Transcript Highlights:

• </c> And<00:49:12.640><c> before</c><00:49:12.960><c> I</c><00:49:13.280><c> get</c><00:49:13.440><c>
• into</c><00:49:14.079><c> each</c><00:49:14.240><c> of</c><00:49:14.400><c> those,</c><00:49:14.720>
• </c> We'll<00:49:24.559><c> start</c><00:49:24.800><c> off</c><00:49:24.960><c> with</c><00:49:25.359
• :49:29.119><c> of</c><00:49:29.280><c> J</c><00:49:29.599><c> Stone</c><00:49:29.920><c> to</c><00:49
• </c><00:49:56.079><c> Chair</c><00:49:56.400><c> of</c><00:49:56.559><c> five</c><00:49:56.800><c> in

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard multiple gubernatorial confirmation nominations, beginning with GM509 for Jay Stone to the Environmental Advisory Council. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and other supporters praised Stone’s more than 30 years of engineering experience and said he would help balance environmental protection with economic development. Stone said he wanted to contribute to environmental health and sustainability, and identified sea level rise and PFAS in drinking water as key concerns. The committee then moved to GM531 and GM532, nominations of Judson Leair and Nicholas Ta to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported both nominees. Leair emphasized his farming background and said pesticide policy should be more comprehensive, selective, and threshold-based rather than relying on broad-spectrum use; Ta said he would focus on integrated pest management, label compliance, education, and using the least amount of pesticide necessary, including non-chemical alternatives such as exclusion and behavior changes. The committee next considered GM533, Janet Ashman’s nomination to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau all supported her, citing her experience, responsiveness, and prior service. Ashman said she wanted to help make pesticide regulations more understandable and stressed targeted pest control, scouting, and more precise products. Members asked about the complexity of pesticide regulations and the shift away from broad-based pesticide use; Ashman explained that regulations are complicated for both farmers and homeowners and that newer, more targeted products are needed as pests develop resistance. The committee then heard GM57 for Don Hegger Nordl to the Environmental Advisory Council. Supporters said she has environmental planning experience and knowledge of Chapter 343 and related rules. Nordl said she could bring state, county, and federal experience to the council and identified the need for more volunteers and broader professional representation as the council’s biggest challenge. Finally, the committee took up GM697, Dean Matsukawa’s nomination as deputy director of the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and several other testifiers strongly supported him, highlighting his 30 years with the department, his family farming background, and his understanding of farmers’ needs, especially access to capital and biosecurity challenges. Testifiers said he is calm, logical, experienced, and already familiar with the department’s work. Matsukawa was described as a reluctant nominee who was sought out for the role. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on the nominations during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I do<00:49:04.400><c> hope</c><00:49:04.559><c> more</c><00:49:04.800><c> work</c><00:49:04.960><
• c> can</c><00:49:05.119><c> be</c><00:49:05.280><c> done</c><00:49:05.359><c> on</c><00:49:05.599><c>
• 00:49:08.319><c> and</c><00:49:08.640><c> I</c><00:49:08.880><c> am</c><00:49:09.040><c> looking</c><
• I<00:49:12.079><c> recognize</c><00:49:12.480><c> the</c><00:49:12.640><c> member</c><00:49:12.720><c
• </c><00:49:18.079><c> Um</c><00:49:19.200><c> uh</c><00:49:19.520><c> myself</c><00:49:20.079><c> and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• c> um</c><00:49:07.760><c> and</c><00:49:07.920><c> I'll</c><00:49:08.040><c> turn</c><00:49:08.280><
• cordelli<00:49:16.480><c> for</c><00:49:16.599><c> a</c><00:49:17.040><c> motion</c><00:49:18.040><c
• :49:23.440><c> on</c><00:49:23.640><c> the</c><00:49:23.920><c> the</c><00:49:24.040><c> main</c><00:
• 49:33.040><c> the</c><00:49:33.200><c> maker</c><00:49:33.440><c> of</c><00:49:33.559><c> the</c> you
• :49:33.558><c> I</c><04:49:33.680><c> was</c><04:49:34.360><c> no</c><04:49:35.360><c> all</c><04:49:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with House Bill 184, which would create a committee to study changing school start times. Members discussed Amendment 0394, which made the study committee’s duties more investigative and adjusted reporting recipients, including the Governor. Several members raised questions about whether the committee should review evidence-based studies, local district decisions, and existing district reports; supporters said the amendment would better allow the committee to gather information and recognize local control. The amendment passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Representative Litchfield noted that no one had testified in opposition and encouraged the future study committee to review an Oyster River School District report on school start times. The committee then took up House Bill 394, concerning cooperative school district budget committees and board member representatives. Amendment 0476 was adopted 17-0 after discussion that it clarified the bill’s language and reflected work with the School Boards Association. The committee then voted OTPA on the bill, which also passed 17-0. House Bill 738, requiring background checks for employees and volunteers at certain non-public schools or education service providers receiving public funds, was moved inexpedient to legislate. Supporters said the bill would create practical and legal problems for private citizens and homeschooling families, and the motion passed 15-2 with no minority report, placing the bill on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 235, which would amend the educator code of ethics and conduct to add responsibilities to parents. Supporters argued parents should be explicitly included in the code, while opponents said parents were already covered in existing ethics language and statute. The bill passed narrowly, 9-8. The committee then returned to House Bill 532 on alternate dispute resolution and individualized education plan team meeting facilitation. Amendment 0480H clarified that different rules would apply separately to neutral conference, mediation, and IEP facilitation; it passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Finally, the committee moved to House Bill 564, concerning adoption of school administrative unit budgets, and voted to retain the bill for further review because members said there was still confusion about how it would apply to single-district and multi-district SAUs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And And And like,<00:49:01.280><c> god</c><00:49:01.520><c> forbid</c><00:49:01.839><c> if</c><00:49:
• 24</c><00:49:08.800><c> hours</c><00:49:09.119><c> you</c><00:49:09.280><c> all</c><00:49:09.520><c>
• 00:49:13.280><c> closed</c> doors<00:49:17.200><c> and</c><00:49:17.440><c> without</c><00:49:17.839>
• </c><00:49:24.480><c> And</c><00:49:24.800><c> I</c><00:49:25.040><c> don't</c><00:49:25.200><c> want
• </c><00:49:26.559><c> I</c><00:49:26.800><c> don't</c><00:49:26.960><c> want</c><00:49:27.119><c> us<

