Transcript Highlights:

• of the Judiciary Committee.
• This appropriates funds for the Judiciary for its biennial budget.
• </c><00:25:48.360><c> Judiciary</c> to suppl any Judiciary Judiciary to suppl any Judiciary Judiciary
• We can't delete Judiciary records.
• </c><01:07:10.480><c> is</c> Judiciary request that the Judiciary is Judiciary request that the Judiciary

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriation, transportation, technology.
• Appropriations, transportation, technology.
• Judiciary and Elections. HB 2870, residents of sex offenders regulation. Judiciary.
• Judiciary and Elections. HB 2868, unlawful masking penalty. Judiciary and Elections.
• So I think that point is something that there's no appropriation, or it's not enough appropriation accounted

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and a series of personal privilege introductions recognizing guests including the Doctor of the Day, realtors visiting for Realtor Day, and the family of former Senator Barbara Leff. The chamber also adopted House Concurrent Resolution 264 honoring Barbara Leff, followed by a moment of silence in her memory. The Senate then moved through a large number of bill introductions and first readings, as well as Committee of the Whole consideration of several measures. In Committee of the Whole, senators considered and advanced multiple bills, often with technical or negotiated floor amendments. Among those reported out as do pass or do pass as amended were SB 1494, SB 1497, SB 1503, SB 1535, SB 1544, SB 1580, SB 1582, SB 1584, SB 1585, SB 1602, SB 1632, SB 1723, and SB 1798. The amendments addressed topics such as technical corrections to mining and pension language, classical learning tests, sex trafficking record sealing, probation reporting, school safety funding, kinship foster care stipends, DES credentialing, domestic violence release conditions, and a school safety/threat identification pilot program that was revised into a FAFSA awareness recognition program. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted. The Senate then took up third-reading votes on several bills. HB 4115, SB 1012, SB 1213, SB 1416, SB 1474, SB 1511, SB 1549, SB 1573, SB 1634, SB 1647, SB 1649, SB 1664, and SB 1725 were considered, with most passing on party-line or near-party-line votes; SB 1416 and SB 1664 passed unanimously, while SB 1549 passed with broader support. Several members explained votes on immigration enforcement, concealed carry in establishments serving alcohol, commercial driver licensing, campaign finance, and a digital asset reserve fund. HB 2993, dealing with DPS legal representation funding, passed 16-13 after debate over constitutional concerns, funding sources, and the use of the Attorney General’s consumer fraud fund. The session ended with the Senate adopting the Committee of the Whole report and transmitting the passed bills to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the Senate, Senate Bill 1770, by the Judiciary and Rules Committee.
• resources, appropriating money to the Department of Environmental Quality, Appropriations to natural
• from the agency's appropriation.
• An act relating to the appropriation to the Endowment Fund Investment Board, appropriating additional
• in this case 5% of their appropriation with that broad brush.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, your Committee on Judiciary and Elections...
• The reader will read the Judiciary Committee amendment. Mr.
• There's a Judiciary Committee amendment, please. Mr.
• Is there any discussion on the Judiciary Committee amendment?
• Let's read the Appropriations and Transportation amendment.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the House of Representatives, House Bill 866 by the Appropriations Committee: An act relating to appropriations
• In the House of Representatives, House Bill 867 by the Appropriations Committee: An act relating to appropriations
• appropriation to the Public Employee Retirement System, appropriating additional money to the Public
• appropriation to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, appropriating additional money
• appropriation to the Office of Information Technology Services, appropriating additional money to the

