Transcript Highlights:

• There's been a request for roll call. All senators, to your seats, please.
• Clerk, Legislative Education Study.
• Unanimous consent, we go to our business introduction of legislation.
• I want to thank the Legislative Council Service.
• They have been cranking to get all the bills done, the Legislative Finance Committee, Legislative Education

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are not trying to... ...not, and as I said in my opening, it's age appropriate.
• This is, after five years, the administrator can request the reasons.
• I think Representative Jacobs... ...administrator can request the reasons.
• But after five years, they can request that information if they want it.
• But after five years, they can request that information if they want it.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, regarding your request for you.
• ><c> to</c><00:23:54.240><c> UHCAR</c> This bill appropriates funds to UHCAR This bill appropriates funds
• </c> at this year's uh legislative session. at this year's uh legislative session.
• We're going to remove those from the block appropriation structure.
• We will contains a blank appropriation.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on February 18, 2026, and heard four bills. HB 2519 would shift University of Hawaii funding toward block appropriations, a stabilization fund, limited procurement and fiscal exemptions, performance-based metrics, and annual reporting. UH supported the bill, saying line-item budgeting hampers systemwide efficiency across its 10 campuses; the State Procurement Office commented on the procurement exemption. The chair proposed amendments to address concerns from Budget and Finance and procurement, including capping UH’s retained funds at 10%, requiring lapse after three fiscal years, removing CIP-to-operating transfers, narrowing procurement exemptions while keeping Chapter 103B principles, shifting performance metric-setting to the Board of Regents, and requiring annual reporting. The committee then voted to pass HB 2519 with amendments. HB 2409 would establish the Hawaii Geological Survey in Hilo and designate its director as the state geologist. UH Hilo supported the concept but said it would need sufficient general-fund support, estimating roughly $200,000 to start. DLNR and the Attorney General offered comments, with the AG calling it a matter of statewide concern. The chair said the DNR testimony raised public safety concerns and that UH Hilo had not identified a firm funding amount, so the committee voted to defer the bill. HB 2141 HD1 concerned state enterprise zones and would expand eligible business activities and allow DBED to designate up to two areas as enterprise zones with gubernatorial approval. DBED, the Tax Foundation, and other organizations submitted support or comments. After discussion, the chair said the current version no longer fit the higher education committee’s focus and recommended reverting to the original bill, which would limit the zone to Kakaʻako Makai for a biomedical health innovation hub near JABSOM and the Queen’s Cancer Center, with a defective date. The committee voted to pass HB 2141 HD1 with amendments. HB 2233 HD1 would appropriate funds to continue the SNAP-Ed program through UH and the Department of Health. DOH supported the bill and said it had been working on nutrition education and environmental changes; it estimated about $600,000 each for DOH and SEAR, or $1.2 million total. Testimony in support also came from several organizations and individuals, including a senior advocate who described the program’s practical benefits. The chair said the committee would reflect the $600,000-per-entity estimate in its report, and the committee voted to pass HB 2233 HD1 as is before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• And look, it is the parent’s responsibility to teach the children what is appropriate and not appropriate
• It substitutes the judgment of a future legislator, someone.
• At that time, the defense attorney requested a I believe it was, or 2018.
• At the request of Representative Fontenot, House Bill 54.
• So at the appropriate time, Mr. Chair, I'd like to report House Bill 54.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I strongly recommend that you support this legislation.
• As you may know, this bill before you today, Senate Bill 2480, is governor request legislation and is
• I represent the 5th Legislative District.
• The deadline is something that we would greatly request support for with this legislation.
• Philo Valley Farms requests your support. Thank you. Thank you.

Bills: HB2459, HB2480, HB2530, HB2129, HB2223

Keywords: school siting, urban growth, education policy, zoning regulations, community planning, residential development, commercial zones, mixed-use zoning, urban planning, state regulations, public facilities district, regional aquatics, sports facilities, local government, infrastructure, agritourism, agriculture, tourism, economic development, local businesses

Transcript Highlights:

• An electronic roll call vote has been requested.
• I rise to request a ruling on the amendment.
• A roll call vote has been requested. A roll call vote has been requested.
• A roll call, not an oral one, has been requested.
• And isn't it okay as a legislator to say maybe we got it wrong?