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The conference committee met late on Friday evening to discuss the Public Safety and Judiciary budget agreement, beginning with a brief exchange among members about concerns that the executive branch had been delaying the committee’s work by waiting to approve legislative decisions. Members emphasized that the legislature should retain its independence while still allowing normal collaboration with the governor’s office. The committee then moved through several outstanding policy items and adopted them without opposition, including the A38 amendment addressing data-sharing concerns involving disability-related information, a study of firefighting services by the state fire marshal, and an A46 amendment governing access to unredacted portable recording system data in collision investigations, with guardrails on disclosure and use. The committee next reviewed the spreadsheet and budget targets. Fiscal staff explained the judiciary side of the agreement, including funding for court operating costs, a one-time Justice Partner Access Program appropriation, forensic exam rate increases, guardian ad litem funding, public defense, human rights, the competency attainment board, the cannabis expungement board, and fee increases for civil filings and motions. On the public safety side, staff described the target as well as the discretionary items funded, including nonprofit security grants, BCA staffing changes, fire marshal initiatives, a 10-year arson statute of limitations, prosecutor training grants, legal representation for children, E911 funding for critical infrastructure, Philando Castile Training Fund support, corrections-related savings from the Stillwater phased closure and sentence-to-serve elimination, a mandatory minimums task force, a victims of crime account transfer, a decommissioning study, in-service use-of-force training, and extensions of several expiring appropriations. The committee also noted a correction to a spreadsheet label related to the Stillwater closure item. After the spreadsheet walkthrough, the committee took testimony from Chief Justice Natalie Hudson and State Court Administrator Jeff Shorban on behalf of the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Hudson thanked the committee for its work and said the agreement covers some unavoidable costs, including insurance, lease expenses, forensic examiner pay, and the new access system, but argued it does not adequately address the judiciary’s most urgent problem: staffing and judicial compensation. She said court employees are leaving for better-paying jobs, judicial salaries are frozen for two years, and applicant pools for judgeships have declined, especially in greater Minnesota. She also said the judicial branch was not meaningfully consulted on the budget target and urged lawmakers to recognize the courts as a constitutional obligation rather than a discretionary program.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:05.760><c> made</c><00:49:05.920><c> it</c><00:49:06.079><c> through</c><00:49:06.240><c>
• And we<00:49:14.960><c> take</c><00:49:15.040><c> a</c><00:49:15.200><c> position</c><00:49:15.440><c
• </c><00:49:16.640><c> I</c><00:49:16.800><c> tell</c><00:49:16.880><c> you</c><00:49:16.960><c> what<
• :20.960><c> SBAC</c><00:49:21.599><c> is</c><00:49:22.160><c> we</c><00:49:22.480><c> feel</c><00:49:
• :24.319><c> that</c><00:49:24.960><c> when</c><00:49:25.280><c> one</c><00:49:25.520><c> of</c><00:49

