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:

• At this time, I'll turn it over to Eric, who will give you the background on the legislation.
• I also think it's worth noting that the legislation, which was very complex when it happened, did...
• The legislation was very complex when it happened.
• We also request a favorable report. We also request a favorable report on that bill.
• Following a request from a legislator, MSNO conducted a survey that was sent out to all of its 750 members

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing on a wide range of credible service and retirement-related bills, with testimony largely focused on allowing public employees to buy back prior service time or receive more appropriate retirement classifications. Bills discussed included retirement buyback for Joint Base Cape Cod firefighters (H. 4317), clarification of call firefighter buyback rights (H. 2883/S. 1915), veterans’ buyback (H. 2957), a Bridgewater State University police death-benefit/heart-law issue (filed by Rep. Gallagher), unpaid parental leave buyback for municipal employees (H. 2946), school nurse creditable service (H. 2887/S. 1787), former private/parochial school teacher buyback (S. 1900/H. 2873), Massport police retirement classification (S. 1888), contract employee buyback (H. 2795), Retirement Plus late entry (H. 2792), CVTE/teacher-related buyback issues (H. 2762), Peace Corps/AmeriCorps creditable service (H. 2927), and institutional school teacher retirement fairness (H. 2757). Several speakers also referenced related bills for teachers and nurses that had been heard previously or were filed in parallel in the other branch. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support of the bills. Speakers argued that the measures would correct inequities, recognize prior public service, and help recruit and retain workers in hard-to-fill public jobs. Firefighters described the unique federal-to-state transition at Joint Base Cape Cod and said some members were left out of earlier buyback opportunities. Veterans, teachers, school nurses, correctional educators, and Massport police all described service requirements, administrative gaps, or outdated statutory language that they said unfairly limited retirement credit or placed them in the wrong retirement group. Several witnesses emphasized that the proposals were fiscally responsible because employees would pay the cost of the buybacks, and some noted that similar bills had been filed repeatedly in prior sessions. Committee members asked a few clarifying questions, mostly about why certain employees had been excluded under current law or how the retirement provisions would work. No opposition testimony was presented. The hearing concluded after all scheduled witnesses testified, with the chairs thanking participants for their service and the committee voting to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of those requesting follow-up, ...
• Of those requesting follow-up, only about a quarter actually request referral to law enforcement, with
• So in terms of folks who are not requesting follow-up, sometimes it's hard to know why they're not requesting
• Seven offices had submitted a budget request, and those budget requests were pending.
• Legislators requested, we took a look at one of the larger cities in the state.

Summary: The committee received agency updates on several behavioral health and justice programs. The Health Care Authority reported that assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) has expanded from two counties to eight, with a ninth expected in December, and described AOT as a court-ordered, least-restrictive treatment model that depends on close coordination among courts, treatment providers, and local officials. The agency also reviewed Joel’s Law, which lets family members, guardians, conservators, or tribes petition for an initial involuntary detention when they disagree with a designated crisis responder’s decision. Judges Ferreira and Larson said petition use has increased significantly statewide and in Snohomish County, but many cases do not proceed beyond the initial detention stage; they also noted family frustration, disjointed processes, and bed shortages as ongoing issues. Committee members asked about expansion criteria, the law’s effectiveness, and how the system fits together with other mental health interventions. The Attorney General’s Office presented on the hate crimes and bias incidents hotline created by SB 5427. The hotline began a pilot in King, Clark, and Spokane counties on July 1, 2025, with a statewide launch planned for 2027. Officials said the advisory committee helped shape the referral process, intake questions, outreach materials, and public branding. In the first five months, the hotline received 301 reports, with roughly 45% from King County and about 38% from outside the pilot counties; 42% requested follow-up, and only about a quarter of those wanted law enforcement referral. Testimony emphasized that the hotline is non-emergency, anonymous if desired, and focused on referrals rather than investigation. Members asked about why callers do not seek law enforcement involvement, how the hotline compares with Oregon’s launch, and what kinds of incidents are being reported. The Office of Independent Investigations reported progress on its work investigating police deadly force fatalities. Director Roger Rogoff said the agency has grown to 66 employees, including 31 investigators, and has completed six fatality investigations, with two public final reports posted. He said the office now operates in Region 1 and plans to expand statewide as staffing allows, with a future east-side expansion dependent on additional investigators. He also said the office has 29 requests to review prior cases, but those reviews are time-intensive and limited to cases with new evidence. Committee members asked about staffing needs, local cooperation, and whether the office conducts parallel investigations; Rogoff said OII performs the criminal investigation, while agencies may still do administrative reviews. The committee then heard a lengthy panel on public defense caseload standards and funding. The Washington State Bar Association, Washington Defender Association, county representatives, and city representatives all discussed the new caseload standards and the implementation timeline. Speakers said the standards reflect modern public defense realities but warned that funding, attorney recruitment and retention, office space, and data collection remain major barriers. Survey results from county offices showed wide variation in readiness, with many counties uncertain about timelines and most citing lack of funding as the biggest obstacle; attorney attrition was also described as high. County and city representatives argued that the new standards will require far more attorneys and support staff, and that local governments cannot absorb the cost without substantial state funding. They urged the Legislature to increase state support, improve workforce pipelines, and address structural issues in the public defense system.

