Transcript Highlights:

• Should the Senate prefer a conference committee to confer on the disagreeing votes of the two houses,
• > confer<00:03:54.120> on<00:03:54.200> the conference committee to confer on the
• conference committee to confer on the disagreeing<00:03:54.800> votes<00:03:55.040> of
• > confer<00:04:47.960> on<00:04:48.080> the conference committee to confer on the
• on<00:05:33.680> the conference committee to confer on the conference committee to confer

Keywords: House streaming session for Saturday, April 11, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House met in session, opened with a prayer, confirmed a quorum, and then moved through a long series of concurrence items and committee reports. Early on, the House rejected Senate amendments to House Bills 14 and 573 and sent messages asking the Senate to recede or appoint conference committees. It also entered conference on House Bill 907 (third degree assault) and on several other measures where the chambers disagreed, including Senate Bill 233 (cemeteries) and Senate Bill 626 (sex designation on birth certificates and IDs). House Bill 501, dealing with sexual offenses by a person in a position of authority, was concurred in and passed unanimously. The House then took up a large concurrence calendar and passed a number of bills with Senate amendments, including House Bill 613 on living shoreline waivers, House Bill 315 on income-based housing subsidies, House Bill 548 on development rights and the Maryland Housing Certainty Act, House Bill 571 on nonprofit housing corporation tax exemptions, House Bill 895 on predatory pricing and protected class data, House Bill 1430 on charter school facilities funding, House Bill 1076 on over-the-counter contraception access and reporting, House Bill 624 on hospital staffing committees and plans, House Bill 811 on aging-in-place and multi-generational third places, House Bill 939 on birth certificate filing time periods, House Bill 1151 on a Medicaid hospice reimbursement study, House Bill 1367 on the Commission on Reimagining Healthcare in Maryland, House Bill 828 on State Board of Education membership, House Bill 130 on deed fraud, House Bill 281 on child care provider background checks, House Bill 963 on appointment of personal representatives, House Bill 1326 on child abuse and neglect records, and House Bill 525 on phone-free schools. Several of these were briefly explained on the floor, including changes to shoreline waiver timing, housing and tax provisions, contraceptive access concerns, hospital staffing protections, and the school phone policy’s exemptions. The chamber also received committee reports that advanced additional bills for third reading, including House Bill 1020 and Senate Bill 654 on the State Police Retirement System mandatory retirement age, Senate Bill 877 on Baltimore City stop sign monitoring systems, Senate Bill 940 on water quality testing, House Bill 44 on plain-language ballot questions, Senate Bill 215 on the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund, Senate Bill 627 designating Korean American Day, and Senate Bill 634 on county discrimination complaints. No final votes were taken on those reported bills in the portion provided; the report simply adopted favorable reports and ordered the bills printed for third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• discussed in the budget conference discussed in the budget conference committee.<00:10:42.080>
• conference committee. conference committee.
• And I don't know how the conference And I don't know how the conference committee<00:13:59.960><
• they matched our any had a riff notices they matched our any had a riff notices and<00:40:28.240
• is that you hang tough in conference. is that you hang tough in conference.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 206, being on the calendar for notice and affecting the revenues of the state under rule
• Senate Bill 243, being on the calendar for notice and carrying an appropriation under rule 31, is referred
• .<00:07:13.280> Senator<00:07:13.759> Perchick,<00:07:14.800> Senator Conference
• Senator Perchick, Senator Conference.
• The conference committee on H. 790, which is budget adjustment act, will meet at 1:30.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There have been conferences, and the stories, and Sen.
• Klein knows, and many members notice that are compelling.
• Into the conference committee by Sen.
• I notice on page 63 they are going to be consulting.
• As amended by the conference committee. Thank you.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're in Hawaii State Capital Conference We're in Hawaii State Capital Conference Room<00:01:59.439
• conferred, the chair's recommendation conferred, the chair's recommendation will<00:15:08.079>
• conference room 229 at 100 p.m. conference room 229 at 100 p.m.
• notice of those rights. notice of those rights.
• Um, they did not give me notice. stuff. Um, they did not give me notice.

