Transcript Highlights:

• First up today, we have House Bill 842.
• Maybe a history lesson on House Bill 389 before we delve into this bill.
• We do support House Bill 842. As Mr.
• Seeing none, the motion is to hold House Bill 842.
• It is to send House Bill 842 to the House floor with a due pass recommendation.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• using their land to respond to Idaho's housing crisis.
• using their land to respond to Idaho's housing crisis.
• This bill would allow multifamily housing to be built in commercial zones subject to some standards.
• This bill would allow multifamily housing to be built in commercial zones subject to some standards.
• The guardrails to this bill would be that the bill would exclude industrial zones, floodplains, airport

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently, we went from 7 regional housing authorities at that time down to 3 regional housing authorities
• Um, you might remember a bill, uh, Senate Bill 186, which dealt with multi-family unit, um, housing valuations
• Um, we don't have a standing appropriation in, in House Bill 2.
• bills, almost 50 bills that were introduced to address housing policy in some shape or form this legislative
• One of our priority bills, Senate Bill 267, did get signed into law, and this was the housing application

Committee: House Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• , and a bill that is the result of months of negotiations between both houses of the Legislature and
• We're aggressively neutral on this bill.
• Operating Engineers, Local 3, in support.
• and the Housing Action Coalition, in support.
• This bill has a motion by Mr. Conlin. This bill has a motion by Mr. Conley, second by Ms.

Summary: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee heard three major bills. SB 237, by Senator Grayson, proposed a package of fuel-supply and permitting changes aimed at stabilizing gasoline prices during California’s energy transition. Supporters, including state officials, Kern County representatives, labor groups, and industry groups, said it would help retain in-state refining and drilling capacity, reduce price spikes, and protect jobs. Opponents, including environmental justice and conservation groups, argued it would expand oil drilling without enough community protections and would not meaningfully address climate goals. After extensive testimony and questions about emissions, sunsets, and long-term strategy, the committee passed SB 237 on a due pass vote, with some members voting no or not voting. SB 352, by Senator Reyes, sought to strengthen implementation of AB 617, the community air protection program, by codifying the Environmental Justice Bureau in the Department of Justice, extending monitoring requirements, and requiring annual legislative reporting. Supporters said the bill would improve accountability and ensure that funding for impacted communities actually produces emissions reductions. Some environmental justice advocates were neutral or not fully supportive because they wanted stronger language, while business and industry groups opposed the bill, arguing it was added late and duplicated existing processes. The committee approved SB 352 on a due pass vote. SB 840, by Senator Limon, was the cap-and-invest reauthorization package. It would update offset protocols, adjust how revenues are spent, and continue funding for key climate, housing, transit, and community programs, including AB 617. Support came from environmental groups, labor, local governments, housing advocates, and clean transportation organizations, while some agricultural interests objected that the package did not sufficiently prioritize climate-smart agriculture and methane reduction programs. The committee passed SB 840 on a due pass vote as well. All three measures were later confirmed out of committee after calls were lifted.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's House Bill 2 and 3, the substitute, Senator Muñoz.
• Item number seven, House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute for House Bills 2 and 3 as amended
• We're debating House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute for House Bills 2 and 3, as amended
• I move that the House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute for House Bill 2 and 3, as amended
• substitute for House Bill 2 and 3, as amended, has duly passed the Senate.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayers and pledges, and several procedural announcements, including permission for cameras, a relaxed dress code for guests, and excusing a few senators. Members also recognized numerous guests and honorary lieutenant governors, and discussed a planned bolo tie contest tied to New Mexico tradition and state history. The chamber then moved to business, including the confirmation of Anna Silva as Secretary of the General Services Department. The confirmation drew broad support from senators on both sides, who praised Silva’s long career in state government, her management experience, and her work on major projects such as the executive office building, procurement reforms, and facilities management. After debate, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm her appointment. Silva’s family and guests were recognized from the floor after the vote. The Senate then took up House Bill 2 and 3, the state budget. Senator Muñoz presented the Senate Finance version as a balanced budget with about $11.1 billion in spending, 27% reserves, recurring investments in health care, early childhood, public safety, education, roads, housing, and economic development, and targeted nonrecurring spending for items such as water, universities, and innovation sectors. Supporters emphasized affordability, teacher health insurance parity, medical residency funding, rural and community investments, and public safety funding. Critics raised concerns about the size of the budget, the late availability and complexity of the bill, the removal of a proposed 1% pay raise for state employees, and whether spending priorities and education dollars were being allocated effectively. No final vote on the budget was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the first bill on our agenda is House File 2354, the second engrossment.
• All right, the next bill on our agenda is House File 1672, the first engrossment.
• Well, is there anyone else who wanted to testify to House File 2389? The underlying bill?
• My next bill on our agenda is House File 2870, Representative Freiberg.
• House Bill 1671 is the technical policy bill from the Department of Labor and Industry, and I believe

