Transcript Highlights:

• And some things that we've already put in motion underneath the direction of the governor, coming out
• That was one of the solutions in power, or allow for constraints to say no, we're not going to do that
• That was one of the solutions in power, or allow for constraints to say no, we're not going to do that
• I throw an example up there: Michigan, through executive order, because their governor had this authority
• Our governor does not.

Committee: Joint Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:

• Indeed, this petition illustrates<00:09:17.360><c> the</c><00:09:17.480><c> power</c><00:09:17.960><c
• of</c><00:09:18.200><c> one</c><00:09:18.520><c> person</c><00:09:19.360><c> to</c> illustrates the power
• of one person to illustrates the power of one person to transform<00:09:20.160><c> countless</c><00:
• > Walz</c><00:57:28.200><c> dismisses</c><00:57:28.880><c> the</c><00:57:28.960><c> case</c> uh, Governor
• Walz dismisses the case uh, Governor Walz dismisses the case concluding<00:57:31.320><c> that</c><00

Bills: HF3455 , HF3936 , HF3860 , HF3656 , HF4060

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We are allowing the private school to have the ultimate power in this equation.
• There are powerful forces trying to dismantle public education in this state and across the country.
• I said to the governor that we ought to be worried more about our public schools than who's coming across
• It says the Governor and the Legislative Budget Board may not transfer or...
• I haven't seen a superintendent who gave Governor Abbott $12 million last year.

Bills: HB3 , HB3

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, oftentimes the governor, as well as the First Lady and Chief of Staff, will see kupuna that
• 00:01:53.920><c> the</c> support you know often times uh the support you know often times uh the governor
• 55.040><c> first</c><00:01:55.280><c> lady</c><00:01:55.520><c> and</c><00:01:55.719><c> Chief</c> governor
• as well as first lady and Chief governor as well as first lady and Chief of<00:01:56.119><c> Staff</
• The H-3 power plant is taking all of the electronics that are at the curbside, which should be, uh, and

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The joint Housing and Health and Human Services hearing began with Senate Bill 878, which would extend the sunset date for the state rent supplement program for kupuna to June 30, 2028. Testimony was uniformly supportive, including from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Executive Office on Aging, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and others. Catholic Charities described a waitlist of seniors at imminent risk of homelessness and said the program helps seniors retain housing or secure units with landlord support. Members asked whether the bill would expand the number of households served; staff said the contract allows up to 127 households and that additional pending households could be funded, but applicants must still go through the program process. Both committees voted to pass SB 878 unamended. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1610 on Ohana Zones. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions supported the measure so long as it did not supplant existing funding, and described the funding as supporting homelessness services and wraparound supports. The Department of Human Services and Department of Land and Natural Resources offered comments, with DHS suggesting a definition of “kali” be added for clarity. The committee chair said the bill would receive technical amendments for clarity and consistency and accepted proposed amendments related to including “tales” in the program; the measure was advanced with amendments, with members voting in favor in both committees. In the joint Health and Human Services and Labor and Technology hearing, Senate Bill 1496 on civil rights and website accessibility drew support from disability advocates and organizations, including the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the National Federation of the Blind, the Deaf and Blind Task Force, and the Disability and Communication Access Board. Testimony emphasized the need for stronger state protections amid concerns about federal enforcement, while one testifier raised concerns about jurisdiction, minimum contacts, the use of WCAG 2.1 standards, and the bill’s immediate effective date. The committees decided to pass SB 1496 with technical amendments, including adding a defective date to allow further work before conference, and the recommendation was adopted in both committees. Later, the joint Health, Human Services, and Commerce and Consumer Protection hearing took up Senate Bill 404 on service animals. The Attorney General’s office raised a possible constitutional issue and the lack of an enforcement mechanism, while DHS deferred to other agencies. DCAB supported the bill but recommended amendments to identify an enforcement agency and require notices from professionals and sellers of service-animal or emotional-support-animal paraphernalia. Several advocacy and real estate-related groups testified in support. After discussion, the chair recommended deferring SB 404 for further work because of the Attorney General’s concerns, and the hearing adjourned without a vote on the measure. The final joint Transportation, Culture and the Arts, and Health and Human Services agenda heard SB 1526 on a drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory and SB 1492 on mobility management; both measures were advanced with amendments or as-is, with SB 1526 sent forward with technical amendments and SB 1492 moved ahead after members noted blank dollar amounts and requested the Department of Transportation provide figures.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have two governor appointees.
• We have two governor appointees, two members elected by the active membership, and one retired member
• The investment return assumption is the most powerful assumption that a public pension plan has.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement held an informational hearing on the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) to review its long-term financial condition, funding status, investment performance, experience study results, and possible legislation. MOSERS staff explained that the plan is a statutorily created defined benefit system covering state employees, several colleges and quasi-governmental entities, with an 11-member board and outside actuarial and investment consultants. They reported the June 30, 2025 valuation showed a funded ratio of 55.4%, assets of about $9.6 billion, liabilities of about $17.4 billion, and a FY27 actuarial employer rate of 27.44%, which the board raised to a 32% minimum contribution rate under a policy adopted in 2023. MOSERS attributed the funding decline over time to several factors: reductions in the assumed investment return from 8.5% to 6.95%, mortality assumption updates, a move from open to closed amortization, and especially weak payroll growth and a shrinking active workforce. Staff said the minimum contribution policy is intended to accelerate UAL paydown and could bring the plan to 80% funded by 2037 rather than 2041, assuming all assumptions are met. The committee also discussed the recent experience study, which kept the investment return assumption at 6.95% and made only modest assumption changes, and a proposed 2026 bill package (SB 1557 and SB 1054) that would automatically refund small balances under $1,000 to terminated non-vested members and add auto-escalation to the deferred compensation plan. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on investment strategy and why MOSERS has lagged some peers. The investment consultant said historical underperformance was driven mainly by asset allocation choices that emphasized a more risk-balanced, diversified portfolio with less public equity exposure than peers during a period when equities performed very strongly. He said the board adopted a more equity-oriented allocation in 2024 and is phasing it in over eight quarters, with recent short-term results improving and the portfolio outperforming its policy benchmark. Members also asked about the effect of inactive members, the rationale for the higher employer contribution, and whether the current board should be held responsible for past decisions; MOSERS officials emphasized that the current board is trying to correct course and that pension funding changes take time. The hearing also touched on ongoing litigation against a former private equity manager, Catalyst Capital, with MOSERS saying it has spent about $20 million in legal fees so far and that the case remains on appeal. The committee took no formal vote and adjourned after the informational presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank Governor Ferguson for appointing me to this position.
• I was appointed by Governor Ferguson in the fall to the Board of Trustees of Olympic College.
• And to your— ...to your experience that you had in Iceland, they are doing power production geothermal