Bills: SB2045, SB2354

Keywords: combat sports, boxing, mixed martial arts, health regulations, safety standards, licensing, event regulation, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first took up SB 2071 on rent-to-own housing. Testimony was generally supportive from HHFDC and Hawaii Realtors, but Sierra Club of Hawaii and others opposed the bill unless it was amended to exclude ceded lands from the 99-year lease provision. Members discussed the scope of ceded versus non-ceded lands and whether an inventory exists. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including HHFDC’s proposal to make the fixed-price period flexible by tying it to an option period and Sierra Club’s language limiting the program to non-ceded state or county land. They then heard SB 2191 on limited profit housing associations. HHFDC supported the measure, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Office of the Auditor urged caution about tax exclusions and asked for clearer, more targeted limits and measurable outcomes. The committees adopted amendments to add a statement of purpose, include measurable metrics, apply the tax provisions to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and delay the effective date to allow for administrative changes. SB 2191 was recommended for passage with amendments. The committees also considered SB 2197, which would have replaced the five-year fixed-price period in rent-to-own housing with an option period set by HHFDC, but deferred it indefinitely because its issues were addressed in SB 2071. SB 2180 on deposits of public funds drew comments from the Hawaii Bankers Association questioning definitions and noting banks are already subject to Community Reinvestment Act requirements; decision-making was deferred to the next day in the CPN committee and to a later date for the housing committee. Finally, SB 2210 on housing discrimination received support from disability advocates and the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, which asked for one additional investigator; the committees passed it with amendments adding a blank appropriation for one full-time position and planned to notify Ways and Means for possible re-referral.

Transcript Highlights:

• [snorts] Now, the bill has been read the first time and as a committee bill, it is placed on the notice
• Members, we have a bill on the notice Members, we have a bill on the notice calendar<00:06:44.479
• The Committee of Conference only had a few differences to settle between the two chambers.
• of conference The committee of conference decided<00:36:48.000> to<00:36:48.240> allow
• And you have adopted the report of the committee of conference.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional performance, then introduced several bills. H.896 would create a New England Oregon bank specialty license plate and was referred to Transportation. H.897 would prohibit social media use by children and was referred to Commerce and Economic Development. H.898, a committee bill on transitions from copper-based to fiber-based telecommunications networks and consumer protections, was read and placed on the notice calendar. H.899 would finance multi-unit housing through the Vermont Economic Development Authority and was referred to Commerce and Economic Development. The chamber also referred H.635, eliminating Department of Corrections supervisory fees, to Ways and Means because it affects state revenue. The House adopted JRS 40, a joint resolution setting weekend adjournment for February 13, 2026, to reconvene no later than February 17, 2026. It also concurred in HCR 181 congratulating the 2025 Spirit of the ADA award winners and HCR 189 designating February 11, 2026, as Disability Advocacy Day at the State House. HCR 181 recognized a long list of employers for inclusive hiring and accommodations, while HCR 189 highlighted disability rights history, the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights, and ongoing barriers faced by Vermonters with disabilities. The House then took up HCR 192, recognizing February 11, 2026, as National 211 Day in Vermont and celebrating Vermont 211’s statewide referral and crisis-support role. The resolution noted more than 61,000 contacts and over 22,000 referrals in 2025, along with its emergency and after-hours support functions. Members also made announcements recognizing Recovery Day, the Spirit of the ADA award recipients, Disability Advocacy Day, National 211 Day, and other guests and events in the chamber. On the action calendar, the House considered the conference committee report on S.23, concerning the use of synthetic media in elections. The committee reported a strike-all compromise on definitions, disclosure requirements, exemptions, and penalties. The report defined deceptive synthetic media, required a disclosure for certain synthetic media distributed within 90 days of an election, provided exemptions for some broadcasters and parody, and set civil penalties for violations. The House was asked to adopt the conference report.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was properly noticed and advertised, and it does allow for the residents in that area to vote on the
• But a lot of times people don't get the notice.
• The notice from the Secretary of State goes to somebody else.
• I think it would be sufficient just to say continuing legal education conferences.
• I would be okay with that, amending that, and then national conferences.