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriations.
• You've got three of our largest school districts requesting this, our three largest requesting.
• State funding sources include direct legislative appropriations, Public School Capital Outlay Council
• Of them occurring, and a request to do more.
• Leach, We have started with the 100% waiver request.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last session it was the next seven legislative sessions.
• So haven't we already done that with legislative intent?
• So then we'd be ready for legislative session for any legislative action items that would need to happen
• of a sudden you’re legislated dollars to fix.
• And then all of a sudden you're legislated dollars to fix.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had some discussions with the parties that are requesting the bill that are relative to more appropriate
• </c><00:36:36.560><c> the</c> with the parties that are requesting the with the parties that are requesting
• </c><00:41:48.680><c> municipalities</c> fees to the appropriate municipalities fees to the appropriate
• So we certainly do support this legislation.
• We do support this legislation, and we hope you will too.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• uh listed there we had some requests uh listed there we had some other<00:05:19.479><c> requests</c>
• that the biggest request in highlight that the biggest request in our<00:05:23.680><c> budget</c><00
• </c><00:13:56.240><c> um</c> section we are also requesting um section we are also requesting um planning
• </c><00:35:46.040><c> we're</c><00:35:46.200><c> requesting</c> for the a we're requesting for the a
• </c> to bring them up to uh the appropriate to bring them up to uh the appropriate wage<01:14:07.920>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony first from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Director Tommy Johnson outlined short-term goals to reduce overcrowding, improve living and working conditions, fill vacancies, expand mental health services, and update the correctional master plan. He said the department is still dealing with severe overcrowding at facilities such as OCCC and HCCC, with 947 people at OCCC against a design capacity of 628, and noted 938 inmates are currently housed on the mainland because of temporary repairs at Halawa. He also reported progress on staffing, saying the correctional officer vacancy rate has dropped from 34.3% to 24% through expanded recruitment. The department’s major budget request was $30 million for planning and design for a new Old Triple C project, along with other requests for re-entry services, identification documents, security systems, radios, sink-toilet modules, and trauma-informed care. Members asked about the timing and scope of the OCCC project, courtroom space in new facilities, and the department’s plan to use the funding to improve re-entry and reduce recidivism. The committee then heard from the Department of Law Enforcement on a wide range of priorities. The department described requests to expand agricultural crime enforcement, traffic enforcement, illegal fireworks enforcement, and facilities such as a police building at the DKI airport, a state training center, and new police facilities in central and Leeward Oahu. It also discussed a major IT request for a statewide law enforcement and critical infrastructure notification platform, plus funding for grants management, the Wahiawa Civic Center and court complex, the prescription monitoring program, narcotics enforcement operations, and the narcotics lab. A significant portion of the discussion focused on a proposed traffic enforcement program for commercial vehicle inspections, speeding, and DUI enforcement, which the department said would be funded with federal dollars and would operate concurrently with county police. Committee members questioned whether the effort duplicated county jurisdiction and how the program would be trained and staffed. Members also pressed the department on salary disparities for deputy sheriffs and related vacancies, and the department said the administration was working on a supplemental agreement and placeholder funding to address the issue. Additional discussion covered agricultural crime staffing, the Silver Alert program, and expansion of the forensic lab to handle explosives, firearms, and related evidence. No votes were taken in the portion provided, and the meeting moved from the corrections presentation to the law enforcement budget review with questions and answers throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• Therefore, I'm requesting to vote outside of the polling place.
• Is that the appropriate penalty?
• This would bring the biennial HEAF appropriation to $1.18 billion, a major commitment on the ...appropriation
• We've got two fantastic pieces of legislation.
• But just thank you for your legislation.