Bills: HF2354 , HF1672 , HF2389 , HF2870 , HF2743 , HF1918 , HF2551 , HF1671

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the Bill. Mister Chairman, thank you. Are there questions on the bill?
• 3, 9, 6, by Senator Simon.
• support of the bill.
• And here's the irony, the bill that the bill just bought limit hemp retailers.
• This was a good bill last year. I believe it's a good bill this year.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> sponsoring this bill. Mahalo. sponsoring this bill. Mahalo.
• </c> bill and echo. bill and echo.
• I want to say also we are very alarmed that the House version of this bill changed 'may' to 'shall' as
• </c><00:47:38.319><c> changed</c><00:47:38.640><c> May</c> House version of this bill changed May House
• What's the bill number? &gt;&gt; Oh no. What's the bill number?

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 3025, relating to medical debt, with multiple organizations and individuals, including the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Queens Health Systems, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Aloha Care, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction, Hawaii Data Collaborative, and Hawaii Appleseed, all speaking in support. No opposition was heard, and the member present had no questions. The committee then took up SB 3199, which would establish a mental health emerging therapies task force. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, with speakers including veterans, clinicians, researchers, and advocacy groups describing personal experiences with PTSD, depression, traumatic brain injury, and treatment-resistant conditions, and arguing that Hawaii should prepare for regulated access to emerging therapies such as MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine, and ibogaine. The Department of Health and some medical organizations provided comments, and one opposition witness was called but not present. The chair noted broad support, especially from veterans, and no vote was taken during the excerpt. The final measure discussed was SB 3324, relating to Medicaid. The Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Aloha Care, and numerous care-provider and aging/disability organizations testified in support, while one witness was in opposition and several others offered comments. The discussion then moved to SB 2563, relating to homelessness, where the Department of the Attorney General offered comments on specific sections and recommended adopting suggested amendments if the bill proceeds. Additional testimony on SB 2563 began with support from several individuals, including Shelby Pikachu, who emphasized the severity of homelessness and related social problems in the community.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to lower utility bills in California.
• That's why I voted no on the bill.
• Housing Partnership, the California Coalition for Rural Housing, and the Sacramento Housing Alliance
• This will impact Tier 3 funding, which includes welfare funding and affordable housing funding, as well
• This will impact Tier 3 funding, which includes welfare funding, affordable housing funding, as well

Summary: The hearing focused on the governor’s May Revision proposals for transportation, natural resources, climate, and related programs, with the Department of Finance and the LAO presenting competing views on the state’s fiscal condition. Finance said the budget remains balanced over two years, with major climate-bond, water, parks, transportation, DMV, and agriculture proposals, while the LAO argued the state still has a structural deficit and should reject or defer many new discretionary spending items, preserve reserves, and be cautious about ongoing commitments. The LAO specifically questioned the timing and scale of new spending for programs such as Clean California, Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, and the Golden Gate Fields acquisition, and urged more clarity on future obligations and revenue scenarios, including for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal for Bay-Delta water quality implementation. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Finance described it as an enforceable, science-based alternative to a more traditional regulatory approach, with the state’s $25 million request intended to support early implementation, monitoring, habitat restoration, and environmental flows. The LAO countered that the Water Board has not yet adopted the updated Bay-Delta plan, that the proposal may be premature, and that the Legislature should wait for more information on the state’s total funding commitment and the program’s long-term costs. Several members expressed support for the program as a way to reduce conflict and protect water reliability, while others echoed concerns about timing and fiscal exposure. The committee also examined the proposed $125 million Proposition 4 contribution toward acquiring the Golden Gate Fields property for a shoreline park and habitat project. State officials said the acquisition is a time-sensitive, once-in-a-generation opportunity, with an appraised value of $175 million and additional philanthropic and local funding expected to close the gap. Members questioned whether the project had gone through the usual competitive process, whether the site is the best use of scarce park bond dollars, and how public access, habitat, and disadvantaged-community priorities would be protected. The discussion ended without a vote, and the committee moved on to transportation items including Clean California litter abatement, the Games Route Network, homeless encampment coordinators, and DMV modernization and field office proposals, with LAO recommending rejection or delay on several of those requests as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please read the House Bill.
• THIS BILL SENATOR DAVIS WILL LOVE. IT'S HOUSE BILL 1105. THE HOUSE HAS SENT IT BACK TO US.
• HOUSE BILL 1427, THE BILL TO BE ENTITLED RELATED TO HEALTHCARE. HOUSE MEMBER BARCODE 324221.
• HOUSE BILL 1101, A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO OUT-OF-NETWORK PROVIDERS, HOUSE AMENDMENT BARCODE
• SENATE BILL 2500. FOR ANY SENATE OR HOUSE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT THEREON. 3.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill.
• bill.
• the House bill, where it changes some of the wording such as person to individual.
• ...the delete-all is a technical amendment to confirm the bill, to conform the bill to the House bill
• Mayfield: Show me voting in the affirmative for Senate Bill 760, Tab 3.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk will read the bill.
• Senator</c> the bill.
• Senate Bill 890, Senator the bill.
• Old House, old house. Okay, great. Any other delegations, caucuses? Caucuses?
• house house work<00:30:08.480><c> together.