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:49:03.200><c> of</c><00:49:03.359><c> the</c><00:49:03.520><c> stories</c><00:49:03.760><c> of</
• ><c> of</c><00:49:14.319><c> our</c><00:49:14.480><c> cars</c><00:49:14.720><c> in</c><00:49:14.880><
• </c><00:49:15.920><c> Um</c><00:49:16.240><c> that's</c><00:49:16.480><c> that's</c><00:49:16.800><c>
• And this may actually<00:49:32.960><c> just</c><00:49:33.200><c> be</c><00:49:33.280><c> a</c><00:49:
• it's</c><00:49:42.000><c> maybe</c><00:49:42.240><c> for</c><00:49:42.400><c> you</c><00:49:42.800><c

Bills: HF2358 , HF3496 , HF3504 , HF2169 , HF3440

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: public safety, coercion, criminal penalties, law enforcement, victim protection, HF3496, supervision abatement, earned compliance credit, earned compliance credits, conditional release, supervised release, corrections, Minnesota Department of Corrections, restitution, willful nonpayment, probation-like supervision, release supervision, community supervision, lifetime conditional release, early termination of supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; Did<00:49:01.680><c> you</c><00:49:01.839><c> want</c><00:49:02.000><c> to</c><00:49:02.079>
• </c><00:49:19.839><c> If</c><00:49:20.079><c> I</c><00:49:20.319><c> know</c><00:49:20.480><c> that</
• If<00:49:34.559><c> I</c><00:49:34.800><c> know</c><00:49:34.880><c> that</c><00:49:35.200><c> House<
• /c><00:49:35.440><c> Bill</c><00:49:36.079><c> 148</c><00:49:36.800><c> is</c><00:49:37.040><c> a</c>
• ><00:49:38.559><c> reasonable</c><00:49:39.200><c> bill</c><00:49:39.440><c> with</c><00:49:39.760><c