Transcript Highlights:

• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• On behalf of the Native American Legislative Caucus.
• I find myself compelled as a parent and as a legislator to bring this piece of legislation.
• And I respectfully request your aye vote.
• It has been appropriately weaponized against taxpayers.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Stephanie McClintow from the 18th Legislative District. Thank you.
• Stephanie McClintow from the 18th Legislative District. Thank you.
• One, we don't have definitions in this legislation, as I recall.
• Seeing none, let us welcome the prime sponsor of the legislation.
• I represent the Fifth Legislative District, and I'm pleased to be here on behalf of requests that have

Bills: HB2142 , HB2369 , HB2432

Committee: House Education

Keywords: remote learning, hybrid learning, education reform, alternative education, student engagement, local food, public schools, nutrition, sustainability, agriculture, technology access, educational resources, surplus hardware, student support, 904, 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.

Committee: House Education

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:

• <00:13:42.079><c> is</c> appropriation is appropriation is $2,268<00:13:44.079><c> th000</c><00:13:44.839
• Can you... appropriation to the medical school of appropriation to the medical school of graduate<00:
• </c> done with those Appropriations done with those Appropriations appreciate<00:31:47.720><c> the</c
• And I just wanted to take a moment to express my support for this legislation.
• </c><01:30:04.560><c> that</c> is um an line item appropriation that is um an line item appropriation

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

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

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

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:

• have, your sub has some amendments, basically, Your sub has some amendments, basically, that were requested
• On higher education performance funding, including findings from the legislative-mandated 2023 study.
• Any appropriation of state funding to a fiscal institution described in this subsection for the '28-'
• So we do have the power as appropriators in '28 and '29 to make— So we do have the power as appropriators
• For that one year, based on their appropriation of the previous year?

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In that case, an appropriate notice will be posted.
• training, input, and the appropriate training, input, and advice.<00:16:56.720><c> As</c><00:16:56.959
• So, I think, yeah, I think it would be appropriate. It would certainly work.
• </c> think it could it would be appropriate. think it could it would be appropriate.
• ><c> tiny</c><00:31:16.159><c> amendment</c> are requesting one small tiny amendment are requesting one

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In that case, appropriate notice will be posted.
• In that case, appropriate notice will be posted.
• In that case, appropriate notice will be posted.
• ><c> the</c><00:36:24.920><c> legislative</c><00:36:25.599><c> body</c> testimonies that the legislative
• </c> Condominiums including many legislators Condominiums including many legislators and<00:49:23.960

