Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we held a listening session yesterday to kind of let them debrief, hear about what they've been going
• through, hear about their experiences dealing with traumatic calls and just simply the amount of gun
• through, hear about their experiences dealing with traumatic calls and just simply the amount of gun
• </c> uh you got another call and you'll hear uh you got another call and you'll hear from<00:04:18.639
• </c> different perspective when we're hearing different perspective when we're hearing about<00:18:01.440

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's so awful to say, and I know that it's awful to hear.
• Before we send you off, Lori, we need to hear from Assembly Member...
• Seeing and hearing no further debate, Assembly Member Lee, would you like to close?
• Seeing and hearing none, the clerk will read the second-day consent calendar.
• Seeing and hearing no further business, I’m ready to entertain a motion to adjourn.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Members then handled several procedural motions, including suspending rules to allow committee hearings and guest access, re-referring bills, and removing one bill from the consent calendar. The chamber also observed Holocaust Remembrance Day with a lengthy ceremony and remarks from many members across caucuses, emphasizing the importance of remembering the Holocaust, combating antisemitism and other forms of hate, and supporting survivors and descendants. ACR 59, the California Holocaust Memorial Day resolution, was adopted by voice vote after 76 coauthors were added. After the ceremony, the Assembly took up the daily file. AB 390, which strengthens California’s “slow down, move over” highway safety law, passed 64-0. AB 439, making small changes to the Coastal Act and reporting requirements, passed 44-11 after debate over Coastal Commission oversight. The body also approved a rules waiver to allow the Education Committee to meet on AB 1468. Later, AB 50, allowing Medi-Cal enrollees to access over-the-counter contraceptives without a prescription, passed 67-0 urgency and 67-0 overall; AB 55, streamlining alternative birth center licensing, passed 68-0; AB 596, protecting workers’ right to wear masks or respirators unless there is a direct safety hazard, passed 53-8; AB 631, requiring animal shelters to post intake and outcome data, passed 60-0; and AB 792, allowing consolidated negotiations for court interpreter contracts, passed 52-1. The Assembly also passed AB 867, banning cat declawing, by 68-0 after bipartisan support; AB 1089, expanding local permitting authority for Western Joshua Tree projects, by 16-0; and AB 1154, clarifying ADU rules, by 63-1. SCR 57, proclaiming Dolores Huerta Day, was adopted 66-0. The second-day consent calendar was then adopted 71-0. The session concluded with adjournment-in-memory remarks for Mary Hammer, a longtime San Lorenzo Valley community leader and environmental advocate, followed by recognition of her family and friends in the chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• This hearing is being streamed live on YouTube.
• Thank you for hearing my testimony. Thank you, Alison.
• Thank you for hearing my testimony. Thank you, Alison.
• Thank you for hearing my testimony. Thank you, Alison.
• Thank you for hearing my testimony. Thank you, Alison.

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Committee on Transportation, Culture, and the Arts heard several resolutions, with most public testimony focused on Senate Concurrent Resolution 159 and Senate Resolution 129, which urge continued U.S. support for the Ukrainian military. Testimony on those measures was largely opposed, with witnesses arguing Hawaii should prioritize local needs such as homelessness, infrastructure, and cost of living over additional aid to Ukraine; one support testimony was noted from the Democratic Party of Hawaii. Despite the opposition, both committees recommended passage with technical, nonsubstantive amendments, and the recommendations were adopted. The committees also considered transportation-related resolutions. Senate Concurrent Resolution 182 and Senate Resolution 152 would initiate a summer streets pilot program, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 200 and Senate Resolution 180 would ask AMPO to coordinate a transportation management training program. Testimony on the summer streets proposal included support and opposition, with one witness saying community input should be gathered through existing district and community meetings rather than creating a pilot. The training-program measure drew opposition from a witness who argued it would add unnecessary bureaucracy. Both pairs were recommended for passage, with the summer streets resolutions passed unamended and the training-program resolutions passed with technical amendments. In the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee, Senate Concurrent Resolution 18 and Senate Resolution 14, concerning relocation of the Pearl City post office to Navy property, were recommended for passage with technical amendments. The committee also heard extensive testimony on Senate Concurrent Resolution 136 and Senate Resolution 150, which call for a geothermal energy working group. Supporters included the State Energy Office, PUC, consumer advocate, and others, though the energy office asked to move the report deadline to 2027. Opponents raised concerns about cost, health impacts, environmental risks, and Native Hawaiian representation. The chair proposed amendments to add a Native Hawaiian member, the consumer advocate, and the House and Senate energy committee chairs, clarify participation by utility, geothermal, and nonprofit representatives, and extend the report deadline to 2027. The resolutions were then recommended for passage with amendments, and all recommendations were adopted before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This hearing of the Committee on Agriculture is called to order.
• Now we will hear from those testifying in opposition.
• Oh, I just didn't hear you. Okay. I'm kidding. But that's all I have.
• Yeah, I hear you. So I did hear a comment that we haven't reached out to APA.
• This is the first of two bills that we will be hearing today.