Summary: The Maryland Senate convened with 39 members present and a quorum. The session opened with an invocation by Bishop Antonio Palmer of Kingdom Celebration Center, whose remarks were journalized. The President and members also welcomed several guests to the chamber, including former Delegate Sean Terrence, students from Charles H. Flowers High School and Garrison Forest School, Dr. Lee Snyder as doctor of the day, and Dr. Barbara Ann Palmer in recognition of Women’s History Month. The President also noted that the next day would be pro forma and that some scheduled items would be moved to the following week. The Senate considered Executive Nominations Report No. 6, covering gubernatorial nominees for boards and commissions including the State Board of Education, MEDCO, and the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. On motion of the committee chair, the report was special ordered to Tuesday, with members asked to review the list for recusals or related issues. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 890, which concerns an insurance premium receipts tax exemption for captive insurance procured by nonprofit hospitals and health care systems. On SB 890, the Senate adopted the committee amendments and then adopted a floor amendment offered by the bill sponsor. The amendment was described as replacing the bill’s earlier approach with a two-year moratorium on collection of any related liabilities, followed by a Maryland Insurance Administration report back on ongoing investigations. One senator raised concern that the amendment’s language could require the state to refund taxes already paid by hospitals and others, potentially costing millions, and asked for more time to review it; the motion to special order the bill was defeated. After discussion, the amendment was adopted and the bill was ordered printed for third reading. At the close of the floor session, committee and delegation announcements were made, including Finance, Triple E, Judicial Proceedings, Budget and Tax, Executive Nominations, and several county delegations. A senator from District 6 also spoke about the anniversary of the Key Bridge collapse and thanked colleagues for bipartisan work on related legislation and recovery efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the author of House File 3, which will be on the floor later today.
• And I think some of you caught the press conference last time we did it, but House File 3 is an effort
• What we're hoping to do with House File 3 is to provide a greater amount of information to those that
• And that's really what House File 3 would do: is providing greater information, greater view into the
• What we're hoping to do with House File 3 is to provide a greater amount of information to those that

Summary: State Representative Jim Nash and Representative Kristin Robbins discussed a package of fraud-prevention bills, centered on House File 3 and a separate whistleblower-protection measure. HF 3 would require annual reports based on Office of the Auditor (OA/OLA) findings to be sent to ranking members of relevant committees, with the goal of giving appropriators more information about internal controls and follow-up on audit recommendations. Nash said the bill is intended to help reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, cited the Feeding Our Future case as an example of weak controls, and noted that the OA helped draft the proposal and supports it. He also said the bill’s language is modeled in part on Colorado and on earlier recommendations for more information to be shared with decision-makers. Robbins said her bill would expand whistleblower protections for state employees, including unclassified employees, and add new protected reporting channels and definitions. She said employees are often afraid to come forward because of job and career concerns, and that the bill would better protect reports made to legislators, the OA, governmental bodies, and law enforcement. She and Nash said they were working with DFL members and committee chairs on bipartisan amendments to define “fraud” and “misuse,” and to align the language with the Inspector General bill and prior law. In questions, Robbins explained that current law protects only certain employees and that her bill would broaden coverage and make it easier for employees to report concerns without fear. She said the OA supports the effort and that the added reporting pathways would help with follow-up on agency recommendations. Nash and Robbins both emphasized that the measures are part of a broader fraud-fighting package and expressed hope for bipartisan support, though Nash criticized DFL leadership for not backing the bills more openly. No votes or final actions were taken in the exchange shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill number three, co-revise certain provisions of ... I make the usual motion.
• &gt;&gt; Okay.<00:13:55.839><c> House</c><00:13:56.160><c> Bill</c><00:13:56.399><c> number</c><00:13
• The bill that's before you, which has passed the House and is now before the Senate, is the same bill
• Questions on the &gt;&gt; questions on the bill. Questions on the bill?
• Secretary. 3:00 p.m. today.

