Transcript Highlights:

• work with nonprofits and that will not harm their tax exemptions and also make sure that we are assessing
• We are assessing those wrongs.
• So, try to have an equal playing field for the way that we assess affordable housing.
• My understanding is the way that the assessors assess a multiple housing unit is based upon the income
• So, we're just clarifying that in statute that all 77 counties will exclude that from their assessment

Bills: HB1590 , HB1242 , HB3818 , HB4305

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: education funding, linked deposits, education infrastructure, charter schools, nonprofit organizations, Oklahoma Education Infrastructure Program, HB1242, cervidae, deer, elk, sales tax exemption, agricultural exemption, livestock, ranching, farm tax, agricultural sales tax, Oklahoma Tax Commission, agriculture, producer sales, private treaty

Transcript Highlights:

• The effect of the changes being made in this section is to halt the assessment process that's currently
• Um so the combination of assessments.
• </c><00:30:48.960><c> and</c><00:30:49.279><c> mitigation</c> when the uh assessment and mitigation when
• the uh assessment and mitigation requirements<00:30:50.480><c> would</c><00:30:51.440><c> um</c><00:
• </c><00:31:35.120><c> and</c> transportation impact assessment and transportation impact assessment and

Bills: HF2438

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school

Transcript Highlights:

• This assessment process for those farms is that they are reviewed on all parcels, all crops grown, all
• And then through that risk assessment, through our professional, accredited, and licensed agronomists
• the water quality education program, we also certainly, in delivering this program through risk assessment
• </c><00:07:37.960><c> and</c> program through risk assessment and program through risk assessment and
• It is the Board of Water and Soil Resources that has those outcome assessment requirements, and water

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So these are not real property tax assessments.
• In our case, we won't need an opinion letter because it is our assessment.
• In our case, we won't need an opinion letter because it is our assessment.
• In our case, we won't need an opinion letter because it is our assessment.
• A: In our case, we won't need an opinion letter because it is our assessment.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened by outlining testimony procedures and then heard SB 376 on tax credits, which would create a home fire safety improvement tax credit. Testimony from the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi urged that the concept would be better handled as a subsidy program and raised drafting concerns about unclear definitions and eligibility. Later, the committees agreed to pass SB 376 with amendments, including making the credit nonrefundable, clarifying third-party certification, deleting recapture-related language, and making technical changes. Members then heard SB 417, which would make unlicensed contractor work during or within five years after an emergency or disaster a class B felony. The Contractors License Board was listed for comments, and the Subcontractors Association supported the measure. The committees ultimately recommended passage with technical, non-substantive amendments and an adjusted effective date, and the measure was adopted. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on SB 782, which would require free and accessible voice communication services for incarcerated people and prohibit state agencies from profiting from those services, while also directing the PUC to set standards and providing funding for the SAVIN victim notification program. Supporters, including the Public Defender, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Worth Rises, and others, argued the bill would reduce costs for families, improve reentry, and align adult corrections with the juvenile system. Opponents, including the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Hawaiʻi Paroling Authority, and SAVIN-related witnesses, warned that changing the funding structure could weaken victim notification and safety services. The committees deferred SB 782. The committee also heard SB 999 on fireworks, which would repeal permissible consumer fireworks uses, impose civil penalties and forfeiture remedies, and create a forfeiture special fund for safety education. The Department of Law Enforcement and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, while fireworks industry representatives and others opposed it, arguing prohibition would be ineffective and urging stronger enforcement and education instead. The committees deferred SB 999 for further consideration, and SB 1136 on insurance was also deferred after insurers and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs opposed it. In the later joint session with the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, SB 744 on condominium loans was heard with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and banking groups, while one testifier raised concerns that the program could function like C-PACE financing and add risky debt to condominium associations; testimony and discussion continued on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:33.280><c> to</c> e-waste uh provisions would assess to e-waste uh provisions would assess
• Those would be assessed by the collect.
• </c><00:20:57.360><c> Chair,</c> assess. Senator Green. Uh Mr. Chair, assess. Senator Green. Uh Mr.
• The grant assessing the LCCMR fund.
• The need for assessing where wild rice grows is immediate.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But again, he was not keen on assessment, the assessment part of it.
• ,</c><01:55:36.239><c> the</c><01:55:36.480><c> assessment</c> not keen on assessment, the assessment
• not keen on assessment, the assessment part<01:55:37.040><c> of</c><01:55:37.199><c> it.
• ,</c> some folks are reverse to assessments, some folks are reverse to assessments, but<01:56:23.679>
• </c><01:56:55.440><c> And</c> assessments and in knowledge. And assessments and in knowledge.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee’s higher education subcommittee met to discuss HB 443, HB 510, and related issues. The chair explained the subcommittee membership and noted that Representative Luno was absent and replaced by Representative Bricky, with other full committee members allowed to participate in discussion but not final votes. No votes were taken during this meeting, and the chair said final subcommittee recommendations would likely come in the first week of November. On HB 443, which concerns terms of appointment to the Higher Education Commission, the chair described the bill as intended to let the governor replace members who are not attending or no longer representing the appointing organization. He said the prior governor supported the idea, but the current governor’s office believes the bill is unnecessary because nonattendance or loss of representation would already amount to resignation or removal. Members raised questions about legal authority and whether the same principle should apply to other boards. The chair said he was leaning toward finding the bill not needed, but would continue discussion later. The committee then spent most of the meeting on HB 510, which would establish due process rights for students, student organizations, and faculty at public higher education institutions and address collective bargaining issues. Supporters, including Representatives Papovich and Brown, argued the bill would provide clear, minimum protections, especially because campus rules are lengthy and vary by institution; Brown also suggested adding an independent ombudsman or representation for students. Opponents, including Representatives Burton and Bricky, said existing campus regulations already provide due process and that the bill could interfere with campus governance and collective bargaining. The chair and others discussed whether the bill’s definitions should be aligned with existing law to avoid confusion, and several members suggested using existing statutory definitions or cross-references. The chair also said the bill would apply only when disciplinary action is involved, not as a general challenge to DEI policies, though members referenced recent national examples involving DEI-related disputes as context.

