rightfully said, pay the highest energy rates in the continental
• California residents, as the senator rightfully said, pay the highest energy rates in the continental
• We want ratepayers to be confident that when they're paying their energy bills each month, they know
• We need to make sure that the money that people pay for electricity isn't used for political purposes

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications heard two bills. SB 742 by Senator Perez would require investor-owned utilities to inventory and remove permanently abandoned transmission lines, update wildfire mitigation planning, and participate in emergency operations centers. The bill was presented as a response to the Eaton Fire and other wildfire risks tied to decommissioned lines. Supporters, including TURN and a wildfire survivor coalition, argued the bill closes a major safety gap and could prevent future disasters. Committee members raised questions about cost, implementation, and CPUC oversight, but generally supported the measure as a safety and affordability step. The bill was amended and passed out of committee 12-0 to Senate Appropriations. SB 327 by Senator McNerney would prohibit investor-owned utilities from using ratepayer funds to oppose municipal utility formation or expansion and would clarify the Public Advocates Office’s authority to inspect utility accounting records. Supporters said ratepayer money should not be used for political lobbying and that the bill would improve accountability and protect consumers from inappropriate charges. Utility representatives opposed the bill as written, saying some costs were not recovered from ratepayers, the language needed clarification, and the measure could blur regulatory and advocacy roles or create due process issues, though they said they were open to amendments. The committee discussed affordability, utility profits, and the need for clearer statutory language. SB 327 was amended and passed 10-3 to Senate Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• bit of review, and all of the staff are sitting anywhere between $5 and $10,000 below what the 90% pay
• At that time, there had been several years between pay increases when I came on board as director.
• and are making, you know, maybe $50 or $60, $1,000 a year, and get them up to their level in their pay
• I did A cursory review just to see how our staff are fitting in the new pay bands that have been set,
• They have to pay it.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Train ND, Northeast pays, and they also receive rent from a small amount of rent from NDSU.
• in the neighborhood of $240,000, $250,000 annually, which to me would be a good amount of dollars to pay
• I'm not in favor of paying for it because the foundation created their whole...
• Representative Louser, to my knowledge, we do not, but if we set up a loan for them, then they can pay
• negotiation where we would say to them, okay, we'll buy this, but you're going to have to use it to pay

Bills: SB2003

Keywords: higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all

Summary: The committee first reconsidered Senate Bill 2003 in the higher education budget and adopted several changes. It removed $3 million for enterprise resource planning, struck $2 million for a grant program for students who are pregnant or recently gave birth, and then added $3 million back into workforce education and innovative grants, restoring that line to $12 million. Members also discussed a possible purchase of the 19th Avenue building in Fargo for the State School of Science, but the motion was withdrawn for later consideration. Other higher ed items were briefly noted, including tribally controlled community colleges and a state magazine funding line, but no final action was taken on the building proposal during this segment. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 2018, the Commerce budget, and reviewed a long list of funding items. It restored a vacant workforce FTE, increased tourism marketing to $10 million and Find the Good Life to $5 million, raised Operation Intern by $1 million, removed a $100,000 infrastructure study, increased autonomous agriculture grants to $15 million, and set the Regional Workforce Impact Program at $10 million. It also kept or adjusted several other items, including the uncrewed aerial vehicle replacement program, the global talent office, tribally controlled community colleges, Native American small business grants, and technical skills training grants. A major new provision would transfer $50 million total, split between SIF and Bank of North Dakota profits, to the Theodore Roosevelt Library Museum Endowment Fund, matching a private fundraising challenge; members expressed both support and concern, and said they would revisit it later. The committee also discussed language to allow commercialization of Vantis and to permit the Turtle Mountain gaming compact proposal to move forward with required federal approvals, while clarifying that a previously discussed $100,000 study had been removed. Commerce officials said the workforce language was intended to centralize data and strategy, and they noted Operation Intern would need an emergency clause because applications begin in May. No final vote on the Commerce budget was taken in this segment, and the chair said the committee would return later to finish both budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it possible to be a winner in a case and then have to pay the other side's attorney's fees?
• The modification involved the child support, but they also made him pay the attorney's fees for the wife
• The clerk must charge for each page transferred, and filers should not be required to pay for hundreds
• You can be held in contempt for failing to pay child support.
• I think it brings denial of possession much in line with failure to pay child support.