Summary: The Assembly Agriculture Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not yet present, then adopted its committee rules for the 2025-2026 legislative session by a 5-0 vote. The committee heard a series of agriculture-related bills, with most measures receiving broad support and moving forward. AB 1142 by Assemblymember Hoover would raise the fee thresholds for small public horse events that are exempt from equine medication monitoring rules; supporters said the current limits are outdated and hurt small riding clubs, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 411 by Assemblymember Papin would allow ranchers to compost livestock carcasses on-farm; supporters cited cost, environmental, and predator-control benefits, while rendering industry representatives asked for amendments to protect existing services and limit the bill’s scope. The bill passed to Natural Resources. AB 482 by Assemblymember Solache would modernize the California Table Grape Commission law and raise assessment caps without increasing assessments themselves; it passed to Appropriations. AB 312 by Vice Chair Alanis would shorten the holding period for ag theft property from six months to three months; it also passed to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 937 and AB 947 by Assemblymember Connolly. AB 937 would make technical changes to the Organic Transition Pilot Program to improve access to organic transition support, with testimony from a farmer who said the program helped him pursue organic certification; the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 947 would expand and refine technical assistance under the Healthy Soils/Climate Smart Agriculture programs, including training, grant writing, matching funds coordination, equipment sharing, and outcome monitoring; supporters said the changes would help small and organic producers access state climate programs, and it also passed to Appropriations. AB 1486, presented by the chair, would use Proposition 4 funding to start grants for public postsecondary agricultural research farms focused on climate resiliency; members praised the role of CSU and UC research farms, and the bill passed to Natural Resources as amended. The most extensive discussion centered on AB 928 by Assemblymember Rogers, the California Cockfighting Cruelty Act. Supporters argued the bill would help law enforcement target cockfighting and rooster trafficking, reduce avian disease risks, and protect public health and animal welfare; opponents, including poultry hobbyists, breeders, and 4-H-related participants, said it would overreach into lawful poultry keeping and harm heritage-breed and youth programs, urging instead that cockfighting penalties be increased to a felony. Committee members echoed concerns about unintended impacts on legitimate poultry owners and requested continued work on exemptions and language. The bill passed to Judiciary on a 5-2-1 vote, with one no vote and one abstention, and the chair noted that further committee review would continue as the bill advances.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um if hearing um on a bill last week.
• </c> this uh you may recall from the hearing this uh you may recall from the hearing with<00:17:25.520
• ,</c> bill or you look at a Senate hearing, bill or you look at a Senate hearing, you<00:25:32.480><c
• </c> hearing uh hearing no disscent on that. hearing uh hearing no disscent on that.
• Hearing<01:16:02.239><c> none.