Transcript Highlights:

• 06.360><c> score</c> When assessing significant test score When assessing significant test score declines
• </c> test scores on the National Assessment test scores on the National Assessment of<00:29:23.600><c
• </c> required because should the assessments required because should the assessments be<02:09:30.760>
• </c> exclusively from the special assessments exclusively from the special assessments levied<02:09:58.320
• The full faith and credit assessments.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Martha Whaling, staff to the committee: House Bill 2325 establishes a tourism self-supported assessment
• The first is that it adds two types of businesses that will be included in this assessment: full-service
• of the recommendation that the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority consider the tourism self-assessment
• This assessment is something that has worked well in the past, so we have a track record of success.
• "You know, rather than having taxpayers have an additional burden, this is a self-assessment from the

Summary: The Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee met in executive session on January 28, 2026, and advanced six bills. House Bill 2325, creating a tourism self-supported assessment program for statewide tourism promotion, was amended to add certain large restaurants and retailers, adjust enforcement and governance provisions, and remove a recommendation tied to an advisory report; the committee adopted Amendment 264 and reported the substitute bill out with a due pass recommendation by a 12-0 vote, with one member excused. Members supporting the bill emphasized tourism’s economic benefits, local flexibility, and the need for stronger statewide marketing funding. House Bill 2481, addressing surveillance-based price discrimination and surge pricing for retail goods, drew the most discussion. Representative Kloba withdrew the proposed substitute, and the committee voted on the bill as written. Members debated affordability, grocery pricing fairness, and the impact on businesses; Representative Waters said she would work on the issue further but urged a no vote. The bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation on an 8-4 vote, with one excused. House Bill 2503, on documentation for data used to train AI systems, was amended to require posting information describing efforts to remove child sexual abuse material from training datasets. Supporters said the bill promotes transparency and accountability in AI, while opponents warned the measure could burden startups and smaller developers. The amended bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation on an 8-4 vote, with one excused. House Bill 2397, concerning reimbursement timing under the State Fire Services Mobilization Plan, was amended so the 60-day reimbursement clock starts when complete documentation is received; it passed unanimously with one excused. House Bill 2278, on tourism promotion areas, and House Bill 2417, updating victim protections under the Washington Code of Military Justice, were both reported out unanimously with one excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have now moved to this space program and utilize what is called an inspection priority assessment
• tool which is just a fancy term for a risk assessment tool.
• and risk assessment tool has been put into place to ensure that it It is still providing the results
• That was the priority assessment. I know I'm a spreadsheet guy.
• a county is resorted based upon the risk assessment.