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and $449,429 to the CHIP services appropriation.
• and $3,846,107 to the current expenses appropriation.
• Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the title of the bill.
• Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the title of the bill.
• Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the title of the bill.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and spent much of the day recognizing pages, guests, school groups, and civic organizations visiting the chamber. Several communications from the House and committee reports were received, and a petition on support for new electric transmission lines was referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining. Senate Resolution 61, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell, was referred to the Committee on Rules, while other resolutions and bills were held over or referred as required. The chamber then acted on a large number of measures, including concurrence in House amendments to Senate Bill 137 on parole eligibility for second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, and a conference committee was appointed on House Bill 4026 regarding integrated resource plans. Numerous House bills were advanced or passed after committee reports, covering topics such as industrial access roads, local airport hangar financing, college campus safety, youth and handicapped hunting, missing persons records, driver’s licenses, adjudicatory alternative dispositions, chronic absenteeism, party-switching deadlines for candidates, teacher/school personnel/state police pay raises, election official trainees, political committee filing notices, security personnel for the State Treasurer, post-secondary financial aid, legal practice rules, overseas voting, public officials’ residential information, homestead exemption, military juvenile jurisdiction, military interpersonal violence, kinship care subsidies, statewide prevention planning, contraband smuggling into federal prisons, forestry equipment taxation, microgrid and data center certification, transcript acceptance for students, emeritus medical licenses, higher education rule authorizations, board and commission reforms, managed care organization taxes, and deputy sheriff vacation carryover. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, and several received title amendments. The Senate also passed a series of supplemental appropriations, many with immediate-effect motions adopted by the required two-thirds vote. These included funding for the Department of Commerce, Workforce West Virginia, Homeland Security divisions, Health Facilities, Administration, Human Services, the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund, the Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Senior Services. Votes were overwhelmingly in favor, with only a few measures drawing one or more dissenting votes. One bill on tourism appropriations was referred to the Committee on Rules, and several second-reading bills were advanced, including measures on the West Virginia Collaboratory, business-ready sites, volunteer fire companies, religious organization eminent domain restrictions, electric load forecasting, and funeral service licensure.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1249, Alzheimer's disease state plan appropriation; Health and Human Services and Appropriations and
• SB 1250, appropriation State Route 87; Appropriations and Transportation and Technology.
• SB 1251, appropriation Department of Gaming telehealth; Appropriations and Transportation and Technology
• SB 1272, appropriation Douglas Porter entry. Appropriations, Transportation and Technology.
• SP 1273, appropriation Olga frontage road. Appropriations, Transportation and Technology.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's so appropriate. difficult job, but it's also the most rewarding job.
• We are on final passage of House Judiciary Committee substitute for House Bill 32. ...of House Judiciary
• House Judiciary substitute for House Bill 33.
• House Judiciary substitute for House Bill 33.
• House Judiciary Committee substitute for House Bill 33 has passed this House.

Bills: HB95 , HB111 , HJR1 , HB32 , HB33 , HB61 , HJM2 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM3 , HM11 , HM14 , HM15 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB8 , HB30 , HB43 , HB156 , HM2 , HM16

Keywords: HB95, additional judgeship, district court, judicial district, First Judicial District, Second Judicial District, district judges, court administration, judicial staffing, caseload, access to justice, New Mexico courts, judiciary, judge vacancy, court backlog, state courts, water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order

Transcript Highlights:

• Judiciary.
• Judiciary.
• Judiciary.
• Judiciary.
• Judiciary.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then received and processed multiple resignation notices and special-election proclamations for vacant seats. The chamber later recognized and swore in newly elected members Doyle Boudreaux, Reese Broussard, Chassity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray after no objections were raised to their qualifications. The House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session, and it adopted the proposed standing committee meeting schedule and referred prefiled bills to committee without objection. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the introduction and reading of a very large number of House bills and resolutions across many subject areas. Measures included the annual appropriations bill, a proposed constitutional convention, carbon dioxide sequestration and pipeline permitting, retirement-system changes, criminal justice and public safety proposals, education and workforce measures, local government and district creation bills, insurance and liability reforms, and numerous commemorative resolutions. Several prefiled bills were withdrawn, and many introduced measures were assigned to committees or allowed to lie over under the rules. The House then entered a joint session with the Senate for the governor’s address. Governor Jeff Landry outlined his administration’s priorities and praised recent legislative actions on taxes, insurance reform, transportation, education, and fiscal discipline. He urged support for Amendment 3 on teacher pay and retirement, called for further workforce and health initiatives, defended insurance and transportation reforms, and pressed for judicial reform, especially in Orleans Parish, citing the death of Jacob Carter and failures in electronic monitoring as examples. He also promoted replacing the vehicle inspection sticker with a QR code system and highlighted economic growth, lower taxes, and infrastructure investments. The joint session also included a presentation of the colors by the Louisiana National Guard and a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony for Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister, recognizing his 2018 rescue mission in Alaska. After the governor’s remarks and the military honor presentation, the joint session concluded and the House resumed introducing additional bills, continuing to file measures on topics such as health care, education, ethics, elections, local districts, and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriations and Transportation and Technology. Watermark paper ballots. Judiciary and Elections.
• House Bill 1097, appropriation, named claimants. Appropriations, Transportation, and Technology.
• Appropriations, Education and Appropriations, Transportation and Technology.
• Appropriations, Transportation, State Authority. Judiciary and Elections.
• Judiciary and Elections. I see right. Tributions early voting. Judiciary and Elections.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 950, by Appropriations Committee, an act relating to the appropriation to the Legislature,
• House Bill 950, by Appropriations Committee, an act relating to the appropriation to the Legislature,
• House Bill 942 by Appropriations Committee regarding appropriations, Millennium Income Fund.
• Houseful 942 by Appropriations Committee regarding Appropriations Millennium Income Fund.
• All three use IDLA consistently and appropriately. This is quite a haircut. Appropriately.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Judiciary and Elections; 1032; appropriation and dependent correctional oversight office; transportation
• and transportation and technology; public safety and appropriations and property; Judiciary and Elections
• Judiciary and Elections; intersection improvements; Appropriations and Transportation and Technology
• SB 1097, appropriation, named claimants. Appropriations, Transportation and Technology.
• Appropriations, Transportation, State Authority. Judiciary and Elections.