Summary: The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee first waived the five-day notice rule and held a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 2525, which would establish a Heritage Orchard Program at Washington State University. Staff explained the bill was narrowed from the original version and would require WSU to maintain a registry of heritage orchards and a list of rare and lost apple varieties, with a null and void clause and fiscal note available. Representative Gloria Mendoza testified in support, describing Washington’s apple history and the effort to identify and preserve old apple trees still found on farms and trails around the state. Members asked questions about how the program would locate trees and preserve historic varieties, but no vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard several gubernatorial appointments to higher education boards. Representative Deborah Inteman was nominated to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Bryce W. McKibben to the Pierce College Board of Trustees, former Senator David Frockt to the Western Washington University Board of Trustees, and former Senator Christine Rolfes to the Olympic College Board of Trustees. Each appointee described their background in higher education, public service, and community college or university advocacy, and members asked about attendance, board service, and how they would help bridge legislative and institutional priorities. The committee also held a work session on Central Washington University’s geothermal and decarbonization efforts, with staff explaining the university’s open-loop geothermal system, planned geo-eco plants, and climate action goals tied to state clean building and decarbonization mandates. CWU officials said the project is intended to reduce emissions, support campus heating and cooling, and serve as a living laboratory for students. In executive session, the committee moved to report a panel of gubernatorial appointments, including the higher education appointments heard that day, with a recommendation that they be confirmed. The motion passed by voice vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill establishes a clear standard as framework for gubernatorial transitions, ensuring the Governor-elect
• Overdorf: This amendment requires Governor-elect signs a memorandum of understanding before being provided
• The American Victory is the World War II merchant vessel that is one of three operational steam powered

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Nava, I think she is meeting with the governor this morning on some other things and will not
• to bring you this bill, because we have worked so hard for the last four or five years with the governor
• work she has put into this endeavor, and that we have a legislature have invested in that has the power

Bills: SB29 , SB37

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Messages from the Governor: there are none. Messages from the Senate: there are none.
• She is not done yet; if this makes it through today and ultimately the Governor and then she gets to
• Current law ignores how powerful a threat to a beloved pet can be, and not updating the state statute