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we</c><00:49:04.960><c> if</c><00:49:05.200><c> we</c><00:49:05.359><c> need</c><00:49:05.599><c> a<
• ><00:49:09.520><c> of</c><00:49:09.640><c> the</c><00:49:09.799><c> information</c><00:49:10.240><c>
• it then we would<00:49:18.760><c> we</c><00:49:18.880><c> would</c><00:49:19.079><c> deny</c><00:49:
• </c><00:49:20.839><c> do</c><00:49:21.079><c> with</c><00:49:21.240><c> all</c><00:49:21.359><c> of</
• ><c> we</c><00:49:24.559><c> have</c><00:49:24.760><c> all</c><00:49:24.920><c> the</c><00:49:25.079>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the Department of Environmental Services on proposed changes in House Bill 2 and related technical changes in House Bill 1 tied to the governor’s permitting realignment initiative. The proposal would move environmental review staff from Fish and Game and DNCR to DES to create a more centralized “one-stop shop” for applicants needing DES permits, especially for wildlife and natural heritage reviews. DES said the goal is to speed permitting, support a 60-day review clock, and improve coordination among agencies while keeping the substantive review work in place. Members asked about staffing impacts, the scope of the transferred duties, and whether the change would create redundancy or weaken the other agencies. DES said most of the affected staff work primarily on these reviews, though Fish and Game staff also handle other state and federal reviews, which is why the proposal was adjusted to keep one of the four Fish and Game positions there and move three to DES, along with two positions from DNCR. DES also described a new supervisory position in HB 2 to manage the transferred staff within its land resources bureau. Officials said the reviews would still be done by specialists, but under DES supervision, and that the agencies would continue to coordinate recommendations on species impacts and mitigation. The committee also discussed fee increases intended to offset costs, including a 50% increase in wetlands fees and a 100% increase in alteration-of-terrain fees, with the department saying the changes would cover the new positions. Members raised concerns about impacts on private homeowners, possible incentives to work without permits, and whether fines should be used more as a revenue source or for mitigation. DES said wetlands permits are roughly split between homeowner-related and commercial projects, that permit-by-notification already creates a two-tier structure for smaller projects, and that enforcement relies partly on public complaints and online permitting systems. The department also said most fines currently go to the general fund and vary widely year to year, with about $75,000 budgeted, and that the proposal would also create permit-by-notification authority for alteration-of-terrain projects between 100,000 and 150,000 square feet, mirroring language in Senate Bill 110. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We<00:49:00.720><c> know</c><00:49:00.800><c> it's</c><00:49:00.960><c> a</c><00:49:01.119><c> high</
• ><c> to</c><00:49:02.960><c> build</c><00:49:03.200><c> out</c><00:49:03.440><c> to</c><00:49:03.680>
• So the recommendation<00:49:06.800><c> here</c><00:49:07.040><c> is</c><00:49:07.359><c> to</c><00:49
• :49:08.880><c> as</c><00:49:09.040><c> an</c><00:49:09.240><c> HD1,</c><00:49:10.240><c> a</c><00:49:
• :49:31.440><c> and</c><00:49:31.599><c> adopt</c><00:49:31.839><c> the</c><00:49:32.119><c> HD1.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education heard several Senate concurrent resolutions related to University of Hawaiʻi programs, audits, and workforce development. Testimony on SCR 50, which urged establishment of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the Maui campus, was strongly supportive, with witnesses citing the state’s nursing shortage and Maui’s acute physician and nurse shortages. The committee later recommended passage with a technical HD1 amendment, and the measure was adopted unanimously by the members present. The committee also heard SCR 137, SCR 138, and SCR 142, all involving proposed audits. SCR 137 sought a performance audit of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation; the Foundation opposed it, and the chair recommended deferral after noting the legislative auditor’s view that the office lacks jurisdiction over the private nonprofit. SCR 138 proposed a management and performance audit of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy, and SCR 142 proposed an audit of the UH Mānoa athletics department. UH representatives provided comments on both, with athletics explaining existing NCAA-required financial audits, internal performance evaluations, and a strategic plan that includes self-review. The committee ultimately recommended passage of SCR 138 and SCR 142 with technical HD1 amendments. For SCR 192, which proposed a veterinary medicine expansion working group, UH and other witnesses discussed the idea of exploring a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, but the chair said a community college is not the appropriate venue for a doctoral program. The committee recommended substantial HD1 changes removing Windward Community College from the title and shifting the effort to the UH system level, adding the UH president or designee and a Hilo campus representative to the working group; the amended resolution was adopted. The committee also heard SCR 193, calling for community colleges to identify bachelor’s degree and workforce pathways aligned with regional needs, and SCR 203, which sought exploration of an Alzheimer’s disease research center and federal funding requirements; both drew supportive comments and no opposition. The meeting recessed briefly for lack of quorum, then reconvened for decision-making and adopted the chair’s recommendations on the measures considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• to</c><00:49:03.280><c> take</c><00:49:03.520><c> a</c><00:49:03.680><c> middle</c><00:49:03.920><c>
• 49:09.760><c> um</c><00:49:09.839><c> and</c><00:49:10.079><c> our</c><00:49:10.319><c> own</c> coin
• :49:11.599><c> we're</c><00:49:11.839><c> going</c><00:49:12.000><c> to</c><00:49:12.160><c> instead<
• on</c><00:49:13.280><c> rails</c><00:49:13.680><c> that</c><00:49:13.920><c> we</c><00:49:14.079><c>
• 00:49:26.480><c> the</c><00:49:26.720><c> financial</c><00:49:27.280><c> returns</c><00:49:27.760><c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission met with a quorum, approved the agenda, and approved the November 12 minutes after a motion, second, and unanimous voice/online consent. The chair said the meeting would include two presentations—one from Noah Herman of Fortress Global and one from John Kicko and team from Hedera—followed by discussion of the commission’s next steps and public comment. The chair also noted he was still seeking a clerk for note-taking. Herman’s presentation focused on stablecoins, blockchain use cases, and operational considerations for states and other institutions. He described Fortress as an enterprise crypto-wallet and treasury platform serving corporates, governments, and nonprofits, and used examples such as Save the Children and a large global commodities firm to illustrate custody and treasury management on blockchain rails. He said stablecoins are designed to maintain a U.S. dollar peg, are increasingly backed by treasuries and subject to greater transparency, and are being adopted by major firms and payment companies because they can improve speed, reduce cost, and simplify payments. He also highlighted market growth, including claims that stablecoins now represent a significant share of on-chain activity and are a major holder of U.S. Treasuries. He identified custody as a key issue for state and institutional use, outlining qualified custody, managed custody, and self-custody models. He said the main practical challenge for the commodities client was moving funds safely and quickly across global time zones and that blockchain rails could solve problems that traditional banking rails could not. He framed the broader trend as one of accelerating institutional adoption, citing recent acquisitions and product launches by Visa, Stripe, Citi, and PayPal as evidence that stablecoin infrastructure is becoming mainstream.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:08.400><c> But</c><00:49:08.559><c> that's</c><00:49:08.640><c> what</c><00:49:08.800><c>
• </c><00:49:10.079><c> Well,</c><00:49:10.640><c> I</c><00:49:11.440><c> I</c><00:49:11.839><c> don't<
• </c><00:49:13.119><c> I'm</c><00:49:13.280><c> just</c><00:49:13.440><c> in</c><00:49:13.599><c> the<
• c><00:49:20.160><c> two</c><00:49:20.319><c> and</c><00:49:20.559><c> four</c><00:49:20.720><c> do</c
• <00:49:29.520><c> then</c><00:49:29.839><c> tell</c><00:49:30.000><c> us</c><00:49:30.160><c> that</c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 25, which would allow New Hampshire state-chartered credit unions to choose, by member vote, to compensate their board members. Prime sponsor Senator Dan Innis said the bill is enabling only, does not require compensation, and is intended to align New Hampshire with other states that already permit this. He argued that credit union board service now requires more time and expertise, and that compensation could help attract stronger candidates and improve governance. Representatives from the Cooperative Credit Union Association and St. Mary’s Bank testified in support. They said the change would not create salaries, but could cover modest compensation or reimbursements such as daycare, education, cybersecurity, or accounting training. They emphasized that credit unions remain nonprofit and member-driven, that board members must be credit union members and elected by members, and that any compensation decision would be made by the membership at an annual meeting or through the credit union’s voting process. Witnesses also said the bill would help with recruitment and retention, especially as credit union operations have become more complex and digital, and noted that similar authority exists in 16 other states, including Rhode Island. Committee members asked about the historical reason credit unions were excluded, the amount and structure of compensation, whether there would be a cap, and how voting would work. Witnesses said the bill does not set a statutory maximum, but in practice the amount would be disclosed to members and set through the vote; they also described St. Mary’s Bank’s ballot process and said proxy or ballot procedures depend on each credit union’s bylaws. One witness noted that federally chartered credit unions are subject to different limits. After testimony and questions, the chair closed the public hearing on Senate Bill 25 and then moved on to Senate Bill 26.