Committee: House Legislative Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Just one more question and then hear Just one more question and then hear from<00:29:16.480><c>
• I'm sorry, I hear you.
• </c> hearing.
• The final hearing is hearing.
• </c><02:04:51.760><c> I'm</c> want to hear from them. Oh, no. I'm want to hear from them. Oh, no.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met to hear the Legislative Budget Assistant Office’s performance audit of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. Auditors said the commission was inefficient and ineffective in investigating discrimination complaints and closing cases in a timely manner during fiscal years 2020 through 2023. The report contained 25 observations; the commission fully concurred with 24 and concurred in part with one. Auditors highlighted major problems with case processing delays, inaccurate case data, lack of a case management system, weak strategic planning and risk assessment, outdated and disorganized policies, confidentiality issues, expired administrative rules, fee-setting practices, incomplete financial-interest filings, and failure to complete required reports and reconciliations. Two recommendations, involving complaint screening and conciliation, may require legislative action. Several observations focused on the commission’s intake and investigation practices. Auditors said complaints may have been screened out before docketing, potentially preventing commissioner review required by statute, and that the investigation process lacked clear rules and guidance. They also found investigators were assigned non-investigative tasks, training was inadequate, interview requirements were unclear, supervisory duties were burdensome, and confidential information was not always protected by encrypted email. The audit recommended clearer administrative rules, better internal controls, more focused staffing, a supervisory investigator position, and improved training and documentation. Commission representatives said they had already made progress on several items since the audit began, including posting overdue biennial reports and moving toward a case management system expected to go live in June. They said they were working with EEOC counterparts and legal counsel, but emphasized staffing shortages and high turnover, noting the commission currently had nine people working out of 15 authorized positions, with three investigator vacancies and a vacant paralegal position. Committee members thanked the auditors and commission staff, discussed the history of the audit request, and raised concerns about how long the recommended corrective actions might take. The committee took no vote or formal action during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing no objection, the minutes are adopted.
• If when you file your SR, it requires a committee hearing, we'll be glad to hear this again, but I don't
• If when you file your SR, it requires a committee hearing.
• Hearing no objection, House Bill 549 is reported favorably.
• Hearing no objection, House Bill 549 is reported favorably.

Summary: The Senate Labor Committee met on March 14 and adopted the prior minutes. It voluntarily deferred Senate Bill 358, which would have addressed workers’ compensation coverage for independent contractors and sole-proprietor subcontractors. Senator Abraham said the bill would instead be studied to determine whether such workers should be able to buy occupational accident coverage or be required to carry workers’ compensation coverage, particularly where no employees are involved. The committee then heard House Bill 456, which would expand and clarify workers’ compensation petition requirements and broaden employers’ and payers’ ability to file disputed claims beyond fraud and medical-director appeals to other disputes under the chapter. The bill drew strong support from business groups and strong opposition from injured-worker attorneys, who argued it would revive problems seen in 2012 when employers could sue injured workers without a ripe dispute, burden unrepresented claimants, and increase litigation and administrative costs. Supporters said it would improve access to the courts and help employers investigate questionable claims. After debate, the committee voted 5-1 to report HB 456 favorably, with Senator Barrow voting no. The committee also heard House Bill 549, which creates the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program, or Bayou Works, a proposed statewide workforce training grant program aimed at helping employers quickly train workers for specific skill needs. The sponsor and Louisiana Workforce Commission representatives said it would be privately funded, modeled on Michigan’s “Going Pro” program, and coordinated with technical colleges, apprenticeships, internships, and other workforce partners. Members asked about statewide reach, youth pipeline efforts, and timing; the department said implementation would likely begin later next year. The committee reported HB 549 favorably by unanimous consent and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm hearing no other motions. Let's go ahead and vote on this, Ms. Figuero.
• Hearing none, Ms. Figaro, please. Let's vote on this one.
• Hearing no changes.
• Is that what I'm hearing? Mr. Bybee: Mr.
• Hearing none, any other motions? Let's go ahead and vote then. Ms.