Bills: HB368, HB3311, HB1734, HB2495, HB2716, HB793, HB3376, HB2524, HB3421, HB3446, HB3181

Keywords: electronic devices, family violence, criminal prosecution, protective orders, tracking, harassment, family allowance, decedent's estate, surviving spouse, minor children, inheritance, child support, maintenance, HB 1734, Family Code, Section 155.207, suit affecting the parent-child relationship, SAPCR, continuing exclusive jurisdiction, jurisdiction transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• in place so that the students can continue their education without worrying about not being able to pay
• I also represent SUNY Upstate Medical University, and every year we have to fight for paying for debt
• So, we need to pay attention to that.
• So, we need to pay attention to that.
• SO, WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Higher Education Conference Committee met to discuss budget priorities for SUNY, CUNY, community colleges, TAP, student aid, and capital funding. Chair Toby Ann Stavisky emphasized the need for increased operating and capital support, protection against enrollment-based funding losses, no tuition increases, a review of TAP because it has not kept pace with living costs, and action on student loan access and research funding cuts. Assembly Chair Alicia Hyndman outlined the Assembly’s higher education proposal, including $475.7 million to expand TAP eligibility, raising income thresholds for TAP and the Excelsior Scholarship, creating a graduate tuition assistance program, adding community college operating aid, expanding the Opportunity Promise Scholarship, forgiving SUNY hospital debt service, increasing CUNY operating support, restoring opportunity program funding, creating a $110 million student loan support program called New York Rises, and funding five-year capital plans for SUNY and CUNY plus additional ECAP grants. Members broadly supported making higher education more affordable and accessible, while highlighting district-specific needs. Senator May praised SUNY Reconnect, community college workforce programs, hospital debt service relief, and a five-year SUNY capital plan. Senator Gonzalez framed the budget as an investment in economic mobility. Senator Griffo supported affordability, operating and capital aid, and additional support for medical schools and hospitals. Assembly Members Walker, Colton, and Fall backed TAP expansion, opportunity programs, disability supports, SUNY Downstate’s transformation, and capital needs at CUNY and SUNY campuses. Assembly Member Smullen, speaking for the minority conference, urged a five-way budget process, said TAP has not kept pace with inflation, and called for a more stable long-term funding model for community colleges. He also stressed aligning higher education with workforce needs. Assembly Member Pirozzolo pointed to the College of Staten Island as an example of the benefits of investment and warned that employers recruiting students directly from high school could weaken higher education unless colleges continue strengthening trade and career training. The meeting ended with no vote on the budget items, and the chairs adjourned the conference committee after concluding remarks.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state needs to pay its bills.
• So the cost includes deputy pay overtime, last-minute airfare for all three people, and then, of course
• As we indicate, as the good sponsor indicated, we should pay our bills, and it's otherwise an unfunded
• things too, because there's some bills that we're not paying that are going to have a terrible impact
• things too, because there's some bills that we're not paying that are going to have a terrible impact