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This deals with the hospital assessment UPL, and it is ongoing.
• The Idaho Safe Team Assessment Centers are secure short-term assessment facilities for youth in crisis
• The Idaho Safe Team Assessment Centers are secure short-term assessment facilities for youth in crisis
• The Safe Team Assessment Centers are secure short-term assessment facilities for youth in crisis.
• And the focus is on assessment, not an automatic removal.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In my assessment, the department's proposed amendments materially undermine that intent by narrowing
• </c> assessment, the department's proposed assessment, the department's proposed amendments<00:29:21.520
• ,</c><00:30:59.200><c> the</c> respect to the opulent assessment, the respect to the opulent assessment
• </c> identified in the opulent assessment. identified in the opulent assessment.
• :52:34.720><c> and</c> delivering those assessments and delivering those assessments and planning Planning

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The working group convened with all members present, approved the minutes from its October 16, 2025 meeting and its October 28, 2025 Halawa Correctional Facility site visit by unanimous consent, and received no public testimony on the agenda or minutes. The chair then reviewed the statutory timeline under Act 292/SB 104, noting the group continues until January 8, 2027, and discussed required reporting dates and the need to develop a work plan for the remaining meetings. The chair also said the October 16 DCR presentation would be treated as satisfying the group’s interim-report purpose, though the legal reporting obligations to the Legislature and oversight commission still needed to be sorted out. The main discussion focused on DCR’s proposed amendments to Act 292 and the department’s interim report. Director Johnson said the department’s October 16 presentation included recommended statutory amendments because the law, as written, could not be fully complied with; the proposals were described as section-by-section changes intended to address implementation problems. Members discussed several specific issues, including transfer language for higher levels of care, the 2010 MOA with the Department of Health, and replacing “physician” with “clinician” to reflect staffing realities. DCR explained that the change would allow licensed clinicians, including APRNs and doctors of osteopathy, to make decisions when physicians are not on duty, and that the MOA is being updated so transfers can occur from any DCR facility to the state hospital. An OHA staff member gave a detailed critique of the proposed amendments, saying they would weaken Act 292’s intent by reducing procedural protections, expanding exceptions, and relying on aspirational language such as “strive” and “if practicable.” OHA also raised concerns about the lack of baseline data on restrictive housing use and said the department’s report showed serious operational problems, including overcrowded and outdated facilities, limited space for private medical or mental health exams, and the use of suicide/safety cells for people who may not need mental health treatment. DCR responded that it had requested 35 new medical positions in the budget, supported by the governor, and said those positions are needed to meet basic care obligations for people in custody. The group did not take a vote on the proposed amendments. Instead, members agreed to continue the discussion, with the chair saying the reports, settlement tracker, 2010 MOA, and comparison guidelines would be distributed and used as the basis for future work. In the final discussion on work-plan priorities, members identified staffing shortages, physical plant limitations, and the need to examine humane alternatives and implementation challenges as key topics for upcoming meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:40:27.800><c> tools</c> dedicated Personnel assessment tools dedicated Personnel assessment tools
• We can complete the assessment with their assistance and let them know what the assessment has determined
• has</c> them know what the assessment has them know what the assessment has determined<02:01:32.599>
• </c> validated evidence-based assessment validated evidence-based assessment instruments<02:03:23.199
• </c> folks on re-entry and your um assessment folks on re-entry and your um assessment of<02:07:11.040

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Without dedicated resources, current protective and threat assessment capabilities are limited.
• Without dedicated resources, current protective and threat assessment capabilities are limited.
• Without dedicated resources, current protective and threat assessment capabilities are limited.
• Without dedicated resources, current protective and threat assessment capabilities are limited.
• Without dedicated resources, current protective and threat assessment capabilities are limited.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Based on Bieber's assessment, the legislature passed Senate Bill 30 in 2018, creating the Phase 2 formula
• Is that including both summative and formative assessments? Mr.
• We'll go through a listening process to take that feedback and to develop those assessments.
• Be utilized to develop those questions that would then be integrated into our assessments.
• I've used four different assessments for reading Frankly, they do align.