Summary: The Joint Finance and Corporation Committee met with a quorum and first approved a $6.5 million federal supplemental appropriation for the Military Division to replace failing climate control systems in Idaho Air National Guard buildings at Gowen Field. The motion passed with a do-pass recommendation after brief explanation that the work would begin with design and contracting and the remaining funds would carry into fiscal year 2027. The committee then considered Idaho State Police funding tied to the Project Choice Fund. Staff explained three revenue sources supporting a $6.695 million personnel appropriation: a beer excise tax reallocation, a new specialty license plate, and House Bill 967, which would redirect additional liquor account distributions. Members discussed the impact on cities and counties, the need for stable public safety funding, and the fact that the proposal shifts some liquor revenues away from local governments. The appropriation motion passed and received a do-pass recommendation. Next, the committee took up two Idaho Digital Learning Academy-related language items. The first, a trailer to Senate Bill 1362, was adopted by unanimous consent to resolve a potential conflict with House Bill 940 regarding course fees. The second would have allowed IDLA limited access to PSIF after spending down cash balances, but members raised concerns about financial risk and whether the language was necessary; the motion failed in both chambers. The committee then approved language redirecting about $12 million from the Strategic Initiatives Fund to the local highway distribution formula instead of LTAC grants, after debate over local equity versus larger grant projects. Finally, the committee adopted language preventing an automatic transfer out of the Budget Stabilization Fund that would otherwise occur because the fund is at its statutory 15% cap. Members debated whether excess funds should instead flow to the general fund given budget pressures, but the motion passed and received a do-pass recommendation. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you hear me? Oh, can you hear me? Yes, okay.
• At our last hearing, Director Roundtree mentioned a dashboard.
• I can hardly hear you even here. You don't—can you speak more into it?
• I can hardly hear you even here. Thank you.
• In our previous hearing, we have requested a lot of information.

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services held another oversight hearing on Access, focusing on fee-for-service behavioral health management, prior authorization and claims processing, the Targeted Investment Program (TIP), and network adequacy. The chair criticized Access for implementing a covered behavioral health services guide without public comment and for failing to produce records such as decision-making documentation, work group minutes, and public/tribal feedback. Members also raised concerns about ARPA compliance, the reduction of intensive outpatient reimbursement to a $157 per diem, and the impact of these actions on providers and Native American communities. Interim Director Roberta Harrison said Access had improved fraud controls and operations after the sober living fraud crisis, including tripling prior authorization speed, reducing denial codes by 64%, cutting claims processing to under 30 days, and adding dashboards and staffing. She said the agency is modernizing outdated systems and invited fraud referrals. On questions about claims and prior authorizations, Access reported average processing times of six days overall and 17 days for behavioral health prior authorizations, and said it had hired Constellation under a direct procurement to help with claims backlog. Harrison acknowledged that a proposal language suggesting higher ROI from denying more claims was not part of the contract scope. The committee also pressed Access on TIP delays. Staff explained that TIP payments depend on provider documentation, programmatic review, and allocation across many sites, and said year one of TIP 2.0 had been paid while years two and three had not yet been distributed. The chair requested a formal plan within 30 days to pay the delayed year two and year three TIP funds, estimated at about $122 million, along with all CMS-related TIP 2.0 documentation. On network adequacy, Access described its standards and annual MCO reporting process, but acknowledged gaps in tracking and said it would follow up on whether a fiscal year 2025 report was submitted to CMS. Members cited a federal ghost network report finding 28% of providers in Santa Cruz County inactive or unavailable, and requested unredacted network adequacy reports and further information on CMS engagement. The hearing ended with the chair noting some improvements but saying more oversight may follow, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing no objection, the Senate will now advance to the sixth order of business, reports of standing
• Hearing no objection, the Senate will now advance to the 14th order of business.
• President, promises were made to hear this bill in committee. Those promises were not met.
• Hearing none, with the roll call vote being requested, the Secretary will call the roll.
• Hearing no objection, it is so ordered.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as many of you probably saw, this morning we had a hearing on the Millionaire's Tax in the House
• I was happy to be back in House Hearing Room A this morning for the Millionaire's Tax hearing and really
• But what's most important is that our hearings, and I think you... ...and other things like that.
• But what's most important is that our hearings, and I think you saw this today, have balanced hearings
• , where we're hearing voices from all over the state of Washington, coming from different perspectives