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee approved minutes from February 2 and February 18, 2026, then heard several bills. Senate Bill 1369, sponsored by Senator Hart, would reorganize and simplify Idaho’s venue statute for district court cases and allow plaintiffs to file in their home county when the defendant lives out of state. Hart and Idaho Trial Lawyers Association representative Barbara Jordan said the change would make the law easier to read and more convenient, and Senator Ruchti supported it as a long-needed clarification. The committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 615, presented by Senator Taves, would clarify that the disturbing-the-peace statute applies to houses of worship and religious gatherings, while also removing obsolete language and making minor grammar changes. Senator Wintrow asked why the bill was limited to religious venues, and Taves said it was narrowly focused on protecting religious liberty. The committee received no testimony and advanced the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 521, carried by Senator Kaiser and Idaho State Police Bureau Chief Lila McNeil, was described as a technical fix to align Idaho law with FBI requirements so state police can contract for fingerprint services for people working with vulnerable populations. McNeil said the FBI had placed Idaho in a grace period while the statute is corrected. The committee also heard House Bill 684 from Senator Lakey and Sheriff Matt Clifford, which would reimburse county sheriffs for costs of retrieving Idaho Department of Corrections probationers or parolees who abscond out of state; supporters said sheriffs are currently paying these costs from local budgets. Both bills were sent to the floor with due pass recommendations. Finally, House Bill 695, presented by Senator Kaiser and supported by Terry Durden of the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, would correct a one-word error in eviction-related statute by changing “writ of possession” to “writ of restitution” so sheriffs can charge the proper fee for eviction service. Durden said the current wording causes underbilling for a more time-consuming process. The committee voted to send House Bill 695 to the floor with a due pass recommendation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there they can, they can write a check, they can pay cash.
• Uh, I mean, there's bank draft, other ways to pay, but this is people that are using their credit card
• </c><00:09:12.399><c> Uh</c><00:09:12.720><c> I</c><00:09:12.959><c> mean</c> check, they can pay cash
• Uh I mean check, they can pay cash.
• </c><00:09:15.120><c> but</c> there's bank draft other ways to pay but there's bank draft other ways

Bills: SB277, HB395, HB482, SB251, HB513

Keywords: decentralized nonprofit association, unincorporated nonprofit association, blockchain, distributed ledger technology, smart contract, digital asset, crypto, web3, DAO, decentralized autonomous organization, nonprofit governance, digital membership, consensus mechanism, ledger, Alabama nonprofit law, entity formation, liability protection, service of process, real property, winding up

Transcript Highlights:

• But again, I think if you took the parents, would the parents like to pay $2,300 less a month to have
• daycare, meaning that daycare can be provided at a cost that people will voluntarily be willing to pay
• Representative Tedford: Willing to pay for.
• We have to pay 75. They pay 25 percent. This is $25.75. We have to pay $75.75.
• They pay 25% reimbursement rate. I can answer that question.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2949, as amended by a PCS, which would relax child care staffing ratios in an effort to improve the economics of day care centers and expand availability. Representative Tedford said the bill came from an interim study on child care deserts and that he was open to further changes, including tightening the infant ratio back to 4:1 and possibly reducing the toddler ratio. Members raised concerns about safety, learning, and the lack of data on how the changes would affect staffing and children. After discussion, the committee vote ended 2-2, and the bill did not pass. The committee then heard House Bill 3052, the Sir Major White Bullock Child Protection and Family Notification Act, which would require a more structured DHS response when there are repeat fentanyl-related births, including broader family notification and earlier involvement of extended family. Representative Stewart emphasized that the bill was narrowly focused on fentanyl, did not criminalize mothers, and did not mandate automatic removal. Members discussed whether the bill should also address drug dealers or other drugs, but Stewart said separate legislation would address penalties for fentanyl suppliers. The bill passed unanimously, 5-0. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 3638, with a PCS, to create a summer EBT program and revolving fund to help provide food support for children during the summer months when school meals are unavailable. Vice Chair Guys said the program would supplement existing SNAP benefits and summer meal efforts, and would be funded through a mix of public and private sources. Members asked about overlap with food pantries and school meal programs, and about federal matching and administrative costs. The committee approved the bill 5-0. The meeting then adjourned after all House bills were heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• So how much do you pay or do your members pay? It, it depends. It's a class system.
• They're paying $100. So, we're talking about the difference of about $50 per year. Yes. Right. OK.
• It'll cost you for every 30 dozen that you sell, it costs you 4 cents to pay into that fee.
• And each of these, um, uh, whoever, under the current, Uh, rules, whoever grades the eggs first pays
• that special registration fee, which then pays for the program.