Bills: SB348, SB444, SB485, SB517, HB87, HB115, HB162, HB362, HB368, HB377, HB431, HB441, HB466, HB664, HB741, HB822, HB990, HB1243

Keywords: motor vehicles, enforcement, administrative support, law enforcement, private service provider, regulatory compliance, expropriation, public purpose, property rights, compensation, city governance, St. George, insurance premium tax, city of St. George, municipal authority, local taxation, East Baton Rouge Parish, economic development, Baton Rouge North, commissioners

Summary: The committee on local and municipal affairs met on May 7, 2026, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then took up a series of local bills. HB 362 creating the Regency Park Towns Townhomes Crime Prevention and Security District in Orleans Parish was reported favorably without objection. HB 822, dealing with nonprofit entities that hold appointments on boards and commissions while not in good standing with the Secretary of State, drew questions about whether it targeted a specific entity and about how long an entity should be out of good standing; the committee adopted an amendment changing the trigger to three consecutive years and then reported the bill as amended. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 1243, which would give the Orleans Parish City Council more authority over the Sewer and Water Board. The sponsor, Council President J.P. Morrell, and Representative Hilfordy argued the bill would move New Orleans toward a more local, responsive public-works model and help address long-standing dysfunction. The Bureau of Governmental Research testified that it supported increased local control but urged a formal study or transition plan so the city would document the future governance structure. Despite those concerns, the committee adopted an amendment clarifying ownership of assets and then reported HB 1243 as amended. The committee also handled several St. George bills and other local measures. SB 348, allowing third-party administrative support for motor vehicle enforcement, and SB 444, granting expropriation authority for certain public projects, were reported favorably. SB 485, transferring insurance premium tax authority to the City of St. George, was initially amended but then reconsidered; the amendment was stripped and the bill was reported favorably. HB 990, concerning Jefferson Parish and unpaid water/sewer bills on multifamily properties, HB 466 on West Feliciana Parish property-tax rebates, HB 664 raising parish ordinance fines, HB 87 increasing per diem for a Livingston Parish gas utility district board, HB 115 abolishing the police chief for the Village of Edgefield, HB 741 creating emergency housing vouchers for human trafficking survivors, HB 377 removing civil-service pay restrictions for state examiners, HB 162 updating a crime prevention district fee, HB 368 raising fines for improper demolition of historic properties, and HB 441 returning Sewer and Water Board employees to city civil service were all reported favorably, most without objection. HB 431, requiring mayors to complete 16 hours of annual training, was amended to add continuing legal education and national conferences and then reported as amended. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is Thursday, March 20th, 2025, at 3 p.m. in Conference Room 225.
• Tuesday, March 25th, 2025, in Room 225, and a public notice will be posted on the Legislature's website
• Tuesday, March 25th, 2025, in Room 225, and a public notice will be posted on the Legislature's website
• establishing appropriate family notice establishing appropriate family notice and<00:19:54.960><
• We are going conference with the house.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Government Operations Committee met on March 20, 2025, and heard two resolutions. STR 239/SR 215 would request the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation to provide universal changing accommodations in state facilities, state parks, and city and county parks. The only testimony noted was late comments from DAG; no one testified in person or on Zoom. The committee also heard STR 44, which seeks to convene a legislative working group to recommend family notice and standardized consent provisions for pre-contracts governing cremation. Testimony was mixed: DCCA’s complaints and enforcement office asked to include the Department of Health Environmental branch, while the Hawaii Funeral and Cemetery Association, Mililani Group, Dodo Mortuary, and Soy Garden Mortuary opposed the measure, saying funeral homes already provide the relevant disclosures; Senator Carol Fukunaga and one individual testified in support. The chair said the issue belonged more properly in the consumer protection committee, but the committee would still move the resolution forward and note the concerns in the report. In decision-making, the committee adopted both measures as Senate Draft 1 with technical, non-substantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style. For STR 44, the committee also agreed to keep DCCA in the working group, add the Department of Health Environmental branch, and change the phrase “mainland jurisdiction” to “other states.” The measures passed with the vice chair and Senator Sam Bentura voting yes, while Senators Morawaki and Favilla were excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are now in Conference Room 225. The meeting is being streamed live on YouTube.