Transcript Highlights:

• And most<00:49:06.400><c> good</c><00:49:06.800><c> parents</c><00:49:07.440><c> are</c><00:49:07.680
• I<00:49:17.200><c> raised</c><00:49:17.680><c> three</c><00:49:18.000><c> children</c><00:49:18.400><
• </c><00:49:26.000><c> So,</c><00:49:26.480><c> I</c><00:49:26.800><c> get</c><00:49:27.520><c> the</c
• </c><00:49:30.880><c> talk</c><00:49:31.040><c> to</c><00:49:31.280><c> parents</c><00:49:31.680><c>
• </c><00:49:40.880><c> is</c><00:49:41.119><c> a</c><00:49:41.359><c> good</c><00:49:41.599><c> parent

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:49:22.800><c> The</c><00:49:23.040><c> intent</c><00:49:23.359><c> of</c><00:49:23.599><c> this<
• c> to</c><00:49:33.359><c> be</c><00:49:33.440><c> the</c><00:49:33.680><c> kids</c><00:49:33.839><c>
• They tend to<00:49:36.079><c> come</c><00:49:36.240><c> from</c><00:49:36.640><c> families</c><00:49:
• </c><00:49:40.480><c> And</c><00:49:40.640><c> we</c><00:49:40.880><c> felt</c><00:49:41.440><c> it</
• c> them</c><00:49:47.200><c> to,</c><00:49:47.680><c> you</c><00:49:47.839><c> know,</c><00:49:48.480