Transcript Highlights:

• is that we're going to ask people to use their state income tax dollars from all across the state to pay
• Let's let the parents pay for their kids.
• all across the income tax dolls from all across the state<00:21:16.200><c> to</c><00:21:16.440><c> pay
• for part of the kids' meals state to pay for part of the kids' meals so<00:21:18.720><c> the</c><00:
• for their kids let's let the parents pay for their kids you<00:21:30.200><c> know</c><00:21:30.400><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> know it sounds like a lot to have to pay know it sounds like a lot to have to pay out<02:56:31.560
• The tourism industry, which everybody has question about, right, they pay payroll. They pay G.
• They pay payroll. They pay G.
• Cruise ships do pay some in the docking fees, but they could pay more. Thank you so much.
• </c><03:45:36.279><c> both</c> to re-evaluate who pays both to re-evaluate who pays both metaphorically

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so you are still going to pay because the local EFA is not going to pay all of that tuition, right
• </c><00:32:43.720><c> for</c><00:32:43.919><c> it</c> choice you pay for it choice you pay for it correct
• because the local EFA is not going pay because the local EFA is not going to<00:33:11.200><c> pay</c
• I know what I'm paying for. But the school voucher money? Yeah, I do not know what I'm paying for.
• </c> expense the towns will have to to pay expense the towns will have to to pay because<01:21:50.120

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Policy Committee opened a hearing on HB 748, which would establish a local education freedom account (EFA) program. The prime sponsor, Rep. Kevin Verville, described the bill as enabling legislation that would let local voters decide whether to create a local EFA program by petition and ballot vote, with a 60% threshold to approve or repeal it. He argued that public education is about funding rather than a specific school building, said the proposal would expand parental choice, and cited Deerfield’s move from a single high school option to multiple tuitioned options as an example of local flexibility. Verville said the local EFA would be funded at twice the state adequacy amount, with the district matching the state portion, while other aid categories such as free and reduced meals, English language learner, and special education aid would not be doubled. He said students using a local EFA would still count in average daily membership, that unspent EFA funds would revert to the district, and that the bill would prohibit double-dipping with other scholarship or EFA programs. He also said special education services would remain under district discretion and that local EFA participants would still take statewide assessments for accountability. Committee members pressed him on several issues, especially special education, transportation, and fairness. Rep. Woodcock and Rep. Murray asked whether districts would still have to provide special education and transportation services if a student used a local EFA; Verville responded that special education would remain in the local district at district discretion, while transportation would generally become the family’s responsibility unless already required in an IEP. Rep. Cornell raised an equity concern about no income eligibility cap, asking whether higher-income families should receive the same public support; Verville replied that New Hampshire does not means-test public education and that the local EFA is a public funding mechanism, not a tuition subsidy that would cover full private-school costs. No vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It helps pay for exams for our students' research certifications to help them get ready for the workforce
• for know that there are children who need help getting these paying for these exams and I think that
• You know, we're robbing Peter to pay Paul, and I don't know what that impact will be.
• Paying for folks to get certifications or licenses, exams on the way to certifications and licenses,
• Same concerns, where we're literally robbing Peter to pay Paul, taking from one to give the other.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on March 18 and considered two Senate bills. SB 1131 would require school districts and charter schools to report their AED inventory, CPR/AED training levels, and cardiac emergency response plans to ADE, which would compile the data; it also provides funding for AED purchases and maintenance. The committee adopted an amendment shifting the appropriation from the general fund to the industry-recognized certification and licensure reimbursement fund. The American Heart Association testified in support, emphasizing the need for better school cardiac preparedness. Several members raised concerns about using that fund because it supports student certification and licensure exams, but staff said the fund had an estimated $2 million balance and continued annual deposits. The bill was returned with a due pass recommendation by a 15-1 vote, with two members voting present. The committee then heard SB 1249, which would establish a dementia services program and require DHS to develop and maintain an Alzheimer’s disease state plan with stakeholder input. The bill appropriates $600,000 from the Health Services Lottery Moneys Fund. The Arizona government relations director for the Alzheimer’s Association testified in strong support, describing prior state planning efforts and current work on caregiver support, training, data collection, and grant applications, and noting that prior funding is expiring. Members asked whether the bill was meant to fund implementation or simply the plan, and the sponsor indicated it is written as a one-year appropriation but could be adjusted. Some members supported the policy but objected to taking money from a fund that supports maternal and child health programs such as Health Start and WIC, while others supported the measure and urged a sustainable funding source. The committee approved SB 1249 with a due pass recommendation by a 9-3 vote, with several members voting present.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I just don't see a business voluntarily saying, 'I'm going to pay you $204,000,' and I did not
• previously in a Title I position, got reassigned in the 2025 fiscal year, but the district continued to pay
• We're also trying to see what kind of controls they have with the bank on checks, kind of like positive pay
• or positive pay plus, or how often they're looking at their bank account online—obviously not just waiting
• We're also trying to see what kind of controls they have with the bank on checks, kind of like positive pay