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened for opening day of the second regular session of the 57th Legislature with ceremonial prayers, the presentation of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem. Senate President Warren Petersen gave a farewell-style address highlighting his efforts to shift power toward members and committee chairs, preserve conservative policies, and deliver annual tax cuts, including a projected $1 billion cut this year. The chamber then recessed for an opening-day speech by Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller, who spoke about Arizona’s labor-force needs, workforce training, and GCU’s role in expanding access to education and middle-class jobs, including apprenticeships and technical programs tied to local employers. After returning to order, the Senate adopted its organizational rules for the session, including suspending rules so bills and resolutions could be read by number and short title only on first and second reading and by number and title only on third and final reading. Members also approved a motion to notify the House and Governor that the Senate was organized and ready for business, and the House later reported that it was likewise organized. The chamber then adopted a proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A and the rules of the 57th Legislature, and the President announced committee assignments for standing and statutory committees, including Appropriations, Education, Finance, Government, Military Affairs and Border Security, Natural Resources, Rules, Legislative Council, Legislative Audit, and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The remainder of the session focused on points of personal privilege, with senators introducing family members, constituents, local officials, school leaders, law enforcement officers, tribal leaders, and advocacy guests. Several members used the occasion to emphasize issues they expect to work on this session, including education, public safety, housing, water, early childhood services, veterans, border security, and workforce development. The Senate also received a motion to request House consent for an adjournment schedule, and the body adjourned until Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 1:15 p.m. after announcing upcoming committee meetings and the first batch of bill introductions and references.

Transcript Highlights:

• Forget about the fashion, but going to appropriate law enforcement?
• In our experience, and “To appropriate law enforcement?
• And I'll see you at the Judiciary Committee.
• It is going to Judiciary from here.
• First amendment and re-refer to the Committee on Judiciary. Senator Grayson: Aye.

Committee: Senate Banking and Financial Institutions

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Report same without recommendation and hence referred to the Judiciary Committee.
• Report same with recommendation that it do pass, and then it's referred to the Judiciary Committee.
• Report same with recommendation that it do pass and hence referred to the Judiciary Committee.
• Reports same with recommendation that it do pass and then is referred to the Judiciary Committee.
• Your House Appropriations and Finance Committee will meet at 1:30 today. In room 307.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1249, Alzheimer's disease state plan appropriation, Health and Human Services and Appropriations and
• SB 1250, appropriation State Route 87, Appropriations and Transportation Technology.
• SB 1251, appropriation Department of Gaming telehealth, Appropriations and Transportation Technology.
• SB 1272, Appropriation Douglas Porter Entry. Appropriations, Transportation Technology.
• SP 1273, Appropriation Olga Frontage Road. Appropriations, Transportation Technology.