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :49:09.680><c> to</c><00:49:09.799><c> maintain</c><00:49:10.240><c> those</c><00:49:10.440><c> at</c
• all so<00:49:11.319><c> you</c><00:49:11.440><c> would</c><00:49:11.599><c> run</c><00:49:11.760><c>
• ><c> in</c><00:49:13.480><c> this</c><00:49:13.640><c> case</c><00:49:13.839><c> 300</c><00:49:14.359
• </c><00:49:17.200><c> filters</c><00:49:17.599><c> take</c><00:49:17.799><c> care</c><00:49:17.960><c
• :49:20.680><c> the</c><00:49:20.799><c> things</c><00:49:20.960><c> that</c><00:49:21.079><c> we</c><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with housekeeping about report deadlines and bill scheduling, noting that reports should be submitted as soon as possible, ideally by Friday night, so they can be reviewed and filed on time. The chair explained the process for Democratic and Republican reports, reviewed the timing sheet for early bills, and said the committee was trying to stay on schedule to avoid hearings during vacation week. He also shared his contact information for questions. The committee then moved into executive session on 10 bills. On HB 13, relative to OHRV operation on certain highways in Windsor, the committee voted unanimously to retain the bill after the prime sponsor asked that it be held for possible local action. On HB 127, extending the closing date of OHRV trails on the Connecticut River headquarters property from September 30 to Columbus Day, members debated economic benefits for Pittsburgh versus concerns about local control, conservation easements, and hunting impacts. The committee voted 11-5 ought to pass; the chair noted it would not go on consent and would have a fiscal note. On HB 174, increasing the maximum weight of a utility terrain vehicle to 3,500 pounds unladen dry weight, supporters argued the change could help accommodate electric vehicles and heavier equipment, while opponents raised concerns about undefined terms, enforcement, private landowner rights, and unintended consequences. The committee voted 8-7 ought to pass. On HB 203, requiring C-COT approved personal flotation devices while on New Hampshire state waters, the committee heard a split between members who emphasized personal responsibility and those who said the bill would improve safety and education and could reduce drowning deaths. The motion to ITL failed 11-5, meaning the committee rejected the motion to kill the bill and advanced it instead. The transcript then moved on to HB 332, allowing for the establishment of a village district, but the discussion of that bill was not included in the provided excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:00.400><c> Speaker,</c><00:49:00.720><c> I'm</c><00:49:00.960><c> also</c><00:49:01.440><c
• </c><00:49:09.920><c> First</c><00:49:10.079><c> of</c><00:49:10.240><c> all,</c><00:49:10.400><c> the
• criminalize<00:49:13.599><c> the</c><00:49:13.839><c> misuse</c><00:49:14.559><c> of</c><00:49:14.800
• to own<00:49:31.040><c> or</c><00:49:31.359><c> misuse</c><00:49:32.400><c> less</c><00:49:33.200><c
• Our bill<00:49:35.599><c> does</c><00:49:35.839><c> not</c><00:49:36.079><c> change</c><00:49:36.319>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So<00:49:01.040><c> there's</c><00:49:01.520><c> delays</c><00:49:02.319><c> in</c><00:49:02.640><c>
• Uh well,<00:49:09.599><c> it</c><00:49:09.839><c> just</c><00:49:10.079><c> seems</c><00:49:10.319><c
• So, I hope you'll<00:49:21.680><c> I</c><00:49:21.920><c> hope</c><00:49:22.000><c> you'll</c><00:49:
• c><00:49:23.440><c> two</c><00:49:23.599><c> years</c><00:49:23.839><c> is</c><00:49:24.079><c> great
• :49:28.000><c> to</c><00:49:28.160><c> do</c><00:49:28.240><c> a</c><00:49:28.400><c> lot</c><00:49:28.559