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 52 is $350,000 per year for site assessment backlogs. That's also from the remediation fund.
• That's also from assessment backlogs.
• worksheet where state law assessment worksheet where state law already<00:37:08.680><c> mandates</c>
• The site assessment backlog at PCA is two FTEs, so that's about six or seven at the PCA.
• The uh site assessment backlog at PCA is The uh site assessment backlog at PCA is two<00:52:06.240><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:36:00.760><c> authorization</c> requirements assessments authorization requirements assessments
• </c><00:37:11.560><c> medical</c><00:37:11.920><c> services</c> policies assessments medical services
• policies assessments medical services staff<00:37:12.880><c> qualifications</c><00:37:13.560><c> and
• </c> licensing requirements assessments licensing requirements assessments individual<00:37:32.280><c
• <00:38:02.599><c> treatment</c><00:38:03.000><c> planning</c><00:38:03.480><c> mental</c> assessments

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing that we've done in terms of assessment is vulnerability assessments across the state.
• How do you sort of assess that situation, and do you have any ideas about where we should go?
• How do you sort of assess that situation, and do you have any ideas about where we should go?
• The CTC, California Transportation Commission assessment that was recently done, The CTC, California
• Transportation Commission assessment that was recently done through SB 1121 didn’t include an analysis

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several items, beginning with gubernatorial appointments not required to appear. The committee approved multiple appointments on 3-2 and 5-0 votes, including members to the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Contractors State License Board, and the Medical Board of California. Members also approved a bill referral item, a rule waiver request to suspend SR 55 for guests on the Senate floor during an adjourn-in-memory for former President Pro Tempore John Burton, and floor acknowledgment items, all by 5-0 vote. The committee then heard the required appearance of Dina El-Tawansy for Director of the California Department of Transportation. In her opening remarks, she emphasized Caltrans’ priorities of safety, equity, climate resilience, economic prosperity, workforce development, and multimodal transportation. Senators questioned her on a range of issues, including impacts from federal and state rules affecting immigrant truck drivers, the Highway 58 truck climbing lane project, DBE reevaluation under new federal guidance, asphalt recycling and waste disposal, climate-related damage to infrastructure, and the future of transportation funding as gas tax revenue declines. El-Tawansy said Caltrans would prioritize emergency and safety projects, continue work on the Highway 58 corridor, and help DBEs through a reevaluation process and outreach efforts. She described ongoing climate adaptation work, including vulnerability assessments, vegetation management, and corridor studies such as Route 37 and LOSSAN, and said the department is researching road user charges through pilots and national collaboration. She also discussed small-business programs, local hiring, toll lane agreement consistency, and efforts to address litter and homelessness on Caltrans property through delegated maintenance agreements and new staff positions. After public testimony from numerous transportation, construction, local government, labor, and technology organizations in support of the nominee, the committee voted 5-0 to advance El-Tawansy’s appointment to the full Senate floor for confirmation. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• An act relating to establishing a tourism self-supported assessment program to fund statewide tourism
• This bill is carefully crafted to allow the Tourism Association to assess themselves.
• And in all seriousness, what we believe, this $25 million assessment, And in all seriousness, what we
• To assess themselves, to inject dollars into our tourism industry, to make sure that everybody from across
• When you first look at it, you think an assessment is a tax, but this was actually promoted forward by

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Secretary will read: An act relating to establishing a tourism self-supported assessment program
• This bill is carefully crafted to allow the Tourism Association to assess themselves.
• And in all seriousness, what we believe, this $25 million assessment, And in all seriousness, what we
• To assess themselves, to inject dollars into our tourism industry, to make sure that everybody from across
• When you first look at it, you think an assessment is a tax, but this was actually promoted forward by