Summary: The Senate first adopted a motion by Senator Zaffirini to suspend Senate Rule 5.14 and move the intent calendar deadline to 8:00 p.m. that day, also allowing the Secretary to make the calendar available as soon as practicable. The chamber then took up and passed several House bills, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. HB 2128, relating to a study of rural firefighting and technical rescue capabilities, passed unanimously. HB 4157, on liability protections for commercial spaceflight and exploration, passed 28-3. HB 2240, concerning certain void marriages, passed after adoption of a Birdwell amendment extending filing deadlines to 90 days for certain active-duty service members and Foreign Service officers. HB 367, on verification of excused absences for students with severe or life-threatening illnesses, passed unanimously after clarifying school district forms and TEA model forms. HB 1506, expanding expedited handgun license eligibility to certain retired county court judges, passed 29-2. HB 4449, on alcohol sales in annexed municipal areas, passed 29-2. HB 3812, on health plan prior authorization requirements, passed 30-1. The Senate also announced a long list of bills and resolutions signed in the presence of the Senate. A major portion of the meeting centered on HB 521, a voting-related bill on curbside voting for voters with disabilities. Senator Paxton described it as an anti-misuse measure requiring a signed eligibility form for curbside voting, creating a 20-foot electioneering buffer, limiting election officer assistance in marking ballots unless a second officer is present, and adding reporting requirements for people who assist seven or more curbside voters. Senators Miles, Menendez, Johnson, Campbell, Cook, and others questioned whether the bill would burden disabled voters, create a de facto registry of volunteers, and impose a harsh Class A misdemeanor penalty for failing to complete the form. Paxton said the bill was intended to protect legitimate curbside voters and curb abuse, and the chamber adopted Paxton Floor Amendment No. 1 after a recorded vote. Zaffirini’s Floor Amendment No. 2, allowing an escorting voter to receive his or her own ballot at the curbside or entrance, was adopted. Menendez’s Floor Amendment No. 3 to reduce the penalty failed. The bill was then passed to third reading on a 20-11 vote, with a motion by Senator Miles to have the exchanges reduced to writing and placed in the journal adopted. The Senate also passed HB 3000, creating a grant program for rural ambulance service providers, after a comptroller-related amendment; HB 5616, establishing the Texas Presidential Library Promotion Program and funding for traveling exhibits, after narrowing the bill to mobile exhibits only; HB 4211, addressing certain residential property interests controlled by entities, which passed 30-1; HB 1178, creating temporary educator certificates for out-of-state certified educators and military spouses, which passed unanimously; HB 2243, creating the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention, which passed after debate over the need to streamline education mandates; and HB 42, increasing and reallocating the constitutional Higher Education Fund appropriation by 50% to $1.18 billion, which passed 31-0. Finally, HB 2512, a Fort Worth-specific bill limiting ETJ release for land subject to active development agreements, passed after debate over broader ETJ and de-annexation policy, with a local-only clarifying amendment adopted and a proposed broader amendment withdrawn. The meeting ended with the Senate beginning consideration of HB 3372, which would bar school district administrators from receiving financial benefits tied to outside consulting or contracting with education entities, though the transcript cuts off during questions on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• This one is our Firewise USA Community funding request.
• This one is our Firewise USA Community funding request.
• a request of up to 1,000 to 2,000 for them to do some of this work that's approved.
• So in terms of legislation, I think that the right legislation that we should focus on is to try to pull
• In my mind, whether it's additional legislation or not, additional legislation is only to try to ensure