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard Governor’s Message 790, the nomination of Karen T. Nakasone to serve as chief judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals for a 10-year term. The chair announced that no vote would be taken that day and that the committee would vote on Thursday. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with the chair reading that there were 103 supporters, zero opposed, and one comment. Supporters included current and retired judges, public defenders, bar association representatives, former elected officials, and community members. They described Nakasone as intelligent, fair, hardworking, well respected, and a strong leader with deep legal experience. Several speakers emphasized her judicial temperament, her work as an advocate and judge, and her community involvement, including leadership in civic and civil rights organizations. One pro se litigant also testified that she had been treated kindly and respectfully by Nakasone in prior interactions. The Hawaii State Bar Association reported that it had conducted an interview and review process and found her qualified for the position. In her own remarks, Nakasone introduced family and colleagues, described her 30-year legal career, and said her first job after law school was as an ICA law clerk. She highlighted the court’s backlog reduction efforts under Acting Chief Judge Katherine Leonard, saying the number of older pending appeals had dropped significantly through team-based reforms, and stated that she would continue that work if confirmed. The hearing ended without questions from the committee and with the nomination held for a later vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• :49:01.560><c> mean,</c><00:49:01.760><c> you</c><00:49:01.880><c> see</c><00:49:02.320><c> paniolos<
• </c><00:49:04.440><c> So,</c><00:49:04.800><c> I</c><00:49:04.880><c> mean,</c><00:49:05.200><c> just
• 49:07.400><c> um</c><00:49:07.560><c> somebody</c><00:49:07.960><c> who</c><00:49:08.320><c> enjoys</
• </c><00:49:09.760><c> and</c><00:49:10.120><c> just</c><00:49:10.560><c> it</c><00:49:10.960><c> it</
• keiki<00:49:18.120><c> over</c><00:49:18.320><c> there,</c><00:49:18.560><c> but</c><00:49:19.160><c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard and then later voted on a series of gubernatorial nominations and several bills. In the nomination portion, DLNR and the nominees generally testified in support or briefly described their qualifications and goals. The nominees included Elray Moreno, Richard First, and Stephen DeWalt for the Game Management Advisory Commission; Noah Dolim and Graham Hart for the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board; Joseph Pickard, Jared Machado, and Elena Bryant for the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council; Kaipuloa Makanui Alona Kealoha for the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission; and Zachary Bentolina for the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission. Testimony emphasized public service, community representation, historic preservation awareness, and bridging communication between communities and DLNR. For the Kaho‘olawe nomination, testimony also discussed storm damage and ongoing assessments on the island. The chair asked questions about historic preservation outreach, board vacancies, and the status of Kaho‘olawe facilities. GM 651 was deferred so the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts could weigh in, while the others were later recommended for advise and consent and adopted without opposition. In decision making on the 1:00 p.m. agenda, the committee voted to advise and consent on GM 641, 642, 703, 683, 743, 645, 646, 647, and 738. GM 651 was deferred to a later date. The committee also noted that some nominees were interim or reappointments, and clarified that the Kaneohe Bay and Kaho‘olawe-related appointments were being confirmed for the first time or as continuing service, as applicable. The committee then moved into its 1:05 p.m. agenda on several bills. HB 2426 relating to state parks was passed with amendments, including an effective date change. HB 1881 relating to land use was passed with amendments that limited passenger ropeways for private single-home use, removed the mountain definition, prohibited passenger ropeways in all land use districts, and added a narrow exemption for certain government or recognized nonprofit projects subject to legislative approval. HB 1918 relating to taxation was passed with amendments changing the effective date to January 1, 2028 so it could proceed to Ways and Means. HB 1802 relating to conservation mitigation banks was passed with technical amendments. Each measure was adopted by the members present without recorded opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• :07.440><c> for</c><00:49:08.120><c> or</c><00:49:08.240><c> not</c><00:49:08.480><c> call</c><00:49:
• </c><00:49:12.160><c> I</c><00:49:12.280><c> just</c><00:49:12.520><c> want</c><00:49:12.680><c> to</
• /c><00:49:15.600><c> on</c><00:49:15.720><c> a</c><00:49:15.760><c> case</c><00:49:16.400><c> that</c
• it's DCYF<00:49:18.400><c> or</c><00:49:18.560><c> what</c><00:49:18.720><c> have</c><00:49:18.960><
• :49:51.960><c> the</c><01:49:52.120><c> IEP</c><01:49:52.640><c> or</c><01:49:52.880><c> to</c><01:49

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission on the costing of special education met to review several documents and updates, including draft materials on residential placements, an LBA dispute resolution report, prior minutes, rate-setting rules, and a letter involving Senator Hassan. The minutes from March 16 were approved by motion, second, and one abstention. Members also received an update that the LBA special education performance audit is still pending; the report is expected to be very large, NHED and the Board of Education must review and comment before release, and it likely will not be available until late summer or early fall. The separate EFA audit was also noted as still unreleased, and members said they may return later to issues involving EFA costing and differentiated aid. A major focus was HB 1099, which would create a committee to study the cost and liability of providing educational services to students placed in residential facilities. The chair explained that the House version had passed unanimously and the bill was headed to a committee of conference. Members discussed a proposed amendment to add the phrase “including but not limited to” so the study would cover not only court-ordered or treatment-related placements but also other residential placements, including those tied to school district decisions. Some members said this was a substantial expansion, while others said it would simply give the committee broader latitude. Jason Stock of the Winnisquam Regional School Board described how the issue arose during budget work at Winnisquam, where the district was trying to determine who should pay for educational services for students living at Spaulding Youth Center in Northfield. He said the district had 10 students attending Winnisquam, including three foster students and seven students connected to Spaulding, and that Spaulding-specific invoicing for 2024-2025 totaled $141,417.05 for eight students. Members also discussed rising private placement tuition costs and the difficulty of determining residency and fiscal responsibility for students placed in residential settings. Department counsel explained that under RSA 193:27 and 193:28, children placed in a home for children may attend the local district school, and that special education cost responsibility depends on whether the student is identified as disabled and on the nature of the placement. Spaulding representatives had not yet presented by the end of the excerpt, and the committee was still working through the residency and funding questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• :49:03.760><c> frameworks</c><00:49:04.319><c> here</c><00:49:04.640><c> or</c><00:49:04.880><c> in</
• next generation<00:49:06.000><c> science</c><00:49:06.559><c> or</c><00:49:06.960><c> the</c><00:49:
• </c><00:49:09.920><c> um</c><00:49:10.240><c> those</c><00:49:10.640><c> areas</c><00:49:11.040><c> I
• <00:49:15.520><c> I</c><00:49:15.760><c> going</c><00:49:15.839><c> to</c><00:49:16.000><c> look</c><
• 49:02.880><c> can</c><01:49:03.040><c> all</c><01:49:03.199><c> get</c><01:49:03.760><c> but</c><01:49