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, welcomed visiting students from De La Salle High School and a guest for Assembly Member Kalra, and then moved through a lengthy concurrence and third-reading agenda. Early actions included concurrence on ACR 21 honoring fallen Galt Police Officer Herminda Grewal, followed by a series of mostly noncontroversial bills on utilities, reclamation districts, housing, wildfire relief, mobile homes, environmental quality, health care coverage, and local government. Several measures were presented as technical, clarifying, or urgency bills, and many passed with unanimous or near-unanimous votes; notable items included AB 238 (wildfire mortgage forbearance), AB 571 (Southern California Veterans Cemetery permitting/CEQA exemption), AB 574 (health care coverage), AB 696 (lithium-ion battery safety advisory group), AB 1150 (airport car rental facility maintenance), AB 1154 (ADU parking standards), and SB 499 (impact fee deferrals for emergency-related parkland and utility infrastructure). SB 499 drew the most debate, with supporters emphasizing disaster resilience and dual-use parkland and an opponent arguing it would worsen housing-related fee burdens; it ultimately passed after a call was lifted. The chamber also adopted SJR 4 urging restoration of NIH funding, and passed SB 230 expanding workers’ compensation presumptions to additional firefighters, SB 92 tightening density bonus law to curb loopholes, SB 782 creating disaster relief financing districts, SB 40 capping insulin copays at $35 and limiting step therapy, SB 362 strengthening small-business financing disclosures, SB 513 requiring workers access to training records, SB 489 requiring public agencies involved in housing approvals to post requirements online, SB 31 promoting recycled water use, SB 551 introducing normalization and dynamic security concepts in corrections, SB 639 extending flood-protection deadlines for Sacramento/Yuba projects, SB 653 defining environmentally sensitive vegetation management, AB 652 on air pollution, and SB 221 updating stalking law to include threats to pets. Several bills received recorded opposition or split votes, including SB 551, SB 439, SB 782, and SB 499, but most measures passed comfortably. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments on AB 516 and AB 1523, and later lifted the call on SB 499 to complete passage. The session included an adjournment in memory of Rick Bryson of Long Beach, with Assembly Member Lowenthal highlighting Bryson’s athletic, business, and civic contributions. The day ended with reminders to secure floor managers for pending bills, a notice of the next day’s 10 a.m. floor session, and adjournment until Thursday, September 4th.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as you well know, the legislative process is 30 or 60 days; the governor signs it.
• that at the time, local government, the Department of Finance and Administration had funding from Governor
• It really depends on how much they're incorporating and what kind of powers they think they might need

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Senate Bill 23 was very wisely seen by Governor Abbott to implement that in certain counties.
• your budget and then giving you everything you've gained from when Senate Bill 23 was signed by the governor
• for our law enforcement, um, and other county staff, um, without someone to handle those emergency powers

Transcript Highlights:

• What we have here with this bill, many of you heard the governor in her State of the State address.
• As I mentioned, this was part of the agenda that the governor included in her package of things she wanted
• The Sixth Circuit explained that if a government had the power to force someone to speak something they

Bills: SB211 , HB96 , SB215 , SB257 , SB13 , SB13

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• To your comments, the power of CalFresh benefits is that those benefits are spent almost all in the month
• And more of our panels will speak to the power of those benefits for individuals and local economies.
• We did everything in our power to stay afloat, and then we reapplied for assistance.
• California has a powerful tool in the California Food Assistance Program, otherwise known as CFAP.
• They probably serve in the leadership we need from this Assembly members, along with the Governor.