• We will also issue a public notice, which will be posted on the Ledge website, in order to facilitate
• We will also issue a public notice, which will be posted on the Ledge website, in order to facilitate
• We will also issue a public notice, which will be posted on the Ledge website, in order to facilitate
• included in a publicly noticed included in a publicly noticed agenda<00:29:30.640> and<00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened its first hearing of 2025 and announced that all measures heard that day would be deferred to the next committee hearing for decision-making on Thursday, January 30. The agenda centered largely on procurement and government-operations bills, with testimony generally split between state agencies and local governments. On procurement measures, SB 254 and SB 383 would raise small-purchase thresholds; the State Procurement Office opposed both, while county officials, the City and County of Honolulu, the state librarian, and others supported them. SB 382, which would bar disclosure of a competing offeror’s proposal or evaluation score, and SB 462, which would require performance incentive contracts to specify pricing bases, goals, and formulas, drew mostly written comments and some support from agencies such as the Department of Transportation and Department of Education. SB 615, which would treat certain large change orders as new contracts, received opposition from the Comptroller and engineering interests. The committee also heard several bills on vacancies, appointments, and legislative oversight. SB 5 on state legislative vacancies had one supporting testifier, while SB 300 on deadlines for filling certain Senate vacancies drew opposition from several individuals and support from one late testifier. SB 1081, which would create a legislative budget office to provide fiscal analysis and reports on bills, received broad support from advocacy groups, civic organizations, and individuals. SB 711, requiring Senate advice and consent for certain executive-branch appointments, drew written opposition from the Governor’s Office and support from one individual. SB 375, establishing a select commission on government restructuring, had one written supporter. SB 418, which would require the Attorney General’s office to review a portion of administrative rules each year, prompted extended discussion about outdated rules, the difficulty of repealing or amending rules, and whether the bill should be refined; the AG’s office indicated the process is burdensome and could be streamlined. The committee then took up transparency and access measures. SB 55, requiring agency rules to be posted online in a digitally accessible format, received support from several advocacy and civic groups and written comment from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. SB 870 would direct the comptroller to identify state office buildings that could provide equitable telecom access for remote participation in hearings, especially for residents with disabilities; the Comptroller supported the concept, and members discussed using libraries, DAGS facilities, county facilities, and other public buildings, with concerns raised about staffing, bandwidth, and competing public use. SB 270, a sunshine-law measure allowing board members to attend informational meetings and presentations, drew opposition from the Public First Law Center, which argued it would create a broad loophole and should be narrowed to existing county-council provisions. SB 45, concerning neighborhood board meetings and third-party presentations, prompted discussion about whether it actually addressed neighborhood boards’ Sunshine Law concerns; the committee was told it was not the right vehicle for that issue. SB 406, which would cap copying fees for government records at 5 cents per page with exceptions, drew support from media and transparency groups but opposition from DAGS, which said its actual per-page cost is much higher; members discussed possible electronic-copy alternatives and asked for more cost information before the next hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• To set us up with negotiating position and conference, Mr.
• We begin House bills in conference, then the next category after that: Senate bills in conference.
• The conference report is adopted. Thank you.
• I move the conference report and ask that we adopt it. Shall the conference report be adopted?
• The conference report is adopted. Mr. Speaker, that is all the conference reports I have. Mr.