Summary: The Legislative Audit Education Institution Subcommittee met to adopt the previous minutes and review 57 education audit reports, 52 of which had no findings and were filed as reviewed. The committee heard several findings involving school district spending and internal control issues, including Camden-Fairview’s use of operating funds for an employee awards banquet and unauthorized credit card charges, Forest City’s use of operating funds for an end-of-year celebration and entertainment event, Nettleton’s fraudulent vendor payment scheme involving $1.9 million in attempted transfers, Cedar Ridge’s misallocation of Title I funds and payroll/bank reconciliation errors, and Green County Technical’s diverted vendor check that was recovered. Three of the reports had been referred to the prosecuting attorney and attorney general. Members asked questions about whether district officials were present, how the questionable expenditures were broken down, and whether school boards had prior knowledge or approval. The committee deferred the Camden-Fairview, Forest City, and Nettleton reports to the June meeting and requested district representatives attend to answer questions. Cedar Ridge and Green County Technical were not deferred; Cedar Ridge was filed, and Green County Technical was reviewed without further action. Staff also discussed recurring fraud and banking-control issues seen in school audits, including altered checks, email-based banking changes, and the use of positive pay and in-person verification for deposit changes. Members encouraged better communication with school districts and noted that clean audits should be recognized. The committee then filed the remaining no-finding reports and adjourned with no new business.

Transcript Highlights:

• How do we pay for it?
• government Disaster relief for TIB and for CRAB that are loans that we hope the federal government will pay
• us for so that they don't have to pay it, but I think we're willing to cover those loans if it doesn't
• We asked, you know, transit to pay tolls on bridges, and we asked, you know, drivers and various vehicle
• The fuel tax is a little bit broader, so it's a mix of who pays.

Summary: Senate Transportation Committee Chair Marko Liias and Ranking Member Curtis King presented the Senate transportation budget package, describing three bills: a supplemental transportation budget, a bond proposal, and a resources bill with technical updates to last year’s law. They said the package prioritizes preservation and maintenance of highways, bridges, ferries, and flood-damaged infrastructure, along with safety investments such as additional funding for preservation-related safety work, State Patrol staffing, and tribal traffic safety. They also emphasized job creation from infrastructure spending and said the plan uses no new taxes, relying instead on bonding and existing revenue changes. The senators highlighted several major elements, including about $1.7 billion for preservation over six years, $1.1 billion in bonding, a $400 million reserve for cost increases, funding to complete the first three new ferries, disaster relief loans for local transportation agencies, Columbia River dredging, and funding for the Fairfax Bridge and related alternate routes. The resources bill would create a mobile driver’s license program, dedicate a portion of future sales tax revenue to ferry operations, and repeal the luxury aircraft tax while replacing it with higher aviation fuel taxes and annual registration fees. They said the ferry system still needs more vessels beyond the first three, but they want more study before committing to a longer-term procurement plan. In response to questions, the senators said WSDOT will determine specific preservation project priorities, including paving and bridge work, and that the budget does not add new passenger-only ferry operating money now that domestic ferry service has largely been restored. They also said the package includes studies on leasing hydrogen ferries and updating the in-state shipyard bid credit, and that flood recovery funding was structured to help local governments repair roads now while waiting for possible federal FEMA reimbursement. No votes were taken in the transcript; the discussion was a budget rollout and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The money that goes out must pay for bonds, must pay for levies... As a waterfall.
• The money that goes out must pay for bonds, must pay for levies. There's a sequence.
• to me how temporary workers with a nonimmigrant status who are legally here—visa workers who are paying
• children and their families would be represented in the aggregate and treated where they're here legally paying
• Well, now you're way over my pay grade. Well, Mr.