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Oversight Committee met to review statewide education improvement and assessment issues under RSA 193-C:8-a, with the chair focusing on curriculum frameworks, academic standards, and resource elements tied to the state’s adequate education statutes. The chair walked through the statutory relationship between minimum standards for public school approval, academic standards, and local control of curriculum, noting that New Hampshire law requires curriculum frameworks to guide what students should know and be able to do while leaving districts flexibility in instruction. He also raised concerns that some subject areas appear to have current frameworks or standards while others do not, and suggested the committee may need to consider an amendment creating a curriculum frameworks and academic standards coordinator at the Department of Education. Nate Green, director of the Division of Education Analytics and Resources, explained that the terms “academic standards” and “curriculum frameworks” have evolved over time and are often used interchangeably, but can mean different things depending on the subject area. He said the state’s more prescriptive standards largely developed after No Child Left Behind, especially in math, ELA, and science, while older or less-tested subjects such as arts, physical education, and health often retained looser framework-style documents. Green outlined one possible approach of standardizing terminology, but also said New Hampshire could instead define curriculum frameworks separately as a combination of standards, curriculum, and instructional approaches. He emphasized that state standards must support statewide consistency and assessment, while local districts retain control over how they teach. Committee members discussed how these distinctions affect different grade levels and subjects, using examples from math and science to show that minimum standards are broad while academic standards are more specific and grade-level based. Green described how science standards are organized by physical science, life science, and earth/space science across grade bands, while math standards are more directly tied to individual grades. No votes were taken and no formal action was reported during this portion of the meeting; the discussion remained informational and exploratory as members considered whether statutory language or departmental organization should be updated.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:01.839><c> So</c><00:49:02.160><c> not</c><00:49:02.400><c> like</c><00:49:02.960><c> I</c
• </c><00:49:04.160><c> But</c><00:49:04.319><c> if</c><00:49:04.480><c> you'll</c><00:49:04.720><c> do
• c><00:49:05.280><c> you</c><00:49:05.440><c> why</c><00:49:05.680><c> I</c><00:49:05.839><c> need</c>
• <00:49:10.720><c> a</c><00:49:11.200><c> sheet</c><00:49:11.520><c> on</c><00:49:11.680><c> my</c><00
• </c><00:49:15.440><c> So</c><00:49:15.599><c> if</c><00:49:15.760><c> you'll</c><00:49:15.920><c> do<

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. The chamber received several House messages referring local bills to the Committee on Local Legislation, including measures affecting Lawrence, Clayurn, Limestone, Shelby, and Alabaster. The Senate also recognized guests in the gallery, including local leaders, law enforcement officials, and a Jackson County Junior Leadership group. During personal privilege remarks, Senator Figures offered a tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., highlighting his civil rights legacy, political influence, and impact on Black voter participation and representation; the Senate observed a moment of silence. Senator Smitherman also thanked her for the remarks. The Senate then adopted Senate Joint Resolution 47, mourning the death and celebrating the life of John J. Guthrie Jr., and Senate Joint Resolution 48, commending Tommy Jax for emergency actions to help a sick child. The Senate considered numerous confirmations from the Committee on Confirmations, all receiving favorable reports and being confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls, including Walter Bracie and Eric Bone to the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission, Morgan Garner and Susie Beal to the Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure, and Joe Brown, Brian Williams, James Spears, Charles Hedrickk, and Kathy Pierce to the Alabama Board of Polygraph Examiners. Committee reports also advanced several bills, including local legislation and county/municipal government measures. On the floor, the Senate adopted a special order calendar and passed or adopted several bills: SB 239 on child custody jurisdiction enforcement, SB 190 on a sales tax exemption for an ocular eye service company, SB 252 on Governor’s Mansion Authority employees and leave benefits, SB 170 on health savings account regulatory coordination, SB 210 on the chiropractic board, SB 242 on commercial driver’s licenses, and SB 70 on crimes and offenses. SB 247 on insurance was carried over at the sponsor’s request for further work, and SB 83 on guardianships and conservatorships was taken up with discussion of a committee amendment to clarify removal of proceedings from probate to circuit court and notice requirements; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.