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation held an oversight hearing on home hardening and defensible space as wildfire mitigation strategies. The chair opened by stressing that California has reached a tipping point, with repeated community-scale wildfire losses, rising insurance costs, and growing utility wildfire mitigation expenses. The hearing was organized around four panels: what home hardening and defensible space are, community risk reduction and coordination, evaluation of current defensible space programs and proposed investments, and the future of home hardening and the California Wildfire Mitigation Program. The first panel featured IBHS, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and local wildfire mitigation advocates. IBHS described wildfire spread through embers, flames, and radiant heat, emphasizing that structure separation, removing combustible materials within the first five feet of a home, and combining multiple mitigation measures significantly reduce loss. It highlighted its Wildfire Prepared Home and Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood standards, including an “essential” and “enhanced” level, and said California is ahead of other states but still needs scalable, standardized, and sustainably funded mitigation. The LAO outlined key policy questions for the Legislature, including the state’s role, intergovernmental coordination, cost-effectiveness, program design, measurement of success, long-term sustainability, and barriers to implementation. The chair and panelists discussed estimated costs, including roughly $15,000 for a basic retrofit and about $50,000 for more extensive ignition-resistant construction, and whether state funding should focus on the most cost-effective initial measures. The second panel focused on scaling adoption through local coordination, education, financing, and community-based programs. Megafire Action argued that home hardening is a market adoption problem and said the state should not try to pay for every home, but instead target high-leverage interventions across the “customer journey,” including education, financing, trusted certification, and neighborhood network effects. Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council described free home assessments, small retrofit grants, Firewise community support, and the importance of neighborhood-level action, local capacity, and cultural change. Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority described its locally funded model, grant program, public education efforts, and an Ember Ready program that helps residents navigate home hardening and Zone Zero compliance. The chair repeatedly emphasized the need for a coordinated statewide marketing campaign, stronger incentives, better insurance discounts, and more use of local, utility, federal, and private funding sources. The third and fourth panels addressed Cal Fire’s defensible space inspection program, the proposed defensible space financial assistance program, and broader state investments. Cal Fire said homes lacking compliant defensible space are far more likely to be damaged or destroyed and requested ongoing funding and staffing to stabilize inspections statewide; the LAO suggested the Legislature consider alternative funding sources such as GGRF or a reinstated SRA fee. Cal Fire and the State Fire Marshal explained that Zone Zero sets a minimum standard, local governments cannot go below it, and grant prioritization will favor jurisdictions that submit inspections. Cal Fire also said the new defensible space financial assistance program would focus on ember-resistant zone-zero work and, in the Southern California counties covered by the legislation, would assist about 3,125 homes at an estimated $8,000 per home. In the final panel, the State Fire Marshal described California’s layered strategy of parcel-level home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation, along with technical support, financial assistance, and incentives such as insurance discounts and builder marketing. The overall theme was that California must move from isolated efforts to a coordinated, science-based, and scalable statewide approach to reduce wildfire losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this legislation. this legislation.
• </c> A division vote has been requested. A division vote has been requested.
• A division has been<01:03:16.960><c> requested.</c> been requested. been requested.
• Thank you. legislation. The Senate made a minor legislation.
• </c> request a roll call vote. request a roll call vote.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And at the appropriate time, I'd like to...
• It's my understanding from it that you're only requesting, your only request this relative to membership
• I think right now, you can already request a pre-sentence investigation.
• And so now it's only at the request to be available. Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• This bill is a response to the audit provided by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met on May 12 and took up a series of bills, mostly on juvenile justice, gaming-related background checks, bail/electronic bonds, and corrections policy. Early in the meeting, the committee reported favorably SB 258 on juvenile traffic violations, SB 321 on electronic bonds, SB 134 on limiting certain child sexual abuse material offenses for juveniles under 17 in specific circumstances, HB 75 on promotional play for racetracks as amended, and SB 422 on unsupervised probation for certain fourth-offense impaired driving cases. Later, the committee also advanced SB 440 on the Renaissance District board membership, SB 393 on explosives regulation, SB 487 on charitable gaming rental arrangements, SB 339 and SB 288 on criminal background check procedures in the gaming and related regulatory systems, and SB 325 on excluding certain persons from sports wagering. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 201, which would change juvenile homicide sentencing procedures, including first- and second-degree murder cases, and how reviewing courts consider parole eligibility and prior death sentences converted to life. Supporters said the bill aligns sentencing with existing Supreme Court precedent and gives courts clearer guidance; opponents from children’s rights and civil liberties groups argued it weakens the “rarest and uncommon” safeguard for juvenile life-without-parole sentences and could expand harsh sentencing beyond constitutional limits. After debate and testimony, the committee adopted an amendment and reported SB 201 favorably by a 7-3 vote, with Representatives Adams, Knox, Moore, and others voting no. The committee also heard SB 523 on clemency and sentencing considerations for defendants who are victims of domestic abuse, human trafficking, or sexual assault. Survivors’ advocates and domestic violence organizations supported the bill’s overall purpose but objected to the mandatory pre-sentence investigation language, warning it could introduce biased information and harm survivors; the Board of Pardons and Parole said its staff and trauma-informed victim assistance coordinators are trained to handle these cases. The committee adopted an amendment narrowing the bill and then reported SB 523 favorably. Finally, SB 320 on DNA detection and crime lab reporting was advanced without opposition, and SB 470 on pregnant women in custody passed after testimony from the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association and discussion of pregnancy testing, bonding options, and prohibiting shackling during delivery and postpartum periods.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh remove it when when appropriating uh remove it when when appropriating funds.<00:14:47.519><c
• It requests the appropriation of a grand total of $25,000 over the next two years to defray travel and
• It requests the<00:19:14.160><c> appropriation</c><00:19:14.720><c> of</c><00:19:14.880><c> a</c><00:
• Um, this will go to appropriations.
• Um, this will go to appropriations. off. Um, this will go to appropriations.