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several bills, with most measures drawing support from state boards, agencies, and industry groups. SB 102 (restaurants) had one supportive testifier and no questions. SB 1367 SD1 (installment loans) drew support from DCCA and other boards, but the chair raised concerns about a proposed $5 debit-card convenience fee, saying it seemed high and suggesting it might be amended downward; DCCA said it would check with industry on the likely impact. SB 1373 SD2 (administrative licensure action against sex offenders) received broad support from DCCA and multiple professional licensing boards, including psychology, physical therapy, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, massage therapy, nursing, optometry, barbering and cosmetology, the Hawaii Medical Board, and HPD. The committee then heard SB 1142 SD1 (insurance proceeds), which was supported by DCCA, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, while State Farm offered comments and the Hawaii Bankers Association opposed. Testimony focused on insurance access after the Lahaina wildfires and the need to address underinsured homeowners. The committee also discussed SB 144 SD2 (stabilization of property insurance), with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, and comments from the Attorney General and DCCA Insurance Division about revising the financing structure and correcting bill language. Opponents and reservationed supporters argued the bill may not help if applicants can still obtain coverage at very high prices, while supporters said it would expand market capacity and provide a safety net as climate-related losses continue. Finally, SB 253 SD2 (condominium reserves) received support from Hawaiʻi Realtors, CI, and several individual testifiers. Supporters said it would enforce existing disclosure requirements under Act 199 and improve reserve funding transparency, while one individual argued stronger enforcement and an ombudsman-style office would be more effective. The chair reminded testifiers to stay on the bill at hand. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully request an aye vote.
• I rise today as chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. Mr.
• Senator Sheila Kuehl was California's first openly gay state legislator.
• President, requesting the previous roll call vote as well.
• Without objection, I request that file item 32, SB 1189, be sent back.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, I would ask that we make sure our patients get appropriate care.
• Funding requests are limited to...
• It feels good to get behind something good like this legislation.
• It feels good to get behind something good like this legislation.
• But I'm so proud of this piece of legislation.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing FSU Day at the Capitol, Catholic lay leaders, seniors advocates, Broward County school officials, and veterans-related guests. The chamber then moved through its special order calendar, beginning with several Florida Statutes revision bills. SB 36 adopted the 2025 Florida Statutes and prior session law; SB 38 conformed statutory terminology for the Division of Criminal Investigations; SB 40 removed repealed provisions; and SB 42 cleaned up obsolete language, cross-references, and typographical errors. Each passed unanimously or nearly unanimously after brief explanations and no substantive debate. The Senate also passed CS/SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience, as amended to strengthen the Florida Flood Hub’s role under USF and clarify research and modeling responsibilities; CS/SB 116 on veterans, which expanded veteran awareness and coordination efforts, added mental health training, and authorized adult day health care; SB 118 on presidential libraries, which preempted local regulation to give a future Florida presidential library maximum flexibility; CS/SB 126 on prescription hearing aids, allowing mail distribution for adults after appropriate professional evaluation; SB 150 on abandoning restrained dogs during natural disasters, amended to conform to the House; SB 294 limiting collaborative pharmacy practice from being expanded to certain serious cardiac conditions; and SM 314 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure. Most of these measures passed with strong bipartisan support, though SB 118 drew questions about local zoning, parking, and safety and passed 36-3, with one senator later changing to a no vote over local control concerns. Later, the Senate approved CS/CS/SB 322 creating a nonjudicial process for removing unauthorized persons from commercial property, and CS/SB 348 on ethics, which would penalize false claims of military rank or honors for material gain and require paycheck withholding for delinquent ethics fines owed by public employees. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 7012 on child welfare, which included a CPI/case manager recruitment program, a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and improved data collection and capacity analysis for commercially sexually exploited children. CS/SB 108 on administrative procedures was adopted after a detailed explanation of rule review, transparency, and rulemaking deadlines, and CS/SB 160 on public accountancy passed after an amendment clarifying contracted services and discussion of CPA licensure pathways. The longest and most celebratory debate centered on CS/SB 110 for rural communities. The bill created an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and road funding, school and health care investments, and related rural support measures. Amendments refined transportation priorities in the Everglades agricultural area and clarified the FARM road program. Senators from across the chamber praised the bill as a long-awaited investment in rural Florida, agriculture, broadband, health care, and quality of life. After extensive debate and emotional closing remarks from the sponsor and leadership, the bill passed overwhelmingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• Legislative Affairs Director. A big step in the right direction.
• The appropriation was $20 million. We received over a billion dollars in implementation requests.
• The request last year, if you were trimming it down to $750 million, how much did we appropriate that
• The request last year, if you were trimming it down to $750 million, how much did we appropriate that
• Last year, there was $150 million appropriated for, Thank you, Chair.