Transcript Highlights:

• House all the time, so forgive me. Um, we'll begin.
• Um, and then on Senate Bill 3, that's a whole another thing for us to look at, um, but making sure that
• we have Senator, can just a quick reminder of what Senate Bill 3 is for, yeah, Senate Bill 3 was, um
• I mean, it could be, uh, an agency bill, it could be a, um, uh, Group bill, a labor bill or whatever.
• , House Bill 426, that looked at support for resident acquisition of mobile home parks and trying to

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a bill. Thank Great. Thank you. We have a bill.
• 3:45.
• I'll let you take the Senate or for the Senate Bill 739, House Draft 1, relating to land exchange, and
• I'll let you take the Senate or for the Senate Bill 739, House Draft 1, relating to land exchange, and
• I'll let you take the Senate or for the Senate Bill 739, House Draft 1, relating to land exchange, and

Summary: The conference committees met on April 25 in Room 229 and handled several bills, often by rolling them over when finance or budget releases were still pending. HB 1007 HD2 SD2 on HCDA was simply continued to 1:00 p.m. in the same room. HB 1316 HD2 SD1 on DLNR rental vessels and registration was later taken up, with members noting a proposed CD1 based on the Senate draft; after quorum was confirmed, both chambers voted yes and the measure was approved. SB 465 HD1 on Kiki Aola small boat harbor was rolled to 4:00 p.m. in Room 441 because the required release had not yet been received. HB 86 on Makai Watch was also deferred for lack of quorum, and HB 800 HD1 SD2 on government real property and land transfer was eventually voted out after the missing House member arrived, with both House and Senate voting yes. SB 1221 SD2/HD3 on water safety and retention/detention ponds was described as requiring county ordinances and surveys of existing ponds; the conference draft added “Sharky’s Law,” set a January 1, 2027 start date for county ordinances, and was approved unanimously by both chambers. The committees also discussed SB 223 SD2/HD1 on wildfire prevention and forest reserve fire protection. The measure would create an independent DNR wildfire prevention program, authorize forestry and wildlife facilities for fire protection and related work, allow the State Fire Council to strengthen fire code requirements in hazardous fire areas, establish a community fuels reduction project, require legislative reporting, and provide funding. The conferees explained that section 3, which sought an additional appropriation for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, was removed because the money was already included in the budget. The bill’s effective dates were set for July 1, 2025, and it was rolled over to 4:00 p.m. in Room 411 rather than voted on at that time. Later, HB 1220 HD1 SD1 on invasive species in Kaneohe Bay was taken up and passed after quorum was confirmed, with both House and Senate members voting yes. HB 778 HD2 SD1 on the integrated land use office and land use study, SB 739 HD1 on land exchange, and HB 830 HD2 SD2 on historic preservation reviews were all agreed to in principle but rolled over to later meetings because finance or WAM releases were still outstanding. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly noted absences, excused members, and the need to reschedule items to later in the afternoon.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1029, House Draft 1, collective bargaining for unit 3. Budget and Finance.
• Bill 1026, House Draft 1, House Bill 1027, House Draft 1, House Bill 1028, House Draft 1, House Bill
• </c> next measure House Bill 874 house draft next measure House Bill 874 house draft 3<00:30:20.679><
• Seeing none, Vice Chair, for the vote on House Bill 874, House Draft 3.
• Seeing none, Vice Chair, for the vote on House Bill 874, House Draft 3.