Bills: SF0012, SF0013, SF0067

Keywords: military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, Wyoming state guard, emergency response, governor authority, state council of defense, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:19.680><c> is</c> legislative request this year which is legislative request this year which
• </c> totality of our of our capital requests totality of our of our capital requests for<00:10:23.200
• </c> project requests within our uh requests project requests within our uh requests for<00:44:33.280
• So that's our fourth request.
• </c> general fund bianum priority request. general fund bianum priority request.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:55 Approval of Minutes 00:02:01 Information Items 00:02:10 Review of Executive Branch Agency Plans 00:02:20 A. A. Eastern Kentucky University 00:02:48 B. B. Kentucky Community and Technical College System 00:15:21 C. C. Kentucky State University 00:31:43 D. D. Morehead State University 00:41:44 E. E. Murray State University 01:01:56 F. F. Northern Kentucky University 01:16:09 G. G. University of Kentucky and Hospital 01:25:00 H. H. University of Louisville 01:42:52 I. I. Western Kentucky University 01:56:17, 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a roll call establishing a quorum. The committee then approved the prior meeting’s minutes. Members were reminded to silence cell phones, and the chair noted an informational item on capital plan amendments made by state agencies during the latest revision period before moving to university capital plan presentations. Eastern Kentucky University President David McFaden outlined EKU’s enrollment growth, strong Kentucky student retention, and signature programs in nursing, occupational therapy, criminal justice, education, manufacturing engineering, and aviation. EKU’s main capital priorities were a new health innovation project to support a proposed osteopathic medical program, including a $50 million escrow requirement until accreditation; a collaborative center for health innovation to address outdated health sciences facilities; a $5 million startup request for an air traffic control program; aircraft upgrades for the aviation fleet; and continued asset preservation funding. In response to questions, EKU said roughly 40% of the new health facility would be dedicated to the medical school, with shared simulation space for multiple health programs, and that aviation maintenance needs are currently being met through KCTCS partners but could be expanded if demand grows. KCTCS representatives then described the system’s scale and capital needs, noting service to 107,000 students, extensive dual credit and workforce training, and a network of 342 buildings across 70 campuses. They said prior legislative support, including $277 million in asset preservation and $90 million released for approved projects, had helped with safety, roofs, energy efficiency, and campus security. Their current priorities include about $30 million for systemwide safety and security upgrades, renovations tied to consolidation and footprint reduction under Senate Joint Resolution 179, and broader asset preservation needs estimated at roughly $300 million to $325 million. Members discussed the need to preserve and expand skilled trades training, and KCTCS said its plan includes construction trades and flexible, multiuse facilities that can adapt to changing workforce needs. No votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes, and the presentations concluded with questions and discussion only.

Transcript Highlights:

• and what is not appropriate.
• It does not seem appropriate to me, no.
• She remarked, "It's always interesting when I read the legislative history and see legislators saying
• This is TLR's 16th legislative session over 32 years.
• It is based on the Florida legislation.

Bills: SB30, SB517, SB1313, SB1314, SB1316, SB1541, SB1698, SB1845, SB1860, SB2420, SB2429, SB 30

Keywords: gambling, criminal offenses, penalties, defense, electronic devices, tobacco advertising, youth protection, public health, criminal offense, retailer regulation, e-cigarettes, nicotine products, health, public safety, regulation, advertising restrictions, health and safety, elections, election audit, county elections

Transcript Highlights:

• If not, so we consider the reading of the journal from the prior legislative day.
• President, I move favorable on this<00:10:33.680><c> legislation.
• Uh we request that the report be accepted as issued. Yes. >> Excellent. All right.
• And there are 50 Rosenwald schools that remain across 27 legislative districts.
• </c> remain across 27 legislative districts. remain across 27 legislative districts.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, February 27, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Concurrent Resolution 9, a concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Research Commission
• Senator from Boone 11 &gt;&gt; co-sponsor<00:30:22.080><c> request.</c><00:30:22.559><c> Mr.
• </c> &gt;&gt; co-sponsor request. Mr. Chair Mr. &gt;&gt; co-sponsor request. Mr. Chair Mr.
• Senator from Hardin. >> Co-sponsor request. Mr.
• </c> 46, and 72 and have appropriate 46, and 72 and have appropriate paperwork. paperwork. paperwork.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS MUST BE FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AND MUST BE OPEN TO INSPECTION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT UPON REQUEST.
• THIS MUST BE MAINTAINED FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS AND MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY REQUEST OF LAW
• I THINK IT IS THE REASON WHY MANY OF US ARE REVISITING BOATING SAFETY THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WE
• SB 538 IS STATE COURT LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.
• PROVIDES A MECHANISM FOR THE CLERKS TO REQUEST THEIR DISCRETIONARY APPROPRIATIONS AND THESE CHANGES STREAMLINE

Keywords: 999, senate, all