Summary: The committee heard several RS introductions related to education and school funding. Representative Harris introduced RS 33225, described as the identical bill from last year’s accountability and spending measure, and after brief discussion about vouchers versus tax credits and accountability for state funds, the committee voted to introduce it. Representative Heather Scott introduced RS 33298, which would require the Professional Standards Commission to report any allegations involving suspected criminal behavior to law enforcement; the committee approved introduction. Representative Galaviz presented RS 3309C2, aimed at preventing property tax increases by allowing school districts to use certain building maintenance funds for lease purchases instead of forcing taxpayers into new bonds for construction or deferred maintenance. The committee moved to introduce it, with a request for additional information later on how the proposal would affect small versus large districts. Representative Tanner then brought RS 32889, a bill to have the State Board of Education aggregate and report data on the costs of educating children of foreign aliens. Members raised questions about legal status categories, charter schools, privacy, and whether the proposal created an unfunded mandate. The sponsor agreed to strike a sentence in the statement of purpose, and the motion to introduce the RS with that amendment and to add charter schools to the reporting language passed. Representative Hawkins presented RS 32826, a proposed constitutional amendment on parental rights that would replace the compulsory education language with a statement that the right to educate children without government regulation outside public schools shall not be infringed. Members supported the measure, and the committee voted to introduce it. Afterward, there was a procedural dispute over whether the earlier amended motion on RS 32889 had been a vote to introduce the RS or only to approve clarifying language, but the chair ruled the matter closed and the committee moved on.

Transcript Highlights:

• The money that goes out must pay for bonds, must pay for levies, ...as a waterfall.
• The money that goes out must pay for bonds, must pay for levies. There's a sequence.
• to me how temporary workers with a non-immigrant status who are legally here—visa workers who are paying
• children and their families would be represented in the aggregate and treated where they're here legally paying
• Well, now you’re way over my pay grade. Well, Mr.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you put this in law and then a jury comes back and says no, the insurance company does not have to pay
• you put this in law and then a jury comes back and says no, the insurance company does not have to pay
• I will say for the record a lot of times if people are worried about the victims having to pay this,
• I will say for the record a lot of times if people are worried about the victims having to pay this,
• Representative Pay, you're now recognized to present House Bill 4296. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Bills: HB3790, HB2941, HB2959, HB3087, HB3974, HB3500, HB3697, HB3262, HB3582, HB4226, HB3037, HB4139, HB4143, HB4144, HB2936, HB3322, HB4296, HB3278, HB4202, HB4176, HB3303, HB3648, HB4119

Keywords: home repairs, consumer protection, contracts, homeowner rights, rescission, fentanyl, overdose, first responders, drug reporting, immunity, controlled substances, penalties, school abuse reporting, child abuse, neglect, mandatory reporting, student safety, school employee misconduct, administrator reporting, superintendent