Summary: The Senate opened with ceremonial activities, approval of the previous day’s journal, and adoption of Senate Resolution 8689 recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Senators spoke in strong support of the resolution, emphasizing the importance of inclusion, self-advocacy, family caregivers, and the principle of “nothing about us without us.” The resolution was adopted, and all members’ names were added as sponsors. The chamber also welcomed student visitors and later recognized individuals with developmental disabilities and caregivers in the gallery. The Senate then confirmed several gubernatorial appointments. Charles G. Knutzen was confirmed to the Workforce Education, Investment, Accountability, and Oversight Board by a 48-0 vote. Noah Scartvet was confirmed to the Gambling Commission by a 43-5 vote, and Kelly K. Foucai was confirmed to the Spokane Colleges Board of Trustees by a 48-0 vote. The Senate also considered and confirmed additional appointments while excusing several members from attendance during parts of the day. The chamber spent much of the meeting concurring in House amendments and passing a series of bills. Among the measures approved were bills dealing with clean energy exemptions for certain backup fossil fuel use, police data and body camera/ALPR distinctions, housing and rental assistance flexibility, creation of a cabinet-level Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs with Senate confirmation, school district interfund transfers under financial oversight, civic engagement and voting services, wildfire-resistant home-hardening materials, and technical corrections to prior tax and revenue legislation. Most of these bills passed with clear majorities, though some drew recorded opposition, including Second Substitute Senate Bill 6035 and Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6113. The Senate also adopted a striking amendment and passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2325, creating a tourism self-supported assessment program. Supporters said the negotiated proposal would improve fiscal transparency and help fund statewide tourism promotion, while opponents raised concerns about the assessment structure. The bill passed after concurrence in the House amendments and final passage by a 43-5 vote. The Senate then returned to the fourth order of business and stood at ease for lunch and caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there's a shortfall, as I mentioned, there could be assessments on the industry, If there's a
• shortfall, as I mentioned, there could be assessments on the industry, on the solvent industry.
• Fortunately, we don't have to assess very often.
• We have the capacity to assess up to 2% of net written premium each year.
• If we do face a large insolvency where 2% isn't enough, we can assess year upon year upon year until

Committee: House Insurance and Banking

Summary: The Committee for Insurance met with a quorum and first took up three bills in executive session. House Bill 2902 was amended with a committee substitute that removed the commission language while keeping provisions on software and key-emulating devices, and members confirmed it still included a Class D felony penalty. The committee adopted the substitute and voted the bill do pass, with one member voting no. House Bill 1789, dealing with delivery network companies and insurance coverage during the delivery availability period, was also amended and adopted; the substitute clarified that the availability period is not commercial activity and that auto insurance applies until a driver is actually engaged in delivery. The committee then voted the bill do pass, with one no vote and one present. House Bill 1647 was amended to remove it from the collateral source rule section and clarify that it applies only to civil actions for damages and property claims; the substitute was adopted and the bill voted do pass, with several no votes recorded. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 1894, which would implement federal nondiscrimination requirements for licensed health care providers in Missouri insurance law. The sponsor said the bill is about patient choice, fairness, and access, especially in rural areas, and does not expand scope of practice or require coverage of new services. Supporters from chiropractic, nursing, occupational therapy, podiatry, and nurse anesthetist groups said the bill would ensure equal reimbursement for the same covered services and improve access to local providers. Opponents from the insurance industry argued the bill would interfere with network design, reduce negotiating leverage, and require equal payment regardless of provider type or credentials; they also said current federal law already governs network adequacy and that the bill’s rulemaking language was standard but the reimbursement mandate was the main concern. The committee also heard House Bill 3314, which updates Missouri’s insurance guaranty association laws. The sponsor and supporters explained that the bill would clarify coverage for cyber policies, ensure coverage follows the policyholder in insurance business transfer or corporate division transactions, and allow limited pre-liquidation information sharing from the Department of Commerce and Insurance to guaranty associations so claims can be handled faster after insolvency. Witnesses said the bill is technical and intended to modernize the system without expanding coverage or increasing taxpayer exposure. Members asked about the $300,000 property and casualty claims cap, the definition of high-net-worth individual, oversight of guaranty associations, and confidentiality concerns; supporters said the cap is longstanding, high-net-worth means over $25 million, and the department’s existing oversight and confidentiality protections are sufficient. The hearing closed after a final supportive statement from the Missouri Insurance Coalition, and the committee adjourned.