Summary: The committee held its second hearing on CalFresh enrollment and nutrition, focused on the effects of H.R. 1 on eligibility, administration, and food access in California. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Social Services outlined major federal changes: expanded work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, narrowed eligibility for certain lawfully present non-citizens, and new state and county cost-sharing for both administrative and benefit costs. Officials said about 665,000 Californians could lose benefits under the work requirement, roughly 72,000 non-citizens could lose eligibility, and California could face hundreds of millions to billions in new costs depending on error rates and implementation details. DSS described its mitigation efforts, including county guidance, trainings, automation, outreach materials, and coordination with workforce programs, while county representatives argued the workload is larger than current funding assumptions and that staffing and training needs are urgent. Members also heard from a CalFresh recipient, Lauren Keltz, who described how benefits helped her family during her daughter’s medical crisis and how a clerical error led to the loss of food, health, and cash assistance, contributing to homelessness and food insecurity. Her testimony was used to underscore the consequences of administrative errors and benefit disruptions. Grocery and agriculture representatives said CalFresh is not only an anti-hunger program but also a major economic driver, with benefits spent locally at grocery stores, farmers markets, and farm stands. They warned that cuts would reduce demand for fresh food, hurt independent grocers and small farmers, and increase reliance on food banks, while urging continued support for market match and farm-to-food-bank programs. In the second panel, advocates and local administrators emphasized the human and operational impacts of the federal changes. The California Immigrant Policy Center called for expanding the state-funded California Food Assistance Program to cover more immigrants excluded by H.R. 1. A San Francisco eligibility worker and a San Diego county administrator said the new rules will add substantial casework, require more client outreach and exemption screening, and strain already limited staffing. Justice in Aging stressed that CalFresh is a key anti-hunger tool for older adults and people with disabilities, especially as housing and health costs rise, and supported outreach funding for seniors. Throughout the hearing, members discussed the need for state funding, better automation, and stronger county and community partnerships to reduce disenrollment and protect access to food.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've gone through it very carefully and virtually all the power is in the commissioners.
• Which is, and if you read through their materials and so forth, you see that their concern is not power
• It's about health care, it's not about power over states.
• It says, again, this is, I think, a violation of the separation of powers.
• So, what is Article 13 on page 21 is entitled Finance Powers.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Delivery to the governor. To the governor for signature on Friday, March 20th, 2026, at 3:30 p.m.
• Delivery<00:28:25.679><c> to</c><00:28:26.000><c> the</c><00:28:26.159><c> governor.
• </c> Delivery to the governor. Delivery to the governor.
• ><c> signature</c><00:28:28.080><c> on</c><00:28:28.240><c> Friday,</c> &gt;&gt; To the governor for
• They have limited number limited powers.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> operational during power outages. operational during power outages.
• Um the governor the know, quick story.
• Um the governor the governor<03:14:05.200><c> visited</c><03:14:05.760><c> our</c><03:14:06.000><c> school
• </c><03:14:06.319><c> last</c><03:14:06.640><c> spring</c> governor visited our school last spring governor
• All of our governor through the school.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> minority party, and has the governor minority party, and has the governor fill<01:44:41.199><c>
• >> So the annual reports will go to the governor.
• >> So the annual reports will go to the governor.
• </c> annual reports will go to the governor annual reports will go to the governor um<01:51:46.000><c
• </c><01:51:47.840><c> for</c> um they will go to the governor for um they will go to the governor for

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation by Rabbi Ari Goldstein, whose remarks were journalized at the request of the senator from District 33. The chamber then recognized the doctor of the day, Dr. Maryann Lamont, for her 50 years in medicine and her work in neurology and stroke care, and also thanked a legislative aide, Samantha Briggs, who is leaving for law school. The presiding officer noted a quorum was present and moved into the day’s floor work. The Senate handled several messages and committee reports, including a conference committee appointment on Senate Bill 18, which concerns provisional social work licensure. In Finance, the chamber advanced Senate Bill 246 on Health Services Cost Review Commission member terms, Senate Bill 370 on acupuncture board revisions, Senate Bill 564 creating a Division of Data Protection in the Attorney General’s office and a related work group, Senate Bill 782 on telecommunications infrastructure protections, Senate Bill 808 on health insurance provider panel requirements, Senate Bill 849 on agricultural equipment warranties, Senate Bill 867 on the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission, and Senate Bill 982 on mutual insurance holding companies converting back to mutual insurers. Most of these bills were reported favorably with technical or conforming amendments, which were adopted without objection, and each was ordered printed for third reading. The committee also considered several House bills with Senate cross-files or identical measures. These included House Bill 118 on money transmitter licensing, House Bills 339 and 512 on Anne Arundel County Board of License Commissioners compensation, House Bill 1100 on telecommunications infrastructure protections, House Bill 1395 on agricultural equipment warranties, House Bill 1473 creating Maryland’s Future Board, House Bill 226 on Department of Disabilities housing programs, House Bill 278 codifying the Longevity Ready Maryland plan, and House Bill 746 on collaborative care model coverage and cost-sharing limits. In each case, the committee reports were adopted, amendments were approved where offered, and the bills were advanced to third reading or passed for third reading, with no recorded opposition on the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a unified system of government, and towns and school districts have whatever powers the state
• Taffy, who was the deputy chair, met with Governor then John Sununu.
• Taffy, who was the deputy chair, met with Governor then John Sununu.
• Governor then John Cenounu. We had in Governor then John Cenounu.
• </c><05:12:11.120><c> It's</c> committee and and the governor. It's committee and and the governor.

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, so this amendment deals a lot with a bill we passed last year that the governor signed, 118, that
• After we passed that bill that Governor signed last year, essentially fixing a loophole.
• ><00:24:17.480><c> that</c><00:24:17.600><c> bill</c><00:24:17.840><c> that</c><00:24:18.200><c> Governor
• </c> after we passed that bill that Governor after we passed that bill that Governor suu<00:24:18.880
• </c><01:18:15.880><c> are</c> statutory powers are statutory powers are um<01:18:18.800><c> as</c><01

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• And what happens is when you're, if let's say, your cell tower has a power hit where they have some kind
• I'm the executive director of the board of governors of the licensed architects, landscape architects
• We have 11 members, and are they all governor-appointed? Is that correct? And they are.
• All are appointed by the governor.
• Then we have one public member who's appointed by the governor.

Committee: House Administrative Rules