Summary: The committee considered a series of House bills, mostly on civil procedure, public records, insurance, local government, and liability issues. Early measures included HB 4139, creating the Oklahoma Home Warranty Transparency Act to improve disclosures in home service contracts; HB 4143, raising the property-damage threshold for Oklahoma City officers to work traffic collisions from $300 to $3,000; HB 4144, clarifying that arrest and incident reports must include a brief summary; and HB 3974, allowing counties in multi-county jails to limit lawsuits to the county that placed the inmate in the facility. Each of these bills received a motion, no debate, and a unanimous due-pass recommendation. The committee also heard HB 3303, which was presented as a response to an insurance claim dispute involving fault allocation after a red-light crash. The author said the bill would align with Oklahoma Insurance Department processes and could be revised further before oversight; members raised concerns about jury verdicts and whether the bill could affect premiums. HB 3790, giving homeowners a five-day cooling-off period after door-to-door home repair sales, and HB 3697, a procedural fix codifying extra time defendants can already obtain by reservation, also advanced unanimously. HB 3262, a request bill from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office to update warrant fees, was amended to say “up to” and then passed 7-2. Additional bills approved included HB 4226 on timelines for judicial recusals, HB 2936 barring people convicted of pedophilia from adopting, HB 3322 on interpreting statutes when multiple versions exist, HB 4296 protecting a notary’s home address from publication, HB 3278 creating a process to resolve Open Meetings Act violations without court, HB 4202 moving radiology reimbursement rates in workers’ compensation to the fee schedule, HB 3648 extending Governmental Tort Claims Act coverage to OU Health entities, HB 3500 removing a nine-month delay for filing a transfer-on-death deed confirmation, and HB 3037 adding certain students working under professors to the employee definition for tort-claim purposes. The committee also laid over HB 2941, HB 2959, HB 387, HB 4176, and HB 419, and adjourned after reporting the remaining bills due pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:53:24.240><c> for</c> that um we're only going to pay for that um we're only going to pay for
• </c><01:28:17.120><c> them</c> death penalty or not, and we pay them death penalty or not, and we pay
• :33:00.800><c> above</c> are we paying superintendent above are we paying superintendent above judges
• </c> pay on those 48 positions. pay on those 48 positions.
• </c> fee that they're they're willing to pay. fee that they're they're willing to pay.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a co-pay of $100.
• a co-pay of $100.
• a co-pay of $100.
• a co-pay of $100.
• Go to the ER because they might have to pay a co-pay of $100.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1494 on hearing aids. Testimony was generally supportive of expanding hearing-aid coverage, with the Insurance Division raising concern about possible federal defrayment issues, SHPDA supporting the goal of hearing augmentation, DCAB strongly supporting the bill as an important access issue, and health plans and insurers asking for amendments. Kaiser Permanente and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans requested changes to add a medical-necessity standard and clarify annual notice language, while HMSA suggested the proposal should be studied by the auditor. The chair noted concerns about federal preemption and the lack of an audit, and deferred the bill in favor of a related resolution calling for a study. The committee then heard SB 1448, an emergency appropriation for the Hawaii State Hospital. DAGS and the Department of Health supported the measure, with the hospital administrator saying the funding would improve the environment of care, support cleaning, and allow a third-party review of the building. Committee members questioned the size of the request and the status of litigation against the design-builder. Administration witnesses said they were pursuing a comprehensive study involving destructive testing, had made a demand on the design-builder to fund the study, and were using different processes than before. They also said the roof work would be handled through a separate CIP request. No final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee next heard SB 1432, relating to the future responsibilities of the Department of Health and land issues at Kalaupapa after the last patient dies. DOH supported the bill in part but said its long-term role would be limited mainly to environmental cleanup, with operations expected to continue under the National Park Service and land-use decisions left to DHHL and beneficiary consultation. DHHL asked that the measure reflect that any land-use or zoning changes on homeland lands require commission approval and beneficiary consultation. Testifiers from Kalaupapa and Maui County, including Degra Vanderbilt-Papa and Council Member Keani Rollins-Fernandez, supported deferring the bill, saying there had been no meaningful community discussion about provisions affecting Kalaupapa’s future management and possible transfer of responsibilities to Maui County. The committee also read into the record written testimony from Gloria Marks emphasizing that Kalaupapa stakeholders must be included in future discussions. Finally, the committee heard SB 955 on fitness-to-proceed examinations. The Judiciary and the Public Defender’s Office both supported raising pay and standardizing expectations for private examiners, but opposed reducing felony fitness evaluations from three examiners to one and opposed expanding use of expedited reports. They argued that a single examiner would reduce reliability, create a more adversarial process, and likely increase costs and contested hearings, while expedited reports do not contain enough information for a proper fitness determination. The Department of Health also supported the bill’s intent but asked to preserve a three-examiner framework and said the goal was to reduce the number of people sent to the State Hospital, where admissions have reportedly risen about 20% year over year since Act 26. The bill remained under discussion in the excerpt, with no final vote shown.