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology met on March 12 in Room 224 at the Hawaii State Capitol and heard testimony on several labor, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, collective bargaining, and related measures. On House Bill 202, which would revise the definition of the adequate reserve fund for calendar year 2026 and beyond, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations strongly supported the bill, saying it would protect the solvency of the Unemployment Insurance trust fund. The department explained that the reserve standard had been lowered from 1.5% to 1% in 2010 and argued that restoring it would better prepare the fund for future shocks. Questions focused on whether the change would affect employers’ costs and whether the trust fund had recovered fraud losses from the pandemic; the department said some fraud had been recovered and additional fraud tools were now in place. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including technical changes and a defective date, and adopted the recommendation. The committee also heard House Bill 477 on the Hawaii Employment Security Law, which the department supported as a modernization of the UI system but asked to amend for clarity, especially on registration-for-work language. The committee accepted those requested amendments and recommended passage with amendments. It then took up House Bill 1026 and House Bills 1027 through 1039, covering emergency appropriations for public employment cost items and collective bargaining for units 1 through 14. Testimony from the Budget and Finance director, United Public Workers, the University of Hawaiʻi, HGEA, UHSC, and others was generally in strong support, with one opposition noted on HB 1038. The committee moved all of those measures together and recommended passage with amendments. In its later decision-making agenda, the committee approved several previously heard bills with technical amendments and defective dates, including House Bill 423 on workers’ compensation, House Bill 480 on workers’ compensation, House Bill 162 on collective bargaining arbitration procedures, House Bill 164 on indebtedness to the state, and House Bill 1152 on tax administration. House Bill 214, relating to government and school resource officers, drew discussion about labor shortages and whether the bill should help train existing school resource officers into law enforcement roles; the committee still passed it with amendments. House Bill 874 on child performers was amended to require trust accounts for certain minors’ earnings and place oversight with DLIR’s Wage Standards Division, and House Bill 159 on qualified community rehabilitation programs was passed with amendments after the committee blanked the $850,000 cap for further discussion. All recommendations were adopted without recorded opposition, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• One 'nay', having with see 2/3 of whether those like to turn Colton House.
• Please recognize Representative Tedford to present House Bill 1161.
• House Bill 1161 by Tedford of the House and Fris of the Senate, an act relating to insurance.
• Does that become a house because it's a house bill type assessment, or is it who requests the actuarial
• That'll be the order of the bill, House Bill 1161 by Tedford of the House and Fris of the Senate, an

Bills: HB2975 , HB3405 , HB3406 , HB3728 , HB3902 , HB3977 , SB397 , HB1161 , HB2938 , HB2939 , HB3306 , HB3722 , HB4113 , HB4123 , HB2293 , HB3176 , HB3545 , HB3546

Keywords: poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, agriculture, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, noxious weeds, poison hemlock, kudzu, landowner responsibilities, environmental control, public nuisance, eradication, burn bans, fire danger, drought conditions, emergency declaration, scrap metal, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• So House Bill 7089, she just went into this, did have some requirements in it that we need to, House
• And so immediately after the passage of House Bill 7089, we put out a procurement on the street to hire
• Break down, if you can, for me, the change in House Bill 7089.
• Break down, if you can, for me, the change in House Bill 7089 on what you just said.
• House Bill 7089 specifically attempted to ensure that if you are a CBC who has multiple contracts for

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met with a quorum present and took up a presentation from the Department of Children and Families on HB 7089, which revises how Florida’s community-based care (CBC) lead agencies for child welfare are funded. Representative McFarland described the bill’s background, arguing that the prior formula relied too heavily on outdated, static factors and produced inequities among CBCs. She emphasized that the new approach is intended to provide a more stable, transparent, and statute-based funding method that better supports prevention, case management, and family services while reducing year-to-year political uncertainty. DCF Chief of Staff Casey Penn explained that HB 7089 required an actuarially sound, reimbursement-based formula developed with CBC and provider input. The new model uses a cost-based structure with three tiers: Tier 1 for operational and administrative costs, Tier 2 for per-child/per-month service costs, and a possible Tier 3 incentive component for performance measures if the Legislature chooses to fund it. The model includes regional growth factors, inflation adjustments, a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, a hold-harmless provision for agencies that would otherwise receive less than prior funding, and the ability for CBCs to retain some state general revenue savings. DCF said the model produced a total budget need of about $1.392 billion, roughly $28.6 million above the prior year after offsets, and that the department is also updating its child welfare case management system to improve data quality and future modeling. Members asked about whether prevention spending is captured, how Tier 3 incentives would work and how much they might cost, how the formula accounts for insurance, hurricanes, child acuity, and staffing costs, and whether CBC executives’ compensation is capped. DCF said prevention is included in the model but is not yet separately broken out due to data limitations, Tier 3 is optional and not yet costed, and the formula can incorporate additional growth factors if needed. On executive pay, DCF explained that compensation is limited by statute for CBC contracts, but multiple contracts and non-state funding sources can affect total compensation; staff later clarified that CBC CEOs with multiple contracts had been reviewed for compliance. The meeting ended after questions, and Representative Miller moved to adjourn; the subcommittee adjourned without any vote on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I see Senator MacLEAN in Turkey has 2 bills were going to take up first tab 3, which I believe is for
• And as we go forward to the other speakers and the Senate bill looks very different than the House bill
• But the House bill in the Senate bill looked very different.
• We had the House bill and then obviously the Senate bill is change but 7 years will help and we can get
• The Senate bill looks very different than the House bill and it gives a 7 year glide path.