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders held a media availability focused on the session’s fast-moving cutoff period, the supplemental budget, and several major bills moving through committee. They said they had advanced a number of Senate bills, including the face mask bill, a bill on access to abortion medication, a bill on mobile devices in schools, and upcoming measures on driver privacy and IRS tax issues. They also said the House Finance Committee had held a hearing on the proposed millionaire’s tax, and that the budget would continue to emphasize food, shelter, health care, and continuity of government services. A major topic was allegations of fraudulent or bot-driven remote sign-ins and testimony on the millionaire’s tax hearings. Leaders said remote participation has broadened public access and they do not want to shut it down, but they acknowledged the system may need interim tweaks to improve accuracy. They said the issue appears unprecedented, that they learned of it through a complaint to the House chief clerk, and that legislative tech staff and Senate operations leaders would review possible changes after session. They also stressed that sign-in counts should be treated cautiously and are not the same as votes. The lawmakers also discussed the proposed income tax on high earners, defending it as constitutional and necessary to fund state priorities. They argued that state spending growth reflects inflation, population growth, McCleary-related school funding changes, and major investments in child care, higher education, Medicaid dental care, IT systems, and special education. In response to questions about tort claims against the state, they said Senator Dhingra’s arbitration bill is unlikely to move further this session, though the issue will continue to be worked on over the interim. They said the state needs to reduce liability through prevention and alternative dispute processes rather than through unconstitutional damage caps. On the millionaire’s tax process, leaders said the House Finance Committee is expected to add more tax reductions than the version heard that morning, with a goal of reaching roughly 25 to 40 percent in reductions and likely avoiding a conference committee if the House and Senate can concur. They said the bill may still include a sales-tax-on-services change, but that the final package is still being negotiated. They also said they do not support extending the tax to incomes below $1 million, and that no decision had been made on a possible governor-backed sales tax holiday.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as many of you probably saw this morning, we had a hearing on the Millionaire's Tax in House Finance
• I was happy to be back in House Hearing Room A this morning for the Millionaire's Tax hearing and really
• But what's most important is that our hearings, and I think you saw this today, have balanced hearings
• where we're hearing voices from all over the state of Washington, coming from different perspectives
• I still hear from parents in my district about, you know, my school is still... ...just the teachers

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders held a media availability focused on the late-session agenda, including the House policy cutoff, a supplemental budget, and the House Finance Committee hearing on the proposed “millionaire’s tax”/income tax measure. They said several Senate bills had moved or were moving quickly, including a face mask bill, an abortion medication access bill, a mobile devices in schools bill, a driver privacy/personal safety data protections bill, and a West Coast Health Collaborative bill. They also said the supplemental budget would emphasize food, shelter, health care, continuity of government, and other core services. A major topic was allegations of fraudulent or bot-generated remote sign-ins on the millionaire’s tax hearings. Leaders said remote testimony and sign-ins have broadened public participation, but misuse of the system is a problem that will be reviewed over the interim. They said the goal is to preserve easy public access while improving accuracy, and that the sign-in numbers should be treated cautiously because the system is informational rather than equivalent to voting. They also said there had been no direct contact with state Supreme Court justices about the tax bill. The leaders defended the need for the income tax proposal by arguing that state spending growth reflects inflation, population growth, the McCleary school-funding changes, and major investments in child care, higher education, Medicaid dental care, IT systems, and special education. They said the Legislature is trying to balance the tax code and that they do not support taxing incomes below $1 million, though they would not rule out future legislative changes decades from now. On tort claims against the state, they said Senator Dhingra’s arbitration bill has advanced the discussion but is unlikely to move further this session, and that broader liability reductions may require constitutional changes or prevention-focused investments. They also discussed long-term care workforce pressures, saying Washington is better positioned than many states but still faces an aging-population challenge. On the millionaire’s tax process, they said the House Finance Committee is expected to increase tax reductions in the bill, with leaders aiming to resolve differences with the Senate without going to conference if possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, do I hear a motion? Other questions on the bill? Seeing none, do I hear a motion?
• Seeing none, do I hear a motion? It shouldn't be.
• Seeing none, do I hear a motion? Questions on the bill? Seeing none, do I hear a motion?
• They are protected by this law; they don't have to hear or be exposed to anybody.
• Now that everybody's warmed up, we will hear the final bill of the day.