Summary: The Senate convened with a prayer by Rabbi Mendel Soup of Lake Havasu and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Senator Carroll, then completed an electronic roll call and approved the journal for January 20, 2026. The chamber recognized several guest groups and visitors, including CRNA Capital Day participants, rural electric cooperative representatives, AEA Retired members, March of Dimes advocates, students and school officials, and other invited guests. Senators used points of personal privilege to highlight the work of these groups and to introduce visitors in the gallery. The body then read a long list of bills on second reading, covering a wide range of topics including child welfare, public school safety, health insurance, water policy, taxation, housing, elections, public safety, transportation, and abortion-related measures. The Senate also received first-reading introductions and committee referrals for additional bills on subjects such as motor vehicle booting fees, traumatic event counseling, election procedures, assisted living, short-term rentals, and various appropriations and policy changes. No substantive debate or votes on the bills were recorded in the transcript. After committee reports were noted and the Senate briefly recessed for bill assignments, the chamber returned to order and continued with first reading and reference of more bills and resolutions. At the end of the session, the Majority Whip moved to adjourn, and the Senate adjourned until Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1437, by the Finance Committee, regarding appropriations, Idaho State Police.
• House Bill 968, by the Appropriations Committee, regarding appropriations.
• Senate Bill 1437 is a trailer appropriation for FY 2027 for the Idaho State Police.
• We have most everybody but the Appropriations Committee, so be at ease. Please don't go far.
• The bill is referred to the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee for enrolling.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the appropriation to the Office of the Attorney General, appropriating additional monies to the Office
• House Bill 973 by the Appropriations Committee: an act relating to the appropriation to the Military
• House Bill 976 by the Appropriations Committee: an act relating to appropriations amending Section 5
• House Bill 978 by Appropriations Committee and Act relating to the appropriation to the Department of
• Appropriation.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriation to the Commission on Aging, appropriating additional monies to the Commission on Aging
• House Bill 923 by the Appropriations Committee regarding appropriations.
• House Bill 923 by the Appropriations Committee regarding appropriations, College and Universities.
• House Bill 924 by the Appropriations Committee regarding appropriations, State Liquor Division.
• House Bill 925 by the Appropriations Committee regarding appropriations, Judicial Branch.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also prohibits funds appropriation. within the funds available by appropriation of the legislature
• The Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the title of the bill.
• The Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the title of the bill.
• On the adoption of the amendment offered by the Committee on the Judiciary.
• The Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the title of the bill.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a question for Judiciary. Is anyone from Judiciary here, or even Legal Services?
• This measure appropriates funds to the Judiciary for services contracted with community-based organizations
• ><c> the</c> measure appropriates funds to the measure appropriates funds to the Judiciary<02:12:44.719
• of funding from the Judiciary.
• Judiciary.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs committees heard HB 756 HD1, a measure on flavored tobacco products. Supporters included the Attorney General, Department of Health, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, youth advocates, public health groups, and Kaiser Permanente. They argued flavored tobacco and menthol are used to attract and addict young people, cited rising youth and young adult vaping rates, and pointed to public health harms and evidence from other states that flavor restrictions reduced e-cigarette sales. The Attorney General requested oral amendments to correct a statutory reference, repeal a county preemption provision so counties could enact stricter flavor bans, and restore appropriations, positions, and the original effective date. Opponents, including retail and wholesale businesses, argued the bill would hurt small businesses and state tax revenue, push sales to the black market, and remove a harm-reduction option for adult smokers; they urged stronger enforcement instead of a ban. After testimony, the committees took up amendments and recommendations. The chair proposed correcting the statutory citation to HRS 26-38, adopting a Department of Health amendment on disposal of electronic smoking devices and e-liquids as hazardous waste, and noting the appropriations, FTE, and effective date in the committee report. Members then voted to pass HB 756 HD1 with amendments in both committees, with the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs committee recording one member as supporting with reservations. The transcript then moved to HB 806, relating to fireworks, which would appropriate funds for the Department of Law Enforcement to conduct sting operations on Oʻahu to enforce fireworks laws. The Department of Law Enforcement and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, saying undercover enforcement is costly and additional funding is needed. A community testifier also supported stronger enforcement, citing illegal aerial fireworks, noise, and impacts on pets and kupuna. No final vote on HB 806 was shown in the excerpt. The Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs committee also heard HB 438, which would create a Due Process in Immigration Proceedings Program to provide legal representation in immigration court for income-qualified individuals. Support came from civil rights, legal aid, ACLU, and law school clinic representatives, who said counsel is needed to ensure due process and fair access to justice, especially because immigration proceedings can lead to deportation and family separation. Opposition testifiers argued taxpayer-funded counsel for people in immigration proceedings is inappropriate, unlawful, or unfair to citizens and legal residents. One law school representative suggested a technical amendment to broaden language about training and education. The excerpt ends before a final vote on HB 438 is shown.