Keywords: March 10, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lord, as we gather in these chambers for budget conference, we do not take lightly the responsibility
• Chambers for budget conference, we do not take lightly the responsibility placed before us.
• Today we'll be taking up budget bills to get us in a proper posture for conference.
• As a reminder, all of those hope to start conference process later today.
• Well, I take up the budget bill so we'll begin conference in the process today.

Summary: The Senate convened in special session for budget conference work, opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and moments of silence honoring Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateer and former Senator Bill Posey. The Secretary read the joint proclamation calling the special session, which was limited to the budget, implementing bill, collective bargaining/state employee issues, retirement, DMS, law enforcement radio system, health, higher education, K-12 education, government administration, correctional facilities financing, judges, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup programs, fuel taxes, and taxation. Chair Hooper outlined the process for moving Senate and House budget conforming bills into conference posture, noting that conference meetings would be on one-hour notice. The Senate then took up and passed a series of Senate conforming bills and House companion bills, generally by unanimous 32-0 votes, with delete-all amendments used to place Senate language onto House bills or to clear bills for conference. Measures addressed fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, judges, pre-K through 12 education, retirement, higher education, health care, government administration, correctional facilities financing and capital improvements, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup programs, state employees/collective bargaining, and the implementing bill for the 2026-27 budget. Senators repeatedly moved that, when the House version was not passed as received, the Senate request conference or accede to the House’s request for conference. The General Appropriations Bill was handled by substituting House Bill 5001E for Senate Bill 2500E, amending it with Senate substance, and passing it 32-0 before requesting conference. House Bill 7031E on taxation was also amended and debated; Senator Berman used the debate to urge consideration of suspending the motor fuel tax for summer relief, but the bill ultimately passed and the Senate requested conference after failing to pass the House version as received. The session ended with a motion to waive rules for publishing the Special Order Calendar for the remainder of the special session, followed by adjournment upon the call of the President for committee meetings and other Senate business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Conference committee on budget will come to order. Please silence all electronic devices.
• As these have been noticed to the public at 2 p.m., I will not be calling on individuals to explain them
• Again, these have been noticed to the public at 2 p.m.
• If there is no further business before the conference committee, Senator Hooper moves we adjourn.
• Before the conference committee. Senator Hooper moves we adjourned.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Higher Education Budget Conference Committee is called to order.
• This concludes the Higher Education Budget Conference Committee meeting.
• Members of the audience should look for posted meeting notices.
• This concludes the Higher Education Budget Conference Committee meeting.
• Members of the audience should look for posted meeting notices.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Higher Education Budget Conference Committee is called to order.
• This concludes the Higher Education Budget Conference Committee meeting.
• Members of the audience should look for posted meeting notices.
• This concludes the Higher Education Budget Conference Committee meeting.
• Members of the audience should look for posted meeting notices.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Conference Committee met to continue negotiations on the higher education budget, projects, and proviso language. Senator Harrell presented the Senate’s counteroffer on the budget and projects, noting that changes from the original budget and project lists were highlighted in the packet, and said the Senate was ready to keep working toward agreement. The House presented its first proviso offer, focused on items that differed most from the chambers’ starting positions, and said it would review the Senate’s proposal. No public testimony was offered, and members did not raise questions or comments during the meeting. Both sides expressed optimism about continued progress and a desire to conclude negotiations soon. The committee took no substantive votes or actions on the merits of the offers. Representative Young moved to adjourn, and the meeting was concluded with notice that the committee remains on one-hour call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Notices of intent, we received a hundred and fourteen applications that were complete.
• Chairman, that is the percent that we fund from the notices of intent, so how many of the...
• The notices of intent actually get funded?
• I was at Energy Storage 202, I think, but it was a great conference. Put it on your calendar.
• At this conference, they talked about energy storage. Have you ever heard of Torr?

Transcript Highlights:

• The Higher Education Budget Conference Committee is called to order.
• This concludes the Higher Education Budget Conference Committee meeting.
• Members of the audience should look for posted meeting notices.
• This concludes the Higher Education Budget Conference Committee meeting.
• Members of the audience should look for posted meeting notices.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Conference Committee met to continue negotiations on the higher education budget, projects, and proviso language. Senators and House members noted that both chambers had submitted new offers, with the Senate presenting a counteroffer on budget and projects and the House presenting its first proviso offer. Members said the changes were highlighted in the packet and focused on areas where the chambers’ starting points differed most. Senator Harrell thanked the House for reviewing the Senate’s initial offer and said the Senate had also worked through project items in addition to the budget. House members said they would study the Senate’s offer and continue working toward agreement. No public testimony was offered, and no questions or substantive objections were raised during the meeting. The committee adjourned after brief closing remarks from both sides expressing hope for a quick conclusion to the negotiations. Representative Young moved to rise, and the meeting ended with a reminder that the committee was on one-hour notice for future meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:10.320> committee education budget conference committee education budget conference
• And we've heard this come up in multiple conference committees.
• <00:14:26.000> committees messages both in conference committees messages both in conference
• mentioned, the healthc care conference mentioned, the healthc care conference is<00:22:22.000>
• of bills here, we had a press conference of bills here, we had a press conference about<00:23:04.559

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The health care budget conference will come to order.
• Is there anyone wishing to address the conference committee?
• Seeing no one wishing to address the conference committee, members, please watch for a notice of our
• As a reminder, we are on a one-hour notice.
• There is no further business of the conference committee.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's notice to the superintendent, and then that notice can be made available to authorized representatives
• And I will ask our conference committee.
• There's notice<00:04:10.560> to<00:04:11.200> um<00:04:11.760> um<00:04:12.159><
• and notice to um um the superintendent and then<00:04:13.920> that<00:04:14.319> notice
• I just noticed none of these items are posted online for the public to see that aren't here.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the senators had a few questions, so they requested a conference.
• This is the publication of notices bill.
• rather than publishing this notice in the newspaper.
• The bill also allows the notice to be sent by mail.
• So the choice to take it to conference is not there.

Keywords: 959, house, all