Summary: The A&B Subcommittee on Education heard and advanced several bills, beginning with HB 4491, which would allow virtual charter, charter, and homeschool students to participate in extracurricular activities in their resident school district. The sponsor said the bill was intended to expand student opportunity and was still being worked on, especially on eligibility and proximity requirements. Members raised concerns about accreditation, fairness, and potential disruption, but the bill was reported out 8-2. The committee then approved HB 4146, which moves the state-paid maternity benefit for teachers to begin in a teacher’s first year of employment, and HB 4149, which grants up to 10 years of service credit for certain prior experience, including out-of-state or out-of-country teaching, active-duty military service, law enforcement, and firefighting. HB 4158 raised the income cap for O-TAG grant eligibility to $80,000, and HB 4159 allowed parents to request dyslexia screening after formative assessments at any time during the year, with notice from the State Department; both passed with little opposition. A more contentious debate surrounded HB 3242, which sought to clarify voluntary religious expression in schools and provide Attorney General guidance and legal protections for districts. Supporters argued it protected First Amendment rights and gave schools guardrails, while opponents warned it could expose schools to litigation, create power imbalances, and blur the line between voluntary student expression and school-sponsored religious activity. After debate, the bill passed 6-4. Finally, HB 3718 was heard to address delays in special education evaluations by starting the 45-school-day timeline from the date of request rather than the date of consent, with the sponsor citing families missing scholarship deadlines because evaluations took too long. Members discussed federal timing rules and district practices, and the bill passed 7-3. The chair closed by noting it was the subcommittee’s final House bill meeting of the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, closer, they're not hearing me. Sorry.
• , probably hear this.
• May we hear from Dr. Wu? He is online, he's available for questions.
• Yes, hello, can you hear me? We hear you. Proceed. Thank you.
• You could hear Mr. Lopez's heartbreak. I'm chair that you could hear his his heartbroken It was Mr.

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee met and first announced that House Bill 132 would be rolled at the sponsor’s request because amendment language was still being worked on. The committee then proceeded without full quorum for part of the meeting and moved to House Bill 285, which concerns New Mexico’s disabled veterans property tax exemption. The sponsor and administration explained that the amended bill is a technical cleanup intended to clarify that the exemption applies to a veteran’s primary residence, address multiple-owner situations, and remove duplicative statutory language. Support came from New Mexico counties, the Tax and Revenue Department, and the Department of Veterans Services, all saying the bill would improve uniform administration without changing the substance of the exemption. Members also discussed broader concerns about veteran housing and homelessness, though the sponsor noted those issues were outside the bill’s scope. After quorum was established, the committee formally adopted the amendment to HB 285 and then passed the bill as amended on a do pass motion. Members asked about protest timelines and how the clarification would help veterans who are waiting on certification; the sponsor explained that the bill preserves the ability to protest within existing timeframes and gives veterans additional time to secure certification. The committee then took up House Bill 128, which updates New Mexico’s occupational disease and disablement law for firefighters by expanding presumptive cancer coverage and aligning the state list with newer research and federal changes. Testimony in support came from firefighters, labor groups, workers’ compensation officials, and medical experts, who described occupational cancer as a major cause of firefighter deaths and said the bill would reduce the burden on sick firefighters by presuming coverage rather than forcing them to prove causation. Members also raised questions about women firefighters, the five-year employment baseline, and fiscal impact, and the bill sponsor and Dr. Wu explained that the five-year standard reflects federal compromise and current data limitations. The committee then approved HB 128 on a do pass motion and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will be hearing bills today and not taking any further action, so we are good to go.
• Now we will open the public hearing on House Bill 2592, House Bill 2787, and House Bill 2834.
• They all share nearly identical or closely identical language, so we're going to hear them all at the
• We will hear from all three members before we go into public testimony. Thank you. Proceed.
• Okay, that— That will conclude this hearing on bills.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The House Corrections and Public Institutions Committee held a public hearing on House Bills 2592, 2787, and 2834, which were described as having nearly identical language. The bills would restore voting rights for people with felony convictions who are no longer incarcerated and, in the versions discussed, remove language requiring completion of probation or parole before registering to vote. Sponsors and supporters said the measures would align Missouri with other states, promote civic engagement, and help reduce recidivism. Several members also noted that people on supervision often work, pay taxes, and remain active in their communities, yet cannot vote under current law. Committee members asked about practical implementation, especially how voting would work for people who are incarcerated or serving misdemeanor sentences, and whether absentee voting mechanisms would be needed. Witnesses and sponsors said current law already allows some absentee voting for pretrial detainees and suggested the issue could be addressed through further amendment or discussion. Members also raised questions about exclusions for certain offenses, such as election-related felonies, and about whether people on life supervision would be covered. Sponsors explained that the bills would not restore voting rights to people currently incarcerated, but would restore them upon release or while on probation/parole, depending on the bill language. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support. Bill sponsors Representatives Stennett, Collins, and Anderson testified in favor, along with advocates from Empower Missouri, the Center for Responsive Government Action, the League of Women Voters of Missouri, ACLU of Missouri, Missouri Appleseed, Justice for All, the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP, Americans for Prosperity, and the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition. Supporters emphasized rehabilitation, community belonging, and public safety, citing studies and personal experiences showing that voting rights restoration can reduce recidivism and encourage reintegration. No opposition testimony was presented. The committee took no final action and adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the reason I'm asking is the chair does not like to hear stuff.
• And with that, I would ask for you to introduce this for a full hearing.
• the full hearing.
• You'll figure it out because I'll bring it to the full hearing.
• So I can bring you back examples at the full hearing, as this is actually an introductory hearing, but