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee heard two informational presentations. First, the Department of Environmental Protection gave an overview of Florida’s water quality framework, explaining how numeric nutrient criteria, monitoring, TMDLs, and Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) are used to address impaired waters. DEP described recent changes intended to increase accountability, including five-year milestones in BMAPs, requirements for advanced wastewater treatment by 2033 in certain cases, limits on new conventional septic systems where sewer is available, enhanced nutrient-reducing septic requirements where sewer is not available, and a new agricultural regional water quality improvement element. The department also highlighted the Water Quality Improvement Grant Program, which has received nearly $1.4 billion over four years and funded more than 300 projects, as well as a public dashboard showing funded projects and a forthcoming trend-analysis dashboard for monitoring data. Members asked about enforcement of BMAP milestones, septic-to-sewer coordination with local governments, PFAS and microplastics monitoring, septic system performance standards, wastewater facility compliance, and how many facilities remain below advanced wastewater treatment standards. DEP said it can enforce BMAP obligations through administrative orders, consent orders, court action, fines, and permit conditions, and that it inspects and verifies wastewater facilities while relying on reporting and site inspections for sewer infrastructure. The department also said nutrient-reducing septic systems must achieve a 65 percent reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus, with verification required when projects seek BMAP credit. The committee then heard from the chief resilience officer on the Resilient Florida program, created in 2021 to address sea-level rise and coastal flooding. The presentation reviewed planning grants, vulnerability assessments, and the statewide critical-asset assessment, noting that all counties and most municipalities are expected to complete assessments by the end of 2026 and that vulnerability is now an eligibility requirement for future project funding. The program reported major statewide outcomes, including stormwater storage, miles of infrastructure and roadway protection, acres restored, and coastal protection projects, and highlighted examples such as breakwater improvements and lift-station elevation. Members asked about project delays, funding totals, overlap with other funding sources, and project prioritization; the program said delays often stem from design and permitting after award, that its reported totals reflect only grants it administers, and that projects are scored under the same criteria rather than being prioritized by asset type. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the LGBTQ Legislative Caucus Chair.
• The consent calendar motions are as follows: SB 945, do pass to Appropriations; SB 959, do pass to Appropriations
• SB 959, do pass to Appropriations. SB 1017, do pass as amended to Appropriations. SB 1058, do pass.
• SB 1378, do pass as amended to Appropriations. SB 1381, do pass as amended to Appropriations.
• SB 1412, do pass as amended to Appropriations. And SB 1443, do pass to Appropriations.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, 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

Transcript Highlights:

• We have invited testimony beginning with the Comptroller's office, followed by the legislative budget
• So we would need to work with legislative budget board staff to do that.
• Chair calls Kevin Kavanaugh and Aaron Henrickson from the Legislative Budget board. And Mr.
• Uh, as mentioned, my name is Aaron Hendrickson, Legislative Budget board.
• of the chairman to give y'all, uh, for any tax bills that he may request.

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• So we would need to work with legislative budget board staff to do that.
• Through this back and forth then they can request to go to SOA They can request to go to the State Office
• Chair calls Kevin Cavanaugh and Erin Hendrickson from the Legislative Budget Board.
• As mentioned, my name is Aaron Henderson, Legislative Budget Board.
• General Appropriations Act, which provides that authority.

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me address a concern that has been raised about this legislation.
• This legislation is temporary and narrowly tailored.
• This legislation, unfortunately, does not address those barriers.
• This legislation, unfortunately, does not address those barriers.
• And the motion is to pass to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. Okay.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing-related bills. SB 996 by Senator Padilla would let manufactured homeowners opt to title their homes as real property, with supporters saying this would improve access to conventional mortgages, consumer protections, and lower-cost financing. SB 866 by Senator Blakespear would require cities and counties to include homelessness-related information in their annual housing element reports, with supporters saying the bill would improve transparency, regional coordination, and accountability around homelessness funding and services. The committee also heard SB 1090 by Senator Perez, which would impose a temporary moratorium in Altadena on certain state housing density laws after the Eaton Fire. Supporters, including Supervisor Catherine Barger and many Altadena residents, argued the bill would protect fire survivors from speculative investors and give families time to rebuild and return home. Opponents argued the bill could limit tools that homeowners need to finance rebuilding and could reduce future housing production. After extensive testimony, the committee passed SB 1090 to the Assembly Local Government Committee on a 10-0 vote. SB 1388 by Senator Durazo would create an Affordable Housing Risk Reduction Program to help affordable housing providers reduce insurance costs through technical assistance and risk-mitigation support. Supporters said rising insurance premiums are threatening the viability of affordable housing developments and existing units. The committee also reconsidered and then voted on SB 1092, which was taken up only for reconsideration and final vote; after a split vote, the bill ultimately passed the committee. Final recorded votes showed SB 866 and SB 996 passing unanimously, SB 1388 passing with one no vote and one not voting, and SB 1092 passing 7-5 after reconsideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Line general fund appropriation Line general fund appropriation um<00:31:58.480><c> what</c><00:
• </c> pieces of that original appropriation pieces of that original appropriation the<00:32:29.960><c>
• A roll call has been requested. The committee legislative assistant will take the roll. Davids: I.
• <01:37:48.920><c> the</c><01:37:49.080><c> committee</c><01:37:49.400><c> Legislative</c> requested the
• committee Legislative requested the committee Legislative Assistant<01:37:50.199><c> will</c><01:37:

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house