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I very much appreciate you hearing this bill. It's a very, very simple bill.
• Now we will go to our first public hearing on Senate Bill 6211.
• I appreciate you hearing Senate Bill 6211.
• Next, we will hear from Jeff Pack, followed by John Worthington.
• Betting man, I guess they're going to have a question for every hearing.

Bills: SB6211 , SB6234 , SB6242

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: real estate, excise tax, growth management, uniformity, local government, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, shared stewardship, counties authority, land management, environmental agreements, local governance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing done, HB 2379 is left pending.
• Hearing none, HB 2115 is left pending. Alright.
• Hearing none, HB 1327 is left pending.
• Hearing none, HB 334 is left pending. Alright.
• Hearing none, HB 605 is left pending.

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:

• There will be a public hearing on HB340.
• I'll hold them till we get through with the public hearing portion.
• We will enter the public hearing portion of the meeting today.
• For three years now, we have had no hearings.
• The problem that I'm hearing throughout the state is just not uniformity.

Bills: SB140 , HB235 , HB276 , HB317 , HB340

Committee: House Children and Senior Advocacy

Keywords: Coach Safely Act, youth athletics, noncompliance penalties, Department of Public Health, youth athlete, social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Hearing none. Chair votes I. Hearing none. Chair votes I.
• Hearing none.
• Hearing none.
• Hearing none.
• Hearing none. Chair vai. discussion? Hearing none. Chair vai.

Bills: SB2003

Committee: Senate Water, Land, Culture and the Arts

Keywords: Mauna Kea, land management, University of Hawaii, astronomical observatories, leasable lands, natural resource management, stewardship authority, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts and Education heard testimony and discussed SB 20003, which would require the auditor’s report under Act 255 to include a recommendation on whether the Monarch Stewardship and Oversight Authority is fit to continue managing Monaca lands. Testimony focused on the bill’s reversion language, the role of the auditor, and whether the measure gave the auditor too much discretion without clear criteria. The Office of the Auditor’s position, read into the record, was that it had strong reservations because the bill did not provide standards for assessing fitness and asked that the requirement be held or amended. Other testimony suggested a work group with relevant agencies and Hawaiian practitioners to manage the transition and reduce conflict. Committee members debated whether the bill should simply restore the original reversion language or also require an audit-based fitness determination. Several members questioned the need for a 2031 audit when Act 255 already provides for a performance and financial audit in 2031 and noted that the bill could shift authority away from the legislature. In response, the committee chair explained that the measure was intended to restore language removed during conference and to address the transition back to the University of Hawaii if the authority was not meeting the act’s purpose. The committees ultimately recommended SB 20003 be passed with amendments. The amendments would strike the auditor/audit section, add language addressing timelines by providing a 10-year lease extension and sublease extension, and make technical changes including a defective date. The committees voted to adopt the amended measure and send it forward as an SD1. The transcript also included a separate Education Committee hearing on SB 3286, which would require the University of Hawaii to develop a facilities and student housing master plan and report to the legislature. University of Hawaii testimony said the system supports the intent but that the bill’s requirements are a heavy lift across 10 campuses and should follow development of a broader academic strategy. Members raised concerns about deferred maintenance, shifting priorities, and the lack of a systemwide plan, while the university said it already has a six-year capital improvement plan but acknowledged it does not fully incorporate the broader academic and housing strategy the bill contemplates.